S U N D A Y   S N I P P E T S (tm) # 4 4                8 October 95


                          Thanksgiving
                          ------------

To the Christian, the natural response of the heart is one of
_thanksgiving_.  The believer knows that all earthly blessings
originate from one heavenly Source, and daily offerings of
gratitude in prayer is the norm to him.

In Canada, we will observing national holiday by the name of
Thanksgiving on Monday (Oct. 9th).  When this day was originally
instututed by the Canadian Parliament many years ago, the day was
declared to be a day on which all Canadians would observe in
gratitude to God Almighty for a bountiful harvest.   Appreciation
for one's daily bread is a reasonable place to begin if one is a
novice on the road of thanksgiving.  When one begins to realize
that ultimately, the ability to labour, to earn money, the
freedom to buy the food, and the health to digest it are all
gifts from the benevolent heart of the Lord, one can then grow in
understanding how He has provided graciously in many other
aspects of life.

"Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in all cir-
cumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." 
[1 Thess. 5:16+, RSV.]  Thus wrote an apostle who had to learn
firsthand to trust God both in times of blessing and in times of
lack and suffering.    How often do we hear our secular
colleagues complain when times are tough, and say nothing when
times are good!  Christians are to be unlike that; in fact, a
mature Christian learns that even hard events have a good side to
them, a greater good than the evil (even if it cannot be
perceived at the moment).

In closing, let me include a short but appropriate hymn written by Isaac 
Watts, 1719:

                From all that dwell below the skies 
                Let the Creator's praise arise:
                Let the Redeemer's Name be sung
                Through ev'ry land, by ev'ry tongue.

                Eternal are thy mercies, Lord;
                Eternal truth attends thy Word:
                Thy praise shall sound from shore to shore
                Till suns shall rise and set no more.

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