“I Always Will Thank God for YOU!” This week we have a guest preacher at Morrison. Her name is Jane Rabel and the title you see above is her Message Title. I’ve decided to use her scriptures for
the Study Guide this week; so I will be deviating from the lectionary for this one week. Jane chose I
Chronicles 16:8-13 and Matthew 25:31-45 as her texts. The First Chronicles passage is one of David’s
thanksgiving psalms. The Matthew passage is Jesus’ warning of the judgment of the nations. Let’s
think this week about all the ways we are thankful to God for each other and how that plays out in our everyday life.
Monday, November 1 -
Today is All Saints Day. Even though we will celebrate it next Sunday during
Worship, this is the actual day. I mention that because I think this is a particular day when we need
to be thankful to God for the lives that have touched ours throughout our years. All Saints celebration
reminds us that we are not here alone. There are those who cross our path every day who influence
the ways we move through our days and have our being. I’ve done several funerals during this past
year. I’ve been touched by each one that we’ve needed to send on to their reward either by them
personally or through what their families have shared with me. In every case, I’m better for having
known them and especially thankful to God for bringing them into my life!
Tuesday, November 2 -
Today is Election Day across the land. Though we are asked to get out and cast our vote, it causes me to think of another kind of election. How do we “elect” to be thankful?
Are we ONLY thankful for those things which please us or make us happy, or are we thankful for the
valuable lessons in life as well? There are many nights when we lay our heads on the pillow that we
find it difficult to be thankful for the day just past. However, if we search, there is ALWAYS something to be thankful for if we just elect to. So, on election day, 2010, how many ways have you elected to be
thankful?
Wednesday, November 3 -
Jesus’ recitation on the judgment of the nations is convicting at best. We ask the same questions to this day. “But Lord, WHEN did I see you: hungry, thirsty, naked, a stranger, sick or in prison, and not help you out?” Jesus will answer us, “When you refused the least of these
I name as my children, you refused me.” I’ll never forget a day years ago when a man appeared out
of nowhere to ask me for a ride. Matthew 25 came to mind and I could do nothing but grant him
his request. Somehow I knew it must have been Jesus. But, how many times I’ve failed to ask that
question! Today, let’s take this passage very seriously.
Thursday, November 4 -
It’s one thing to neglect to do something you wished you had; but quite another to blatantly omit caring for your sister or brother in Christ. Some might ask how ANYONE could blatantly be that uncaring! I wish it wouldn’t happen, but it does. I’m not going to give you any examples of this, but I hope you will think back to a time when that’s happened to you. Stop right now and pray it will never happen again, whether to you or by you!
Friday, November 5 -
Years ago I went with a group of United Methodist Men to Brazil for a mission interpretation trip. Our Bishop at the time was Jesse DeWitt. He was a great man who taught me that, “God’s good people are EVERYWHERE!” That has stuck with me for more than 25 years. I think that is the point of our Gospel text for this week. When we do good things to the people who cross our life paths, God is pleased indeed. When we do those things we are indeed doing them to Christ. And, Christ will bless us when “that day” finally comes!