It is with grateful hearts that we give thanks to the Lord.

Every time I read the story of the Ten Lepers I wonder if I am more like the leper who returned to Jesus to give thanks or am I like the other nine who did not. I think that Jesus used the one leper as a percentage telling us that on average only 10% of people who have been blessed by God will return to Him with thanksgiving. Or maybe it could also mean that the average person will only return to give thanks to the Lord 10% of the time. How thankful am I for what God has done for me? How often do I take the time, that the Samaritan leper did, to return to the Lord to offer Him thanksgiving and praise?

Sunday mornings are a great opportunity to return to the Lord with thanksgiving in our hearts and praises upon our lips for what Jesus has done for us, and for what God continues to do for us throughout our lives. When I am unable to attend a Sunday Divine Service, I miss our Lord serving me through His Word and Sacrament, I miss Him offering me forgiveness of all my sins, I miss the nourishment that He gives me throughout the service. I also miss rejoicing with each of you in how awesome and gracious God really is. I miss thanking and praising our Lord in word and song along with each of you. I am so glad that there is more than 10% of us gathered together in each of our services. How awesome it would be if 100% of us were to return to the Lord on Sunday mornings to receive His gifts, be nourished and strengthened by Him, and offer up to Him corporately thanksgiving and praise.

Every day of the week offers countless opportunities to thank and praise God. I cannot recall how many times that God was there for me yesterday- loving me, forgiving me, providing for me, protecting me… And I know that He will be there the same for me today. I do not thank the Lord enough. Part of the reason is that I do not even realize all that He has done, is doing, and continues to do for me. It may be that I spend less than 10% of my day thanking God. I do set aside time during the day to spend with my Lord and my God. I thank Him during those times. I also periodically thank Him throughout the day, though definitely not enough! I love to sing hymns and songs of praise to Him, even out loud, though only when I am alone in the car so that I do not make people shriek after hearing my voice. My day is so much more joyful when I praise and thank our great and awesome God.

Thanksgiving is right around the corner. It seems as though it is coming up too quickly, but maybe it does not arrive soon enough. I look forward to Thanksgiving. While I look forward to the great food that will fill my belly, and being with the people that I love, I look even more forward to the Thanksgiving Eve Service. I love Christmas, Holy Week, and Easter Services, especially Easter when we get to celebrate the resurrection our Lord - a definite day to give thanks and praise to God. However, Thanksgiving, while not a truly a Church holiday, is certainly a special day, thankfully set aside by our government. It gives a special occasion to gather together as a family to thank God for everything. Our list of thanksgivings could probably be endless. Please join me and our Trinity family as we gather together to receive the gifts of God and offer up to Him our thanksgiving and praise for Who He IS and What He Has Done for us, especially when He forgives us for all of the times that we have failed to return to Him to give thanks.

May we all, by God’s grace, return to the Lord this Thanksgiving Eve to give thanks. I look forward to being with you on Wednesday, November 27 at 7 pm.

~ Pastor Webb