Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable and incredible gifts to mankind.
All of them, so many of them. For all of them we should be nothing but grateful and:
GIVE THANKS
Our forefathers, the pilgrims and others, did exactly that, and early on. Those who came first to America brought with them a deeply rooted sense of gratitude for all good things. They were grateful to God for everything, every good thing the great man of America bestowed. They thanked God at all times for those incredible divine gifts.
And they did so especially after harvest. They set aside a time to be grateful and to celebrate. The harvest assured them of survival and even prosperity during the harsh winter to come, and they were grateful. The earth gave and they harvested. The earth bestowed the bounty of God and they reaped the harvest, but with gratitude and thanksgiving. Always thanking, always grateful. Thanking the God Creator for these unspeakable, incredible gifts.
Now for us comes the day and week set aside to be grateful. To give thanks. How grateful we should be.
For life, for living, for the lifestyle we enjoy. We live when thousands the world over die every day. And this day, this very day which the Lord Hath Made, is an incredible day of opportunity. That opportunity can yield harvest, thanks be to God, and opportunities for you and me to sow and reap. We can serve, serve others. We can work and be productive. We can earn and profit by that work. We can grow personally, even as grain grows, and we can reap the harvest of that personal growth in the same way. Thanks be to God for that opportunity.
There is divine energy and opportunity everywhere. No matter how dark, good is at work for those with eyes to see. All things are possible with God and no matter how bleak the world, we must remember that all things work together for good as the God Of All Good controls all things. Thanks be to God at Thanksgiving and always for these incredible gifts and opportunities.
How wonderful to be alive at this day and age. Life is at work, may there be no more abortion. Divine energy reinvents the day. Every day, by the grace of God, is born and BORN AGAIN. Every day which the Lord hath made brings new opportunity for which we should be thankful. New hope for transformation and reformation. A new day to love and appreciate what we so often take for granted.
Like our family and friends. Those closest to us are sometimes least appreciated. How good to give thanks at this season and always for a loving spouse. One who has undoubtedly done so much and often without thanks. And for children. And for friends. And really, for all mankind. Thanksgiving is a time to love them, and tell them, and fully comply with the great commandment that we should love our neighbors as ourselves. How grateful we should be to God for the opportunity to love our neighbors.
Our life in America, compared to the world at large, is one replete with liberty, with freedom and with the incredible opportunities they bring. We are free, thank God, to pursue our happiness and life which is right for us. Thank God for that opportunity and privilege.
And of course, we are free to celebrate, and we should. We should enjoy and be happy and even as the food makes us full, the extra dimension is that God as well through Jesus Christ and His coming makes our joy in living supreme and our life through him making life so much more abundant. We enjoy the food of the harvest, the fellowship of family and friends, the fun and good times of the day, and of course the football. We eat the bread of the day (the stuffing) all the while we are so grateful for the Bread Of Life. We enjoy the fruits of the plains even as we rejoice even more in the fruits of the Spirit. We are safe and secure more so than anywhere else in the world and we should be grateful and thank the God who indeed blesses America.
In my home at Thanksgiving, our family traditionally traveled to a local orphanage, witnessed in word and song, brought good things for them and celebrated with Thanksgiving food. The day started with that special blessing for them and for us. At home thereafter, our family had our own dinner together where we shared love, fellowship and fun. The family tradition included a spirited touch football game on the front lawn, more games, and more fun, and fellowship, and laughter, and joy. The joy of the Lord was abundant in our household and we were grateful, thankful to God.
Think of the world at large. Wars and rumors of wars. Crime. Dishonesty. Immorality. Poverty. So much of the world is without hope and consequently ungrateful. The spirit of thanksgiving is hard to find. The world so desperately needs the salt and light of Jesus Christ at Thanksgiving and always. There has never been greater opportunity for:
THE SPIRITUAL HARVEST
The world economy suffers and jobs and earnings are so very difficult. Yet, all things spiritual, THE SPIRITUAL SOWING is what the world needs more than anything. There has never been a better God-given opportunity to sow the seeds of the Gospel so that the spiritual harvest can be reaped. More than ever we should GO YE into all the world and preach the Gospel, sow the seeds natural and spiritual, so that with the blessing of the Holy Spirit, the harvest can be reaped! Thanks be to God for this incredible opportunity to serve Him.
And for America. Thank you Lord for America. For our homeland, the home of the brave and the free. We thank you Lord. We ask that you will continue to guide and bless us as a nation. Lead us, oh Lord, in the straight and narrow. Provide us with your light and wisdom from above and make us know the truth. Cause us to be grateful now more than ever for all the gifts we receive so abundantly from YOU. Allow us to appreciate the beauty of nature and of our homeland. Cause us to appreciate more than ever our Land of Plenty and the incredible life you have allowed us to life. Even as you bless us, oh Lord, may our gratitude for you and all that you have done only grow. Thank you Lord God Almighty for America:
OUR HOME SWEET HOME
GOD BLESS AMERICA
LAND THAT I LOVE
STAND BESIDE HER
AND GUIDE HER
THROUGH THE NIGHT WITH THE LIGHT FROM ABOVE
FROM THE MOUNTAINS
TO THE PRAIRIES
TO THE OCEANS WHITE WITH FOAM
GOD BLESS AMERICA
MY HOME SWEET HOME
GOD BLESS AMERICA
MY HOME SWEET HOME
The God of the Universe has created, my fellow Americans, a marvelous hope within you. That hope is eternal, in Jesus Christ. The blessings of Christianity abound in America and we have reaped that spiritual harvest, but the night comes when we can not work or reap and we must be ready, vigilient. But at the same time, those who know the saving grace of Jesus Christ should be the most grateful of all. There is no higher or better gift, than the gift of the Son, the love of the Savior permeating and changing a life. Thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift in Jesus Christ. Go ye into all of the world, my fellow Christians, with the love of Jesus Christ and let your light so shine before men, let them see your good works and glorify our Heavenly Father.
And so the words of that old simple song testify so mightily even today:
THANK YOU LORD FOR SAVING MY SOUL
THANK YOU LORD FOR MAKING ME WHOLE
THANK YOU LORD FOR GIVING TO ME
THY GREAT SALVATION SO FULL AND FREE
On Thanksgiving and always my fellow Americans, celebrate America, the beautiful home we should so gratefully enjoy. Protect and preserve our special homeland that God has given us now and always.
O BEAUTIFUL FOR SPACIOUS SKIES
FOR AMBER WAVES OF GRAIN
FOR PURPLE MOUNTAIN MAJESTIES
ABOVE THE FRUITED PLAINS
AMERICA, AMERICA
GOD SHED HIS GRACE ON THEE
AND CROWN THY GOOD
WITH BROTHERHOOD
FROM SEA TO SHINING SEA
God bless America and God bless you my fellow American.