On a crisp, clear “up north” night we sat around a bonfire.  But quickly our gaze turned from flames of the fire to the brilliance of the star studded sky.  As our eyes looked upward, we were mesmerized by its majesty; we were filled with wonder at the omnipotence of our God who spoke these stars into being.

Although the number of stars we could see with our naked eyes were too numerous to count, they were but a minute number of stars that fill our galaxy.  Scientists tell us the Milky Way consists of 100-300 billion stars.  Even further confounding is the fact that our galaxy is but one of over 100 billion galaxies in our universe.  Our God is an incredible star-Maker, planet Creator!

And, it is this awesome and powerful God who calls out to us with an extraordinary invitation:

“Draw near to me and I will draw near to you!” James 4:8

How incredible it is that the loving desire of our omnipotent God is for us to have an intimate, personal relationship with Him – a relationship where we have the privilege to call on His name, knowing that He hears and answers us.

When we truly reflect on how blessed we are by God’s great love for us, I think we can relate to the words David wrote in Psalm 8:

“I look up at your macro-skies, dark and enormous,

your handmade sky-jewelry,

Moon and stars mounted in their settings.

Then I look at my micro-self and wonder,

Why do you bother with us?

Why take a second look our way?”  vs. 3-4

Like David, when we contemplate the bigness, the power, the awesomeness of God and then reflect on how blessed we are that this macro God cares about the micro – us, then we find ourselves asking the same question that David did.

 “What can I offer the LORD for all He has done for me? (Ps. 116:4)

 Fortunately David provides an answer.  In Psalm 116 he wrote:

“I will offer you a sacrifice of thanksgiving
and call on the name of the LORD.” (vs. 17)

This Thanksgiving Day let us follow David’s lead.  As we gather around the table with family and friends, let us offer a “sacrifice of thanksgiving” to the Lord for His love and favor.  Let us thank God for His gift of Salvation – the gift of His Son, who made it possible for the micro-us to have a personal and eternal relationship with our macro-God.