BASHARAT

Chaplain’s Corner
A Prayer of Thanksgiving
Greetings Nobles and Ladies. Hope all is well. The season is
changing and Fall is here. Most everyone I have spoken with seems to
prefer this season over the others. The October and November months
seems to be very busy preparing for Thanksgiving dinners and family gatherings
as well as preparing for Christmas. Yes, Christmas is approaching
very fast. But what ever month or season we prefer we should be thankful
for all.
Do you ever just stop for a moment from our busy schedules and reflect
on all the things we should be thankful for? Often times we take life
for granted, our families, all our spouses do for us, friends, our jobs, and
most of all God. We often times don’t even stop and think about our own
Shrine Center, how well it’s maintained or how the birthday parties are
prepared for the nobility and our ladies. Many want to criticize but don’t
stop and think how much work our Divan does, and the hard workers of
Yaarab Shrine. I thank God daily for all these things including all our nobility
and ladies and ask for all of your safety and protection.
In all of our prayers we should begin with pureness of heart, repentance,
and with thanksgiving. Often times we go to God in Prayer and go
straight to the point, God I want this and give me that, but we fail to give him the thanksgiving He deserves. God never sleeps He
is always watching, listening and protecting us and we can call on him any time any place and anywhere. Mark Twain once said, “
I don’t know of a single foreign product that enters this country untaxed except the answer to prayer”. Whether our children are
in the house, down the street, or around the world, we can communicate with God on their behalf, having confidence that God
sees their bodies, minds and hearts. Prayer, unlike long-distance phone calls, does not cost money. We don’t have to shop for
the best rates. We can just call on Him any time and in this time of technology we need to be using knee-mail.
As you sit down for that Thanksgiving dinner and begin to return thanks, let’s remember the Creator of earth Heaven and
man. Maybe as we pray we should let God know we are here for Him as He is for us.
Maybe a Thanksgiving Prayer as such, God, you are with us and we are also with you. We lift up our hearts Lord. We lift them
up to you. Let us give thanks to you Lord. It is right to give thanks and praise to you. It is right and a joyous thing to lift our
hearts and hands to you, God of Light and Love, in thanksgiving for the gift of grace. Before we knew the unsearchable riches of
your child Jesus, we walked in the shadows and cloud. But now as you reveal radiance to the world, we join the hymn sung in
glory without end. Holy God, Grace Revealed heaven and earth are full of your glory. Blessed is the one who comes in your
name. Hosanna in the highest! Blessed are you, Creator God, and blessed is your child Christ the Son. While wise ones brought
Him gold, incense and myrrh, He grew to reveal to countless treasures, revealing the Shining Mystery which is you. Jesus broke
bread and broke open your love for us. He blessed the cup and you poured out mercy for the world. Christ was promised Christ
is born; Christ will dwell among us. Come, Spirit, dwell among us, your sons and daughters are gathered at this Thanksgiving dinner.
Use us to reveal your gifts of love and light for the world. God of the ages, shining among us, we are yours, in Thy Holy
Name, Amen! This prayer is based on scriptures from Isaiah 60:1-6, Ephesians 3: 1-12 and Matthew 2: 1-12. My prayers are with
each of you.
May God’s Blessings Be Upon You!
Rev. Dennis E. Bellamy
Oct/Nov 2012– Basharat—5