To finish our #31DaysOfThanksgiving with our final song of thanksgiving, I chose a simple, but powerful song. You can listen to these two versions, the first sung by Janella Salvador and the second a guitar instrumental by Zeno, as you consider the verses below.
Give Thanks
by Don Moen
Give thanks with a grateful heart.
Psalm 86:12 I will give thanks to You, O Lord my God, with all my heart, and will glorify Your name forever.
Give thanks to the Holy One.
Psalm 30:4 Sing praise to the Lord, you His godly ones, and give thanks to His holy name.
Give thanks because He's given Jesus Christ, His Son
John 3:16 �For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life."
And now let the weak say, "I am strong."
Wording from Joel 3:10 Beat your plowshares into swords and your pruning hooks into spears; Let the weak say, �I am a mighty man.�
2 Corinthians 8:9-10 And He has said to me, �My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.� Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ�s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.
Let the poor say, "I am rich Because of what the Lord has done for us."
2 Corinthians 8:9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.
Give thanks.
Hebrews 13:15 Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name.
For my #31DaysOfThanksgiving I have had biweekly study of hymns and songs of thanksgiving. Here is a listing of all the songs with links to the studies.
This is another song of Thanksgiving that I was not familiar with, but thankful that someone shared it with me. There are many verses in the Bible about how God has or will bless individuals and Israel. He blesses us as well. In James 1:17, we see that all good gifts are from God. All of his blessings, both physical and spiritual, are to cause us to "overflow through many thanksgivings to God."
2 Corinthians 9:10-12 Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness; you will be enriched in everything for all liberality, which through us is producing thanksgiving to God. For the ministry of this service is not only fully supplying the needs of the saints, but is also overflowing through many thanksgivings to God.
Sing to the Lord of Harvest
By: John S. B. Monsell
Verse 1: Sing to the Lord of harvest, Sing songs of love and praise;
Exodus 23:16 Also you shall observe the Feast of the Harvest of the first fruits of your labors from what you sow in the field; also the Feast of the Ingathering at the end of the year when you gather in the fruit of your labors from the field.
Luke 10:2 And He was saying to them, �The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.
With joyful hearts and voices Your alleluias raise. By him the rolling seasons In fruitful order move;
God told Noah in Genesis 8:22 �While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.�
Psalm 74:17 You have established all the boundaries of the earth; You have made summer and winter.
Sing to the Lord of harvest A joyous song of love.
Psalm 33:3 Sing to Him a new song; Play skillfully with a shout of joy
Verse 2: God makes the clouds rain goodness, The deserts bloom and spring,
Psalm 147:7-8 Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving; Sing praises to our God on the lyre, who covers the heavens with clouds, who provides rain for the earth, who makes grass to grow on the mountains.
Isaiah 35:1The wilderness and the desert will be glad, and the Arabah will rejoice and blossom; Like the crocus it will blossom profusely and rejoice with rejoicing and shout of joy. The glory of Lebanon will be given to it, the majesty of Carmel and Sharon. They will see the glory of the Lord, the majesty of our God.
The hills leap up in gladness, The valleys laugh and sing.
Isaiah 55:12 �For you will go out with joy and be led forth with peace; The mountains and the hills will break forth into shouts of joy before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands."
Psalm 65:12-13 The pastures of the wilderness drip, and the hills gird themselves with rejoicing. The meadows are clothed with flocks and the valleys are covered with grain; They shout for joy, yes, they sing.
God fills them with his fullness, All thing with large increase;
Psalm 107:9 For He has satisfied the thirsty soul, and the hungry soul He has filled with what is good.
Psalm 145:14-16 The Lord sustains all who fall and raises up all who are bowed down. The eyes of all look to You, and You give them their food in due time. You open Your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing.
He crowns the year with blessing, With plenty and with peace.
Psalm 65:11 You have crowned the year with Your bounty, and Your paths drip with fatness.
Verse 3: Bring to this sacred altar The gifts his goodness gave,
Hebrews 13:15 Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name.
James 1:17 Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.
The golden sheaves of harvest, The souls Christ died to save.
Matthew 9:36-38 Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, �The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.�
Your hearts lay down before him When at his feet you fall,
Speaking of the ten lepers who were healed in Luke 17:15-16 Now one of them, when he saw that he had been healed, turned back, glorifying God with a loud voice, and he fell on his face at His feet, giving thanks to Him. And he was a Samaritan.
And with your lives adore him Who gave his life for all.
Romans 12:1 Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.
