Happy Thanksgiving

On this day in 2002, Frank Nickel was "promoted to glory." Today, we look at some of the songs and poems he wrote throughout his life, expressing gratitude for God, family, friends, earthly blessings and anything else God might choose to send. (Click the titles to read the lyrics.)

Citizenship in Heaven is based on Psalm 103:2 and reminds us to "forget not" all God's benefits.
My Thanks asks how he can express gratitude for and to his friends.
Psalm 100 is a paraphrase about entering the gates of the Lord with thanksgiving.
Genuine Thanksgiving, True Freedom mulls questions about the survival of both faith and country.
Childlike Faith expresses gratitude for "whatever" God sends.
Sing and Give Thanks based on Psalm 30:4, was the cover song for Frank's songbook.
Thank You Lord For Loving Me is a less familiar song, but worthy of inclusion here.
Thanksgiving Rehearsal is for the day after Thanksgiving.

May your celebrations today be filled with gratitude for all the people and experiences God has granted in your life. Take time to express that personal thanks to each person who has been significant in your life!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Picture: depositphotos.com #13924026, standard license

Enter the Gates (Psalm 100)

Words by F.P. Nickel, Music by Rachel Bontrager

Enter the gates of the Lord with thanksgiving,
come into His courts with praise!
Serve Him with gladness and sing in His presence;
voices in glad anthems raise.
For all that we have has been given
by grace of our Maker above;
we dare claim no merit, nor credit—
our boast is His power and love.

Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness;
honour His name (oh, honour His name).
For we are the sheep of His pasture,
come into His courts with praise!

Enter the gates of the Lord with thanksgiving,
come into His courts with praise!
Bless thou the Lord and forget not my soul 
His benefits all of thy days.
Redeeming thy life from destruction—
forgiving iniquities great,
and healing thee of thy diseases—
how happy and blissful thy state!

Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness;
honour His name (oh, honour His name).
For we are the sheep of His pasture,
come into His courts with praise!

Enter the gates of the Lord with thanksgiving,
come into His courts with praise!
Glory resplendent declared by the heav’ns, 
His pow’r by the sun and its rays.
Beholding the stars and the planets—
the earth and the universe plan,
I cannot contain awe and wonder, 
that He should be mindful of man.

Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness;
honour His name (oh, honour His name).
For we are the sheep of His pasture,
come into His courts with praise!

fpn/undated
This was written as a song. For a copy of the printed music, contact Joyce



Picture: sourced online

Thanksgiving Rehearsal

Thanksgiving Day in Canada is celebrated the second Monday in October each year. 

Since the editor of this blog, Frank's daughter, lives in Canada, we salute 

the Thanksgiving holiday celebration in both countries.

Thanksgiving day has passed again—
that one day of the year
for turkey, pumpkin and the rest,
and gatherings far and near.

The big league games, to pass the time—
or hunting—made the day;
a few had church and took some time
to meditate and pray.

And now we’re back to the old grind.
We still are thankful, but
it’s easy to forget again
and get in the old rut.

And so we gripe and fuss and fume
’bout things that spoil our fun;
we make life miserable for ourselves
and those with whom we run.

It’s so refreshing when we meet
a truly grateful soul;
let’s really try to be one too—
make gratitude our goal.

When next year’s thanks-day rolls around,
our conscience need not smart,
if we’ll just practice every day
to give thanks from the heart!

fpn/undated



Picture: depositphotos.com #13924026, standard license