We gather today, Lord of abundant life, as grateful children.
Delighted and humbled by our bounty, we celebrate gifts of
food and shelter, of colors that dance at dawn and dusk; we
relish the scent of cooking foods, of burning leaves and
 summer's wet grass, of snowflake, of animal fur. We
 marvel at the intricacy of spiders' webs and fish bones, newborn
babies and lines etched on faces of grandparents come for a
visit today. All gifts from Your hand. When our meal is completed,
leftovers stashed, and naps taken, we will leave replete, energized,
and eager to go generously into the world and share our good fortune.
- Rev. Lynn James
 

Think you've got nothing to be thankful for?
Just sit down here and think again.
By Bob Perks 

"I have so much to be thankful for.
I wouldn't know where to begin," she said.
I wouldn't know either. As I looked around
her home, I couldn't find a thing that she could include.
I have discovered that the friendliest, most welcoming
people in the world are those who have little in the way
of material things to offer. What they lack in
possessions they make up for in spirit and love.
Some years ago I had been working for the
Commission on Economic Opportunity. It was
the year following a devastating flood in Pennsylvania.
My job was to interview low-income families and assess
 their needs. Up until that moment I thought I had seen it
all. The odd thing was I was looking at nothing at all,
 and this woman was thankful.
The home, though technically out of the flood area,
looked like it had been a part of the destruction.
The front porch steps were missing, replaced by a
 few cinder blocks and planks. There were several
broken windows, and part of the foundation had
 caved in, exposing the basement to the weather.
That particular day it was in the upper 30s with
 a strong wind blowing. Snow was predicted
by nightfall. Thanksgiving Day was approaching,
and quite frankly my heart was not into doing these
surveys. Like many others, I just wanted to start
my holiday early. This was the last stop for me.
Tomorrow like millions of other families we
would be gathered around the table filling ourselves
to capacity. Oddly I hadn't even thought about
what this family was looking forward to. I just
figured they would be taken care of by some
organization or church. I looked around the
kitchen for some sign of a charitable box of
goodies but saw nothing there. The house was bitter
cold. The young children ran several times through
 the kitchen playing, laughing like any other kids.
I happened to notice that they were barefoot on
this cold linoleum floor. At one point I said to
one of the youngest girls, "You should go put
your socks and shoes on before you get sick."
She replied, "Mommy, did this man bring me
some shoes I can wear?" "No, Sissy. He didn't.
 Go put on a pair of mine. He's right--you need
something on your feet." I was embarrassed for
having put her in that position. "Well, I'm finished here.
Thank you for your time. I hope you have a wonderful
...." I didn't know what to say. How could they
possibly have a wonderful anything?
"Look, I'm sorry. I know there must not be much
 to be thankful for these days," I said nervously.
"Well, you certainly are wrong about that!" she said
emphatically. Then, rising to her feet, she walked into
the living room and stood in the middle.
"My dear, I am truly blessed for all of this.
I know it doesn't look like much. But who made
the rules that say that we can only be thankful for
things that cost money? "Sit here on this chair," she
 told me. "That chair may be worthless even to a
junk dealer. But I sat in that chair and waited for
months when my son was in the service. That was
my worry chair. I sat in that chair, prayed and gave
 thanks when the good Lord brought him safely
home to me. It was in that same chair I was sitting
 when my daughter came home from school and
told me she was going to college ‘cause she got a
full scholarship. It was my joyful chair.
It was also in that chair that I sat holding my daddy's
 hand when he died. They had sent him home telling
 us there was nothing more they could do. He wanted
to be at home. We put the chair next to his bed, and
 I ate, slept, and cried as I sat in that chair holding his
hand. He was all the world to me when I was growing
up. I owed him that much.
"So how much is that chair worth in dollars? Nothing.
But I wouldn't trade it for anything," she said.
Then walking over to a picture on the wall she said,
 "You see this man? He's the man that has loved me
for all these years. He's at work now. He doesn't make
 much, but he works hard for it. He paid for that chair
 in sweat. How much money value do I put on him?
There isn't enough money in all the world for the true
value of love."
"Those kids running around the house. Yeah, maybe
someone would say I'm not a good parent. But you
 go and ask them if they love their mommy and daddy.
Then tell me how much that is worth," she said.
Then she added, "I'm thankful for my sight, I am
thankful that I have good health, considering everything
 else. I am thankful for my faith. Oh, how thankful
 I am that I have something to believe in. I am thankful
for the second-hand quilt the lady down the street gave
 me yesterday."
She gestured toward the other room. "Do you hear that
 laughter? I'm thankful my kids are playing and laughing
like other kids in the neighborhood. How much would you
 pay to find something to laugh about when things aren't so good?
There is so much I am thankful for that most people take
 for granted," she said. I stood up and picked up my briefcase.
 It was time to go.
She walked over to the chair I'd just vacated and sat down,
 adding, "So now I call this my 'Thankful Chair.' Tomorrow
 when we gather round the table to share whatever meal God
will provide--and he always provides--I will be thankful that
He sent you here to talk to me," she said, smiling.
I knew then that, in addition to making my report to the state,
 I would be coming back with a pair of shoes and socks, as
 well as some other ingredients for a happy Thanksgiving.
"Thanks for sharing your 'Thankful Chair' with me," I said
, walking out the door. "I believe one day I will find that priceless."
I was right.

