While watching the evening news one day last week, I received a text from my son. His second child was about to make her entry into the world! At 10:08 p.m. Ember Snow was born. I was at the hospital the next day! She was a healthy eight-pound baby! I stepped in the room while she was in the middle of her very first photoshoot. It was the first of many I’m sure. When I finally got to hold her, I cradled her in my arms and instantly fell in love! She had chunky little cheeks that begged for kisses. (But I refrained to give her little immune system a chance to build itself up.) I noticed her silky black hair was standing straight up. I guess anyone coming from a nice warm womb, naked into a blaring lit, cold hospital room would have their hair straight on end too!
I remembered, gazing at this beautiful baby with perfect skin, the way her father looked when he was born. I thank God for the gift of children, my children and grandchildren in- particular. The desire of my heart is that they would grow up to be spirit-filled “temples” of the Lord.
Speaking of temples, let’s look at when David commissioned Solomon to build the temple of the Lord. When all the supplies, 185 tons of gold, 10,000 gold coins, 375 tons of silver, 675 tons of bronze, and 4,000 tons of iron and many precious stones were willingly given, the people rejoiced because of their leader’s hearts in their willingness to give. They gave with their whole hearts! The commanders of the tribes of Israel and her people honored God that way. David was so thankful he prayed this beautiful prayer:
“Then David praised the Lord in the presence of the whole assembly:
“O Lord, the God of our ancestor Israel, may You be praised forever and ever! Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty. Everything in the heavens and on earth is yours, O Lord, and this is your kingdom. We adore You as the One who is over all things. Wealth and honor come from You alone, for you rule over everything. Power and might are in Your hand, and at Your discretion people are made great and given strength.
“O our God, we thank You and praise Your glorious name! 1Chron. 29:10-13
The Hollman Christian Standard Bible says in verse 13, “Now therefore, Our God, we give You thanks and praise Your glorious name.’ I’m thinking of the words “Now therefore.” It’s the week of Thanksgiving, everyone has a “now therefore” in their lives.
The things that come immediately to mind are the blessings in or own lives that God has done for us like giving us Jesus Christ and our salvation, our family and friends. We give thanks for our homes, the beds we sleep in at night, the heat to keep us warm, the AC to keep us cool, the water we shower and bathe in, the food we eat, these are all luxuries compared to living conditions many countries. We could spend all day thanking God for all He has given us in America. May we all be in the habit of thanking God for things in our life everyday. But David took thanks a step further. He was thanking God not for things that God gave him, but for hearts of others in giving unto God!
So this week I pray you will notice the things that lend to the building of living temples of the Lord our God. Consider the hearts for God in our teachers and Pastors at church, Sunday school teachers, those who support the churches financially, those who volunteer to clean or cook and be glad!
I, personally, thank God for Gates of Hope. I thank Him for Faith, for all the volunteers. They give with all their hearts. I thank Him for opportunities to help others and share the Gospel.
This coming week many will be thanking God for a lot of things as we celebrate Thanksgiving in our country. May we remember to thank God for His blessings and leading those who willingly lend, be it in service, financially or in the dedication of our children, to the building of His Kingdom. Happy Thanksgiving and may our God, Yahweh, in Christ, bless you and yours.