St Paul Church of Columbus

Each morning I start my day with a few daily devotionals and prayerful reflection.  My goal is to begin the day centered in the presence of God.  If I start there, then I can stay centered as the day unfolds.  A few weeks ago, one of my devotionals had this prayer:

“O Blessed God, grant me the grace this day to rest and remember that there is nothing I have to do, nothing I have to buy and sell, nothing I have to produce or consume in order to become who I already am:  your beloved creation.

Release me from my overworked self and help those who cannot rest today from their need to draw worth from production.  Usher me into the liberty of your grace that flows freely from the joy of your love.”

Begin your day with this prayer!

This week’s reading:

Ready or not, this week points us towards Thanksgiving.  Almost certainly, you will gather with friends and family to give thanks with food and fellowship. Though this day harkens back to courageous men and women seeking a new world and new life.  For Christians, every day should be Thanksgiving. Gratitude isn’t limited to a time of the year or to a certain country’s history.  It should be everywhere and at all times.

With that in mind, if you were tasked with a top-ten list of things/people that you are thankful for, what would they be?  (Make the list)

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Gratitude also has a multiplying effect.  When you express your gratitude to another, it causes them to be thankful as well.  So, spread your gratitude—express it and watch what happens.  One of my favorite hymns expresses it this way:

For the beauty of each hour of the day and of the night,
hill and vale, and tree and flower, sun and moon and starts of light,
Lord of all, to these we raise this our grateful hymn of praise.

For the joy of human love, brother, sister, parent, child,
friends on earth, and friends above, pleasure pure and undefiled,
Lord of all, to these we raise this our grateful hymn of praise.