Thanksgiving

Does anyone else feel like the Thanksgiving holiday may get overlooked?? Halloween is hardly over and the stores have up Christmas decorations and have fall decorations 75% off and we still have weeks to go before Thanksgiving. I have to confess that I have often not given much other thought about Thanksgiving beyond remembering to think about what I'm thankful for, the family getting together and eating too much.

Well, this year the reality of why we really celebrate Thanksgiving has really struck me. Who are we thanking? Why are we thankful? Who were the Pilgrims? Where did they come from? Why did they leave there? These are some questions that have been looming in my mind.

Of course I know about the Pilgrims sailing on the Mayflower and the Indians that helped them, but who really were these pilgrims?? Why did they come to America? How can I teach our children about this important holiday?

I found a wonderful resource on FamilyLifeToday. They had a weeks worth of a "history" lesson on the spiritual and historical heritage of the Thanksgiving holiday. In fact, I actually was directed to a gem of a book/audio book to go along with this. Barbara Rainey wrote this for her children to teach them the real meaning behind Thanksgiving.


In listening to our heritage as Americans, it is mind-boggling to think where we started and what those before us went through to gain the freedoms and luxuries we now have. Our freedom has come through much suffering and sacrifice by many of our ancestors.

I would encourage you to go to FamilyLifeToday and listen to the audio series on Thanksgiving (dated Nov.10-13,2008). It is a reminder of why these Pilgrims came to America (to be able to worship God) and why they stayed. There are some things that either I forgot or learned for the first time on how God's hand was in what happened with the Pilgrims. For example, the land that the pilgrims came to (Plymouth) had previously belonged to a tribe of brutal Indians. These Indians killed all white men they came in contact with. Well, 4 years before the Pilgrims landed, a plague wiped out all of the indian village (except for 1 indian named Squanto who had been taken captive earlier and brought to England). For the 4 years before the Pilgrims came, no other Indian tribe attempted to take over the land because they were afraid of the plague. So, the land was unowned. And, the relationship of the Pilgrims with the Indians of the area is more evidence of God's interventions. These Indians taught the Pilgrims how to live in this land. Unlike the settlers of Jamestown who were most reliant upon ships from England for their survival, the Pilgrims were able to work the land and get their food and supplies from what was around them. Unlike Jamestown who lost 90% of it's population in the first year, Plymouth lost 50%. By the time the first harvest came, the Pilgrims had much they wanted to Praise God for.

Abraham Lincoln was the first President to declare Thanksgiving a national day "of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father." Here is the text of Lincoln's proclamation:
By the President of the United States of America.

A Proclamation.

The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God. In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union. Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defence, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle or the ship; the axe has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consiousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom. No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity and Union. (The Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln, edited by Roy P. Basler)

So, as Thanksgiving approaches, I have an encouraged heart. The Lord is with those who call on His name. As the Pilgrims read on the day they landed at Plymouth, Psalm 100 reads:
"Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth. Serve the Lord with gladness; Come before Him with joyful singing. Know that the Lord Himself is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Enter His gates with thanksgiving, And His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him; bless His name. For the Lord is good; His lovingkindness is everlasting, And His faithfulness to all generations."

I would LOVE to hear comments on what my blog readers are thankful for!!
Happy Thanksgiving!!

America Again

I found this song and thought it was great, even though it must have been written in the 1990's. Things are better in some ways, but much worse in others and it has nothing to do with the economy or who is President. I'll post my thoughts on that later, but Todd did an excellent job at articulating his thoughts about the election, which tend to be pretty similar to mine. I am praying for the Nation and our President-elect (who, by the way does not want to use the Bible to help govern this nation as we are no longer just a "Christian nation". In his words, we are also "muslim, buddhist,jewish" -see video)! Well, I am a Christian and I know what biblical history says about nations that are not with God. So, I will be praying that America comes back to God.

AMERICA AGAIN
George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Samuel Adams,
first Chief Justice John Jay.
Names synonymous with the spirit of our country.
The Founding Fathers of the USA.

Over Two Hundred years ago, they shook of the chains of tyranny
from Great Britain by Divine call.
Citing 27 biblical violations, they wrote the Declaration of Independence,
with Liberty, justice for all.

But something happened since Jefferson call the Bible the cornerstone
for American liberty, then put in our schools for a light.
Or since "Give me liberty or give me death" Patrick Henry said,
"our country was founded on the Gospel of Jesus Christ."

We eliminated God from the equation from American Life.
Thus eliminating the reason why this nation first began.
From beyond the grave I hear the voices of our founding fathers plead,
"You need God in America again"

Of the 55 men who formed the constitution,
52 were active members of their church.
Founding fathers like Noah Webster, who wrote the first dictionary,
could literally quote the Bible, Chapter and Verse.

James Madison said, "we've staked our future on our ability to follow
the 10 commandments with all our heart"
These men believed that you could not even call yourself an American
if you subvert the word of God.

In his farewell address, Washington said "you can't have national morality
apart from religious principle," and its true.
Because now we have nearly 150,000 kids carrying guns
through these war zones that we call public schools.

In the 40's and 50's student problems were chewing gum and talking.
In the 90's rape and murder are the trend.
The only way this nation can even hope to last this decade
is put God in America again.

Chorus:
The only hope for America is Jesus.
The only hope for our country is Him.
If we repent of our ways, stand firm and say,
We need God in America again

Abe Lincoln said, "The philosophy of the school room in one generation,
will be the philosophy of government in the next."
So when you eliminate the word of God from the classroom and politics,
you eliminate the nation that Word protects.

