Today we celebrate the eternal goodness of God and the love of God with our brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus. It is a celebration. In the scripture reading this past week you read about The Feast of Ingathering (Exodus 23.16) It was a time of celebrating God's blessing upon the nation in providing them with food to eat and strength to work.
In the Psalm we just read we are told to "Give Thanks"
He has redeemed us. He has gathered us from the nations.
We Gather Together
Give Thanks to the LORD.
1. For the Basic Blessings of Life. I Timothy 6.8
"... if we have food and clothing we will be content with that."
Food, shelter and clothing- Give thanks tot he LORD for these things
The first year the pilgrims gave thanks for the treasures of the sea (clams) and corn (5 kernels were their daily allotment before the harvest came).
We ought to give thanks for every meal. I love that our nursery school teaches that and we have story after story about the little ones going home and telling parents to do it before they eat.
Over my mom's sink when I was growing up:
Thank God for dirty dishes,
They have a tale to tell.
While others are going hungry,
We're eating rather well.
Give thanks for life's daily blessings, basic blessing-
William Bradford, governor of the Plymouth Colony, proclaimed the first day of Thanksgiving in 1623: To all ye Pilgrims: Inasmuch as the Great Father as given us this year an abundant harvest of Indian corn, wheat, beans, squashes and garden vegetables and has made the forests to abound with game and the sea with fish and clams, and inasmuch as He has protected us from the ravages of the savages, has spared us from pestilence and disease, has granted us freedom to worship God according to the dictates of our consciences; now, I, your magistrate, do proclaim that all ye Pilgrims, with your wives and little ones, do gather at the meeting house, on ye hill, between the hours of 9 and 12 in the daytime on Thursday, November ye 29th of the year of our LORD 1623 and third year since ye Pilgrims landed on ye Plymouth Rock, there to listen to ye pastor, and render thanksgiving to Almighty God for all His blessings." This was after half of them died that first winter).
1779- George Washington proclaimed Thanksgiving a National Holiday to be a day of public prayer and thanksgiving... for the favors of Almighty God. the Author of everything good.
October 3, 1863- Abraham Lincoln's Thanksgiving Proclamation: Observe this last Thursday of November as a Day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father Who dwelleth in the Heavens.
Give Thanks to The LORD...
2. For Family Exodus 20.12 Honor your father and mother, so that you may live long in the land
Before the forming of a government, God had family honored. It is the first commandment of human relations. The home is where values are taught and right and wrong instilled. The home is where manners and kindness are put into little hearts. Respect and honor your father and mother and you will honor life in all other relationships.
Our own flesh and blood.
The family of God around the world.
The church here. Philippians 1.3-11
God's love
His Grace- people who love the LORD.
Give Thanks to the LORD for:
3. His Indescribable Gift II Corinthians 9.15
Indescribable= describing things when words fail, speechless with delight and love
Give Thanks for the Indescribable, for God sending His Son Jesus Christ
Give Thanks for Him coming to die on the cross
Give Thanks!
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