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THANKSGIVING
Thanksgiving is a legal holiday in the United States. Historically it was first celebrated in early colonial times in New England. The actual origin, however, is probably the harvest festivals that are traditional in many parts of the world.
After
the first harvest was completed by the Plymouth colonists in 1621, Governor. William Bradford proclaimed a day of thanksgiving and prayer, shared by all the colonists and neighboring Indians. In 1623 a day of fasting and prayer during a period of drought was changed to one of thanksgiving because the rain came during the prayers. Gradually the custom prevailed in New England of annually celebrating thanksgiving after the harvest. During the American Revolution a yearly day of national thanksgiving was suggested by the Continental Congress. In 1817 New York State adopted Thanksgiving Day as an annual custom, and by the middle of the 19th century many other states had done the same. In 1863 President Abraham Lincoln appointed a day of thanksgiving, and since then each president has issued a Thanksgiving Day proclamation, generally designating the fourth Thursday of November as a holiday.
Since the first harvest in 1621 and Governor Bradford’s proclamation, (382 years ago) we find ourselves continuing to look forward to this festive occasion. In those days they were thankful for the abundant harvest and the rain to relieve the drought. And in all these years God through His great love has blessed this nation. I like the
song that says, “With His mighty hand He led us, With His bountiful supply He fed us.” And that is not just the ones He led out of bondage. We are included in that number. He is the same today as in those days, and we are no different, needing His blessing as we travel through this pilgrimage.
The US has gone through some hard and tumultuous times, wars to gain freedoms, the depression of 1929, followed by the all out national effort where the nation rolled up it’s collective sleeves and brought World War II to a timely end. Much has
been learned about the care and feeding of a young nation during these past two hundred and thirty some years.
Even though we have suffered failure at times we have always managed to recover. We have learned our lessons well in the past, but we still have a long way to go. We are presently at war with the hostile faction determined to annihilate all
Christians and Jews. We are also struggling with internal factions bound on reducing our nation to a pagan, heathen entity. Our government is slowly deteriorating by allowing unwholesome changes and translation of that which was
originally accepted and constitutionally legalized by the courts of the land, If something is not done to stop this ruination it won’t be long before we will have much less to be thankful for. One sure way for our nation to dilapidate or fall into a state of ruin is for good men (and women) to do nothing.
The foundation is, and always has been, we are “One Nation Under God.” Or at least that was the original intent, that’s the way we started out. But these are modern times, old fashion rhetoric went out with button shoes and the horse and buggy.
These are modern times, computers, cell phones, high density everything, CDs DVDs vaccines, landing on the moon, space travel and exploration. We are in the “Jet Age” living in the fast lane.
It would appear that we have so much more for which to be thankful than the earlier settlers. If nothing else there are just a lot more of us. Times and needs are certainly different, but our Creator is not, and we must remember to come to Him with a thankful heart, and not for just what He provides but “Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.” (2nd Corinthians 9:11) and again. “Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.” (Revelation 7:12)
Our nation has been blessed and we have progressed beyond all expectations. We have come a long way since the days of the Mayflower and Plymouth Rock.
Allow this national day of thanksgiving to be that catalyst for making every day a day of thanksgiving. Thanksgiving for God’s blessings and for His continuing favorable view of what He sees in America, “One Nation Under God.”
Have a Happy and Festive Thanksgiving Celebration
Solomon’s Porch Verse for the Day
O give thanks unto the LORD;
for he is good;
for his mercy endureth for ever.
(1st Chronicles 16:34 and again Psalms 107:1)
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