H. L. Sheppard

                                                                                                                   Bulletin

                                                                                                                   November 2008

Giving Thanks Always

For All Things

In 1636 during the Thirty Year War--one of the worst wars in the history of mankind in terms of the sheer number of deaths, epidemics, the economic results--there was a godly pastor whose name was Martin Rinkert. In a single year, this pastor buried 5,000 people in his parish--about fifteen a day. He lived with the worst that life could offer.  But if you look in your hymnal, you'll find that in the middle of that time, he wrote a table grace for his children, a thanksgiving hymn:

       "Now thank we all our God

        With hearts and hands and voices,

        Who wondrous things has done,

        In whom his world rejoices."

If we’d spent the year holding 5,000 funerals for the people we served, could we write for our children a song of thanksgiving? It's an unusual thing that, in history many who might seem to have the least to thank God for, always thank him the most.  (Joel Gregory, "The Unlikely Thanker,").

Eph 5:20  Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;

            1 Th 5:18  In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

Are you thankful always for all things?