(This is a church built in the 1880's by my husband's great-grandfather.)
And when ye will offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving unto the LORD, offer it at your own will. (Leviticus 22:29 KJV)
We look upon this coming Thursday as an American holiday instituted by Pilgrims about 1621, a religious celebration that did not become a national holiday until 1941. There have been strong movements to view it solely as a secular holiday, removing religious connotation.
That I do not understand.
The very concept of giving thanks indicates there is someone deserving of gratitude. As a secular holiday, where do the thanks go? For us, it is thanksgiving unto the Lord. And, it is not to be confined to a single day.
Christians say thanks to God daily, in a number of ways. Doing so should not detract from gathering family and setting aside a specific day to focus our gratitude. To do so has a long history.
God’s word gives us reason for thanksgiving:
That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all thy wondrous works. (Psalms 26:7 KJV)
Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High: (Psalms 50:14 KJV)
I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving. (Psalms 69:30 KJV)
Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms. (Psalms 95:2 KJV)
Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. (Psalms 100:4 KJV)
And out of them shall proceed thanksgiving and the voice of them that make merry: and I will multiply them, and they shall not be few; I will also glorify them, and they shall not be small. (Jeremiah 30:19 KJV)
So, make your lists and be prepared to share with your families this Thursday. Know the wondrous works of your Lord, and tell of them. Be prepared to praise the name of God with a song, and make a joyful noise unto Him.
For those whose past year brought sorrow and pain, thank Him for the ones who have provided love and support, as a reflection of His. For those whose past year brought joy, tell Him how much that means to you. Don’t hesitate to ask for the coming year to bring opportunities to share His love with others. Pray for those who need Him most.
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. (Philippians 4:6 KJV)
We look upon this coming Thursday as an American holiday instituted by Pilgrims about 1621, a religious celebration that did not become a national holiday until 1941. There have been strong movements to view it solely as a secular holiday, removing religious connotation.
That I do not understand.
The very concept of giving thanks indicates there is someone deserving of gratitude. As a secular holiday, where do the thanks go? For us, it is thanksgiving unto the Lord. And, it is not to be confined to a single day.
Christians say thanks to God daily, in a number of ways. Doing so should not detract from gathering family and setting aside a specific day to focus our gratitude. To do so has a long history.
God’s word gives us reason for thanksgiving:
That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all thy wondrous works. (Psalms 26:7 KJV)
Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High: (Psalms 50:14 KJV)
I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving. (Psalms 69:30 KJV)
Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms. (Psalms 95:2 KJV)
Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. (Psalms 100:4 KJV)
And out of them shall proceed thanksgiving and the voice of them that make merry: and I will multiply them, and they shall not be few; I will also glorify them, and they shall not be small. (Jeremiah 30:19 KJV)
So, make your lists and be prepared to share with your families this Thursday. Know the wondrous works of your Lord, and tell of them. Be prepared to praise the name of God with a song, and make a joyful noise unto Him.
For those whose past year brought sorrow and pain, thank Him for the ones who have provided love and support, as a reflection of His. For those whose past year brought joy, tell Him how much that means to you. Don’t hesitate to ask for the coming year to bring opportunities to share His love with others. Pray for those who need Him most.
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. (Philippians 4:6 KJV)
Grammy, I agree 100% and I will be getting my list together to share with my family Thursday. As a mom I teach my girls the importance of giving thanks every day by giving thanks myself out loud so they can hear me. What a happy world it would be if everyone walked around giving thanks all the time! :o) *hugs*
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