“Five Thanksgiving Prayers for You”

Take Your Pick

Here are five prayers for your Thanksgiving dinner. 

May a spirit of giving thanks live in us year round, not just on the fourth Thursday in November.

Moravian Blessing

Come, Lord Jesus, our guest to be

And bless these gifts bestowed by Thee.
And bless our loved ones everywhere,
And keep them in Your loving care.

“Do You Give Like Cain or Abel?”

First Fruits

In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil

as an offering to the Lord.

But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock.

The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering,

but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor.

Genesis 4:3-5a

Adam and Eve’s first two sons were Cain and Abel. Cain farmed, Abel tended flocks. Each brother gave an offering, but God only accepted one of the gifts.

Why?

One brother gave God the very best, off the top.

The other did not.

“Trying to Smell the Color 9”

Nine Isn’t a Color

The wilderness stretched to the horizon in all directions. Which way was the shortest path out? Like Job, God never answered my why questions.

Comprehending God’s purpose in that situation was like trying to smell the color nine. (Thank you, Chris Rice, for releasing your song “Smell the Color 9” in 2000.)

A sister in Christ listened to me unload a tractor trailer full of disappointment, doubt, and hurt. When I finished, she leaned forward and shared her story. In her pain, she found God is big enough to absorb all the anger we hurl at heaven.

Then she said, “Today you’re in the wilderness. Tomorrow you will go even farther into the wilderness. Yes, God has you in a really good place right now.”

“The Fable of the Filial Fugitive”

The Parable of the Prodigal Son

This story is full of “f” words—yet both of my grandmothers would approve.

This humorous rendition of Jesus’ parable comes from “The Fable of the Forgiving Father” (author unknown). Dr. Jeff Miller of Milligan College adapted that piece for his Bible classes and shared it with me. I tweaked it further for a storytelling contest.

I hope you enjoy the alliteration in this version of Luke 15:11-32.