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November Devotional
Do you remember the words to that old Thanksgiving
Hymn that we used to sing as children in church?
"Come, ye thankful people, come!
Raise the song of Harvest home.
All is safely gathered in - 'ere the winter storms
begin.
God our Maker doth provide, for our needs to be supplied.
Come, ye thankful people, come!
Raise the song of Harvest home."
If you are anything like me ... you didn't understand
those words as a child yet you knew that they held
a certain significance to the season of Thanksgiving.
In your young heart, you embraced the surety that
these words were more intrinsically a part of the
season than pumpkins, turkeys and going to Gramma's
house. I must admit, I am still not sure what every
line of the blessed, antiquated lyrics really means
... but this I do know: God is calling us to be a
thankful people!
He is our Maker and He has provided for every need
that we could possibly have this side of heaven. His
part of the relationship is to supply - our response
should always be a deep and abiding gratitude.
"All is safely gathered in, 'ere the winter storms
begin ... " This might be my favorite line of
all. Of course, upon the first reading of it, most
of us picture a big, old red barn with the doors swung
wide open. We mentally view a family standing around
the outside of this storehouse as they look at the
bountiful harvest safely brought inside that will
see them through the winter season.
I have come to see quite a different picture as I
hum the familiar melody of this heavenly refrain.
I realize that we all go through winter seasons in
our life whether it is the death of a loved one, the
dying of a dream or a vision or just the rejection
of those whom we thought cared. The secret to enduring
the blast of life's winter storms is to know that
He will provide, He will keep you safe and that we
are to be a thankful people.
So, this year as you carve the turkey ... as you make
sure that there are no lumps in your famous grave
... and wonder if there will be enough mashed potatoes
to go around - don't forget to live a lifestyle of
thanksgiving. Thankfulness will provide protection
for every winter storm of your life!
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