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Giving Thanks · Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons

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word in the book of psalms and psalm 100
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psalm 100 we're going to look at this psalm together the whole psalm it is a psalm of
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thanksgiving as a heading in some of the bibles well how we are to give thanks to god for all
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his blessings to us we ask ourselves the question though how often do we give thanks to god
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now are we as thankful as we we should be now these questions still surge at hearts as god's
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questions often do are we as thankful as we should be and how often do we thank god i'm sure
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for all of us here there's not a day goes past that we're not thankful to god for so many things
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but today i want us to think of it as a day of thanksgiving not especially a pointed day
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but a day as with every day that we can see the many reasons we do have to give thanks
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and especially tonight looking back over the past weekend and giving thanks for god's goodness to us
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in so many ways it was a blessed time together and still feeling that even today and hopefully
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we'll keep feeling that in the days ahead that we were blessed by god he was with us through
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the preaching of the word he was with us as we sat at the lord's table he was with us in our fellowship
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with one another he was with us in so many ways and truly we have so many reasons to give thanks
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an encouraging time and a time we pray that will spur us on and keep us going from strength to strength
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because we have been through as we heard in the prayers a difficult period of not being able to gather
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in such a way we pray that bit by bit god god is building up his people again giving us the confidence
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to go forward in his strength and by filling our hearts with thankfulness that gives us a strength
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to keep looking to him as we go forward we read in paul's letter to the colossians there in chapter 2
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these words although i am absent in body as a verse 5 yet i am with you in spirit rejoicing to see your
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good order and the firmness of your faith in christ therefore as you received christ jesus the lord
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so walk in him rooted and built up in him and established in the faith just as you were taught
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and he concludes that little section abounding in thanksgiving abounding in thanksgiving so you see
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all the things that are mentioned there the rejoicing in the order and firmness of your faith the things
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we want to see in all god's people how you received christ how you are to walk in him rooted built up
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established in faith all of these things that we long to see in each of us as god's children
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abounding in thanksgiving thanksgiving completes our praise to god there paul is encouraging his people
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in the midst of great challenges not to lose heart but to press on to press on in this way
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and to do so abounding in thanksgiving the more we see of what christ has done and the faith that we
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have received from him to be able to love him as we do because he first loved us let us truly be
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thankful for all that he has done and with these words in mind i want us to look at at psalm 100
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together this evening a psalm of thanksgiving i want to see what it has to say to us it is as we've said a psalm
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a song of thanksgiving as a thanksgiving psalm both in terms of who god is and what he has done
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and indeed what he is continuing to do for his people it's a psalm that gives us commands and
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instructions to be a people who come to him in worship it's calling us to come before him to come
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into his presence to serve the lord with gladness to come into his presence with singing to go on
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in worship and thanksgiving to him it's a psalm you could say has has great breadth it's a psalm that's
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a call to all mankind to come and give thanks to god that is our prayer but it's also a psalm
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of great depth the depths that there is in the truths of who god is and the depths that there is
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and how god has been calling his people through generation after generation we can look at it every
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generation past present and future who are called to come and worship god and our savior the lord
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jesus christ even though it was a psalm that has its setting in the temple courts of the old
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testament as the people gathered there to worship god it doesn't stay in the old testament it's very
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much a psalm that follows into the new testament that we are to be a people who are to come in this way
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to gather before god in his presence and to do so through christ who has opened the way fully for us
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to come and to come as we say with thanksgiving and three things i want us to see here in this psalm
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about the way this psalm instructs us in our thanksgiving the first thing is the way of
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thanksgiving and the second thing is the reason of thanksgiving and then thirdly we see the endurance
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of thanksgiving so the first thing is the way of thanksgiving who or what do we give thanks to
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it's a question we're all able to answer tonight i hope in the same way we give our thanks to god
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but as we we think of that question in a wider sense in a wider society who or what do people
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give thanks to we have been experiencing and still experiencing challenging days that make us think of
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many of life's issues people are looking for purpose in life what is it what is it to have
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purpose in life people are thinking about the future what will it be like there's so many changes we're
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seeing in our world what is lying ahead of us we see a day of many troubles and we're reminded of the reality
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of them we think of people as we should all be looking for hope but what is it in
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as god's children we know the answer to these questions we know our purpose we are made to worship god
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the future we know all the promises that are yeah and amen in christ that he has a plan and a purpose
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that he is preparing a city for his people he plans our ways he plans our steps he guides our paths
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we look to him for all things in the future in the midst of troubles we know too that jesus has promised
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we will have troubles but to be of good courage to be of good heart because he has overcome
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the world and our hope our hope is in christ we have that much to be thankful for that as god's people
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we come to a living god giving thanks to him and our prayer is that as a church we will be built up
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to show forth that thanksgiving to others that as the psalm i think psalm 69 the first psalm we sang spoke of
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that we would be a witness to others that they would see our thanksgiving and wonder of it
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a couple of years back when covid initially started there was a fascinating article in the scotsman
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newspaper in these early days people were really challenged and shaken by what was happening and an
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article was written and the title of it was secular gods are failing so many in the time of
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covid the article opens with this line it says there are no true atheists in reality everybody
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worships something this was not a christian writing this article but it was written in a sense where
