Give Thanks to the Lord

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
His love endures forever.
Give thanks to the God of gods.
His love endures forever.
Give thanks to the Lord of lords:
His love endures forever.
Psalm 136:1-3
 
The children at the Ranch memorize whole chapters of the Bible starting with Psalm 1. Many are intimidated by this requirement, but they soon discover that it is both possible and desirable. We give them a list to work on and after they’ve done Psalms 1, 2, 8, 23, and 100, I Corinthians 13 and a few others, they are free to choose their own.
 
Many go to Psalm 136. I suspect it is because of the repetition of the phrase, “His love endures forever.” This makes it easier than many others to learn twenty-six verses. Half of each verse is the same.
 
My hope is that while learning and reciting this passage, many of them will actually meditate on what is being repeated. “His love endures forever.” That isn’t just poetry. It is a truth that transforms those who believe.
 
Apart from the enduring love of God, we would have no hope. Many of these children have experienced a kind of love that did not last. Not only do teenage crushes fail, but many have seen marriages disintegrate. Many have felt rejection from parents. Many of you reading this know all too well the pain of a love that did not endure.
 
As we focus on Thanksgiving this month, we give thanks to our supporters who make this ministry possible. We thank our staff who work tirelessly to show these children what God’s love looks like in everyday life. But most of all we give thanks to the LORD, for he is good. His love endures forever.