Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Psalm 136:26 Give thanks to the God of heaven. His love endures forever.
COUNT YOUR MANY BLESSINGS, NAME THEM ONE BY ONE
One reason many people fail to give thanks is that they don't take time to reflect on the many blessings they receive from the hand of the Lord. Listed below is a small sampling of benefits of body and soul which He has provided for our enjoyment. Truly, what reason we have to say: "Thank You, good Lord!"
A -- apples, agriculture, absolution
B -- books, beauty, Bible Class, Holy Baptism
C -- children, church
D -- dawns, doctors, dads
E -- electricity, education (especially Christian education), eternal life
F -- friends, flowers, fire, freedom, fun, faith in Christ
G -- God and His saving Gospel
H -- hope, home, humor, hinges
I -- immortality
J -- Jesus my Savior
K -- knowledge of the true God revealed in Holy Scripture
L -- life, love, light, law and order, labor, lungs, laughter
M -- mother, memories, music, medicine
O -- opportunities for sharing the Gospel
P -- prayer, peace, pets, pianos, progress, patience
Q -- spiritual questions and God's answers in Holy Scripture
R -- romance
S -- sorrow, strength to endure trials, sacrifice, sunsets, Sacrament of the Altar
T -- truth, tongues to tell about Jesus, tomorrow
U -- umbrellas, unity in the Holy Christian Church
V -- victories, velcro
W -- worship opportunities, work, wages, waiting rooms, wheels, water
X -- all the extra blessings God gives me that I can’t remember
Y -- yesterday, you
Z -- zest
Oh, may we ne'er with thankless heart
Forget from whom our blessings flow!
Still, Lord, Thy heavenly grace impart;
Still teach us what to Thee we owe.
Lord, may our lives with fruit divine
Return Thy care and prove us Thine.
(The Lutheran Hymnal, 567:2)
