Thanksgiving — even when the foundations are being destroyed

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2 Thessalonians 2:13-17

But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, 14to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle.

16Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, 17comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work.

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Faith in the Lord’s Righteousness
To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.

Psalm 11:1-5

In the Lord I put my trust;
How can you say to my soul,
“Flee as a bird to your mountain”?
2
For look! The wicked bend their bow,
They make ready their arrow on the string,
That they may shoot secretly at the upright in heart.
3
If the foundations are destroyed,
What can the righteous do?
4
The Lord is in His holy temple,
The Lord’s throne is in heaven;
His eyes behold,
His eyelids test the sons of men.
5
The Lord tests the righteous,
But the wicked and the one who loves violence His soul hates.

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Psalm 118

Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!
For His mercy endures forever.
2
Let Israel now say,
“His mercy endures forever.”
3
Let the house of Aaron now say,
“His mercy endures forever.”
4
Let those who fear the Lord now say,
“His mercy endures forever.”
5
I called on the Lord in distress;
The Lord answered me and set me in a broad place.
6
The Lord is on my side;
I will not fear.
What can man do to me?
7
The Lord is for me among those who help me;
Therefore I shall see my desire on those who hate me.
8
It is better to trust in the Lord
Than to put confidence in man.
9
It is better to trust in the Lord
Than to put confidence in princes.
10
All nations surrounded me,
But in the name of the Lord I will destroy them.
11
They surrounded me,
Yes, they surrounded me;
But in the name of the Lord I will destroy them.
12
They surrounded me like bees;
They were quenched like a fire of thorns;
For in the name of the Lord I will destroy them.
13
You pushed me violently, that I might fall,
But the Lord helped me.
14
The Lord is my strength and song,
And He has become my salvation.
15
The voice of rejoicing and salvation
Is in the tents of the righteous;
The right hand of the Lord does valiantly.
16
The right hand of the Lord is exalted;
The right hand of the Lord does valiantly.
17
I shall not die, but live,
And declare the works of the Lord.
18
The Lord has chastened me severely,
But He has not given me over to death.
19
Open to me the gates of righteousness;
I will go through them,
And I will praise the Lord.
20
This is the gate of the Lord,
Through which the righteous shall enter.
21
I will praise You,
For You have answered me,
And have become my salvation.
22
The stone which the builders rejected
Has become the chief cornerstone.
23
This was the Lord’s doing;
It is marvelous in our eyes.
24
This is the day the Lord has made;
We will rejoice and be glad in it.
25
Save now, I pray, O Lord;
O Lord, I pray, send now prosperity.
26
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!
We have blessed you from the house of the Lord.
27
God is the Lord,
And He has given us light;
Bind the sacrifice with cords to the horns of the altar.
28
You are my God, and I will praise You;
You are my God, I will exalt You.
29
Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!
For His mercy endures forever.

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Photo credits: Thessalonians: No Matter What by Live to Bloom