Give Thanks
1 Thess 5:18 “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
Here is a transcript from George Washington on October 3, 1789. This declaration is really the foundation of Thanksgiving in this country.
“A Proclamation: 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 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……….Given under my hand at the City of New York the third day of October in the year of our Lord 1789.”
What I find striking here is Washington’s statement “a day of PUBLIC Thanksgiving.” We live in a time where men want to hide their faith in God for fear of how they may be seen by other men. Our first President did not care what anyone thought, but simply made a proclamation that all Americans have received a “corporate kindness” that every other nation simply does not have. The only appropriate response from any of us is a public expression of gratitude. That resonates with me today. We are so fortunate to live where we live.
God calls us to be thankful “in” all circumstances for this is His will for us in Christ. This does not mean we necessarily thank Him “for” the tragedy but we can thank Him for His promises IN the midst of the trial knowing that the promises are the means by which we will come through.
I want you all to know I am very thankful to be in a church body like ours. I am grateful for the people here who love God’s word and each other. There isn’t any other place I would rather be.
To that end, I wanted to remind you about our public Thanksgiving potluck gathering tomorrow morning at 10. We will have a devotional from Dr Lon and then celebrate our time together as a family and share a meal just as they did at the very beginning of Christianity.
May the Lord reveal to you not only WHY we do this but why we are ABLE to do this. Each answer will generate new reasons to express gratitude and fuel praise! Thank you, Lord, for Your mercies endure forever!
Grateful,
Pastor Scott
Here is a transcript from George Washington on October 3, 1789. This declaration is really the foundation of Thanksgiving in this country.
“A Proclamation: 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 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……….Given under my hand at the City of New York the third day of October in the year of our Lord 1789.”
What I find striking here is Washington’s statement “a day of PUBLIC Thanksgiving.” We live in a time where men want to hide their faith in God for fear of how they may be seen by other men. Our first President did not care what anyone thought, but simply made a proclamation that all Americans have received a “corporate kindness” that every other nation simply does not have. The only appropriate response from any of us is a public expression of gratitude. That resonates with me today. We are so fortunate to live where we live.
God calls us to be thankful “in” all circumstances for this is His will for us in Christ. This does not mean we necessarily thank Him “for” the tragedy but we can thank Him for His promises IN the midst of the trial knowing that the promises are the means by which we will come through.
I want you all to know I am very thankful to be in a church body like ours. I am grateful for the people here who love God’s word and each other. There isn’t any other place I would rather be.
To that end, I wanted to remind you about our public Thanksgiving potluck gathering tomorrow morning at 10. We will have a devotional from Dr Lon and then celebrate our time together as a family and share a meal just as they did at the very beginning of Christianity.
May the Lord reveal to you not only WHY we do this but why we are ABLE to do this. Each answer will generate new reasons to express gratitude and fuel praise! Thank you, Lord, for Your mercies endure forever!
Grateful,
Pastor Scott
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