A Seat at God’s Table… Thankgiving 24
This Thanksgiving was unlike any I’ve ever experienced. Around our table, we gathered a mosaic of lives and stories—friends from America, Egypt, India, Pakistan, Colombia, Nigeria, Jordan and beyond. Each person brought a piece of their culture, their story, and their heart, reminding me that the family of God truly transcends borders, languages, and histories.
We started our dinner with a moment of gratitude, going around the table to share what we were each thankful for. As each voice rose, some in accents rich with home and others in tones that spoke of new beginnings, I felt the beauty of Psalm 100 come alive: “Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.”
Then came the highlight of the evening: reading Psalm 100 in six different languages—English, Arabic, Dari, Hindi, Urdu, and Chinese. Hearing the same scripture echoed through such diverse tongues felt like a glimpse of heaven, where every nation, tribe, people, and language will worship the Lord together. It was as if the Spirit Himself wove our voices into a chorus, proclaiming His goodness and faithfulness.
This moment wasn’t just about celebrating a holiday; it was about living out God’s heart for unity in diversity. Too often, our differences are wielded as tools for division. But that night, they became the threads that bound us together. Each culture enriched the other. Each story was a testimony of God’s grace at work in ways unique and profound.
Not a Drink in Sight
What struck me most, however, was the stark difference between this Thanksgiving and what a secular gathering might offer. Secular thanksgiving often centers on good food, fleeting traditions, and momentary camaraderie. While these can be heartwarming, they lack the eternal weight of true community. The family of God offers something deeper—a unity not based on shared interests or cultural similarities, but on the transformative love of God. At our table, the joy and gratitude flowed from a wellspring of knowing we belong to a greater story, one authored by God Himself. We were not just celebrating blessings; we were worshiping the Giver of every good gift, bound together by His grace.
I looked around the table and saw answered prayers—families reunited, health restored, dreams rekindled, and hearts transformed. God is working on so many levels, and that night was a reminder that His plans are infinitely bigger than any of us can comprehend.
As we closed the evening, I found myself in awe of the true meaning of community—not one based on sameness, but on the unifying love of Christ. Our diversity is not a weakness; it is a reflection of God’s creativity and His invitation for us to celebrate one another.
Thanksgiving this year taught me something deeper: when we gather under God’s presence, every language, culture, and story becomes a part of a greater symphony. And in that unity, we experience the fullness of His love.
To God be the glory for such a beautiful night—and for the family of God that reminds us of heaven’s glory here on earth.
Urdu (زبور 100:1-5):
اَے تمام زمین کے لوگوں! خُداوند کے حضُور خُوشی کے نعرے مارو۔
خُداوند کی عبادت خُوشی سے کرو۔ گاتے ہوئے اُس کے حضُور آؤ۔
جان رکھّو کہ خُداوند ہی خُدا ہے۔ اُسی نے ہم کو بنایا اور ہم اُسی کے ہیں۔
ہم اُس کے لوگ اور اُس کی چراگاہ کی بھیڑیں ہیں۔
شُکرگُزاری کرتے ہوئے اُس کے پھاٹکوں میں داخل ہو۔
اور حمد کرتے ہوئے اُس کی بارگاہ میں آؤ۔ اُس کا شُکر کرو اور اُس کے نام کو مُبارِک کہو۔
کیونکہ خُداوند بھلا ہے۔ اُس کی شفقت ابدی ہے اور اُس کی وفاداری پُشت در پُشت رہتی ہے
Dari (مزامیر 100:1-5):
ای تمامی زمین، خداوند را با خوشی پرستش کنید!
خداوند را با شادی خدمت کنید و به حضور او با سرود آمدید.
بدانید که خداوند خدا است؛ او ما را ساخته است و ما از آن او هستیم؛
ما قوم او هستیم، گوسفندان چراگاه او.
با شکرگزاری به دروازههای او بیایید و با حمد به صحنهای او؛
او را سپاس کنید و نام او را مبارک خوانید.
زیرا خداوند نیکوست؛ رحمت او تا ابدالآباد است، و وفاداری او تا نسلهای بیپایان
Spanish (Salmos 100:1-5, Reina-Valera 1960):
Cantad alegres a Dios, habitantes de toda la tierra.
Servid a Jehová con alegría; venid ante su presencia con regocijo.
Reconoced que Jehová es Dios;
Él nos hizo, y no nosotros a nosotros mismos;
pueblo suyo somos, y ovejas de su prado.
Entrad por sus puertas con acción de gracias,
Por sus atrios con alabanza;
Alabadle, bendecid su nombre.
Porque Jehová es bueno; para siempre es su misericordia,
Y su verdad por todas las generaciones.
مزمورٌ للحَمدِ
1 اِهتِفوا للهِ يا جَميعَ الأرَضينَ
2 اعبُدوا اللهَ فَرِحينَ
تَقَرَّبوا لهُ مُنشِدينَ
3 قُولوا هُوَ اللهُ هُوَ رَبُّنا
هُوَ خالِقُنا
نَحنُ أهلَ مِيثاقِهِ
نَحنُ رَعِيَّتَهُ
4 اطرُقوا أَبوابَهُ حامِدينَ،
وادخُلوا باحاتِ بَيتِهِ مُهَلِّلينَ
ألا احمَدوهُ وسَبِّحُوا اسمَهُ
5 خَيرٌ كُلُّهُ هُوَ اللهُ
وفِيٌّ إلى الأبَدِ
مُخلِصٌ لِوُعودِهِ لَكُم جِيلاً فَجيلاً.
English (Psalm 100:1-5, NIV):
Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.
Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.
Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.
For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations.
