"I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify Him with thanksgiving" (Ps. 69: 39). The psalms are words and songs of praise to God for all that He is and for all of His marvelous and wondrous blessings upon His people. The psalms evoke within us the worship of God through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. We are called to praise the "name of God." Throughout the Bible, we are given many names or titles for God. He is Jehovah or Yahweh,

I AM, The First and The Last, The Beginning and The End, Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace, and Immanuel to name just a few. As Christians, we know that the name of God is Jesus Christ. Jesus which means one who saves is the Anointed, Christ of God. We are called to praise the name of God who is Jesus Christ! We must praise Him with songs and hymns and spiritual songs singing with grace in our hearts unto the Lord allowing His Word to dwell or abide within us richly (Col. 3: 16). We are summoned to exalt, extol, and magnify Christ with thanksgiving or with thankful hearts of praise. We give thanks at the remembrance of His holiness (Ps. 30: 4). We are to enter into His presence with thanksgiving and bless His name (Ps.100: 4). We are told to give thanks unto the Lord for His mercy and goodness (Ps. 118: 1). When we give thanks unto God our Savior, we humble ourselves before Him; we worship Him for who He is and all that He has done for us. Where does our thankful praise begin? Our loving worship, our humble praise, our willful obedience, and our sincere thanksgiving begins at the Cross of Calvary. Our thanksgiving is at the empty tomb of our risen Lord. Our thanksgiving unto God our Savior looks to Him who promised to return for His church and take us to heaven. From the Scriptures, I am reminded over and over again of this present reality in my life-all that I have in my loving family, my wonderful friends, the precious church I am privileged to serve as pastor, and my true and ever abiding Savior, Jesus Christ. These blessings for which I am thankful are only because ofHis glorious gospel and saving grace upon my life. Paul reminds us, "In everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you" (1Thess. 5:18).

I trust that you will have a Happy Thanksgiving as you recall God's abundant, marvelous, and underserved blessings upon your life.

- Michael Gal: 2: 20