THANKSGIVING PRAYER

A Thanksgiving Day Prayer

Lord, so often times, as any other day,

When we sit down to our meal and pray,

We hurry along and make fast the blessing,

Thanks, amen. Now please pass the dressing.

We're slaves to the olfactory overload .

We must rush our prayer before the food gets cold .

But Lord, I'd like to take a few minute more

To really give thanks to what I'm thankful for.

For my family, my health, a nice soft bed,

My friends, my freedom, a roof over my head.

I'm thankful right now to be surrounded by those

Whose lives touch me more than they'll ever possibly know.

Thankful Lord, that You've blessed me beyond measure;

Thankful that in my heart lives life's greatest treasure.

That You, dear Jesus, reside in that place.

And I'm ever so grateful for Your unending grace.

So please, heavenly Father, bless this food You've provided

And bless each and every person invited. Amen!

We Gather Together

We gather together to ask the Lord's blessing;

He chastens and hastens his will to make known;

The wicked oppressing now cease from distressing,

Sing praises to his name: He forgets not his own.

Beside us to guide us, our God with us joining,

Ordaining, maintaining his kingdom divine;

So from the beginning the fight we were winning;

Thou, Lord, wast at our side, All glory be thine!

We all do extol thee, thou leader triumphant,

And pray that thou still our defender wilt be.

Let thy congregation escape tribulation;

Thy name be ever praised! O Lord, make us free! Amen

Psalm 100

"Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.

Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.

Know ye that the LORD he is God:

it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves;

we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise:

be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting;

and his truth endureth to all generations."

"FALL'S HERE"

Well, it's that time of year. The temperatures have began to fall and the search is on for the sweater's and jackets. The wind begins to blow and the leaves come down in such abundance that it sometimes looks like a new kind of rain. This rain comes in all colors - red, yellow, orange, gold, and brown, along with all different shapes and sizes. The evenings are great for grilling and sitting around the campfire. When you look ahead you know that soon it is going to be cold but for now . . . we'll be enjoying one of my favorite times of the year - fall.

Saturday the family was up early and off to Carthage's Maple Leaf Parade. Being new to the area again and our blood still thin, the children were donning gloves to keep off the early morning chill. We set up our camping chairs in the midst of the crowd and alongside the street anticipating 27 bands, numerous floats, antique cars, and, yes, even a host of old tractors. We knew for sure that we were no longer in Phoenix but back in the Midwest again. But it was a lot of fun seeing the area schools represented again by bands, flags, and pom-poms showing their school spirit. The towns may be small but it was over two hours later that the end of the parade began to march by.