I was not familiar with this song until a friend introduced me to it last Thanksgiving. I loved it instantly. This song is another like Best Gift of All Thou Hast Bestow'd that you can't hear without causing gratitude to spring up in your heart. However, this hymn focuses exclusively on thanksgiving for Christ's death for us. If you are not familiar with the tune, you can find it here.
A Thousand, A Thousand Thanksgivings
by Ernst C. Homburg; Translated Mrs Frances Bevan
Verse 1: Thou Life of my life, blessed Jesus, Thou death of the death that was mine,
Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
For me was Thy cross and Thine anguish, Thy love and Thy sorrow divine;
1 Corinthians 15:3-4 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,
Thou suffered the cross and the torment, That I might forever go free -
1 Peter 3:18 For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit;
A thousand, a thousand thanksgivings, I bring, blessed Savior, to Thee!
Verse 2: For me Thou hast borne the reproaches, The mockery, hate and disdain;
Speaking prophetically of Jesus in Psalm 22:6But I am a worm and not a man, a reproach of men and despised by the people.
Luke 23:36-37 The soldiers also mocked Him, coming up to Him, offering Him sour wine, and saying, �If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself!�
The blows and the spittings of sinners, The scourging, the shame and the pain;
Matthew 26:67 Then they spat in His face and beat Him with their fists; and others slapped Him,
Matthew 27:26 Then he released Barabbas for them; but after having Jesus scourged, he handed Him over to be crucified.
To save me from bondage and judgment, Thou gladly hast suffered for me -
Romans 6:5-7 For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; for he who has died is freed from sin.
Romans 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.
A thousand, a thousand thanksgivings, I bring, blessed Savior, to Thee!
Verse 3: O Lord, from my heart I do thank Thee For all Thou hast borne in my room,
About Jesus in 1 Peter 2:24 and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.
Thine agony, dying, unsolaced, Alone in the darkness of doom,
When Jesus was praying in the Garden of Gethsemane in Luke 22:44 And being in agony He was praying very fervently; and His sweat became like drops of blood, falling down upon the ground.
Isaiah 53:3He was despised and forsaken of men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; And like one from whom men hide their face He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.
That I, in the glory of heaven, Forever and ever might be -
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.
Revelation 22:3-5 There will no longer be any curse; and the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His bond-servants will serve Him; they will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads. And there will no longer be any night; and they will not have need of the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God will illumine them; and they will reign forever and ever.
A thousand, a thousand thanksgivings, I bring, blessed Savior, to Thee!
2 Corinthians 9:15 Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!
Today's hymn of Thanksgiving is relatively unknown, but I just love its content. Each verse focuses on a different thing for which we should thank God. If you aren't feeling particularly grateful, you can reflect on this hymn and the thanksgiving will overflow. As an obscure hymn, I knew I wouldn't find a video of it, but here is a video of the tune by Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina that is used for this song. The music can be found at Hymnary.org.
Best Gift of All Thou Hast Bestowed
by Samuel Ridout
Verse 1: Best gift of all Thou hast bestow'd, The precious, priceless blood that flow'd
Jesus said in John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life."
1 Peter 1:18-19 knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.
When Jesus bore our sins' great load, - For this we thank Thee!
2 Corinthians 9:15 Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!
Verse 2: And then that wondrous love of Thine Which made us heirs of wealth divine,
Titus 3:7 so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
And us to Thee as sons did join, - For this we thank Thee!
Galatians 4:4-5 But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.
Verse 3: For sweetest fellowship on earth With other sons of heav'nly birth,
2 Thessalonians 1:3 We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brethren, as is only fitting, because your faith is greatly enlarged, and the love of each one of you toward one another grows ever greater;
In greater joy than this world's mirth, - For this we thank Thee!
Romans 12:5 so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.
2 Corinthians 7:3 I do not speak to condemn you, for I have said before that you are in our hearts to die together and to live together.
Verse 4: For patient grace that guides our way, While pilgrims in this world we stay,
Psalm 73:23-24 Nevertheless I am continually with You; you have taken hold of my right hand. With Your counsel You will guide me, and afterward receive me to glory.
Hebrews 11:13-16 All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. And indeed if they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them.
In fire by night, in cloud by day, - For this we thank Thee!
Speaking of God in Nehemiah 9:19 You, in Your great compassion, did not forsake them in the wilderness; the pillar of cloud did not leave them by day, to guide them on their way, nor the pillar of fire by night, to light for them the way in which they were to go.
Verse 5: For many mansions in Thy home, Where we one day with Christ shall come,
Jesus said in John 14:2-3 In My Father�s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.