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we were being made to think well what are we worshiping everyone was being asked the question
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what are you worshiping we're not atheists we there's no such thing we all worship something
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so who do we worship it spoke of how many people were inquiring about the christian faith
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they were seeing their secular gods failing them failing to satisfy their lives and beginning to question
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what is it who are we worshiping what is the purpose in life but are these questions still through today
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so quickly people started just to go back to the old ways to forget about god and any thought of
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inquiring after him instead of giving thanks to god for coming through when was that day appointed as a
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national day of prayer by our nation for giving thanks for all that we came through in covid
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well we're still waiting for a day to be appointed will it happen well we doubt it because of where our nation
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is at but who are we worshiping tonight who do we give thanks to tonight not just for bringing us through
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for restoring us for being with us but we pray to build us up to make us stronger to go forward in his strength
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we worship god not just in the good times but at all times we worship him now seeking better times now
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but also that assurance of eternity the writer c.s lewis once said god whispers to us in our pleasures
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he speaks in our consciences but shouts in our pains it is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world
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and hasn't god shouted into our pains
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he has been shaking us he is still shaking us but are we listening that is what psalm 100 reminds us of
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that we are able to come and worship him and give thanks to him to make a joyful noise to the lord
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all the earth serve the lord with gladness come into his presence with singing
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whatever our circumstances we have much to give thanks for
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and we have been encouraged in these days and let us stay encouraged let us stay with our hope fixed
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in our lord jesus christ in his word to have confidence in it in his spirit who is working
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dwight l moody it was a great servant for god and when they began to build what would later become
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moody bible institute when they were laying the foundation for it they set a cornerstone
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and dwight l moody was there at that time and it said that as the stone was laid he offered up a prayer
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and he gave the cornerstone a whack with a trowel and then he prayed and said thus
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lord you know what this old world needs more than anything else is thy word we pray that the day will
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never come when anything contrary to the bible is taught here
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and that is true for everywhere where god's word is taught and proclaimed this world this old world
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still needs god's word more than anything else these days remind us of scriptures that speak of god
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seeing a people corrupt corrupt in sin and the judgment that he brought upon them where you go back to the
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days of noah or the days of the exodus so you just work your way through scriptures and you see time and time
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again how god sees a people worshiping false gods turning away from the living god and what does he use to bring them back to their senses
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he brings judgment
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and today we see god's judgment on us again and again
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and may it be that as a people we give thanks that god has not turned away but that he is speaking
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and may we pray that we will hear as his church and pray to god to pour out his spirit upon us as a people
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to revive us to quicken us that we would see as the psalm says all the earth
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all the earth to make a joyful noise to the lord what does he see in our hearts today then
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is it that shout of joy thankfulness we make sure that we keep our eyes on the lord looking to him
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our call to worship and thanksgiving in this psalm is a call to remember god and all his gracious benefits
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all that he has done we can look back just a few days
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but we can look back further as we heard in prayer to
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generations we give thanks for god's word down through generations to us
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and we pray that a generation yet unborn
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would hear the word of god and rejoice
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in him
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the second thing we see here is the reason for thanksgiving
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we have a call to worship with thanks found in verse 1 and 2
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then in verse 3 we're given this this wonderful reason
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for giving thanks to god
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know that the lord is the lord he is god
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it is he who made us and we are his we are his people and the sheep of his pasture
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first of all we see that again there is this imperative there
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know know that the lord he is god
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know with confidence who you have worshipped and are worshipping
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know with confidence who we are giving thanks to
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it is god who we met with in word and sacrament
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it is god who we meet with day by day
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in thanksgiving and prayer and through his word to us
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we meet with a living god
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and that we are thankful for
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but what does it mean
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to know god
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what does it mean
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for us to know god
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well one of the things that we
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see in the scriptures is
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the gift of god knowing him that we find in psalm 40
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verse 1 to verse 3
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that psalm says and we could repeat it i waited
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patiently for the lord he heard my cry
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he took me from the pit
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out of the clay and set my feet
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upon a rock making my steps secure
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it is the lord who is the god of our salvation
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it is him who has brought us up
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it is him who we are thankful for the reason we are thankful is
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we could not save ourselves
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but god by his grace lifted us up
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and as he lift us up he says he puts a new song
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in my mouth a song
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to praise our god
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he gives us
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a new song
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a song of praise
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a song of thanksgiving
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he reminds us of all the reasons we have to give thanks to god
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the psalmist then says that
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we are
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his people
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the sheep of his
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pasture
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we are his
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personal
