for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart.

¹⁰ To Him who smote the Egyptians in their firstborn,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting,
¹¹ And brought Israel out from their midst,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting,
¹² With a strong hand and an outstretched arm,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
¹³ To Him who divided the Red Sea asunder,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting,
¹⁴ And made Israel pass through the midst of it,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting;
¹⁵ But He overthrew Pharaoh and his army in the Red Sea,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
¹⁶ To Him who led His people through the wilderness,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting;
¹⁷ To Him who smote great kings,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting,
¹⁸ And slew mighty kings,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting:
¹⁹ Sihon, king of the Amorites,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting,
²⁰ And Og, king of Bashan,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting,
²¹ And gave their land as a heritage,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting,
²² Even a heritage to Israel His servant,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.

²³ Who remembered us in our low estate,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting,
²⁴ And has rescued us from our adversaries,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting;
²⁵ Who gives food to all flesh,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
²⁶ Give thanks to the God of heaven,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.

As we begin this week when we will celebrate Thanksgiving let's not forget the giving thanks part. While the focus of many is on turkey, football and family or getting started early on holiday shopping with the madness of black Friday, may we take the time to personaly and publicly give thanks to God.

Our culture, society and government may no longer recognize the original intent of setting aside this Thursday evry November. It was though in fact originally established as a holiday for the purpose of giving thanks to God as we read here, Thanksgiving, or Thanksgiving Day, is a holiday celebrated in the United States on the fourth Thursday in November. It became an official Federal holiday in 1863, when, during the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national day of "Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens", to be celebrated on the last Thursday in November. It's hard to imagine our government today even truly ackowledging God let alone proclaiming a national day of thanks to Him.

This Thanksgiving and throughout the Christmas season let's take Jesus words from Matthew 5:14-16 to heart. ¹⁴ “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; ¹⁵ nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. ¹⁶ Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. 

Being a light to the world begins with our personal times of thanksgiving and praise to God. When we take the time to thank God and praise Him, both for all He has done and for who He is, our light intensifies. When we truly have a heart of praise and thanksgiving it will flow forth from our mouths. Jesus teaches this principle in Luke 6:45

⁴⁵ The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart. 

The treasure of our hearts, again is established in our personal time with God. Our testimony to the world of God's goodness, everlasting love and kindness, His protection and provision, will only flow from a heart that is filled with that treasure.

So today and throughout these coming weeks, join with the psalmist.

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
² Give thanks to the God of gods,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
³ Give thanks to the Lord of lords,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
⁴ To Him who alone does great wonders,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting;

Thank God for who He is. Thank Him for what He has done. Then out of the abundance of your heart let your mouth speak and declare the goodness and the everlasting loving kindness of God to the world.