Now Thank We All Our God

To learn more about the circumstances surrounding this hymn by Martin Rinkart, read Terry Enns’ post. Clue: it wasn’t written while he was on vacation in Hawaii or just received word of a promotion!

Now thank we all our God, with heart and hands and voices,
Who wondrous things has done, in Whom this world rejoices;
Who from our mothers’ arms has blessed us on our way
With countless gifts of love, and still is ours today.

O may this bounteous God through all our life be near us,
With ever joyful hearts and blessèd peace to cheer us;
And keep us in His grace, and guide us when perplexed;
And free us from all ills, in this world and the next!

All praise and thanks to God the Father now be given;
The Son and Him Who reigns with Them in highest Heaven;
The one eternal God, whom earth and Heaven adore;
For thus it was, is now, and shall be evermore.

On this week of Thanksgiving, let us also take care to offer words of gratitude — even when circumstances seem to dictate otherwise.  We have a Savior who has given us all we need.  Let us continually offer a sacrifice of praise to him.

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How will you celebrate Thanksgiving?

Happy Thanksgiving to you all!

Why not take a few minutes and read an excellent short post by  Dr. John Van Till of Grove City College on the history of this special day!  Take his advice and spend some time pondering the Pilgrims and praising the God from whom all blessings flow.

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Don’t let this ruin your thanksgiving!

Are you suffering from doxological dementia?  What’s that you say? One of the symptoms is “an ability to recall the failures of others with more precision than the promises of redemption.” Another diagnosis would be “eternity amnesia” as Paul Tripp would say.

If you have either or both [and they are related], your Thanksgiving attitude will be greatly affected this year.

What’s the cure?  Scotty Smith gives us an antidote in the form of a prayer which begins:

Gracious Father, every day, without exception, we need to be reminded of where history is heading. For we’re forgetful and fearful people, way too easily influenced by the spin of pundits and the banter of news-speak. We’re Cinderella with amnesia—forgetting who we are and Whose we are. We suffer from doxological dementia—able to recall the failures of others with more precision than the promises of redemption.

But a great promise you made through a minor prophet is the major headline we need to remember today and every day. History is the unfolding story of your commitment to redeem your pan-national family and make all things new through the work of your Son, Jesus. How could we ever forget such good news?

To learn what the headline from a minor prophet is and what the cure is keep reading!

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What’s our motive for missions?

Henry Martyn (1781-1812), Anglican missionary, was told by a Muslim friend about a painting of Christ bowing down to Muhammad.  Martyn tells what happened next:

“I was cut to the soul at this blasphemy.  Mirza Seid Ali perceived that I was considerably disordered and asked what it was that was so offensive?  I told him that ‘I could not endure existence if Jesus was not glorified; it would be hell to me if he were to be always thus dishonored.’  He was astonished and again asked ‘Why?’  ‘If anyone pluck out your eyes,’ I replied, ‘there is no saying why you feel pain; it is feeling.  It is because I am one with Christ that I am thus dreadfully wounded.’”

Constance E. Padwick, Henry Martyn (London, 1925), page 265, italics original.

Beyond our genuine love for people, our supreme motive for mission is to see Jesus honored.  A perfect world, but with Jesus dishonored, would be hell to us.

–Ray Ortlund

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Bob Jones University questioning fundamentalist label?

My college alma mater has been making some changes over the years and this article chronicles some of these developments.  I am thankful for the changes taking place.

I suppose what is most surprising is that this generally favorable article appeared in the Huffington Post of all places.

It will be interesting to watch how all this plays out and “whether BJU — and the wider Christian fundamentalist movement– can continue to transform while maintaining their identity.”

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Don’t forget how much you owe!

When I stand before the throne
Dress’d in beauty not my own,
When I see Thee as Thou art,
Love Thee with unsinning heart,
Then Lord, shall I fully know–
Not till then–how much I owe.

Chosen not for good in me,
Waken’d up from wrath to flee,
Hidden in the Saviour’s side,
By the Spirit sanctified,
Teach me, Lord, on earth to show,
By my love, how much I owe.

Oft I walk beneath the cloud,
Dark as midnight’s gloomy shroud;
But, when fear is at the height,
Jesus comes, and all is light;
Blessed Jesus! bid me show
Doubting saints how much I owe.

~Robert Murray M’Cheyne~

Our Own Hymn-Book (Pasadena, TX; Pilgrim Publications; 2002) p.63.

(HT: The Old Guys)

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Giving thanks. . .even when life is full of trials

Nancy Leigh Demoss writes, “It’s difficult to face trials without fear—being utterly confident in God and His plan for your life. Below are a few quotes from 90 Days of God’s Goodness by Randy Alcorn that I found especially meaningful. Download a designed PDF here.”

Here are a few of the quotes Nancy shares:

Protection from conflict produces soft, spoiled, and selfish people, while enduring conflict is more likely to produce someone strong, capable, and caring.” (p. 5)

“Our own suffering is often our wake-up call to the world’s sufferings.” (p. 18)

“Paul insists that our sufferings will result in our greater good—God’s people will be better of eternally because they suffer temporarily. From Paul’s perspective, this trade-off will in eternity prove to be a great bargain.” (p. 31)

“Satan and God do not engage in hand-to-hand combat, with Satan sometimes getting the edge. That’s not the Bible; that’s Star Wars.” (p. 34)

“If we come to see the purpose of the universe as God’s long-term glory rather than our short-term happiness, then we will undergo a critical paradigm shift in tackling the problem of evil and suffering.” (p. 35)

“The world has gone terribly wrong. God is going to fix it. First, for his eternal glory. Second, for our eternal good.” (p. 35)

“When asked what allowed her to endure the concentration camp, Corrie ten Boom responded, ‘Not what, but Who.’” (p. 55)

 Read more here.

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