And never, never from Thee roam, - For this we thank Thee!
1 Thessalonians 4:17 Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.
Verse 6: For sickness, sadness, pain, and loss, For fellowship with Jesus' Cross
That turns this world's gold in dross, - For this we thank Thee!
Philippians 3:10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death;
Colossians 1:24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I do my share on behalf of His body, which is the church, in filling up what is lacking in Christ�s afflictions.
Verse 7: For loving faithfulness and grace That cast us down upon our face,
James 1:2 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.
And make the flesh take its own place, - For this we thank Thee!
1 Thessalonians 5:23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Verse 8: In all our joy and all our grief, For chast'ning sore, or sweet relief,
1 Thessalonians 5:17 in everything give thanks; for this is God�s will for you in Christ Jesus.
Hebrews 12:5-6, 11 And you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons, �My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor faint when you are reproved by Him; For those whom the Lord loves He disciplines, and He scourges every son whom He receives.�... All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.
For lengthen'd days, or waiting brief, - For this we thank Thee!
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
Verse 9: And when our time on earth is o'er, When in Thy presence we adore,
2 Corinthians 5;8 we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord.
O then, for all that's gone before, We e'er shall thank thee!
Psalm 139:14 I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, and my soul knows it very well.
Isaiah 12:4 And in that day you will say, �Give thanks to the Lord, call on His name. Make known His deeds among the peoples; Make them remember that His name is exalted.�
Revelation 11:15-17Then the seventh angel sounded; and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, �The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever.� And the twenty-four elders, who sit on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshiped God, saying,�We give You thanks, O Lord God, the Almighty, who are and who were, because You have taken Your great power and have begun to reign."
No list of songs of thanksgiving would be complete without Now Thank We All Our God. It is triumphant in our thanksgiving to the God who has blessed us. Below is a classical rendition of the tune (arranged by John Rutter).
For those looking for something more contemporary, here are a few very different versions. First, one by Garrison Keillor and Heather Masse on Prairie Home Companion.
Next, a contemporary choral version.
Last, a contemporary acoustic version.
Now Thank We All Our God
by Martin Rinckart (1636)
translated by Catherine Winkworth
Verse 1: Now thank we all our God With heart and hands and voices,
Psalm 27:8 The Lord is my strength and my shield; My heart trusts in Him, and I am helped; Therefore my heart exults, and with my song I shall thank Him.
Who wondrous things has done, In whom his world rejoices;
Psalm 40:5 Many, O Lord my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.
Who from our mothers' arms
Has blessed us on our way
Ephesians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,
With countless gifts of love, And still is ours today.
James 1:17 Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.
Jesus said in John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life."
Verse 2: O may this bounteous God Through all our life be near us,
James 4:8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
With ever joyful hearts And blessed peace to cheer us,
Paul and Barnabas said in Acts 14:17 "and yet He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good and gave you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness."
Jesus said in John 16:33 (KJV) "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."
To keep us in his grace, And guide us when perplexed,
Ephesians 2:7 so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
Psalm 31:3 For You are my rock and my fortress; For Your name�s sake You will lead me and guide me.
And free us from all ills Of this world in the next.
Revelation 21:1-5 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, �Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.�
Verse 3: All praise and thanks to God The Father now be given,
Psalm 69:30 I will praise the name of God with song and magnify Him with thanksgiving.
To Christ, and Spirit, too, Our help in highest heaven,
Romans 8:26 In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words;
Romans 8:34 who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.
John 14:26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.
The one eternal God, Whom heaven and earth adore;
Psalm 117:2 For His lovingkindness is great toward us, and the truth of the Lord is everlasting. Praise the Lord!
For thus it was, is now, And shall be evermore.
Revelation 1:7 Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So it is to be. Amen. �I am the Alpha and the Omega,� says the Lord God, �who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.�
This song takes me back to my childhood of listening to Christian music and few songs offer more power thanks to the Lord for all He has done for us.
My Tribute
by Andra� Crouch
How can I say thanks for the things You have done for me? Things so undeserved yet you gave To prove your love for me.
Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
The voices of a million angels Could not express my gratitude. All that I am, and ever hope to be I owe it all to thee.
Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.
Romans 13:7 Render to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.
To God be the glory, to God be the glory, To God be the glory for the things he has done.
Philippians 4:20 Now to our God and Father be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
With his blood, he has saved me.
Revelation 1:4-6 John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace, from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood� and He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father�to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
With his power, he has raised me.
1 Corinthians 6:14 Now God has not only raised the Lord, but will also raise us up through His power.
To God be the glory for the things he has done.
