Thanksgiving, 2007

Today we take a break from our daily study to give thanks, as we should give a perpetual thanks everyday, but on the last Thursday of November of each year, our nation (the USA) celebrates Thanksgiving in recognition of the abundance which God has bestowed upon us, and recognize too that it is God to whom we should look to with thanks for all that we are and have. For it is due to Gods grace that we have anything at all. We can neither earn nor can we deserve anything in this life. And were it not for the grace of God we would not even exist.

The following quote was sent to me long ago, and I thought that it would be an appropriate reminder that our nation was born by the grace of God, a principle recognized and fully understood by our founding fathers.

In 1789, George Washington proclaimed Thanksgiving Day as follows:

Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor; and

Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me to recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness:

Now, therefore, I do recommend and assign Thursday, the 26th day of November next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and the favorable interpositions of His providence in the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed;

For the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted, for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and, in general, for all the great and various favors which He has been pleased to confer upon us. And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations, even Jesus Christ, and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions;

To enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our National Government a blessing to all the people by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations (especially such as have shown kindness to us), and to bless them with good governments, peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us;

And, generally to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as He alone knows to be best.

Given under my hand, at the city of New York, the 3d day of October, A.D. 1789.

George Washington.

'Delight thyself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of thy heart. Commit your way unto the Lord, trust also in Him, and He will bring it to pass.'

'For You, Lord, will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Thee because he trusts in Thee.'

'Trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, for in the Lord is everlasting strength. Cast your burdens upon the Lord, and He will sustain you, He will never suffer the righteous to be moved. Stop worrying about anything, but in everything through prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made unto God.'

'And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will garrison your hearts and minds, through Christ Jesus. For of Him and to Him and through Him are all things.'

'And now to Him who is able to keep you from falling, and to present you without blemish before the presence of His glory, with exceeding joy. To the only wise God and Savior, even Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom be glory and majesty, dominion and power, forever and ever. Amen'

I want to take this opportunity to thank all who have persevered in their daily studies, through thick and through thin, through insult and injury, and have given this Bible study faithful and dedicated support.

I wish you and yours, from my family, the very best thanksgiving, and pray that out Lord will keep all your dinner tables filled and your hearts full and alive with His grace and love and doctrine.

The Word of God is alive and powerful. You can accomplish more through the spiritual content of your soul, than all of the collective power from all of human history.

Keep in the word, Isa. 41:10.