A SONG OF THANKSGIVING

I give you thanks, O Lord and King;

I praise you as my God and Saviour.

I give you thanks,

For you have helped me and protected me.

You have rescued me from death,

from dangerous lies and slander.

You helped me when no one else would;

in your great mercy you saved me

from the many troubles I have known:

from the glaring hatred of my enemies,

who wanted to put an end to my life;

from suffocation in oppressive smoke

rising from fires that I did not light;

from death itself;

from vicious slander reported to the king.

I was once brought face to face with death;

enemies surrounded me everywhere.

I looked for someone to help me,

but there was no one there.

But the, O Lord, I remembered how merciful you are

and what you have done in times past.

I remembered that you rescue those who rely on you,

That you save them from their enemies.

Then from here on earth I prayed to you

to rescue me from death.

I prayed, “O Lord, you are my father;

do not abandon me to my troubles

when I am helpless against arrogant enemies.

I will always praise you

and sing hymns of thanksgiving.”

You answered my prayer,

and saved me from the threat of destruction.

and so I thank you and praise you.

O Lord, I praise you!

(Sirach 51:1 -12)

May the Lord bless you and take care of you. May He be kind and gracious to you. May the Lord look on you with favor and give you peace.

With love filled blessings,

Your Sister in Christ

IN PRAISE OF GOD’S GOODNESS

“Give thanks to the Lord because He is good;

His love is eternal!

Repeat these words in praise to the Lord

all you whom He has saved.

He has rescued you from your enemies

and has brought you back from foreign countries,

from east and west, from north and south.

Some wandered in the trackless desert

and could not find their way to a city to live in.

They were hungry and thirsty and had given up all hope.

Then in their trouble they called to the Lord,

and he saved them from their distress.

He led them by a straight road

to a city where they could live.

They must thank the Lord for His constant love

for the wonderful things He did for them,

He satisfies those who are thirsty

and fills the hungry with good things.

Some were living in gloom and darkness,

prisoners suffering in chains,

because they had rebelled against the

commands of Almighty God

and had rejected His instructions.

They were worn out from hard work;

they would fall down, and no one would help.

Then in their trouble they called to the Lord,

and He saved them from their distress.

He brought them out of their gloom and darkness

and broke their chains in pieces.

They must thank the Lord for His constant love,

for the wonderful things He did for them.

He breaks down doors of bronze

and smashes iron bars.

Some were fools suffering because of their sins

and because of their evil;

they couldn’t stand the sight of food

and were close to death.

Then in their trouble they called to the Lord,

and He saved them from their distress.

He healed them with His command

and saved them from the grave.

They must thank the Lord for His constant love,

for the wonderful things He did for them.

They must thank Him with sacrifices,

and with songs of joy must tell all that He has done.

(Psalms 107:1-22)