Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you. Psalm 67:3.

As I sit at my computer, rain has been coming down, the wind is howling outside and the temperature is going down; a reminder that a change of seasons is happening in a big and impressive way. With this change of season I also am reminded of the bounty that the earth has given; the kind of bounty that prompted the psalmist to write the words of Psalm 67. The psalmist not only appeals for praise to be expressed by all, but at the end of the psalm echoes the kind of statements that have been shared in conversations and the news.

The earth has yielded its increase; God our God, has blessed us. May God continue to bless us; let all the ends of the earth revere him. Psalm 67:6-7.

As we approach Thanksgiving Day, may praise and thanksgiving rise from our lips not only for the bounty of the earth. May we ponder about and include the many other ways God has woven presence and providence into our lives. A table grace I remember from my Bible camp experience I believe sums up the expression of the psalmist.

For life and heath and daily food we give you thanks, O God. Amen.

As a post script to the above, on Wednesday evening, November 24, at 7:00pm there will be a Thanksgiving Eve service at Our Savior’s for all who would like to take time to give thanks for and celebrate the many ways God has indeed blessed us.