Being Thankful

Thanksgiving Day comes to us as national holiday. We are invited to give thanks for what we have and remember the many blessings that have come to our country during the year.

As we do our review of the year, it's easy to focus on what hasn't been going well. Unemployment remains at a high level. There has been a rash of home foreclosures. In regard to the weather, for us in the midwest it was a hot and humid summer. As airline travel picks up for the holidays, much comment is made in the media about the inconvenience of going through security.

In the midst of all of these things, can we still be a thankful people?

I believe it comes in looking at the other side of the coin. It's looking at what we do have. It's looking especially at what God has given us by our faith. We can be thankful for the following:

1. God loving us enough to send Jesus to be our Savior
2. God's mercies being new every morning (and that we can experience)
3. Enjoying the fellowship of other Christians
4. God providing another year of harvest for us in our country

Yes, count your blessings. I hope that you will include words of thankfulness as you pray this week. Remember that all that we have comes out of God's grace.

Have a blessed Thanksgiving!

Praying at 6:00 a.m.

The other day I noticed the prayer time in our church bulletin that was dated almost 30 years ago. The prayer group was meeting on Thursday morning at 6:00 a.m.

I wonder how many people today would gather for prayer at 6:00 a.m.?

Maybe the question to ask is: What would drive someone to attend a meeting this early for this activity? I would believe that it all boils down to being convinced of the power of prayer.

Certainly, praying this early in the morning represents a commitment. It also might be a great way to start out the day. But something really motivates a person to be committed to this hour of the day. The words of Scripture (Psalm 50:15) of calling upon God and the promise of receiving an answer is good enough reason to get up extra early for prayer.

Have you ever made a special effort to be engaged in prayer outside your normal routine?

Praying 2 Hours a Day

Today is the anniversary of Martin Luther's birthday. He was born November 10, 1483.

He was a man of prayer. Luther was known to have prayed two hours a day. Imagine finding the time to pray that much when you think of all the other things he was seeking to do and for the responsibilities he had.

It's not just finding the time, which would be a challenge in our day with our busy schedules, but also having the desire to pray that much. It was said of Luther that the busier he was the more he needed to pray.

So, how many minutes do you pray each day? Would it be about five minutes, ten minutes, fifteen minutes? Would you be able to concentrate for a long period of time to devote yourself to prayer?

This is not just prayer for prayer's sake. It is for being in communion with God and having that desire for God to work and God's will to be accomplished in the world. The time you spend might very well be related to the passion you feel for doing the work of God.

What about you? How would you assess your prayer life?

Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi

We celebrate All Saints Sunday on November 7. It's a day to remember the faith and contribution of saints throughout the ages. St. Francis of Assisi has given us a prayer that has been meaningful. It is short and full of meaning for those who strive to live by faith in our world today. You might want to use this prayer in your personal life.

Lord, make me an instrument of your 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,

and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.