Give Thanks, Simplified Holiday, Happiness, The Woman Responsible for Thanksgiving, Thankful for the Now, The Practice and Place of Thanksgiving, and "To Follow Wonder"
In This Issue... Ps 100:4, quotes from Joshua Becker & Randy Alcorn, Articles by Alex McFarland, Will Graham, Robb Brunansky, Plus Christmas Music from Nathan Nockels
Welcome to this Thanksgiving Day issue of one24worship - a weekly offering of inspiration, ideas, and insights... 1-2-4: one verse, two quotes, and four observations at a time.
I truly love this season of the year. As 2023 draws to a close, hopefully, this season allows us an opportunity to slow down and refocus our attention. I’m praying that this Thanksgiving Day will provide us with moments to reflect on the past with gratitude and to anticipate the future with confidence and expectation.
Enjoy!
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One Verse
“Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!” Psalm 100:4 ESV
Two Quotes
Joshua Becker
“A simplified holiday season can be richer, warmer, and more fulfilling. It’s within this simplicity that we often find the deepest joy and the most lasting memories.”
“The Christian life is supernatural but not enchanted. God doesn’t magically make us happy despite the fact that we make work, sports, leisure, or sex into our idols. If we choose to seek happiness elsewhere, God won’t force himself on us. And He certainly won’t give us happiness in what distances us from Him.”
Excerpt: “In 1864, the Newport, New Hampshire native had become the ‘editress’ of a respected publication known as Godey’s Lady’s Book. In her prominent position, the young widow and mother of five was able to communicate with many American women. She believed that our nation’s first President, George Washington, had gotten it right when he decided that November 26, 1789, should be a day for all countrymen to participate in a day of worship to praise God for His blessings.”
Excerpt: “It’s been said that memories make us rich. And emotionally we have an amazing tendency to remember the good times while minimizing the bad. However, we aren’t to live in the past, but wisely move forward in the hope of the Lord.”
Excerpt: “God is not far away, off in some other world, distant, watching us from afar as we give Him thanks. Not at all! Rather, when we come together for worship and to give Him thanks, and when we set aside time to show our gratitude to God, we are in His very presence, before His very face. The Lord is near. He hears us, and He is with us. Giving God thanks is a holy, personal communion with the living God. It is a joyful, song-filled, praise-filled, thanksgiving-filled time in presence of God.”
Following Nathan’s release this summer of Everywhere the River Goes, To Follow Wonder is a similar soothing collection of instrumental Christmas compositions. Even now, it’s playing in the background as I’m writing this paragraph. Consider dropping To Follow Wonder into your playlist to enjoy during this Christmas season. I’m planning to have it playing in the mornings as I take my Bible and journal (and a cup of coffee!) and spend my time alone with God in His Word and in prayer. dg
“We can ask anything according to His promises.” Brother Butch Ikels
Current one24worship Poll
Many people take notes during the message at church. Some use a physical handout provided by the church. Others take out their phone and jot some notes down. Of course, there are plenty of mobile apps, too. Still others are “old school” (like me) and bring a journal to write in or a note pad to write on.
So, if you take sermon notes during church, what’s your #1 challenge? Or, to put it another way, if you could solve the #1 problem you have related to taking sermon notes during church, what might that solution look like?
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Thank you!
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Thank you! What a great way to start Thanksgiving 2023. I love the music! Happy Thanksgiving to you and to your family.