Unusual Thanksgiving

© Karen Kyle Ericson, all rights reserved.

Last week was our American Thanksgiving holiday.  The advertisements on television, showed beautiful homes (no dust bunnies), beautiful people, and the most perfect turkey you can dream of.  No one in my family has ever been able to cook the perfect looking turkey : )  As a photographer, I'm thinking plastic with gel on it.  I don't recall my Grandmother wearing diamond jewelry to dinner either.

This year's Thanksgiving was different from most.  Because of the storm, my husband had to miss some days of work.  He had to make up the time on Thanksgiving.  The whole staff in the Nursing Home was there with him.  He got home late.  I made a frozen turkey loaf with gravy, instant mashed potatoes, dressing, and heated a can of corn.  It was a feast with some pumpkin pie and whip cream.  I was so grateful to have my kitchen back, for our meal and my husband.  He still makes my heart dance when he gets home.  Ok, so last night he ate the last 2 pieces of pie by himself...  no one's perfect.

The News showed how a group of people went to Long Island, NY and made Thanksgiving dinner for those without homes.  I felt such pride that people would go out of their way to make someone else's holiday special.  Then the camera zoomed in on an older woman.  She was holding back tears as she said, "This is hard.  I usually make Thanksgiving dinner.  My family gets together.  I don't have a kitchen."

Sometimes being thankful isn't how we feel at all.  Thankfulness isn't really a feeling, it's a choice.  And sometimes it's ok to just cry.  Most of us can think of all the possessions and people we are thankful for.  When I'm down, it's amazing how choosing to thank God, lifts my spirits.  

Everyday is a day of thanksgiving for Christians.  We have much to be thankful for!  Here's a great song by Matt Redman,   10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord) link.  I just raised the roof in my studio singing along : )


I found these Thanksgiving Psalms the other night.  It seemed like the Lord turned the pages of my Bible to what He wanted me to read.



Psalm 100

1 Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands!
2 Serve the Lord with gladness;
Come before His presence with singing.
3 Know that the Lord, He is God;
It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.

4 Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
And into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
5 For the Lord is good;
His mercy is everlasting,
And His truth endures to all generations.
NKJV

Psalm 103

1 Bless the Lord, O my soul;
And all that is within me, bless His holy name!
2 Bless the Lord, O my soul,
And forget not all His benefits:
3 Who forgives all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases,
4 Who redeems your life from destruction,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,
5 Who satisfies your mouth with good things,
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

6 The Lord executes righteousness
And justice for all who are oppressed.
7 He made known His ways to Moses,
His acts to the children of Israel.
8 The Lord is merciful and gracious,
Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy.
9 He will not always strive with us,
Nor will He keep His anger forever.
10 He has not dealt with us according to our sins,
Nor punished us according to our iniquities.

11 For as the heavens are high above the earth,
So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him;
12 As far as the east is from the west,
So far has He removed our transgressions from us.
13 As a father pities his children,
So the Lord pities those who fear Him.
14 For He knows our frame;
He remembers that we are dust.
15 As for man, his days are like grass;
As a flower of the field, so he flourishes.
16 For the wind passes over it, and it is gone,
And its place remembers it no more.
17 But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting
On those who fear Him,
And His righteousness to children's children,
18 To such as keep His covenant,
And to those who remember His commandments to do them.
19 The Lord has established His throne in heaven,
And His kingdom rules over all.

20 Bless the Lord, you His angels,
Who excel in strength, who do His word,
Heeding the voice of His word.
21 Bless the Lord, all you His hosts,
You ministers of His, who do His pleasure.
22 Bless the Lord, all His works,
In all places of His dominion.

Bless the Lord, O my soul!
NKJV

Thank You

This Psalm repeats the words, "Thank you."  So I made a little Thank You card.  But it's repeated, that means the Lord wants us to remember to say, "Thanks."  Sorry this post is so late, vacation last week and well, since I'm at home, I'm the Technical Support lady in our house : )  After much frustration and muscle twitches, my husband's laptop connects to the internet again!  He said, "Thanks," about three times already.  Thanks to God for internet access, laptops and all those computing skills I learned in IT.  I couldn't have done it without Him- seriously.

Psalm 138

Angels listen to us.  That is so cool.  I highlighted my favorites in blue but you might have other favorites.
1 Thank you! Everything in me says "Thank you!"
Angels listen as I sing my thanks. 

2 I kneel in worship facing your holy temple

and say it again: "Thank you!"

Thank you for your love,

thank you for your faithfulness;

Most holy is your name,

most holy is your Word. 

3 The moment I called out, you stepped in;

you made my life large with strength.

If only our world leaders and politicians would listen to God's voice, I really don't know who does and who doesn't though.  Some probably do.  I'd love to hear them praise God.
4 When they hear what you have to say, God,

all earth's kings will say "Thank you." 

5 They'll sing of what you've done:
"How great the glory of God!" 

He knows all about us, and loves us so much He died for us.  That's one loving Father for sure.  The least we can do is say, "Thanks."  And, believe His love never quits.

6 And here's why: God, high above, sees far below;

no matter the distance, he knows everything about us.

Ok.  So I was born with a "Kick me" sign on my back.  At least sometimes it seems that way.  A friend told me once I have the gift of martyrdom.  I'm not sure about that, and also not sure I'd like to have it.  But, if it's God's will- He'll help me do a good job at it.  Needless to say, I tend to wander into the thick of trouble.  I can testify that God has given me the strength to handle all sorts of trouble.  I actually had to pray in one of my jobs, "Let Your rod and staff comfort me.  So I don't make things worse by saying the wrong things!"  I can laugh now because it's all over and I'm safe.  I can laugh because God helped me let go of the vengeful feelings and let Him handle it.  Every time I started getting angry, I'd quote, "Vengeance is mine saith the Lord," over and over (that verse needs to be said in old English, in my opinion).

7 When I walk into the thick of trouble,

keep me alive in the angry turmoil.

With one hand

strike my foes,

With your other hand

save me. 

There's a reason for everything.  Even the stuff I don't like.  It's all a part of a bigger plan.   One day all the joys and heartaches, pains and triumphs, will be shaped by God's hand into a beautiful soul.   I for one, needed lots of work in the beginning and still do.

8 Finish what you started in me, God.

Your love is eternal — don't quit on me now.
THE MESSAGE

Isaiah 64:8
8 But now, O Lord,
You are our Father;
We are the clay, and You our potter;
And all we are the work of Your hand.
NKJV

Thank You Father for healing me of anger.  Thank You for the many ways You shape our souls and for Your immense patience.

In Jesus Name, Amen.