What are Your Thanksgiving Traditions? (Children’s Ministry Moment #6)

Wayne — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 14:00:22 +0000

This past weekend in our large group teaching, I was talking to the kids about the Thanksgiving traditions in their family and reminding them what we have to be thankful for above all other things. We were talking about family coming and visiting relatives. We were talking about who does and doesn’t like turkey. Then, I started to ask them what else they had for Thanksgiving. We went through the usual suspects:

Turkey
Ham
Any other kind of meat
Corn
Potatoes
Stuffing
Sweet Potatoes
Green Beans
Pumpkin Pie
Pecan Pie
Other Vegetables

Then I asked if anyone had anything else every Thanksgiving they I hadn’t mentioned yet. There were a couple of answers (which frankly I can’t remember as I write this), then one little boy raised his hand, and I called on him:

Ramen Noodles!

he exclaimed with excitement. Now, that is a unique Thanksgiving tradition!

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Let us never forget…

Wayne — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 23:00:49 +0000

One of the little girls in Sunday school this morning proudly told me that Psalm 118:1 was “Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good.” We were learning about Thanksgiving, and her point was right on track. I told her that that was one of my favorite verses, and reminded her that the whole Psalm, indeed the whole Bible, was full of great points like this one to remember and build our lives upon. When I got home this afternoon, I looked up Psalm 118 again to refresh my recollection. I was not disappointed. Anything I can say will pale in comparison to God’s word, so here is Psalm 118 with some of my favorite verses highlighted:

1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
his love endures forever.

2 Let Israel say:
“His love endures forever.”

3 Let the house of Aaron say:
“His love endures forever.”

4 Let those who fear the LORD say:
“His love endures forever.”

5 In my anguish I cried to the LORD,
and he answered by setting me free.

6 The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid.
What can man do to me?

7 The LORD is with me; he is my helper.
I will look in triumph on my enemies.

8 It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in man.

9 It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in princes.

10 All the nations surrounded me,
but in the name of the LORD I cut them off.

11 They surrounded me on every side,
but in the name of the LORD I cut them off.

12 They swarmed around me like bees,
but they died out as quickly as burning thorns;
in the name of the LORD I cut them off.

13 I was pushed back and about to fall,
but the LORD helped me.

14 The LORD is my strength and my song;
he has become my salvation.

15 Shouts of joy and victory
resound in the tents of the righteous:
“The LORD’s right hand has done mighty things!

16The LORD’s right hand is lifted high;
the LORD’s right hand has done mighty things!”

17 I will not die but live,
and will proclaim what the LORD has done.

18 The LORD has chastened me severely,
but he has not given me over to death.

19 Open for me the gates of righteousness;
I will enter and give thanks to the LORD.

20 This is the gate of the LORD
through which the righteous may enter.

21 I will give you thanks, for you answered me;
you have become my salvation.

22 The stone the builders rejected
has become the capstone;

23 the LORD has done this,
and it is marvelous in our eyes.

24 This is the day the LORD has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.

25 O LORD, save us;
O LORD, grant us success.

26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD.
From the house of the LORD we bless you.

27 The LORD is God,
and he has made his light shine upon us.
With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession
up to the horns of the altar.

28 You are my God, and I will give you thanks;
you are my God, and I will exalt you.

29 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
his love endures forever.

As Thanksgiving approaches next week, I will give thanks to God that Christ died for the forgiveness of my sins so that I could become part of his family…”The LORD has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes.”

May the blessings of God continue on you and yours throughout this Thanksgiving season.

Dad in the Middle » Thanksgiving

What are Your Thanksgiving Traditions? (Children’s Ministry Moment #6)

Let us never forget…