Most of you know that I am not a skilled singer.  I am enthusiastic, and I make a joyful noise to the Lord, but musically speaking, it is definitely a noise.  As my grand father would say “You couldn’t carry a tune if it were in a bucket!”  Consequently there are very few tunes I can pitch correctly or sing well.  But, there is one that generally I can manage, the devotional style song “Thank You Lord.”  I am grateful this one song is within my very limited range, because it reminds me to be thankful.

Thankfulness is vital to Christian discipleship.  Practicing thanksgiving properly re-orients our lives in relationship to God.  The discipline of giving thanks makes us remember God and his faithfulness to us in the past and his promise to maintain faith with us in the future.  Giving thanks draws our attention to God graciousness in his dealing with us, his mercy in saving and renewing us and his generosity in surrounding us with his church.  Thanks giving guards our hearts against the idolatries of entitlement, demand for satisfaction of our appetites and the appeasement of our expectations that are the norm for the culture around us.  Thankfulness given to God redirects the attention of our hearts and minds from our own petty agendas and desires toward the appreciation for who God is and what he is doing with this world.

The Christian faith is a backward looking lifestyle.  We are called to look back to what God has done and to see ourselves clearly from this perspective.  With this orientation we can live in a way that is faithful to God, faithful to others and productive of good.    In Jesus, God has acted to save us from ourselves, from our self-centeredness, our passions and pleasures, our malice, envy and hatred, really from our slavery to sin.  He has given us new life and lifestyle, renewed minds and hearts, and a new family in his church.  We have so much to thank him for!  Let’s make a habit of it.   Looking forward to giving thanks with you, see you Sunday,  Howard