Andrew Forrest 11/23/22 Andrew Forrest 11/23/22

A Prayer for the Thanksgiving Table

A Prayer for the Thanksgiving Table

Accept, O Lord, our thanks and praise for all that you have done for us and how you have provided for us in this year that is past. We thank you for the splendor of the whole creation, for the beauty of this world, for the wonder of life, and for the mystery of love. We thank you for the blessing of family and friends, and for the loving care which surrounds us on every side. We thank you for setting us at tasks that demand our best efforts, and for leading us to accomplishments that satisfy and delight us. We thank you also for those disappointments and failures that lead us to acknowledge our dependence on you alone.

We give you thanks, most gracious God, for the beauty of earth and sky and sea; for the richness of mountains, plains, and rivers; for the wonder of your creatures, large and small; and for all the loveliness that surrounds us. We praise you for these good gifts, and pray that we may safeguard them for our posterity. Grant that we may continue to grow in our grateful enjoyment of your abundant creation, to the honor and glory of your Name, now and for ever.

Above all, we thank you for your Son Jesus Christ; for the truth of his Word and the example of his life; for his steadfast obedience, by which he overcame temptation; for his dying, through which he conquered death; and for his rising to life again, in which we are raised to the life of your kingdom. Grant us the gift of your Spirit, that we may know Christ and make him known; and through him, at all times and in all places, may give thanks to you in all things.

And all the people said:

Amen.

Andrew Forrest 12/4/20 Andrew Forrest 12/4/20

Thanksgiving 2020

Thanksgiving 2020 sounds like an oxymoron, doesn’t it?

It seems crazy to be grateful and joyful when so many things aren’t the way we want them to be.

And yet:

It is because things aren’t perfect—not in spite of imperfection—that thanksgiving is so important.

Some thoughts (and pics!) from Thanksgiving 2020.

When we stopped reading through Psalms in September, I started to read one psalm a day right over again. I set a little widget in my phone to remind me of what psalm I’m on—and last week on Thanksgiving Day I read Psalm 79, which is a bitter, desperate psalm. It begins like this:

Psalm 79
A Psalm of Asaph.
1 O God, the nations have come into your inheritance;
they have defiled your holy temple;
they have laid Jerusalem in ruins.
2 They have given the bodies of your servants
to the birds of the heavens for food,
the flesh of your faithful to the beasts of the earth.
3 They have poured out their blood like water
all around Jerusalem,
and there was no one to bury them.
4 We have become a taunt to our neighbors,
mocked and derided by those around us.

The psalmist is writing from the time of exile, after Jerusalem was destroyed by Babylon in 586 BC and the Israelites were carried off into Babylonian captivity.

After lamenting all the horror all around him and crying out for help, the last verse of the psalm pivots, and it caught my attention:

13 But we your people, the sheep of your pasture,
will give thanks to you forever;
from generation to generation we will recount your praise.

In exile, after seeing his nation destroyed and his loved ones killed, the psalmist still stubbornly refuses to give up giving thanks.

I think there’s a lesson there for us, as 2020 comes to a close.

One of our problems is that we are so comfortable that we have forgotten that most people, most of the time, haven’t been.

Most people throughout history—and most people in the world today—deal with constant discomforts. Unfortunately, we have become deluded into thinking that life should be free from discomfort, and so when things become difficult—as they inevitably do—we are unable to have proper perspective. Because there are things in our lives and in this world that are far from perfect, we have a hard time with the idea that we should nevertheless give thanks. We focus on what’s wrong rather than what’s right—we look at what we lack rather than what we have.

This tendency to focus on what’s wrong is why so many of us are so miserable—despite being wealthy beyond the wildest dreams of most people who have ever lived, despite never having to worry about food, shelter, clothing, or water, so many of us are unhappy for so much of the time.

One of the reasons we resist thanksgiving is that we (incorrectly) believe that giving thanks will make us complacent in the face of obvious wrongs in the world. On the contrary, however, thanksgiving doesn’t make us numb—it makes us grateful. And it is my experience that grateful people have greater strength to persevere when things get difficult. You want to make a difference in this world? You’ll need perseverance.

Bluebird Ranch

So, we were committed to give thanks this year, and we had a great Thanksgiving 2020, in spite of some major things in our lives not being how we want them to be.

Or, better: we had a great Thanksgiving 2020 because some major things in our lives are not how we want them to be.

We always head down to Bluebird Ranch for Thanksgiving—the ranch Elaine’s uncle and aunt have outside of Utopia, TX, about 2 hours west of San Antonio.

Normally, we have a huge Friendsgiving when neighbors from all along the valley join us in the barn for a great Thanksgiving dinner. This year things were different for obvious reasons and Friendsgiving was cancelled. Even though it was just our family around the Thanksgiving table, it was a blessing nonetheless.

I love seeing my kids run around outside from dawn to dusk;
I love being somewhere my phone doesn’t work and there’s no television;
I love seeing the night sky and hearing nothing.

Then, the Sunday evening after Thanksgiving we got our family Christmas tree back here in Dallas.

