Liaison Ministries - providing acts of worship for all God's children
A week of Thanksgiving meditations
Welcome to another year of witnessing God’s perfect abundance in our lives. This season is a time to be cognitively aware of the blessings right in front of us and to give God all the glory for His unending provision and blessings. May we grasp that what we have is exactly what we need. Some more, others less, yet it matters not for it is God in His mercy and kindness that is providing each of us in care and in love.
As we dive into this season, there is nothing more important than to enter his courts with thanksgiving. As Abel, may our sacrifices be accepted as righteous by God for they are presented with our utmost concentration on Him, who He is and what He has done. Equally must we confess what we are not and may our dependence on self sufficiency be denied at all cost. As John the Baptist states “He must increase and I must decrease”.
The LORD is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation; This is my God, and I will praise Him; my father’s God, and I will extol Him … Exodus 15:2
May this week be led with “Our Lord who art in Heaven. Hallowed be thy Name”. In constant praise may our tongue be healed from hell by using it as an instrument of praise that stirs our hearts and rejuvenates our souls.
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Again,
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The LORD is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation; This is my God, and I will praise Him; my father’s God, and I will extol Him … Exodus 15:2
Day 1: Preparing with Praise
Prayer of Thanksgiving
Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and praise his name. Psalm 100:4
What is a season of thanksgiving without thanks? As we journey this week may praise be the overriding emotion that comes from our hearts. May every thought of God draw you to a sense of complete humility that burst forth in praise of our Father who lavishes His goodness on us. Make praise your mantra, that it may drive your consciousness to claim God as your redeemer with every breath you take.
It is in praise that God will welcome you in His presence and you can abide with Him. Make thankfulness your sacrifice to God, and keep the vows you made to the Most High.
Again Abel’s act of sacrifice was considered righteous because God saw his faith. Faith is the measure by which our Christian life is centered. Our praise of our creator is what builds the reasoning of our faith with a supernatural connection. Praise aligns our focus, our position and our joy to remain in alignment with God’s intended purpose for our lives. To set our minds on the things above and not be drawn unto the things of this world.
Let the whole earth sing to the Lord! Each day proclaim the good news that he saves. Publish his glorious deeds among the nations. Tell everyone about the amazing things he does. Great is the Lord! He is most worthy of praise! He is to be feared above all gods. The gods of other nations are mere idols, but the Lord made the heavens!
Make this moment of praise, an hour of praise. And the hour, make it a day, and the day a week! Give an offering of praise - Come let us sing to God the Rock of our salvation. Come, give Him praise and glorify His name over and over again!
Prayer of Thanksgiving
Day 2: Preparing with Praise
Our Lord Who Provides
Furthering our journey, lets look broadly, to see God’s earth as His intention of our perfect home, And yet, though sin has corrupted the earth, His beauty and sustenance remains and His original intentions are on full display for giving us life and keeping us amazed beyond comprehension.
Notice the incredible detail of which David describes God’s purposes.
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He makes springs pour water into the ravines; it flows between the mountains. They give water to all the beasts of the field; the wild
donkeys quench their thirst. The birds of the sky nest by the waters;
they sing among the branches. He waters the mountains from his
upper chambers; the land is satisfied by the fruit of his work.
He makes grass grow for the cattle, and plants for people to cultivate, bringing forth food from the earth: wine that gladdens human hearts,oil to make their faces shine, and bread that sustains their hearts. The trees of the Lord are well watered, the cedars of Lebanon that he planted. There the birds make their nests; the stork has its home in the junipers. The high mountains belong to the wild goats; the crags are a refuge for the hyrax. Psalm 104:10-18
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and
Are not two sparrows sold for a cent? And yet not one of them will
fall to the ground apart from your Father. Matthew 10:29
God’s care and control of His creation is due to His deep love and connection to what He’s created. We’re apart of that, an incredibly important and cherished part of it.
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Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Matthew 6:26
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In God’s design is His love and care for us. Certainly we should be awestruck and responsive to His love for us - for in it… God provides our every need. He IS Jehovah Jireh, the Lord Who Provides
God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others
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And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his
glory in Christ Jesus.
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Throughout today may your lips speak of God’s incredible creation that provides for every living thing with immeasurable beauty and purpose. Please include yourself as a loved and cherished recipient of His showers of blessings. Sing aloud…
“No strength of our own,
no goodness we claim,
except we’re your children
adopted and changed.
O Healer you’ve healed
and you have supplied.
You’re Jehovah Jireh,
the Lord Who Provides”
Our Lord Who Provides
Day 3: Preparing with Praise_Personal Alignment
We are Thankful
Then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.
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The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life Job 33:4
As long as my breath is in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils,
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!
Is there more than breath and bread? If we break life down… I would say not much. Yet, how can two marvelous gifts be brought to the mundane of normalcy and expectancy when they are anything but? To praise God for the basic needs of existence should bring delight that overtakes our complacency of the commonplace. There can never be “Just another day” rather we should be dancing with joy for the chance to live again!
