"Centerpieces of gratitude and hope" by Becky Horst, registrar with Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13 - Goshen College Devotions

"Centerpieces of gratitude and hope" 

by Becky Horst, registrar with 

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13 

- Goshen College Devotions

Centerpieces of gratitude and hope
"Centerpieces of gratitude and hope" 

by Becky Horst, registrar with 

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 3:

9 Indeed, how can we thank God enough for you or express to our God all the joy we feel because of you? 10 Night and day we pray as hard as we can that we will be able to see you face to face and supply whatever shortcomings there may be in your trust. 11 May God our Father and our Lord Yeshua direct our way to you.

12 And as for you, may the Lord make you increase and overflow in love toward each other, indeed, toward everyone, just as we do toward you; 13 so that he may give you the inner strength to be blameless, by reason of your holiness, when you stand before God our Father at the coming of our Lord Yeshua with all his angels.

[Complete Jewish Bible] 

- Goshen College Devotions

Today is Thanksgiving Day in the U.S. My extended family, like many others, is gathered at my sister’s house to eat too much and talk across the table. I brought the cranberry salad. Mom will bring pies, as she always does. This year we are celebrating Martha’s second birthday, which happens to fall on Thanksgiving Day. Recently, after a family meal, little Martha leaned back and smiled. “I’m happy. I’m so happy,” she said.
In the best situations, gratitude is the centerpiece at our Thanksgiving tables. Conversation is warm and welcoming. Like the apostle Paul in today’s scripture, we thank God for the joy that others bring us.
But many gatherings today will be tinged with tension or pain. Death. Divorce. Betrayal. Addictions. Political and religious landmines that erupt with one wrong step. This year is our first Thanksgiving without my Dad, who died of brain cancer last spring.
If you are facing a sad or painful day, pause and name aloud three things that you are thankful for, right now. As you focus on gratitude, may hope take root in your heart.
Today, more than ever, we echo the apostle Paul’s prayer: “May the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all. . .”
Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 3:9 How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy that we feel before our God because of you? 10Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you face to face and restore whatever is lacking in your faith.
11Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus direct our way to you. 12And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just as we abound in love for you. 13And may he so strengthen your hearts in holiness that you may be blameless before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.[New Revised Standard Version]
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