The Beacon April 2011 - Beacon Parish of Ditchling, Streat ...

ThankfulnessIn the Old Testament there are numerous accounts of people praising God withthankful hearts. In 2 Chronicles we read that the trumpeters and singers joinedin unison, as with one voice, to give praise and thanks to the Lord. Accompaniedby cymbals and other instruments, they raised their voices in praise to the Lordand sang: ‘He is good; his love endures forever.’‘Songs of thankfulness and praise’ are at the heart of Christian worship and thatis because thankfulness is very important. If we really are forgiven of all that wehave done wrong when we confess it to God, then we have a great deal to bethankful for.“So thankfulness involves a degree of discipline”Luke tells the story of the ten lepers who were healed and is challenging hisreaders to examine themselves when he tells of the amazement of Jesus thatonly one, a Samaritan, came back to thank him. (Luke 17). In other words, it canbe easy to take God’s gifts for granted and even easier to forget to thank him forthem. So thankfulness involves a degree of discipline. We need to make a Godlyhabit of thanking the Lord for all the blessings of life. When we remember tothank God for one thing, almost immediately we are minded to thank him foranother and yet another. In doing this, even in the most difficult of life’ssituations, we are reminded that we are blessed by a God who loves us, forgivesus and is with us.For Christians the greatest of all acts of worship is simply called ‘thanksgiving’ -eucharistia in Greek - thanksgiving for the death and resurrection of God’s Sonand the way of forgiveness that is opened up.Thanks be to you O Lord our GodFor the gift of ForgivenessThe blessings of lifeAnd the joy of EasterWith every blessingFr DavidSING GOD’S PRAISESSometimes it’s really good to blow away thecobwebs and sing God’s praises at the top ofyour voice! So, why not come along to anevening of Hymn Singing on Thursday 7 th Aprilat 7pm at St Margaret’s, Ditchling.3