Having given thanks and broken bread together, Jesus sent His disciples out to live kingdom lives and do kingdom work. Right away, it seemed they lost everything…only to find, that losing was the way winning came.

And so, we come to the end of this Thanksgiving month. Our hearts? Well, they may be all over the place. Thankful. Cautious. Emboldened. Afraid. Maybe a bit weary when it might seem that we lose more than we win. And yet. Hope.

Hope that no matter what, Jesus is always working. He always has been, and He always will be. Hope that right now, even in our mess, He is calling, wooing, and changing us. And hope that there really will be a day when I am truly transformed…as well as all those around me.

But until then…we will praise Him. For all that He’s done. For all He’s doing. And for all that’s yet to be. In me. In you. In us. In our world. And as we praise, we will remember what has always been true. The best is yet to come.

 I Praise You For What Is Yet to Be

 

Wondrous Worker of Wonders, I praise you,

not alone for what has been, or for what is,

but for what is yet to be,

for you are gracious beyond all telling of it.

I praise you that out of the turbulence of my life

a kingdom is coming,

is being shaped even now out of my slivers of loving,

my bits of trusting,

my sprigs of hoping,

my tootles of laughing,

my drips of crying,

my smidgens of worshiping;

that out of my songs and struggles,

out of my griefs and triumphs,

I am gathered up and saved,

for you are gracious beyond all telling of it.

 

I praise you that you turn me loose

to go with you to the edge of now and maybe,

to welcome the new,

to see my possibilities,

to accept my limits,

and yet begin living to the limit of passion and compassion until,

released by joy,

I uncurl to other people

and to your kingdom coming,

for you are gracious

beyond all telling of it.

 

–Ted Loder, Guerrillas of Grace