Come Ye Thankful People Come

Come, ye thankful people, come, raise the song of harvest home;
All is safely gathered in, ere the winter storms begin.
God our Maker doth provide for our wants to be supplied;
Come to God’s own temple, come, raise the song of harvest home.

All the world is God’s own field, fruit unto His praise to yield;
Wheat and tares together sown unto joy or sorrow grown.
First the blade and then the ear, then the full corn shall appear;
Lord of harvest, grant that we wholesome grain and pure may be.

For the Lord our God shall come, and shall take His harvest home;
From His field shall in that day all offenses purge away,
Giving angels charge at last in the fire the tares to cast;
But the fruitful ears to store in His garner evermore.

Even so, Lord, quickly come, bring Thy final harvest home;
Gather Thou Thy people in, free from sorrow, free from sin,
There, forever purified, in Thy garner to abide;
Come, with all Thine angels come, raise the glorious harvest home.

We Gather Together

We gather together to ask the Lord’s blessing;
He chastens and hastens His will to make known.
The wicked oppressing now cease from distressing.
Sing praises to His Name; He forgets not His own.

Beside us to guide us, our God with us joining,
Ordaining, maintaining His kingdom divine;
So from the beginning the fight we were winning;
Thou, Lord, were at our side, all glory be Thine!

We all do extol Thee, Thou Leader triumphant,
And pray that Thou still our Defender will be.
Let Thy congregation escape tribulation;
Thy Name be ever praised! O Lord, make us free!

 ** A Hebrew Blessing **

Blessed are You, O Lord our God, Eternal King,
Who feeds the whole world with Your goodness,
With grace, with loving kindness, and with tender mercy.
You give food to all flesh,
For Your loving kindness endures forever.
Through Your great goodness, food has never failed us.
O may it not fail us forever, for Your name's sake,
Since You nourish and sustain all living things,
And do good to all,
And provide food for all Your creatures
Whom You have created.
Blesses are You, O Lord, Who gives food to all.
   
HAPPY THANKSGIVING AND GOD BLESS YOU ALL

PASTOR KIM
 

This Scripture needs no reflection from me.  This
is a prayer for all of us.

To Live Holy Life

Strengthen my heart so I will be holy and blameless
in Your presence when Christ comes. Help me make
every effort to be good and knowledgeable,
self-controlled and godly, relying on the Spirit's power
within me. (1 Thessalonians 3:13; 2 Peter 1:5–7; Ephesians 3:16)

May I imitate the Lord Jesus Christ in all that I am and
everything I do, and may the way I live match what I
say I believe. May I make every effort to live a clean and
holy life, devoting myself to You, to prayer, and to doing
good. (1 Thessalonians 1:6; 1 Corinthians 4:17; Hebrews 12:14a;
Leviticus 27:28; Jeremiah 30:21; Colossians 4:2; Titus 3:8b)