1 Timothy 1:17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
Just let me live my life and Let it be pleasing Lord to thee
2 Corinthians 5:9 Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him.
And if I gain any praise, let it go to Calvary.
Psalm 115:1 Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to Your name give glory because of Your lovingkindness, because of Your truth.
With his blood, he has saved me.
Ephesians 1:7-8a In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us.
With his power, he has raised me.
Philippians 3:10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death;
To God be the glory for the things he has done.
Acts 4:21 When they had threatened them further, they let them go (finding no basis on which to punish them) on account of the people, because they were all glorifying God for what had happened;
All Creatures of Our God and King is an English translation of a medieval poem. The original poem Canticle of the Sun by Francis of Assisi was written in Latin around 1225. It was translated by William H. Draper and first published in 1919.
This beautifully worded hymn poetically describes all of Creation praising God. I'm not sure why this song makes me think of Thanksgiving, but I'm not alone in labeling it so. I imagine it is the image of creation praising Him during this season when nature is so strongly the focus with the harvesting of crops and the changing colors of leaves. And for those who might not know, Alleluia (or Hallelujah) means "Praise the Lord"
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Let's bring our thanks to God for all He has created as we join with all of Creation in praising our Creator and Redeemer.
All Creatures of Our God and King
by Francis of Assisi, circa 1225
translated by William H. Draper
Verse 1: All creatures of our God and King, lift up your voice and with us sing Alleluia! Alleluia!
Psalm 103:22 Bless the Lord, all you works of His, in all places of His dominion; Bless the Lord, O my soul!
Psalm 19:1 The heavens are telling of the glory of God; And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands.
Thou burning sun with golden beam, thou silver moon with softer gleam, O praise Him, O praise Him! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Psalm 148:1-6 Praise the Lord from the heavens; Praise Him in the heights! Praise Him, all His angels; Praise Him, all His hosts! Praise Him, sun and moon;Praise Him, all stars of light! Praise Him, highest heavens, and the waters that are above the heavens! Let them praise the name of the Lord, for He commanded and they were created.He has also established them forever and ever; He has made a decree which will not pass away.
Verse 2: Thou rushing wind that art so strong, ye clouds that sail in heav'n along, O praise Him! Alleluia!
Psalm 148:7-8 Praise the Lord from the earth, sea monsters and all deeps; Fire and hail, snow and clouds; Stormy wind, fulfilling His word;
Thou rising morn, in praise rejoice, ye lights of ev'ning find a voice! O praise Him, O praise Him! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Psalm 148:3 Praise Him, sun and moon; Praise Him, all stars of light!
Verse 3: And all ye men of tender heart, forgiving others, take your part, O sing ye! Alleluia!
Ephesians 4:32 Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.
Ye who long pain and sorrow bear, praise God and on Him cast your care! O praise Him, O praise Him! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Psalm 55:22 Cast your burden upon the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.
1 Peter 5:7 casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.
Verse 4: Let all things their Creator bless and worship Him in humbleness, O praise Him! Alleluia!
Psalm 145:10 All Your works shall give thanks to You, O Lord, and Your godly ones shall bless You.
Psalm 69:34 Let heaven and earth praise Him, the seas and everything that moves in them.
Praise, praise the Father, praise the Son, and praise the Spirit*, Three in One: O praise Him, O praise Him! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Ephesians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,
About Jesus in Revelation 5:12 saying with a loud voice, �Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing.�
*While the Holy Spirit is God, nowhere in Scripture does it tell us to praise or worship Him. The Holy Spirit's function is to glorify Christ (as Christ's role is to reveal the Father and carry out His plans).
Jesus said in John 16:13-14 But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you.
It is not a question or the Holy Spirit's worthiness, but rather what we are instructed to do. While we are not instructed to praise Him, we are instructed to be filled with the Spirit (Eph. 5:18), to follow His leading (ex. Acts 11:12), not to quench Him (1 Thess. 5:19), and not to grieve Him (Eph. 4:30).
The song of thanksgiving for today is less conventional, but a lot of fun. It is basically the same idea as the hymn Count Your Blessings. It encourages you to be thankful for something in your life no matter what your circumstances are. Sometimes you just have to identify all the ways that God has blessed you "one by one" to help you "see what God has done." If you are going through a difficult time and don't know what to be thankful for, start by reading a passage like Ephesians 1:3-14 and thanking God for all of the spiritual blessings He has given us in Christ. When you meditate on the fact that someone died for you to have eternal life and many other blessings besides, it is hard to remain ungrateful.