There’s just something about a Christmas tree that makes me feel hopeful. Despite all the ugliness in the world, there are still so many beautiful things that remain

So, this week I’ve been sitting in the dark by our lit Christmas tree every morning, praying and sitting still and thanking the Lord. I am so blessed.

May these next few weeks be a blessing to you and yours, too.

One good thing about drought conditions—the big fish are easier to catch, especially if you have an angling assistant.

And yes, we threw this big papi right back in the water. Maybe next year we’ll catch him again.

Texas immigrant + the Sam Houston of pastors.

Local golf-cart chauffeur + your humble correspondent.

Back home. My early morning prayer chair on the right.

Andrew Forrest 11/27/19 Andrew Forrest 11/27/19

3 Questions for Your Thanksgiving Table

[Munger Staff Thanksgiving Luby’s Lunch 2019. I am so blessed to work with these folks.]

It’s become a Munger staff tradition:

Every year before Thanksgiving we have lunch at Luby’s (thank you, Jesus, for Luby’s!). We sit at a big long table and go around and answer three questions. Everyone answers the first, then we all go around and answer the second, and then everyone answers the third.

I’m telling you: these questions would change the tenor of the conversation around your Thanksgiving table.

Three Thanksgiving Questions

Where have you seen God at work this past year? What’s one thing you’re grateful for?
What is an unexpected blessing you’ve received in the past year; in other words, what is something that happened to you that wasn’t what you wanted but has resulted in a surprising and unexpected blessing you couldn’t foresee at the time?
What do you want to be thankful for next year, sitting at this table; in other words, what are you praying for?

My favorite of the three questions is #2—it is really moving to hear people talk about a difficulty they endured that has produced something good in their lives. Just thinking about that question helps reframe your past year and give it a redemptive perspective.

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” [Romans 8:28]

What about you? Leave a comment below and let me know how you’d answer question #2.

Andrew Forrest 11/21/18 Andrew Forrest 11/21/18

Thanksgiving Hymn

The children at my son's school sang this beautiful hymn at chapel a few weeks ago; it's been in my head ever since.[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6V3zMCfa2II[/embed]

"Let All Things Now Living"

Let all things now living a song of thanksgivingTo God the creator triumphantly raise.Who fashioned and made us, protected and stayed us,Who still guides us on to the end of our days.His banners are o'er us, His light goes before us,A pillar of fire shining forth in the night.Till shadows have vanished and darkness is banishedAs forward we travel from light into light.His law he enforces, the stars in their coursesAnd sun in its orbit obediently shine;The hills and the mountains, the rivers and fountains,The deeps of the ocean proclaim him divine.We too should be voicing our love and rejoicing;With glad adoration a song let us raiseTill all things now living unite in thanksgiving:"To God in the highest, Hosanna and praise!"

(Dr. Michael Hawn has a good, brief essay on the hymn here.)I particularly like the opening sentence of the second verse:

His law he enforces, the stars in their coursesAnd sun in its orbit obediently shine;The hills and the mountains, the rivers and fountains,The deeps of the ocean proclaim him divine.

The earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof. Creation itself testifies to the meticulous majesty of its Creator.Happy Thanksgiving.

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Andrew Forrest 12/5/17 Andrew Forrest 12/5/17

Nine Months

Nine months ago today, our baby daughter was born and my wife coded afterwards, an event which caused her to be hospitalized twice in the ICU and to undergo emergency, life-saving, life-altering surgery.This past Sunday was Christmas Commitment Sunday at our church. It's like our 21st century urban version of what used to be called Harvest Sunday in rural, agricultural churches: we thank God for his provision toward us in the 12 months past, and ask for his protection and provision in the year to come. Folks come forward and kneel and make a gift to finish strong in their current year giving toward the church, and make a commitment to give back a portion of God's blessings in the year to come. It's a powerful moment to see hundreds of households come forward and kneel and pray.When it was our family's turn, all four of us knelt and prayed and praised the Lord for his mercy toward our family these past 12 months and desperately asked God to be with us in the next 12 months. I find that I pray for God to protect us and prosper us almost constantly now; I am under no illusions regarding my utter dependence on the grace of God.The day before we were kneeling at the rail, we'd picked out a Christmas tree and were decorating it: my wife--completely healed--perched on a ladder stringing lights, and our little baby chirping and squeaking and scuttling underfoot like a some kind of huge, curious, terrestrial crab.As I look back over these past 12 months, I am overwhelmed: God has been‘so good?to us.A few weeks ago, Elaine and I made a brief video about some things we learned while she was in the hospital. (I've posted the video below.) Afterwards, of course, we thought of things we'd wished we said or said in a different way, and we share these thoughts humbly, knowing that this is our story, and your stories are different. Even so, we've seen the faithfulness of God firsthand and we feel as if we're supposed to tell other people about it.One day, of course, death will come for one or both us us, and for everyone we love. Maybe I will die first and leave Elaine behind, or maybe she will die first and leave me behind. But, even when that day comes, God is faithful, and Jesus is risen, so the words the angels shared with the shepherds are still meant for us today:Do not be afraid.[embed]https://vimeo.com/246001538[/embed]

Andrew Forrest 11/22/17 Andrew Forrest 11/22/17

5 Ways to Be Thankful (Even When You Don't Feel Like It)

How do we give thanks even when we don‘t feel like it?Christians are supposed to be thankful in every situation, which sounds nice on paper but is much harder to live out.Still, not only should we give thanks in all circumstances, the Bible promises that it‘s actually possible. Here are five simple suggestions that should help you and me give thanks, especially when we don‘t feel like we have anything to be grateful for.