May I desire more than anything else to follow You, setting
my heart and soul on seeking You. Help me move from strength
to strength, faith to faith, and glory to glory. May my love increase
and overflow for each other and for everyone else.
(Psalm 84:5; 1 Chronicles 22:19; Psalm 84:7; Romans 1:17;
2 Corinthians 3:18; 1 Thessalonians 3:12)

In Jesus' name, amen.
- Jim & Kaye Johns
source: "Prayers for the Moment: One-Minute Scripture Prayers"
Copyright September 2006.B&H Publishing Group
 

Scripture:

"Let he who has not sinned throw the first stone."
(John 8:7)

Reflection:

Do you notice something very important about this
verse.  It doesn't say which sin.  I really think what
Christ is telling me is that if you see someone
committing a sin, lets say adultery, and I'm a liar I
guess I better put my stone away.  I better take care
of my own house, before I destroy someone else's.
It is very true, we are all human beings therefore we all
sin.  And all who sin fall short of the glory of God, and
only through the Grace of our Savior Jesus Christ do we
receive that glory.  I don't know about you but I have
enough sin in my life to deal with, thank God for His
Grace.

Prayer:

Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace.
Where there is hatred . . . let me sow love
Where there is injury . . . pardon
Where there is doubt . . . faith
Where there is despair . . . hope
Where there is darkness . . . light
Where there is sadness . . . joy
O, Divine Master,
Grant that I may not so much seek
To be consoled . . . as to console
To be understood . . . as to understand,
To be loved . . . as to love
For it is in giving . . . that we receive,
It is in pardoning, that we are pardoned,
It is in dying . . . that we are born to eternal life.

Quote for the Day

Samantha Smith
Ambassador of Peace and Goodwill
(1972-1985)

"If we could be friends just by getting to know
each other better, then what are our two
countries really arguing about? Nothing could
be more important than not having a war if war
 would kill everything."

Scripture:

"Whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the
Father may be glorified in the Son.  (John 14:13)

Reflection:

Over the years of prayer in my life, I have caught myself
doing something in my prayers to God that really isn't
to smart. Often in my prayers I kind of give God some
advice.  I have found myself making a request to God
and then immediately telling Him how to answer that
request.  In other words I expect God to answer my
request the way I want it answered. What a total lack
of faith, not to mention a waste of time.  I don't have
enough faith in God to expect Him to do what's best
for me.  I have to keep in mind and heart that God
always answers my prayers and always does what's
best for me.  It may not always be the answer that I
want, but it is the answer that is best for me.  I also
must remember that God answer's my prayer in His
time not mine.  Let's you and I do something, the
next time we have a request to God, in total
commitment of faith, let Him answer the request
not us.

Prayer:

I praise and honor You oh Lord. Thanks you for your
commitment to me. THANK YOU GOD FOR BEING
GOD!

Quote:

St. Claire of Assisi
Spiritual Teacher and Guide, Political and Religious
Peacemaker (1193-1223)

"Go forth in peace, for you have followed the good road.
 Go forth without fear, for He that created you has sanctified
 you, has always protected you, and loves you as a mother."

Scripture:

"Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the
realities of heaven, where Christ sits at God's right hand in the place of honor and power.
Let heaven fill your thoughts.  Do not think only about things down here on earth.
For you died when Christ died, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God.  And
when Christ, who is your real life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in
all the glory." (Colossians 3:1)

Reflection: 

What a weird question to ask, "Does Heaven Fill Your Thoughts?"  I don't know
about you but I have a lot of thoughts during the day, some good and some not
so good.  It sometimes seems that it is true I only think of things here on earth.
And it is sad to say that a lot of my thoughts are surrounded by things that I
desire for my own pleasure and the evilness for the world.  I hate to watch tv
because of the news, then my thoughts are on the decadent way we treat each
other, on a senseless war, on crime, and all the inhumanity that is so prevalent
in our world. I also noticed, as I look back at my thoughts, a lot of which are
centered around me, of what I want and not what others need.  You know it is
so very true that when Christ died so did I, and I need to focus on who is my
real life.  My real life is Jesus Christ and one big part of heaven will be
serving my Lord and serving others.  And thats where my thoughts and actions
should be, WITH MY LORD.  You see when my thoughts are on the Lord and upon
heaven, then my actions become my service to the Lord and my helping of others.
Do me a favor will you and at the end of the day take a look at what your thoughts
were, and the next day start thinking about Jesus Christ and thoughts of heaven.
You will be surprised at how your life will change, and how you will find a new
compassion for others. Let's you and I share in all His glory!

