REED at the DALLAS ARBORETUM - 2006

May your troubles be less, your blessing be more, and

nothing but HAPPINESS come through your door.

We Gather Together To Ask The Lord's Blessing

We gather together to ask the Lord's blessing;
He chastens and hastens his will to make known;
The wicked oppressing now cease from distressing:
Sing praise to his Name, He forgets not His own.

Beside us to guide us, our God with us joining,
Ordaining, maintaining his kingdom divine;
So from the beginning the fight we were winning:


Thou, Lord, wast at our side: all glory be Thine!
We all do extol Thee, thou Leader triumphant,
And pray that Thou still our Defender wilt be.
Let thy congregation escape tribulation:
Thy Name be ever praised! O Lord, make us free!

Words: Nederlandtsch Gedencklanck 1626;
Translation: Theodore Baker (1851-1934), 1894.Music: 1626 Dutch melody
Arrangement: Edward Kremser (1838-1914)

Nothing says "Thanksgiving" to me more than this hymn. As the temperatures "fall" and the calendar page is turned to November, I start humming this tune. The words are inspired and inspiring. In years past I would envision humble pilgrims bowing gratefully over their harvest meal and think, "What a lovely and wonderful tradition."

But now, as I study the words, a veil is lifted and a vision of that great "fight," even the War in Heaven between good and evil, is recalled to memory. And as I read the words in this light, the hymn has so much more meaning to me - for we are all, right now, in the thick of it. The fight is all around us and has been from the beginning. But with the Lord beside us, to guide us, the fight we ARE winning.

May we always remember and acknowledge Him, our Defender, our Leader Triumphant, who is the Source of all blessings, and who is the One and Only One who will make us free.