Wednesday, December 2, 2015

Now Thank We all Our God



Now Thank We all Our God
1 Now thank we all our God
with heart and hands and voices,
who wondrous things has done,
in whom his world rejoices;
who from our mothers' arms
has blessed us on our way
with countless gifts of love,
and still is ours today.
2 O may this bounteous God
through all our life be near us,
with ever joyful hearts
and blessed peace to cheer us,
to keep us in his grace,
and guide us when perplexed,
and free us from all ills
of this world in the next.
3 All praise and thanks to God
the Father now be given,
the Son and Spirit blest,
who reign in highest heaven
the one eternal God,
whom heaven and earth adore;
for thus it was, is now,
and shall be evermore.
Psalter Hymnal (Gray), 1987

Martin Rinkart, a Lutheran minister, was in Eilenburg, Saxony, during the Thirty Years’ War. The walled city of Eilenburg saw a steady stream of refugees pour through its gates. The Swedish army surrounded the city, and famine and plague were rampant. Eight hundred homes were destroyed, and the people began to perish. There was a tremendous strain on the pastors who had to conduct dozens of funerals daily. Finally, the pastors, too, succumbed, and Rinkart was the only one left—doing 50 funerals a day. When the Swedes demanded a huge ransom, Rinkart left the safety of the walls to plead for mercy. The Swedish commander, impressed by his faith and courage, lowered his demands. Soon afterward, the Thirty Years’ War ended, and Rinkart wrote this hymn for a grand celebration service. It is a testament to his faith that, after such misery, he was able to write a hymn of abiding trust and gratitude toward God.

1 Peter 2:1-12  So get rid of every kind of evil, every kind of deception, hypocrisy, jealousy, and every kind of slander.  (2)  Desire God's pure word as newborn babies desire milk. Then you will grow in your salvation.  (3)  Certainly you have tasted that the Lord is good!  (4)  You are coming to Christ, the living stone who was rejected by humans but was chosen as precious by God.  (5)  You come to him as living stones, a spiritual house that is being built into a holy priesthood. So offer spiritual sacrifices that God accepts through Jesus Christ.  (6)  That is why Scripture says, "I am laying a chosen and precious cornerstone in Zion, and the person who believes in him will never be ashamed."  (7)  This honor belongs to those who believe. But to those who don't believe: "The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,  (8)  a stone that people trip over, a large rock that people find offensive." The people tripped over the word because they refused to believe it. Therefore, this is how they ended up.  (9)  However, you are chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, people who belong to God. You were chosen to tell about the excellent qualities of God, who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.  (10)  Once you were not God's people, but now you are. Once you were not shown mercy, but now you have been shown mercy.  (11)  Dear friends, since you are foreigners and temporary residents in the world, I'm encouraging you to keep away from the desires of your corrupt nature. These desires constantly attack you.  (12)  Live decent lives among unbelievers. Then, although they ridicule you as if you were doing wrong while they are watching you do good things, they will praise God on the day he comes to help you.

I wish I could write like that.  I can’t, so I place it here for you to read and to know that whatever happens in this world nothing can ever separate you from God’s love.

Now thank we all our God for all that we have and all that we do.

Pray for our enemies that the Holy Spirit will enter their hearts and show them Jesus.

Pastor Steve

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