Sacrifice of Thanksgiving

"I will offer to You the sacrifice of thanksgiving, And will call upon the name of the LORD." Psalm 116:17

Complaining seems to come a lot more easily to the lips of men than do words of thankfulness. I know this is true of me!  I suppose that is why the term, "sacrifice of thanksgiving" is used so often in the Word of God.  Being thankful doesn't come easy or naturally - probably because being thankful requires realizing our need of others and of God.  Someone who is entirely self-sufficient has no need to be thankful.  But once we realize that we have nothing that we have not first been given by God, we become humble and aware that our entire sufficiency comes from Him in the first place.  We may say it was the work of our own hands that brought about this good thing or that good thing; but let us ask ourselves who gave us the hands to do the work in the first place?  Perhaps the good idea was our own idea, but who gave us the mind to think it in the first place?

I suppose its also called a "sacrifice of Thanksgiving" because so often we find ourselves mired in the brokenness of this life - with trouble about us and those whom we love.  But there must be something powerful about thanksgiving in the heavenly realms or the Lord would not ask us to come to him with this attitude when we are in need and find ourselves afraid...

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; Phl 4:6

We need you Lord - everyday and in every way! 

Happy Thanksgiving from the Hasenbalg home to yours!

we woke up to a big ol' snow storm this morning!

Somebody rolled over for the first time yesterday - and was able to sit in a bumbo chair today...

Trying out the new camera the Scott got me this month for my birthday (sequential shots)

Comments

[JulieinCA]

Looks like a wonderful day! We were with family for the first time in years and it was wonderful.

[Anna]

Kerry you look so beautiful in that family photo! You ALL look beautiful but I just wanted to let you know how beautiful you look and full of the joy of the Lord!! Thanks for this great post... I cannot wait to see you again!!! xo

[pastor]

i love ur message