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November 2008 O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever! Let Israel say, “His steadfast love endures forever!” Let the house of Aaron say, ”His steadfast love endures forever!” Let those who fear God say, “His steadfast love endures forever!” O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever! Psalm 118:1-4, 29
During the month of November, we in the United States set aside a day for national thanksgiving. Lately, Thanksgiving Day has become kittle more than a day of preparation for “Black Friday,” the day upon which the Christmas selling season “officially” begins. In this way, commercialism has managed, in my opinion, to spoil both a holiday and a Holy day in one stroke.
This year, as we approach the Thanksgiving holiday, there seems to little for which we can be thankful. As I write this the Stock markets have gone down to there lowest points in many years. Farm commodity prices are dropping. The one positive in the economy is that gasoline prices have also dropped at an historic rate. Foreclosures are up and employment is down, and the governments of many nations are trying to figure ways to salvage the economy. The Presidential election leaves us with a certain sense of uneasiness.
But we have much for which to be thankful. Most of all we can be thankful for knowing to whom we give thanks. We do not give thanks to the government, or the FED or the political parties, or the oil companies. They are only trying to figure out ways to disperse their resources. We give thanks to the source of all that is. We know to give thanks to God. Over and over, the psalmist says, “O give thanks to the Lord.”
We give thanks to the Lord for his steadfast love which endures forever. It is in the steadfast love of the Lord that we have the forgiveness of sin and the assurance of life everlasting. It is in the steadfast love of the lord that we receive all that we need for life here and now.
Farm and business reporter Orien Samuelson often says prices never go the same direction forever. I am confident that we, as a nation, will survive the current economic troubles. I hope that when we do we do not repeat the history that caused these troubled times. At all times, we Christians will give thanks for that which does continue forever. O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!
Pastor Bret |