May 2, 2016

“It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to your name, O Most High; to declare your steadfast love in the morning, and your faithfulness by night, to the music of the lute and the harp, to the melody of the lyre. For you, O Lord, have made me glad by your work; at the works of your hands I sing for joy.” Psalm 92:1-4

The very nature of God’s Spirit power – we speak of being in the power of the Holy Spirit – and often that power pushes us to share it. When so many feel powerless, they seek someone to help them regain some power. Many turn to politicians who promise them all kinds of things that they will do for them – and so many of them will never be able to come to fruition. So, it is good to know that G-d is generous, and that G-d offers the Spirit’s empowerment to all the world. How do you feel the presence of the Holy Spirit? How do you encounter that Spirit every day? G-d offers you the presence of the Spirit for you now – and into the future – but you need to find the time to listen for its presence. Reach out, reach up for the power of the Spirit in your life.

Did your parents raise you to write thank-you notes? We are a society that is losing this very basic expression of thanks. Writing a quick note to express your appreciation to someone for what they’ve done for you is becoming a thing of the past. The tenets of Social media are partly to blame – the speed of life is also partly to blame. This habit can teach us to slow down and pay attention to the people around us and the love they show us.

The Bible is filled with passages that read like thank-you notes to G-d. We have so much to be thankful for! G-d created us and G-d seeks a relationship with us as G-d seeks to take care of us. G-d loves us no matter how many times we mess up. G-d’s Spirit is always with us. We should give thanks because G-d hasn’t left us on our own – and for that we should daily say “Thanks, G-d!”

Pastor Dave