Pastor's Ponderings
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Psalm 65 is a song of praise attributed to David. Begining at the ninth verse David praises God with these words: 9 "you visit the earth and water it, you greatly enrich it; the river of God is full of water; you provide the peoplewith grains, for so you have prepared it... 11 you crown the year with your bounty; your wagon tracks overflow with richness. 12 The pastures of the wilderness overflow, the hills grid themselves with you, 13 the meadows clothe themselves with flocks, the valleys deck themselves with grain, they shout and sing together for joy." At harvest time David envisions the richness of God's provision and all of nature shouting and singing together in joyful thanksgiving to God. Our Jewish spiritual ancestors and brithers and sisters today still celebrate several days of thanksgiving to God throughout the year: Rosh Hashanah (New Year) in September/October; Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement); Succoth (Feast of Booths); Passover (Pesach), the feast of Unleavened Bread and offering of first fruits of the barley harvest; and Shavuot (Pentecost) offering the first fruits of wheat harvest. How often so you and I stop to celebrate in extra special ways God's provision for our live's? What kind of offering can we make to God in thanksgiving for the countless ways God takes core of us? One way to consider first-fruits giving * Start each day with a prayer or song of praise. * Devote the first moments and/or the last moments of each day giving thanks to God. * Devote a portion of each day to Bible study and devotional reading * Offer thanks to God by thanking and/or serving others in God's name with your time, talents, and gifts. * Make the first check you write after pay day a gift of thanksgiving to God to support the works of God's kingdom. Try tithing a tenth of you income as a thank offering to God. As you join together with family and friends this Thanksgiving, take time to praise God. Prepare a feast that recognizes and celebrates God's provision of food, but also of freedom, love, forgiveness, and grace through Jesus Christ. Pray for our nation and all the nations and peoples of the world. Share your bounty with those most in need. Return your first fruits with joy and thanksgiving. In Christ, Ashley |