"I thank God--- through Jesus Christ our Lord!" (Romans 7:25a)
Thanksgiving in the United States of America is not giving thanks into the nebulae of the universe. I have much to be thankful for. Ultimately, however, only One to be thankful to.
The original intent was expressed by George Washington in his decree in 1789, "to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God." This was the first national govenmental declaration of a special day of Thanksgiving. It was and is a giving of thanks to God Himself for the nation, the blessings, and the undeserved mercies He has shown us throughout the generations of our nation. By the way, I do not buy for a minute that the World War 2 generation was "the greatest generation." Every generation had its greatness, from the first pioneers to the present, generations of self-sacrificing, country loving, and most especially, the William Penns, the Wesleys, Whitefields, Edwards, Finneys, who laid the foundation of Jesus Christ in our nation's founding, and others who gave so much that I and my fellow Americans have what is still a great country. We have great sins for which repentance is a constant need, e.g., the First Nations Peoples, slavery. But I could make a case that even with those sins, so much has been turned to good.
"After their first harvest, the colonists of the Plymouth Plantation held a celebration of food and feasting in the fall of 1621. Indian chiefs Massassoit, Squanto and Samoset joined in the celebration with ninety of their men in the three-day event" (Archiving Early America). Would to our Lord Jesus Christ that such comradery would have continued, and may Jesus help you and me to do all we can to right those wrongs. Yes, there are many sins of America, but personally, I am thankful to have been born here. I say again what many do not like to hear and think is too nationalistic--------- but it's true. If it were not for the United States of America, despotism would rule the world.
As those of us who are US Citizens gather with family and friends tomorrow, I pray we are thankful to and for Jesus Christ, "King of kings (and nations) and Lord of lords." Not only Americans, but the whole world might as well join in the Thanksgiving to and for Jesus, "For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea."
Father, in Jesus' Name, Thank You. Amen.
Thanksgiving in the United States of America is not giving thanks into the nebulae of the universe. I have much to be thankful for. Ultimately, however, only One to be thankful to.
The original intent was expressed by George Washington in his decree in 1789, "to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God." This was the first national govenmental declaration of a special day of Thanksgiving. It was and is a giving of thanks to God Himself for the nation, the blessings, and the undeserved mercies He has shown us throughout the generations of our nation. By the way, I do not buy for a minute that the World War 2 generation was "the greatest generation." Every generation had its greatness, from the first pioneers to the present, generations of self-sacrificing, country loving, and most especially, the William Penns, the Wesleys, Whitefields, Edwards, Finneys, who laid the foundation of Jesus Christ in our nation's founding, and others who gave so much that I and my fellow Americans have what is still a great country. We have great sins for which repentance is a constant need, e.g., the First Nations Peoples, slavery. But I could make a case that even with those sins, so much has been turned to good.
"After their first harvest, the colonists of the Plymouth Plantation held a celebration of food and feasting in the fall of 1621. Indian chiefs Massassoit, Squanto and Samoset joined in the celebration with ninety of their men in the three-day event" (Archiving Early America). Would to our Lord Jesus Christ that such comradery would have continued, and may Jesus help you and me to do all we can to right those wrongs. Yes, there are many sins of America, but personally, I am thankful to have been born here. I say again what many do not like to hear and think is too nationalistic--------- but it's true. If it were not for the United States of America, despotism would rule the world.
As those of us who are US Citizens gather with family and friends tomorrow, I pray we are thankful to and for Jesus Christ, "King of kings (and nations) and Lord of lords." Not only Americans, but the whole world might as well join in the Thanksgiving to and for Jesus, "For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea."
Father, in Jesus' Name, Thank You. Amen.
When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2
"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2