Breath is Life!
Thus says the Lord God to these bones: Behold, I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. Ezekiel 37:5
Totally involuntary, this miracle of our existence can be a driving force of praising God if only we give it the recognition it deserves. Up to 20 times a minute God is sustaining our lives. Every breath we take is deserved of praising God for it continues our life. Besides salvation, our breath might be the most vital thing we should be grateful for.
Food in the same way is a basic necessity that keeps our marvelous frame together.
Are we not to pray… Give us today our daily bread?
Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food.
1 Corinthians 6:13
But this too is not just a mundane function of life. If you think of your favorite food right now your mouth will begin to water, right? This basic need is not only God’s order of life, but His JOYFULL order of life!
My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you. Psalm 63:5
There is nothing better for a person than to eat and drink, and show himself some good in his trouble. This too I have seen, that it is from the hand of God. Ecc. 2:24
Nothing is as miraculous than our food being converted by our bodies to provide energy, nourishment, health and longevity. Humanity still doesn’t even fully understand it, but we can certainly be thankful for it!
With breath and bread we are held together, we reason, we serve, and we bond with our God and His humanity. I humbly ask you to give this simple thought much consideration and purpose for praising the Almighty!
When we can be astounded over our most basic needs then other blessings show our cup is always truly overflowing.
The fruit and the vine - The Spirit Divine who leads us into all righteousness - The cross on which He died in order that we might survive - If we are mindful, I have no doubt we’ll be thankful.
Take note of your breathing right now, feel your chest rise with the sustenance of God. Take note of His provision… for you. Today let your mind be cognizant of the joy of his breath and bread and respond to Him with dancing and joyful praise.
We Are Thankful
Day 4: Personal Alignment_Thankful to be Free
I'm Free
As a communicator, (my palette being music), I am humbled when God is giving me concepts to deliver that are, at the moment, beyond my understanding. I have learned to hang in there. Always slowly, but light bulbs will eventually turn on that reveal the deeper concepts of His wisdom. This song is one of those situations. For me its a powerful concept allowing me to live in the intentions of God’s design that is so incredibly eye opening that I can truly be free.
I pray this hits you the way it hits me.
So, the crux of “Thankful to be free” is this:
If God’s provision is trustworthy (and it is) then we are completely free to disengage from all the ways the world is trying to get us to live.
Again… If God’s provision is unequivocally trustworthy then we are completely free to disengage from all the ways the world is trying to get us to live.
The stress, frustration, pain and worry can all be traded for freedom in the peace of knowing:
“The Lord is my Shepherd - so I have no wants!".
God will provide perfectly, in every situation, in perfect timing.
If we choose to operate our lives in this manner then we can truly be free from all the things God never intended for us.
Each step of faith we take in this manner, the more we will see God come through.
Then everything in life snowballs into God’s loving care where:
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from
the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. James 1:17
But the human crux here is this… God won’t take anything from us that we desire to keep ourselves. Before He can work on our behalf we must first release our concerns to God. He wants our problems and he wants us to be free of them. But we must give it to God… and leave it with Him.
The song states: It’s never been more true - my everything’s supplied by you
The more I let go, The more you take over.
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It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1
If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, behold, the new has come! 2nd Corinthians 5:17
The “new” in the verse above is the freedom in Christ - That freedom is lived by setting our minds on the things above where Christ is. We become free when though we live on this world we choose not to live in it. We become free, when through Christ we separate ourselves from the world’s temptations and refuse what Satan’s desires for us.
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2
A life lived in freedom is the best way we can thank Him for all He does for us.
May His unending provision be the catalyst that puts us on a higher path of living.
May this thanksgiving be your ebenezer to Get Free!
God would love nothing better!
I'm Free
Day 5: Bound By Heritage
The Feast of Tabernacles
Due to the study of American history, westerners usually associate the Pilgrims with the first Thanksgiving, but that’s not actually accurate. Truth is, there are about 17 countries that celebrate a thanksgiving celebration, This would signify that a harvest celebration goes back in time. Way back in time.
The first celebration of God’s harvest was the Feast of Tabernacles. Sometimes called the Festival of Harvest, Sukkot or Festival of Booths. It was a 7 day festival commanded by God to celebrate and acknowledge how:
1) God had provided for the Israelites that particular year.
2) God had provided for them in the desert
3) The end of the Jewish calendar - reflecting on the past and looking to the future
Speak to the Israelites, saying, 'On the fifteenth day of this seventh month is the Feast of Tabernacles to the Lord for seven days’.
No matter what country Christians celebrate thanksgiving, may I present to you there is great significance in tying our celebration back to our spiritual roots. By taking Thanksgiving & reverting it back to Feast of Tabernacles, we take a good thing and turn it into a great thing.
Nothing can be more pleasing to God than to follow His statutes - (spiritually not lawfully). It connects us to God’s intended purpose. We’re not only recognizing the food God has given us this year, but doing it in the same manner as a long line of our biblical forefathers, being grateful of Gods amazing plan to provide for His creation. To celebrate the fact he “tabernacles” with us.
