Monthly Archives: November 2019

As we approach our National Holiday of THANKSGIVING, Psalm 136 has been on my heart:

Psalms 136:1-9, 23-26
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good!
           His faithful love endures forever.
Give thanks to the God of gods.
           His faithful love endures forever.
Give thanks to the Lord of lords.
           His faithful love endures forever.
Give thanks to him who alone does mighty miracles.
           His faithful love endures forever.
Give thanks to him who made the heavens so skillfully.
           His faithful love endures forever.
Give thanks to him who placed the earth among the waters.
           His faithful love endures forever.
Give thanks to him who made the heavenly lights.
           His faithful love endures forever.
 …the sun to rule the day,
           His faithful love endures forever.
 …and the moon and stars to rule the night.
           His faithful love endures forever.
He remembered us in our weakness.
           His faithful love endures forever.
He saved us from our enemies.
           His faithful love endures forever.
He gives food to every living thing. 
           His faithful love endures forever.
Give thanks to the God of heaven.
           His faithful love endures forever.

I love the way the Message paraphrases it, “His Love never quits.”  I think that’s what God wants us to hear this Thanksgiving.  HIS LOVE DOESN’T QUIT!   Isn’t that awesome!

Back in the early 70’s Kris Kristofferson wrote a song titled, “Why Me, Lord?” He wrote the song in response to all the negative people who go through life having a pity party saying, “Why me, Lord?” and he reversed it and put a positive twist to it, “Why me, Lord, What have I done to deserve even one of the good things you’ve done.”  

I believe you can say, “Why me,” in two different ways.  Somebody once said, “Anything short of hell is grace.”   That’s rather strong language and has some rough edges, but I agree with the statement.  The Bible clearly teaches that “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God,” and that “the wages of sin is death.”  

My prayer for all of us is for this Thanksgiving to be a time in which all of us can take inventory on HOW GOOD GOD IS!  

The Jews have a word DAYENU (Hebrew:דַּיֵּנוּ) that means, “It would’ve been enough,” that they sing during Passover.  As they remember the FAITHFULNESS of God they sing,

“If God had delivered us out of Egypt, but had not parted the Red Sea.
DAYENU.”
“If God had parted the Red Sea, but had not fed us manna in the wilderness
DAYENU.”
“If God had fed us manna in the wilderness, but had not led us to Sinai
DAYENU.”
“If God had led us to Sinai, but did not give us the Tora
DAYENU.”
“If God have us the Tora, but did not give us the Promise Land
DAYENU.”
“If God gave us the Promise Land, but did not give us the Temple
DAYENU.”

… and I would add, “If God gave us His Son to die for our sins and give us His righteousness… DAYENU (It would’ve been enough!!)

Let us give thanks to the Lord for He is Good.   His LOVE endures FOREVER!

Thankful to be your pastor,

Bill