Thinking about the days to come
Thanksgiving is a lot more than a huge meal to kick off the craziness of YChristmas Season. It can be one of the most meaningful holidays of the year...if given the right focus. Keeping our hearts in an attitude of surrender helps us recall God's acts of mercy and grace. "By Him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His name." Hebrews 13:15
The first recorded Thanksgiving took place in the winter of 1610 at Jamestown, Virginia, but it wasn't a feast! Supply ships had encountered storms and shipwrecks causing starvation and disease to reduce the group of settlers from 500 to 60. In desperation, the colonists ate whatever they could get their hands on, including snakes, snails, rats, sod with water and their own horses, cats, dogs and boots. The survivors prayed for help, without knowing when or how it might come. It arrived in the form of a ship filled with food and supplies from England, and a prayer meeting was held, giving thanks to God!
The most well known Thanksgiving is of the Mayflower's Pilgrims who set ground at Plymouth Rock on December 11, 1620. Their first winter was devastating and by fall they had lost 46 of the original 102. The harvest of 1621 was a bountiful one and the remaining colonists decided to celebrate with a feast. After counting all their blessings and giving thanks to God, the Pilgrims, Chief Massasoit and 90 Indians joined in a three-day Thanksgiving feast of Indian corn, barley, waterfowl, wild turkey, cod and bass fish and five deer.
As you celebrate Thanksgiving this year, remember to keep hold of the original gratefulness to God that has always been the spirit of this oldest of all American holidays.
"So we Thy people and sheep of Thy pasture will give Thee thanks for ever: we will show forth Thy praise to all generations." Psalm 79:13
There are days when it doesn't feel like you are blessed. But take heart because God's Word teaches that we are indeed blessed in more ways than we could ever think or imagine. Yet put in the proper perspective, our problems-no matter how big they may seem-can even be seen as blessings! Michael Youssef of LEADING THE WAY encourages us to have "An Attitude of Gratitude" rather than counting our troubles.
Thankful for all of you,
Pastor Mike
The first recorded Thanksgiving took place in the winter of 1610 at Jamestown, Virginia, but it wasn't a feast! Supply ships had encountered storms and shipwrecks causing starvation and disease to reduce the group of settlers from 500 to 60. In desperation, the colonists ate whatever they could get their hands on, including snakes, snails, rats, sod with water and their own horses, cats, dogs and boots. The survivors prayed for help, without knowing when or how it might come. It arrived in the form of a ship filled with food and supplies from England, and a prayer meeting was held, giving thanks to God!
The most well known Thanksgiving is of the Mayflower's Pilgrims who set ground at Plymouth Rock on December 11, 1620. Their first winter was devastating and by fall they had lost 46 of the original 102. The harvest of 1621 was a bountiful one and the remaining colonists decided to celebrate with a feast. After counting all their blessings and giving thanks to God, the Pilgrims, Chief Massasoit and 90 Indians joined in a three-day Thanksgiving feast of Indian corn, barley, waterfowl, wild turkey, cod and bass fish and five deer.
As you celebrate Thanksgiving this year, remember to keep hold of the original gratefulness to God that has always been the spirit of this oldest of all American holidays.
"So we Thy people and sheep of Thy pasture will give Thee thanks for ever: we will show forth Thy praise to all generations." Psalm 79:13
There are days when it doesn't feel like you are blessed. But take heart because God's Word teaches that we are indeed blessed in more ways than we could ever think or imagine. Yet put in the proper perspective, our problems-no matter how big they may seem-can even be seen as blessings! Michael Youssef of LEADING THE WAY encourages us to have "An Attitude of Gratitude" rather than counting our troubles.
Thankful for all of you,
Pastor Mike
posted by Mike Sanderson @ 5:37 AM
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