Prelude to the Super Bowl
This week I'm giving some attention to the Super Bowl, offering a series of devotions titled, “Prelude to the Super Bowl.” We will likely see some gestures or hear some God language during this week. You usually do, especially from the winners.
Back when the Colts won the Super Bowl in 2007, both Jim Irsay and Tony Dungy quickly interjected their thoughts about how God played a role in the victory with words like, “I want to give all the glory to God.” It isn’t offensive language for me but it does cause me to wonder:
● Would we have heard the same words in a loss?
● Is God only on the side of the winner?
● What's God got to do with it?
● Is God a micro-manager or a macro-manager or....?
I certainly don't have a problem giving thanks to God! In fact, I think thanksgiving to the Creator is always in order. My challenge comes when language appears to reflect special favoritism being bestowed upon a person, a group of persons or a city of God's people.
I really like the words from one of my fellow chaplains. He shared with me some years ago: “It's all God!” Enjoy these final days and sense the Spirit that is among us.
--Ben Keckler
02.01.12
Showing posts with label Giving thanks. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Giving thanks. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Daily Devotion - Tuesday, March 1
A Prayer of Thanks
“O give thanks to the Lord,
for God is good and God’s steadfast love endures forever.”
--The beginning of a hymn of praise,
Psalm 136
Today’s key verse centers on the theme of giving thanks for the blessings we receive on the journey through life. Over the centuries many wonderful prayers of thanksgiving have expressed the theme of this verse. For today, a contemporary expression echoes the theme.
Loving God, we offer you thanks and praise
For all the surprising graces which come to us,
For those that sustain our lives and those that change them:
For food—familiar diets and startling new aromas and tastes;
For homes—places of steady surroundings and settings for redemptive love;
For friendships—old friends who are willingly open in their affection and their correction and new friends who remind us that your spirited presence still dwells within us and others;
For tasks to perform—routine actions which we do well and which bring order to our days and tasks at which we have failed, restoring a needed humility in us;
For your steadfast love—reminding us of our heritage
and enabling us to move into our tomorrows with confidence and courage.
We offer you thanks and praise, great and mighty God.
Amen.
--Ben Keckler
03.01.11
“O give thanks to the Lord,
for God is good and God’s steadfast love endures forever.”
--The beginning of a hymn of praise,
Psalm 136
Today’s key verse centers on the theme of giving thanks for the blessings we receive on the journey through life. Over the centuries many wonderful prayers of thanksgiving have expressed the theme of this verse. For today, a contemporary expression echoes the theme.
Loving God, we offer you thanks and praise
For all the surprising graces which come to us,
For those that sustain our lives and those that change them:
For food—familiar diets and startling new aromas and tastes;
For homes—places of steady surroundings and settings for redemptive love;
For friendships—old friends who are willingly open in their affection and their correction and new friends who remind us that your spirited presence still dwells within us and others;
For tasks to perform—routine actions which we do well and which bring order to our days and tasks at which we have failed, restoring a needed humility in us;
For your steadfast love—reminding us of our heritage
and enabling us to move into our tomorrows with confidence and courage.
We offer you thanks and praise, great and mighty God.
Amen.
--Ben Keckler
03.01.11
Monday, March 2, 2009
Daily Devotion - Monday, March 2
A Prayer of Thanks
Loving God, we offer you thanks and praise
For all the surprising graces which come to us,
For those that sustain our lives and those that change them:
For food—familiar diets and startling new aromas and tastes;
For homes—places of steady surroundings and settings for redemptive love;
For friendships—old friends who are willingly open in their affection and their correction
and new friends who remind us that your spirited presence still dwells within us and others;
For tasks to perform—routine actions which we do well and which bring order to our days
and tasks at which we have failed, restoring a needed humility in us;
For your steadfast love—reminding us of our heritage
and enabling us to move into our tomorrows with confidence and courage.
We offer you thanks and praise, great and mighty God. Amen.
Ben Keckler
03.02.09
Loving God, we offer you thanks and praise
For all the surprising graces which come to us,
For those that sustain our lives and those that change them:
For food—familiar diets and startling new aromas and tastes;
For homes—places of steady surroundings and settings for redemptive love;
For friendships—old friends who are willingly open in their affection and their correction
and new friends who remind us that your spirited presence still dwells within us and others;
For tasks to perform—routine actions which we do well and which bring order to our days
and tasks at which we have failed, restoring a needed humility in us;
For your steadfast love—reminding us of our heritage
and enabling us to move into our tomorrows with confidence and courage.
We offer you thanks and praise, great and mighty God. Amen.
Ben Keckler
03.02.09
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Daily Devotions - Tuesday, March 4
A Prayer of Thanks and Praise
“O give thanks to the Lord,
for God is good and God’s steadfast love endures forever.”
--Psalm 136: 1
Today let us focus on giving thanks for the blessings we receive on the journey through life. Over the centuries many wonderful prayers of thanksgiving have expressed the theme of this verse. For today, a contemporary expression echoes the theme.
Loving God, we offer you thanks and praise
For all the surprising graces which come to us,
For those that sustain our lives and those that change them:
For food—familiar diets and startling new aromas and tastes;
For homes—places of steady surroundings and settings for redemptive love;
For friendships—old friends who are willingly open in their affection and their correction
and new friends who remind us that your spirited presence still dwells within us and others;
For tasks to perform—routine actions which we do well and which bring order to our days
and tasks at which we have failed, restoring a needed humility in us;
For your steadfast love—reminding us of our heritage
and enabling us to move into our tomorrows with confidence and courage.
We offer you thanks and praise, great and mighty God. Amen.
Ben Keckler
03.04.08
“O give thanks to the Lord,
for God is good and God’s steadfast love endures forever.”
--Psalm 136: 1
Today let us focus on giving thanks for the blessings we receive on the journey through life. Over the centuries many wonderful prayers of thanksgiving have expressed the theme of this verse. For today, a contemporary expression echoes the theme.
Loving God, we offer you thanks and praise
For all the surprising graces which come to us,
For those that sustain our lives and those that change them:
For food—familiar diets and startling new aromas and tastes;
For homes—places of steady surroundings and settings for redemptive love;
For friendships—old friends who are willingly open in their affection and their correction
and new friends who remind us that your spirited presence still dwells within us and others;
For tasks to perform—routine actions which we do well and which bring order to our days
and tasks at which we have failed, restoring a needed humility in us;
For your steadfast love—reminding us of our heritage
and enabling us to move into our tomorrows with confidence and courage.
We offer you thanks and praise, great and mighty God. Amen.
Ben Keckler
03.04.08
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