Sought-out Thanksgiving

²⁷ And at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought the Levites in all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem to celebrate the dedication with gladness, with thanksgivings and with singing, with cymbals, harps, and lyres. ²⁸ And the sons of the singers gathered together from the district surrounding Jerusalem and from the villages of the Netophathites; Nehemiah 12
445 B.C. Want Ad: "Immediate Openings: Levites to return to Jerusalem to lead God's people in Thanksgiving." 
2013 A. D. Want Ad: "Wanted: Believers to arise in the church to lead the way in Thanksgiving - to celebrate with Gladness all that God has done."  We need to be those people, giving thanks to God, rebuilding a sense of trust and security found in Christ, and Christ alone.  Let us give Him thanks!

Thanksgiving: A privileged position...

And the Levites: Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, and Mattaniah, who with his brothers was in charge of the songs of thanksgiving. Nehemiah 12:8
During the revival of Nehemiah's day, God took time to list many involved, including those who were in charge of the songs of thanksgiving.  It is a place of honor, and it was also one of the marks of that revival. When God's people get right in their relationship with Him, thanksgiving comes out. Is it coming out of us?  Are we experiencing the privilege of thanksgiving?

No Half-hearted Thanksgiving

2 Chronicles 33:16-17 He also restored the altar of the Lord and offered on it sacrifices of peace offerings and of thanksgiving, and he commanded Judah to serve the Lord, the God of Israel. Nevertheless, the people still sacrificed at the high places, but only to the Lord their God. 
During the reign of King Manasseh there was one of several "quasi-revivals."  Some things he did, like restoring sacrifices and offerings, gave the impression that renewal was taking place in the heart of the king and his people.  But rather than putting God first, He was merely a peer among many of the ones to whom the people gave allegiance.  True Thanksgiving is recognizing and demonstrating that God and God alone is the one to whom we are thankful.  It's not just a meal and a prayer - it's a matter of the heart.

Thanksgiving - make it heard!

2 Chronicles 5:11-14 And when the priests came out of the Holy Place for all the priests who were present had consecrated themselves, without regard to their divisions, and all the Levitical singers, Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun, their sons and kinsmen, arrayed in fine linen, with cymbals, harps, and lyres, stood east of the altar with 120 priests who were trumpeters; and it was the duty of the trumpeters and singers to make themselves heard in unison in praise and thanksgiving to the Lord, and when the song was raised, with trumpets and cymbals and other musical instruments, in praise to the Lord,“For he is good,for his steadfast love endures forever,”the house, the house of the Lord, was filled with a cloud, so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the house of God. 
I love how God's Word puts this: "it was (their) duty... to make themselves heard in unison in praise and thanksgiving."  As a kingdom of Priests, it is no less our responsibility to make our thanksgiving heard to the world around us - not in an obnoxious way (I was known as the loudest kid in my mom's children's choir, and it wasn't a good thing...), but in a way that demonstrates the presence of The Lord. People show know how real He is in our lives by the thanksgiving in our lives?  So, let's go out and make it heard!

Thanksgiving: Schedule it in!

1 Chronicles 16:7 Then on that day David first appointed that thanksgiving be sung to the Lord by Asaph and his brothers. 
It would be easy to skip over this verse and go on to the long song of Thanksgiving David had his choir sing. And it is a classic worth reviewing - all the reasons we as God's people have to give thanks.  But I find it important to note that David appointed this - He saw such value in thanksgiving that He made it part of the ongoing program.  If we don't, we'll forget to do it.  And that is the universal forgetfulness of mankind, including, sad to say, believers - we forget to give thanks to Him. Let's stop forgetting; let's schedule it in.

Day 1

Psalm 100:1-5 Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness!Come into his presence with singing! Know that the Lord, he is God!It is he who made us, and we are his;we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving,and his courts with praise!Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the Lord is good;his steadfast love endures forever,and his faithfulness to all generations. 

It's finally over!!! All the buildup to last night to haul in lots of candy, which will be on clearance this morning.  It has already been replaced with the decorations and presents for the next big holiday. But there is a day in between.  Thanksgiving.  We need more thanksgiving.  Let it begin.  Not just for a day, but a month.  Let the thanksgiving begin in my heart, with a song in my heart, because He is God. we are HIS! He is Faithful to us. He loves us forever.  There. We've begun. Let the thanksgiving begin!.

Whatcha gonna pray for today???

Ephesians 6:18-20 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak. 
Paul gives us one of those "praying at all times/praying without ceasing" kind of exhortations.  He is wrapping up one of those sections on how to live life - spiritually alert, ready for battle, with our full armor on.  Such a contrast with how we live much of our lives - not alert, unprepared, non-praying.
So the first question is: are you going to be praying today? with perseverance, all kinds of prayers? Then, whatcha gonna pray for?   We need to be praying for ourselves, for one another, and for those who will be presenting the truth of God's Word today.  I'm gonna be praying.  How about you?