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possession
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that's what the psalmist is saying there
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and why is that
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well it's the foundation of our reasons for thanksgiving
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as we have remembered over these past days
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our reason for thanksgiving is that he gave himself for us
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titus 2 verse 14 says
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who gave himself for us to redeem us
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from all lawlessness
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is that such an encouraging verse
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thinking back
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but also looking forward
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who gave himself for us
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to redeem us
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to purify for himself a people for his own possession
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we are his
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who are sellers for good works
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who are sellers going forward
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in serving the lord
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we are his by the reason of the fact that
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he paid the price
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to redeem us
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when we were sold
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under sin
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we can praise his name
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that he paid the price
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he died for us
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to set us free
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we are to be thankful
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that we are his
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redeemed
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what does that mean
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to be redeemed
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by god
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there are
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three different words
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used in translation of redeemed
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in the new testament
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but every one of them
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the foundation is being bought
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with a price
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galatians 4
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verse 5
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but when the fullness of time had come
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god sent forth
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his son
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he goes on
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to redeem those
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who are under the law
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so we might receive adoption
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as sons
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the word there means
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to take off the market
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in other words
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jesus
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paid the price
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for us
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we're no longer for sales
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for sale
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we are no longer slaves
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to sin
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in that way
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that we have been redeemed
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and bought and purchased
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with a price
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not just bought for a time
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but bought for eternity
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because he intends to keep us
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and he will
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keep us
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preacher robert murray mcshane
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who was in
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dundee
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who died
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very young himself
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he said
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he said if christ
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had not chosen me
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i would never have chosen him
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if christ had not shed his blood for me
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i would never have shed a tear for him
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if christ had not sought after me
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i would never have sought after him
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if christ had not loved me
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i would never have loved him
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the transforming power of grace
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robert murray mcshane knew it
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and if we know it
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as i hope we all do
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then it makes us thankful
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to god for all
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that he has done
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that he has redeemed us
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that he has paid
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the price
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for us
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that we might praise
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his name
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and as we see in this verse too
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we are his people of his pasture
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he gives us that assurance
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here in this psalmist
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we see so often
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through the scriptures
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that we are
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his sheep
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that he will look after
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jesus says
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i lay down my life
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for my sheep
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and we are a reminder
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of that constantly
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of the
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the way that he will supply
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our every need
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and it's summed up really
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in psalm
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23
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for us
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the lord is my shepherd
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i shall not want
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i shall not lack
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it covers
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it all
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the list is endless
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of the reasons
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that we have to give thanks
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because the lord is my shepherd
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i shall not lack
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may we go on
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giving thanks to god
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with that reason of thanksgiving
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that we have
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in christ jesus
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the third and final thing
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we see in this psalm
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then is the endurance
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of thanksgiving
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and we see that in the
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in the closing verses
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verse four and five
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enter his gates with thanksgiving
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and his courts with praise
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give thanks to him
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bless his name
