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Advent Thoughts from JoAnn Barbour – Conference President United Methodist Women

December 14, 2016 Leave a Comment

Psalm 118
Who taught you to be thankful?  For most of us, it probably was our mother.  “Say thank you” is a phrase that is often repeated by parents of young children.  Why do we teach that?  Is it just politeness?  I think it’s more than that.  Being thankful leads to a healthy attitude toward life.  It is recognition that we aren’t in this alone; recognition of our own limitations; that we need others.  That lesson hopefully stays with us and contributes to our acknowledgement that God has a place in our life.
Our lives are filled with blessings and in today’s reading, the Psalmist draws our attention to one of those blessings:  the faithfulness of God’s love.  God is ever present with us through all the things we experience.  God never leaves us alone.  Through good and bad, God is faithful in love for us.  The Psalmist says that God is good and God’s love lasts forever.  Even after all the times we fail God.  From the beginning with Adam and Eve, through Moses, through David, through New Testament times and on through us, we all fail God over and over.  Yet, God’s love endures.  That to me is generosity.  Our response to that is thanksgiving.
Loving God, thank you for the many blessings yo have given me, but especially thank you for your never ceasing love.  Help me to be accepting of that love so that others will experience your love through me.   Amen
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Filed Under: General Tagged With: Advent 2016

NC Conference of The United Methodist Church · 700 Waterfield Ridge Place · Garner, NC 27529
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