Prayer:

Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace.
Where there is hatred . . . let me sow love
Where there is injury . . . pardon
Where there is doubt . . . faith
Where there is despair . . . hope
Where there is darkness . . . light
Where there is sadness . . . joy
O, Divine Master,
Grant that I may not so much seek
To be consoled . . . as to console
To be understood . . . as to understand,
To be loved . . . as to love
For it is in giving . . . that we receive,
It is in pardoning, that we are pardoned,
It is in dying . . . that we are born to eternal life.

Quote for the Day

Samantha Smith
Ambassador of Peace and Goodwill
(1972-1985)

"If we could be friends just by getting to know
each other better, then what are our two
countries really arguing about? Nothing could
 be more important than not having a war if war
 would kill everything."
 

Scripture:

"The good soil represents the hearts of those who truly accept
God's message and produce a huge harvest--thirty, sixty, or even
a hundred times as much as had been planted". (Matthew 13:23)

Reflection:

In the parable of the farmer sowing seeds, we see the farmer
planting seeds on several types of soil.   The last of the seeds
are sowed in good soil.  This soil represents the hearts of those who
truly accept God's message and produce a huge harvest. 
Well of course this all begs a question. Are you producing a huge
harvest?  I know I ask this question often.  I first have to ask what
constitutes a harvest?  a lot of money, power, control, station in life,
or maybe lots of material things.  If these things are a harvest then
I want out of the garden.  I think a harvest is, after I have accepted
God's message, I mean truly accepted His message, I produce a
result received from acceptance of His message.  In other words I
produce a harvest.  What I produce is exciting because I am excited
about God's message. This harvest is rich and full of joy, this harvest
is full of love and acceptance, this harvest is from God and it brings
true joy in my life.  The soil is good and I am good.  I have a
suggestion for you, plant your seed on good soil and you will
receive the richest of harvest, you will receive a joy in God's
message.

Prayer:

Thank you good that I am able to plant my seed on good soil.
Thank you for the Joy I receive from Your message. THANK YOU
GOD FOR BEING GOD!!!!!!!

Quote:

Lucretia Mott
Quaker, Pacifist Abolitionist, Feminist
(1793-1880)

"Let it be called the Great Spirit of the Indian, the Quaker
 ‘Inward Light' of George Fox, the ‘Blessed Mary,' Mother
of Jesus of the Catholics, or Brahman, the Hindu's God -
they will be one, and there will come to be such a faith a
and liberty as shall redeem the world."
 

Scripture:

"He was despised and rejected---a man of sorrows, acquainted
with bitterest grief.  We turned our backs on Him and looked
the other way when He went by.  He was despised, and we
did not care".  (Isaiah 53: 3)

Reflection:

You know its hard to believe when you look at this verse
and chapters 52 and 53 it would be fulfilled over a thousand
years later in Jesus Christ. This verse and several others in
Isaiah are the verses that Mel Gibson used as background
for his movie "The Passion".  I got to be honest with you
this verse haunts me.  It is personal and it hits close to
home for me.  I have often struggled with the fact that I
often turn my back on my Savior.  Whats interesting is He
never turns His back on me.  When I reflect at the end of the
day, I am often dismayed that I didn't even think about going
to Jesus when I really should have, I didn't even think of Him.
I ask myself, "How can I call myself a Christian, on top of that
a minister, and not think of Jesus Christ".  Thank God He
doesn't turn His back on me.  He is there for me, doing for me,
even at the times when I am not even thinking about Him.  And
you know something He is there for you, I promise that Jesus will
never turn His back on you.

Prayer:

I praise and honor you oh Lord.  Thank for being there for me
and forgive for not being there with you.  THANK YOU GOD
FOR BEING GOD!

Quote:

Abigail Kelley Foster
Pacifist Abolitionist
(1811-1877)

"Go where you are least wanted, for there you are most needed."