America is now number 1 in teen pregnancy and violent crime.
Number 1 in illiteracy, drug use and divorce.
Every day a new holocaust of 5,000 unborn die,
while pornography floods our streets like open sewers.

Americas dead and dying hand is on the threshold of the church.
While the spirit of Sodom and Gomorra vex us all.
When it gets to the point the people would rather come out of the closet than clean it,
it is the sign that the judgment of God is going to fall.

If there has ever been a time to rise up Church, its now.
And as the blood bought saints of the living God proclaim,
that its time to sound the alarm from the church house to the White House
and say, "WE WANT GOD IN AMERICA AGAIN."

I believe its time America, to stand up and proclaim,
"that one nation under God is our demand."
And send this evil lifestyle back to Satan where it came from.
And let the Word of God revive our dying land!
For Jesus Christ is coming back again in all his glory.
And every eye shall see him on that day.
That’s why a new anointing of Gods power is coming on us to boldly
tell the world you must be saved!

Because astrology wont save you.
Your horoscope wont save you.
The bible says these things are all a farce.
If your born again, you don't need to look to the stars for your answers,
cause you can look to the very one that made those stars.

History tells us, time and time again,
to live like there is no God makes you a fool.
If you want to see kids live right,
stop handing out condoms and start
handing out the word of God in schools.

Chorus:
The only hope for America is Jesus.
The only hope for our country is Him.
If we repent of our ways, stand firm
and say, We need God in America again.
©Carmen

Here We Go

I have much to say this evening before the election. But, the time has come and now we need to trust the Lord. So, I decided to just post some Scripture. If there is only one thing that I have learned from this election (I actually have learned quite a bit, but I'll spare you all that), it is that now more than ever Christians need to be in the Word. We need to know it. So, at the end of the day tomorrow and every 'morrow I am so thankful that I will always have my faithful Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ as my Deliverer and King!

"The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man's judgment: 'For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?' But we have the mind of Christ." 1 Corinithians 2:14-16

Watch yourself that you make no covenant with the inhabitants of the land into which you are going, lest it become a snare in your midst. But rather, you are to tear down their altars and smash their sacred pillars and cut down their Adherim - for you shall not worship any other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God-” Exodus 34:12-14.

"Because he loves me," says the Lord, "I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him." Psalm 91:14-15

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

"Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall." Psalm 55:22

"This I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfullness" Lamentations 3:21-23

Fasting

Todd alerted me to the fact that there has been a request by the National Day of Prayer Task force for tomorrow to be a day of prayer and fasting for our nation. I know that it's a bit late posting this, but maybe a few will catch and want to participate.

Some verses that make me think:

Jeremiah 29:12 "You will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you."
Deuteronomy 4:7 "What other nation is so great as to have their gods near them the way the LORD our God is near us whenever we pray to him?"
And a verse that really has opened my heart up to fasting:
Matthew 17:20, 21 "He (Jesus) told them, “Because of your lack of faith. I tell you with certainty, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you. 21But this kind does not come out except by prayer and fasting.”


Fasting with Prayer for the November 4th Elections
Called by the National Day of Prayer Task Force

Fasting brings us to a deeper level of commitment; it intensifies our prayers.

As you know, we are entering increased intensity surrounding our November election. It is indeed a sobering time in America and our world.

The National Day of Prayer Task Force is calling for a fast with our prayers as we desperately seek God in regards to our nation in the days ahead.

We invite you, to join with us as we earnestly approach our Heavenly Father with the needs of our nation over the course of the next few weeks. We hope that pastors will also encourage their congregants and parishioners to also unite in this concerted time of prayer with fasting.

Indeed there are many churches fasting in their prayer efforts around the nation already.

This time of fasting falls in line with II Chronicles 7:14: “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn form their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land” (NKJV).

The late Dr. Bill Bright, founder of Campus Crusade for Christ, called fasting a “spiritual atomic bomb that our Lord has given us to destroy the strongholds of evil and usher in a great revival and spiritual harvest around the world.”

“But,” he added, “before God comes in revival power, the Holy Spirit will call millions of God’s people to repent, fast and pray in the spirit of II Chronicles 7:14.”

Henry Blackaby, excerpted from Authentic Prayer and Fasting:
“In truth our first motive in fasting and prayer must be to return to God. It must not be for what He will do in "revival," regardless of how crucial the need for revival may be.
Revival is not what happens to the "lost," but what happens to God's people when we come in brokenness and grief over sin - our sin - and are restored to that holy love relationship with God. Revival is when God's people are once again living to the praise of His glory and to the glory of our Savior, Jesus Christ. We will always know, as God's people, when we have returned, because we will see fresh evidence of a fresh and powerful sensitivity to sin and to the Savior.
In this restored relationship with Him, God is once again able to work through his people to touch a lost world redemptively.”
-----

Fasting with prayer can take many forms:
· Daniel Chapter 1 Fast: vegetables, water…
· Forty Day Fast: 9/26-11/4
· Fasting one week
· Fasting one day
· Fasting one meal
· Let the Lord lead you in how to fast with prayer.

Many will be led to begin right away, maybe even today for a sustained, continued season to fast before November 4th.

But please join with us in taking no less than one day, Sunday, 11/2 as an appointment with the Lord to fast and pray. We are praying for untold numbers to join in this vital endeavor to redeem the very soul and thus future of our nation---the United States of America, one nation under God.

"Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen; to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter when you see the naked to clothe him...Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard. Then you will call and the Lord will answer..." Isaiah 58: 6-9a

The Narrow Gate

MATTHEW 7:13-14Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.