Lutheran Seminary's God Pause "Moved by the Promise" Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States for Sunday, 4 January 2015 - Scripture: "A Thanksgiving to God, for his House" by Robert Herrick (1591-1674)

Lutheran Seminary's God Pause "Moved by the Promise" Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States for Sunday, 4 January 2015 - Scripture: "A Thanksgiving to God, for his House" by Robert Herrick (1591-1674)
Lord, Thou hast given me a cell
Wherein to dwell,
A little house, whose humble roof
Is weather-proof:
Under the spars of which I lie
Both soft, and dry;
Where Thou my chamber for to ward
Hast set a guard
Of harmless thoughts, to watch and keep
Me, while I sleep.
Low is my porch, as is my fate,
Both void of state;
And yet the threshold of my door
Is worn by th' poor,
Who thither come and freely get
Good words, or meat.
Like as my parlour, so my hall
And kitchen's small;
A little buttery, and therein
A little bin,
Which keeps my little loaf of bread
Unchipp'd, unflead;
Some brittle sticks of thorn or briar
Make me a fire,
Close by whose living coal I sit,
And glow like it.
Lord, I confess too, when I dine,
The pulse is Thine,
And all those other bits, that be
There plac'd by Thee;
The worts, the purslain, and the mess
Of water-cress,
Which of Thy kindness Thou hast sent;
And my content
Makes those, and my beloved beet,
To be more sweet.
'Tis Thou that crown'st my glittering hearth
With guiltless mirth;
And giv'st me wassail-bowls to drink,
Spic'd to the brink.
Lord, 'tis Thy plenty-dropping hand
That soils my land;
And giv'st me, for my bushel sown,
Twice ten for one;
Thou mak'st my teeming hen to lay
Her egg each day;
Besides my healthful ewes to bear
Me twins each year;
The while the conduits of my kine
Run cream, for wine.
All these, and better, Thou dost send
Me, to this end,
That I should render, for my part,
A thankful heart,
Which, fir'd with incense, I resign,
As wholly Thine;
But the acceptance, that must be,
My Christ, by Thee.
I love this meditation on all that makes up the "place" God has given us in which to live. Look around you. What little things have you forgotten to give thanks to God for? A thoughtful person once said that if you are having a hard time praying, start by listing the names of your family, your friends and the little things you are thankful for. It will amaze you how long you can make that list of thanks.
O God, protect and guide those who share this living place with me, their going out and their coming in; and let them share the hospitality of this home with all who visit, that those who enter here may know your love and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen (Occasional Services, Blessing of a Dwelling, page 187. <525>)
Tor Kristian Berg
Pastor, First Lutheran Church
Bothell, Wash. 
Master of Divinity , 1994
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