"Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever! Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he has redeemed from trouble and gathered in from the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south." (Psalm 107:1-3 ESV)
THANKSGIVING. May you and your loved ones have a blessed Thanksgiving time this week! Of necessity many of us will be separated from our family and friends this season, which should remind us of what a precious gift "gathering" is. The Lord redeems and gathers us together from the lands. It is a gift to be placed into loving families, into caring churches, into good communities, and among supportive friends. Give thanks for that, along with a host of other blessings from the Lord!
GIRL PRAYING. At the height of World War II the above painting by Norman Rockwell, "Girl Praying", appeared on the cover of the Saturday Evening Post (November 27, 1943). This was published about a month after the Allies had landed in Italy. The fallen classical columns and the broken chain symbolized the beginning of the fall of the fascist government in Italy. The girl with rags covering her feet and warmed by the soldier's coat (Army 1st Sgt.) is giving thanks for a simple meal in the soldier's mess kit. I think the painting was also meant to encourage war-weary Americans that the battle was worth it. Some might call this a bit of sentimental Americana, but I really like this painting. Thanksgiving is not merely about big meals and warm homes -- and we should give thanks for those -- but it's about giving thanks for God's blessing upon us with freedom from all forms of tyranny. May we not take our peace and freedom for granted!
I will take a break from writing over the holidays, so the upcoming reading schedule is posted below. Lord willing, I will post again for Monday's reading.
Bible reading for Nov 26 -- Nov 29:
Thursday: 1 Chronicles 22 and 1 Peter 3
Friday: 1 Chronicles 23 and 1 Peter 4
Saturday: 1 Chronicles 24-25 and 1 Peter 5*
Sunday: 1 Chronicles 26-27 and 2 Peter 1
*Btw, 1 Peter 5:6-11 is the passage I turned to most often to read with others in pastoral counseling sessions. See if you can list the truths which would be of help to almost anyone facing trials.
We are following the Robert Murray M'Cheyne (RMM) two-year reading schedule, as arranged by D. A. Carson. Scripture quotations, unless otherwise noted, are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. One recommended resource is NETBible.org, a ministry of bible.org.
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