Hosea 13:4 “Yet I have been the Lord your God ever since the land of Egypt; you know no God but me, and besides me there is no savior.”

It is as plain as the nose on your face... this is the saying that came to mind as I read through this passage in Hosea.  His people continue to seek other gods and fall away from the Lord in sin.  They worship their kings and their idols and their lives self-destruct.  We humans are masters of deception.  We deceive others to get what we want or think we need but even more we deceive ourselves.  We go through our days seeking our own desires all the while telling ourselves we seek to serve others.  We worship other gods while telling ourselves we only do this to honor the one true God.  It is only when we take time to stop doing and truly listen that we find our way back to Yahweh.  Even through his righteous anger, He waits for his children to come back so He can pour love and compassion on them.  He remembers their sins but He remembers his love more.  As you prepare your hearts to come together with loved ones in Thanksgiving, take time to prepare your hearts to come in thanksgiving to the Lord, our God as well.  It is through Him that we have been blessed.

Lord,

Why do we continue to miss the mark?  Why can we not just believe in your everlasting love and be content to live in it always?  You know us better than we know ourselves.  Change our hearts and open us to be thankful, truly thankful for the blessings you pour out on us every day.  Amen.