1. Give thanks because God is good, period.

The Lord is good, always and everywhere?it‘s part of his nature. So, it‘s always appropriate to give thanks to God just because of who he is.

The Lord caused the sun to rise this morning, just because he is good.
The Lord gave you life, just because he is good.
The Lord created giraffes, just because he is good.

We cheer when the slugger hits a home run because home runs should be cheered.We smile at babies because babies should be smiled at.We are in awe when we stand at the Grand Canyon because the Grand Canyon is awesome in the full sense of the word.And we give thanks to God just because of who God is. Period. ?Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. (Psalm 118:1.)

2. Give thanks that it‘s not as bad as it could be.

In every circumstance, it could always be worse. This fact is brought home to me every time I visit the Children‘s Hospital?I always leave thinking, Compared to what some of these people are going through, I don‘t have any? Whatever you think your problems are, it could be worse.

If you have cancer, give thanks that it‘s not a worse form of cancer.
If you?re married but can‘t have children, give thanks that you?re married.
If you?re single and want to be married, give thanks that you?re not in a bad marriage.

Your circumstances may be bad, but praise God they aren‘t worse.

3. Give thanks that out of a bad situation, something good can come.

I'm writing this on the plane after being at a family funeral all week. Death is not good, but the fact that a funeral brings family together is a good thing; it‘s something to be thankful for. A good question to ask is, What does this now make possible??

Your time in the hospital gives you time to pray that you didn‘t have before.
Your recovery allows you to experience the kindness of friends.
Your financial struggles give you the opportunity to trust God for your daily bread.
Your suffering makes you more empathetic toward others.

Many times what we think is a bad turn of events either makes something good possible, or brings about an unexpected blessing. Give thanks for that. ?What you intended for evil, God intended for good. (Genesis 50:20?Joseph speaking to his brothers years after they sold him into slavery.) 4. Give thanks that your situation allows you to experience a small taste of Christ‘s suffering.Christ not only physically suffered, but he was also humiliated and betrayed. The New Testament writers continually tell us that our suffering gives us the opportunity to be more unified with Christ.

If people are lying and saying ugly things about you, they did that to Jesus.
If you are in acute physical pain, so was Jesus.
If you feel totally alone, so did Jesus.

No one wants to suffer, but in suffering we have the opportunity to draw closer to Christ in ways that would not be possible if everything were okay. That‘s something to be grateful for. ?For he has graciously granted you the privilege not only of believing in Christ, but of suffering for him as well. (Philippians 1:29.)

5. Give thanks that The End is good.

The Bible ends with a future promise that everything sad will become untrue,? to quote Sam Gamgee. (See Revelation 21.) The Resurrection of Jesus is the sign of what God is going to do with all of history?he will redeem all that he allows? in Jim Denison‘s great phrase. So, even when your circumstances seem hopeless?and each of us is going to die, sooner or later?we Christians can give thanks that God is ultimately going make everything new. This fact enables Christians to give thanks even in the midst of death.?He will wipe every tear from their eyes.Death will be no more;mourning and crying and pain will be no more,for the first things have passed away. (Revelation 21:4.)Giving thanks when you don‘t feel like it is a mark of holiness?of spiritual maturity?and it is very difficult. But, as with other difficult things, we get better with practice, through the grace of God. So, start small. And start right away.

Andrew Forrest 11/23/14 Andrew Forrest 11/23/14

You Need to Know the Background to This Prayer

My friend Lin Thomas is blind. He was diagnosed a few years ago with irreversible glaucoma; the doctor who evaluated him told him, "You'll never work again."Lin can't work, but he's busy. He rides up and down on the DART train in Dallas making connections with troubled young men who remind him of himself when he was younger. His disability has given him the time to do that sort of thing.Lin lives on a disability check. Even in straitened financial circumstances, he tithes--gives 10%--to our church.Last Sunday, Lin gave me a prayer he'd written, and I asked him to read it in church today. Here's his prayer (text below the video):https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVzl2uDub-w&feature=youtu.be

Lin Thomas's Thanksgiving Prayer

(1 Thessalonians 5:18: Give Thanks Always)Father, thank you for the life that we live;Thank you for the love that you give;Thank you for the food that we eat;Thank you for a strong heartbeat;Thank you for the water we drink;Thank you for the thought we think;Thank you for the pleasure and pain;Thank you for the sunshine and rain;Thank you for a place here on Earth;Thank you for the grace of our birth.In Jesus' name, Amen.