Thank God For Something
by Jon Steingard, Seth Mosley, and Michael Farren
Verse 1: Mama always said to me the very best medicine is gratitude. It's not what you don't have, but what you do. I must admit that I forget that life's a gift. Hey mama, gonna change my attitude.
Colossians 3:15-16 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
1, 2, 3, 4 Count my blessings. 1, 2, 3, 4 Count my blessings.
Chorus: If you got a lot or a lotta nothing, Go ahead and thank God for something. You're gonna see the good if you're good at looking, So go ahead and thank God for something.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 in everything give thanks; for this is God�s will for you in Christ Jesus.
Verse 2: We have a lot or have a little it's really nothing new. Happiness should never be a slave to revenue. We got a breakdown, need a way out, living unbound When we start singing out a new tune
Philippians 4:11-13 Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.
1, 2, 3, 4 Count my blessings. 1, 2, 3, 4 Count my blessings.
Chorus: If you got a lot or a lotta nothing, Go ahead and thank God for something. You're gonna see the good if you're good at looking, So go ahead and thank God for something.
Ephesians 5:20 always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father;
Bridge: In the wonder, in the heartache, In the good times and the mistakes, No matter what I am going through I can always say thank you. When the blessings are in disguise Let gratitude open my eyes,
Job 5:17 "Behold, how happy is the man whom God reproves, so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty. For He inflicts pain, and gives relief; He wounds, and His hands also heal."
Psalm 119:67 Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep Your word.
2 Corinthians 4:17 For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison,
Hebrews 12:11 All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.
'Cause I've just been given too much To do anything but
Ephesians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,
1, 2, 3, 4 Count my blessings. 1, 2, 3, 4 Count my blessings.
I have always loved the hymn For the Beauty Of the Earth. We sang it at my childhood church. As a nature lover, it definitely spoke to me. However, it goes beyond praising and thanking God for the beauty of His creation. It also expresses gratitude for the other people God has brought into our lives and the great gift of Jesus our Savior.
We sang a different arrangement of For the Beauty Of the Earth in my high school's choir (yes, in a public school and only about 20 years ago). I didn't know if I would be able to find that arrangement online because I didn't even know the arranger, but I was able to quickly find a video of the arrangement by John Rutter. Apparently, it is very popular.
If you are looking for a version to play in a more modern worship service, this one is great.
Or if you just want to relax to a piano arrangement, Chris Rice is amazing.
However you choose to listen to this hymn, this is definitely one to add to your Thanksgiving playlist. The overall theme of this song seems to be these two verses:
James 1:17Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.
Hebrews 13:15 Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name.
For The Beauty of The Earth
by Folliott Sanford Pierpoint, 1864
Verse 1: For the beauty of the earth, for the glory of the skies,
Psalm 8:1 O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth, who have displayed Your splendor above the heavens!
for the love which from our birth over and around us lies.
Psalm 33:5 He loves righteousness and justice; The earth is full of the lovingkindness of the Lord.
Psalm 32:10 Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but he who trusts in the Lord, lovingkindness shall surround him.
Refrain: Lord of all*, to Thee we raise this, our hymn of grateful praise.
Hebrews 13:15 Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name.
Psalm 147:7 Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving; Sing praises to our God on the lyre,
Verse 2: For the wonder of each hour of the day and of the night,
2 Peter 3:8 But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day.
hill and vale and tree and flower, sun and moon and stars of light,
Luke 12:27 Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; but I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these.
Psalm 148:3 Praise Him, sun and moon; Praise Him, all stars of light!
Verse 3: For the joy of human love, brother, sister, parent, child, friends on earth, and friends above, for all gentle thoughts and mild,
2 Thessalonians 1:3 We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brethren, as is only fitting, because your faith is greatly enlarged, and the love of each one of you toward one another grows ever greater;
Verse 4: For yourself, best gift divine, to the world so freely given,
Jesus said in John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life."
agent of God's grand design: peace on earth and joy in heaven.
Ephesians 3:11 This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord,
1 John 4:14 We have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son to be the Savior of the world.
The angels praised Jesus birth saying in Luke 2:13-14 And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, �Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.�
* Pierpoint wrote this line as "Christ, our God, to Thee we raise this our sacrifice of praise." There are now many variations of this line changing "Christ, our God" to "Lord of all" or "Christ, our Lord" and "our sacrifice of praise" to "our hymn of grateful praise." All of these lines are great with the original text pointing more toward Hebrews 13:15 and the latter toward Psalm 50:23.
