Thanksgiving Day

Heavenly Father, on Thanksgiving Day we bow our hearts to You and pray.
We give You thanks for all You've done especially for the gift of Jesus, Your Son.
For beauty in nature, Your glory we see for joy and health, friends and family,
For daily provision, Your mercy and care these are the blessings You graciously share.
So today we offer this response of praise with a promise to follow You all of our days.
--Mary Fairchild

1To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
2O my God, in you I trust;
do not let me be put to shame;
do not let my enemies exult over me.
3Do not let those who wait for you be put to shame;
let them be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous.
4Make me to know your ways, O Lord;
teach me your paths.
5Lead me in your truth, and teach me,
for you are the God of my salvation;
for you I wait all day long.
6Be mindful of your mercy, O Lord, and of your steadfast love,
for they have been from of old.
Psalm 25 New Revised Standard Version

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary
(click on underlined link to go directly to the reading)
Zephaniah 3:1-13 – 1 Peter 2:11-25 - Matthew 19:23-30

Our season of waiting begins today. The daily lectionary readings for the season of Advent begin on the Thursday prior to the first Sunday in Advent.
Appropriately, the psalmist speaks about waiting for the Lord. The Lord is certainly worth the wait and we realize this is not an idle waiting. For in this Advent season, we know that we are waiting for God to break into the world in a new way. We are not idle in our waiting; instead we are expectant. We are still being taught, led, forgiven. We live as people who trust in the Lord and as people who expect that the promised mercy of the Lord will be upon us.
All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness. All the paths of the Lord will lead us toward the manger this Advent. If you are headed somewhere else - get off that path.
How will you know if you are on a path of the Lord? Examine yourself. Are you learning, feeling the pull of the Spirit, offering forgiveness to others? Are you putting your trust in the Lord? These are natural events while on a path God sets before you.
Devotion by Rev. Gary Sandberg