Through Stained Glass: A Midweek Reflection-Rest

Psalm 100 from The Message

A Thanksgiving Psalm

1-2 On your feet now—applaud God!

Bring a gift of laughter,

sing yourselves into God’s presence.

3 Know this: God is God, and God, God.

God made us; we didn’t make the Creator.

We’re God’s people, the Holy One’s well-tended sheep.

4 Enter with the password: “Thank you!”

Make yourselves at home, talking praise.

Thank God. Worship the Holy One.

5 For God is sheer beauty,

all-generous in love,

loyal always and ever.

Such a simple prayer of thanksgiving attributed to David.

My favorite line in this particular version of the psalm is “God is God, and God, God.”

It makes me giggle. Then comforts me. Finally, makes me smile.

God is God, and God, God.

God, that is good news.

I need you to do something for me, please. It won’t take but a moment.

Take 2 minutes and jot down what you are thankful for.

Ready?

Set?

Go.

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That wasn’t too bad now was it?

“God is sheer beauty, all-generous in love, Loyal always and ever.”

God is God, and, God, God.

Rest in that. You need not do anything to impress God or to win God’s love. That isn’t how God works. God is God, and God, God.

I think it goes the same for us.

Adam is Adam, and Adam, Adam.

Or

To be myself, that is what God wants, always and forever.

Nothing else.

No one else.

God made us. We are God’s. God loves us.

Give thanks to God.

But not like you give thanks for the seat warmer in your car or for the iPhone that lets you know when and where you are supposed to be and who is demanding you to be there.

Not sure how to give thanks to God in a way that isn’t…cheap?

Read this again:

Psalm 100 from The Message

A Thanksgiving Psalm

1-2 On your feet now—applaud God!

Bring a gift of laughter,

sing yourselves into God’s presence.

3 Know this: God is God, and God, God.

God made us; we didn’t make the Creator.

We’re God’s people, the Holy One’s well-tended sheep.

4 Enter with the password: “Thank you!”

Make yourselves at home, talking praise.

Thank God. Worship the Holy One.

5 For God is sheer beauty,

all-generous in love,

loyal always and ever.

Breathe. Just be. Smile. That's thanksgiving.

Give thanks, friends. For when we do, we are made better by it because in thanking God, we draw deeper into the heart of the God who is God, and God, God.

With Love for you all,

A