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for the lord
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is good
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his steadfast love
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endures forever
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ever
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and his faithfulness
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to all
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generations
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when we have this
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thankful knowledge
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of god
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he opens
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the gates
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for us
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the experience
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of the psalmist
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was to enter
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into praise
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and worship
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of god
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was to go through
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the gates
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into the presence
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of god
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and we have that
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access
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through christ
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we come
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through him
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who is the door
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we come
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through him
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who is the way
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we enter boldly
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into the presence
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of god
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through his name
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we have access
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in this way
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no longer
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do we come
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with sacrifices
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no longer
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do we come
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with bull
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and oxen
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and all the rest
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because the price
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has been paid
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the sacrifice
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has been given
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given
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we come
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in the name
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of the lord
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jesus christ
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we come
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to remember
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his precious name
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and to give
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thanks to him
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and to go on
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giving thanks
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to him
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this is ongoing
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praise
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god's love
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is steadfast
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and endures
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to all generations
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and that is a reason
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god is faithful
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and worthy
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of all our praise
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and thanksgiving
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and that's what
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he's calling us
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to today as well
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to come
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and worship him
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to come and give
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thanks to him
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because all
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other secular
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gods
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are worthless
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they are idols
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dumb
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as the scriptures
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describe them
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but we read here
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for the lord
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is good
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and that is
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what we have
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known
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that is what
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we know
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and that's
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what we pray
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we will go on
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knowing that
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he is good
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and are we able
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to say that
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today
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because if we know
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him
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you surely
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can
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can we not
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come
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and say
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the lord
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has been good
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to us
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so may we go
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forward
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remembering that
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we are his
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that we are
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his people
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that his love
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endures forever
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and his faithfulness
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to all
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generations
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the lord
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is saying
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to us
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you are mine
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and i will
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keep you
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just like it
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says in malachi
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in the old
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testament
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there in
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chapter 3
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verse 16
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it says
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then those
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who feared
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the lord
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spoke with
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one another
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it speaks
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there
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of fellowship
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of reminding
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and encouraging
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one another
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and then it
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says the lord
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paid attention
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and heard
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them
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and a book
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of remembrance
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was written
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before him
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of those
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who feared
