Thanksgiving is a time when we take mental inventory of our blessings. The familiar refrain of over the meadow and through the woods creates a heartwarming Rockwell-esque image at this time of year but for many the holiday may be less than picture perfect. During a season of thanksgiving when we are focusing on gratitude, … [Read more...]
Gratitude Day
The American tradition of giving thanks for a day . . . Thanksgiving shouldn’t be about one day on the calendar that gets lost in the shadow of feasts and football. You may have noticed that somehow our holiday got hijacked to become the forerunner to a shopper–stampede the following day. Don’t let it. Giving thanks is … [Read more...]
Cardinals and Crutches
Countless Pennsylvania snowstorms, power outages, lost work, and accidents brought me low this morning. But, I wasn’t seeing the big picture at the moment. I was busy looking at the small picture of me.After all, it seemed there was nothing more limiting than snowdrifts a few feet high except one foot adorned with cast and … [Read more...]
Thanksgiving (every) Day
The psalms are filled with praise and thanksgiving . . . and, also with despair. Psalm 118:1-29 is a prayer of thanksgiving for victory in David’s life. Much happened between the dash from the first to the twenty-ninth verse that aren’t situations for which we give thanks. It didn’t always look like victory. He didn’t … [Read more...]
Only One
Ten contagious and disfigured lepers forced to stay on the edge of town, cry out to Jesus as He passes through Samaria on the way to Jerusalem . . . to the cross. They ask the Master Healer to have mercy. He does, without a touch. He speaks a healing instruction to go and show themselves to the priests. The ancient law gave … [Read more...]