Consider the passage:
These are the feasts of the LORD, holy convocations which you shall proclaim at their appointed times. Leviticus 23:4
Thanksgiving can and should be so much more than a meal, rather as God calls it - a Holy Convocation worthy of God’s desire and reasoning. A time to gather, rest, worship and form unity - all to remember God’s actions and His covenant relationship with His people. Not just thanksgiving in the form of a regional or national holiday, but His Feast of Tabernacles.
The lyric states:
In abundant provision, how you open wide heaven’s gates to share what’s yours
We celebrate your harvest, and another year of promises
You keep on giving , You keep on giving
Grateful, to gather at your table and sing to you our Father from whom all blessings flow
Praises we raise in every language, this feast of Tabernacles, for faithful are you Lord
Lastly, many scholars see the Feast of Tabernacles has prophetic significance foreshadowing Jesus’ return.
As the lyric states:
Every good thing that’s given, is but a glimpse of your heaven, where your table is set forevermore
God’s history shows us our needs will be provided, our harvest will be wonderful and our future is secure. Go and set your table, give divine purpose to your thanksgiving and celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles!
Feast of Tabernacles
Day 6:Being specific about thankfulness at this place and time
We Feast Unto You Lord
Lets recap please:
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We are entering into His gates with Thanksgiving
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All our needs are provided by God,
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therefore, we can be free to live as God intends and
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therefore, Let us set our minds on His celebration, not the worlds.
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But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Matthew 6:33
The Feast of Tabernacles is tomorrow - Today is a day of much busyness and preparation. So before the hectic comes calling be thankful for this time and place. Recognize regardless of resources that God will provide exactly what is needed for you and yours. Maybe you’re a host, maybe a guest - regardless, you are gathering to celebrate Him who joins/tabernacles with us.
Be free in your busyness today. Set your mind above, on Him, and rejoice in preparing His bounty for those whom God will bring together. See it as a Holy Convocation ordained by God.
Also, when you shop, witness all of God’s bounty. Not just for you, but for all who are there. It's not just food, rather His provision for all people.
Notice:
Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 2 Corinthians 9:10
Give Him thanks for what your eyes behold for it is always, always a year of bounty!
Throughout this day drown your thoughts in Holy Water where demons and bad thoughts cannot follow. Let thoughts of joy and praise rise and keep your day high above the fray
“and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”
Remember… today will be hectic. You’re free only when you let go. Tomorrow is a special day. Prepare your heart with praise. Let your gratefulness of God’s blessings spill over to others. There is much to be joyful for.
As the lyrics states: We gather Your provision, Your bounty we behold
A Holy Celebration, We Feast unto You Lord.
We Feast Unto You Lord
Day 7A:Being specific about thankfulness at this place and time
Come Ye Thankful People Come
Happy Feast of Tabernacles!
I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil — this is the gift of God.
One of God’s most desired expressions of us is appreciation. Not because He’s a narcissistic tyrant, but rather because He knows what appreciation does for one’s “condition”. Appreciation takes our mind off of ourselves and focuses it on the one we appreciate. We are thankful, yes, we are also grateful but a greater form of emotion is given with appreciation. The connection grows deeper, the relationship is strengthened and praise and honor take hold.
Also, appreciation is contagious and easily moves from heart to heart because it wrapped in so much honesty. Share this day - share your appreciation to God for breath, bread, family, friends whom He has brought together share in His perfect provision. Come Ye Thankful People, Come!
Come with joy to share your heart
the gifts He has given may we impart
our harvest, our salvation,
all that we are
Come ye thankful people
For He’s made a table
and everyone’s welcome
all who are gathered come in His name
So shout in the Streets
“you can come as you are!”
Come Ye Thankful People Come
Come Ye Thankful People Come
Day 7B:Being specific about thankfulness at this place and time
Lord of the Harvest
In closing, whatever is on your plate today, God has provided this meal specifically just for you… today. Some of this food may have been grown halfway around the world. As it sprouted in its early stages God knew that this sustenance was going to be for you… today. Take a look at your table. Let it reveal to you the vast abundance of God’s love as he’s provided for you from all around this globe - Just For You and Yours. Don’t let this thought be wasted for as the scripture states.
You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy;
they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest
Isaiah 9:3
They do not say to themselves, ‘Let us fear the Lord our God,
who gives autumn and spring rains in season, who assures us of
the regular weeks of harvest. Jeremiah 5:24
There are no “flukes” or “happenstances” in God’s economy -
God is the Lord of the Harvest.
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For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you. Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous. And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will thank God.
The lyric states:
A sacred gathering we are sharing, a holiday to feast
and we celebrate all you freely give us
You are Lord, Lord of the Harvest
You provide everything you have promised
As we gather in this bounty you have given
Praises to you God for you are this
the Lord of the Harvest
Blessings Everyone.
Happy Feast of Tabernacles