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the lord
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and esteemed
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his name
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and he said
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they shall be
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mine
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says the lord
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of hosts
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in the day
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when i make
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up my
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treasured
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possession
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and i will
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spare them
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as a man
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spares his
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son
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who serves
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him
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he will
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make up
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his treasures
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and you
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as his
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people
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as his
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children
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will be
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part of
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that
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treasured
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possession
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we have
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that
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assurance
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the endurance
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of praises
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that we
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will ever
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praise
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the lord
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the parents
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of a young
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man who
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was killed
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in the
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second world
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war
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they were
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at a memorial
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service
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in the church
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after the war
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and they
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made a payment
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to the church
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of 200
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pounds
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as a memorial
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to the son
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that they'd
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lost
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and that
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was a
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great sum
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of money
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at that
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time
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but in the
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service
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that day
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was another
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mother of
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a son who
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had been
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to war
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but that
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son had
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come home
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but she
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whispered to
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her husband
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who was
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sitting beside
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her and
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said let
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us give
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the same
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for our
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boy
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the husband
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turned and
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said well
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why what
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are you
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talking about
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our boy
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didn't
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lose his
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life
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and the
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mother said
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that's just
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the point
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the ones
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who had
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lost a
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son
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were thankful
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the ones
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who still
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had their
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son
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were encouraged
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in that
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moment
27:26
to give
27:27
thanks for
27:27
what they
27:28
had
27:28
and so
27:30
often in
27:30
our life
27:31
as we
27:31
live
27:31
we forget
27:33
the price
27:34
that has
27:34
been paid
27:35
the one
27:36
who gave
27:37
his life
27:38
we live
27:40
because he
27:41
died
27:42
and as we
27:43
think of
27:44
that
27:44
the endurance
27:46
of our
27:46
thanksgiving
27:47
should go
27:48
on
27:48
we have
27:49
life
27:49
through him
27:51
by faith
27:52
and for that
27:54
we give
27:55
thanks
27:56
God alone
27:58
is worthy
27:59
of all
28:00
our praise
28:01
may he
28:02
fill our
28:03
hearts
28:04
with
28:04
thankfulness
28:05
there was
28:06
a minister
28:07
in
28:07
Edinburgh
28:07
many years
28:09
back
28:09
he was
28:09
known
28:10
he was
28:10
called
28:10
Alexander
28:11
White
28:11
he was
28:13
quite a
28:13
famous
28:13
minister
28:14
in his
28:14
day
28:14
but he
28:15
was
28:15
always
28:15
knowing
28:15
for
28:16
uplifting
28:17
prayers
28:18
in the
28:18
pulpit
28:19
he always
28:19
had
28:20
a reason
28:21
to give
28:21
thanks
28:22
well there
28:23
was this
28:24
Sunday
28:24
morning
28:25
one Sunday
28:25
morning
28:26
as they
28:26
gathered
28:26
for worship
28:27
and the
28:28
weather
28:29
outside
28:29
was horrendous
28:30
rain and
28:31
wind
28:32
gales
28:33
blowing
28:34
and there
28:35
was someone
28:36
sitting in
28:36
the church
28:37
whispered to
28:38
the person
28:39
beside them
28:40
well surely
28:41
the preacher
28:41
he won't
28:43
have anything
28:43
to give
28:43
thanks for
28:44
today
28:45
not on
28:46
such a
28:46
wretched
28:47
day as
28:47
this
28:48
as he
28:49
began to
28:50
pray
28:50
his words
28:52
were
28:52
we thank
28:54
thee oh
28:54
God
28:54
it's not
28:56
always like
28:56
this
28:57
and as we
28:59
look back
28:59
over these
29:00
last number
29:01
of years
29:01
are we
29:03
given
29:03
thanks to
29:04
God
29:04
in the
29:05
midst of
29:05
all the
29:06
challenges
29:06
it's not
29:07
always like
29:08
this
29:09
and as we
29:10
go forward
29:11
may we see
29:13
his son
29:13
rising
29:14
on our
29:15
church
29:16
and on
29:17
our people
29:17
to make
29:19
us thankful
29:19
and bless
29:21
us
29:21
and give
29:22
our thankfulness
29:23
even more
29:25
going forward
29:26
praising his
29:27
name
29:27
for all
29:28
that he
29:29
has done
29:30
may we
29:31
be thankful
29:32
evermore
29:33
for all
29:34
his goodness
29:34
to us
29:35
let us
29:35
pray
29:36
our father
29:39
in heaven
29:39
you bless
29:40
us so
29:40
much
29:41
and we
29:42
thank you
29:42
that even
29:43
in the
29:43
darkest
29:43
of days
29:44
we can
29:44
say
29:45
thank you
29:46
lord
29:46
it's not
29:47
always like
29:48
this
29:48
and we
29:49
pray lord
29:50
that you
29:50
will make
29:51
your face
29:51
to shine
29:52
upon us
29:53
anew
29:53
that you
29:54
will fill
29:54
our hearts
29:55
with a
29:55
true sense
29:56
of thankfulness
29:57
to be able
29:58
to praise
29:59
your name
29:59
and to go
30:01
on oh lord
30:01
in your
30:02
strength
30:02
saying
30:02
the lord
30:03
is good
30:04
we are
30:05
blessed
30:06
as so
30:06
much
30:06
and we
30:07
are humbled
30:08
by you
30:09
and so we
30:10
pray lord
30:10
keep us
30:11
in your
30:12
presence
30:12
and in
30:13
your strength
30:13
as we
30:14
ask it
30:14
in jesus
30:15
name
30:15
amen
30:16
thank you