Annual Thanksgiving Challenge

Each year, on Thanksgiving, I take a challenge based on Psalm 103 (thanks, Biblegateway.com):

Psalm 103

¹Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.

²Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:

³Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;

⁴Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;

⁵Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

⁶The LORD executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed.

⁷He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel.

⁸The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.

⁹He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever.

¹⁰He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.

¹¹For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.

¹²As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

¹³Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.

¹⁴For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.

¹⁵As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.

¹⁶For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.

¹⁷But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children’s children;

¹⁸To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.

¹⁹The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all.

²⁰Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.

²¹Bless ye the LORD, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure.

²²Bless the LORD, all his works in all places of his dominion: bless the LORD, O my soul.

SO, here’s the challenge: Can you make a list of 100 benefits/blessings the Lord has given you?

Last year, it took me 3 days, but I got it done. It was very good for my soul to truly and deeply appreciate all He does for me!

Will you join me for this year’s Thanksgiving Challenge?

Thanksgiving Day Prayer

Thanksgiving Day Challenge:

Make a list. Keep adding to it through the day. Can you top 100 things that you can thank God for?

The Migrating Sandhill Cranes

It is early September but already I am hearing the sandhill cranes as they pause nearby from their long migration. There is a pond set in a big field on a farm just around the corner, and each year the sandhills drop by to rest on their journey from Canada to Florida.

In the 8 years that I have lived here, I have never seen the cranes. But I hear them every year. I know their call because I grew up in Florida and know them well from their winters there.

Sandhill cranes are large heron-ish birds and they like- sandy hills, and grassy fields. They have a crazy, noisy mating dance that very lucky people during Florida winters might see. However, right now, right here, they are only passing through- just stopping at a Maryland farm to rest.

I rejoice each year when I hear the cranes call. They are like old friends that only keep in touch once a year, but are appreciated nonetheless.

Do you have any friends like that? You only hear from them at Christmas, but that greeting card brings you joy each time.

All things have times and seasons, even friendships. A blessed few will stay close forever. Many friends will be close, then the Lord will move that friend off to a state far away. The affection will remain but the day-to-day closeness will have to wait until eternity. These things are in God’s hands and his will is good.

Do you have friends, near and far that you need to thank God for? Do they need to hear that you have thanked God for them?