Let me begin by saying that I trust you and your family had a very Happy Thanksgiving yesterday. Many of you spent time with family and friends. Enjoying the fellowship and the opportunity to be thankful for all the Lord has provided. In 1 Thessalonians 5:18 KJV Paul said-
In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
The Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC) says-
Thank [God] in everything [no matter what the circumstances may be, be thankful and give thanks], for this is the will of God for you [who are] in Christ Jesus [the Revealer and Mediator of that will].
We are to be thankful not only for the things we like, but for the circumstances we don’t like. When we purpose to thank God for everything that He allows to come into our lives, we have a check against the bitterness that, when left unchecked, can invade your life. You cannot be both thankful and bitter at the same time.
You do not thank Him for evil, but that He is sustaining you through it.
The first proclamation of Thanksgiving as noted by the National Archives that-
On September 28, 1789, just before leaving for recess, the first Federal Congress passed a resolution asking that the President of the United States recommend to the nation a day of thanksgiving. A few days later, President George Washington issued a proclamation naming Thursday, November 26, 1789 as a "Day of Publick Thanksgivin" - the first time Thanksgiving was celebrated under the new Constitution.
Washington began the proclamation with these words-
“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."
Use the following link to read the proclamation at Thanksgiving Giving Proclamation
Today we celebrate Thanksgiving on the fourth Thursday of November. But prior to 1941, Thanksgiving was not a fixed date on the calendar but whenever the President declared it by proclamation.
When you consider what Paul said about giving thanks, you can understand how important it is for a Christian to be thankful. Regardless of what we face. This is only our temporal home. Our home is in glory with God, Jesus and those who knew Jesus as their Savior. Most of you have loved ones, friends who knew Jesus and now are in glory. We do and I am thinking on this Thanksgiving of a brother in Christ who early this Thanksgiving morning stepped into glory. It was sudden and without really any notice. He did suffer from past illnesses and was even recently dealing with some health issues.
None of us know about tomorrow. We remember that the Bible tells us James 4:13-15 NKJV
13 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”;
14 whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.
15 Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.”
One of things that Elaine and I discussed after we got the information of his passing was that we had lunch with he and wife last Sunday after church. Had a wonderful time with them and another couple. As we all do, we said our good byes and “I’ll see you next week” but that will not happen. The next time I see him will be when I step into glory. Be it through Jesus rapturing His church or God bringing me home.
Being thankful is an important part of our Christian life. James 1:12 says:
Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.
You don’t thank Him for harm He did not cause, but you do thank Him when He gives you the strength to endure it. Did you know that a thankful heart, an “attitude of gratitude,” is viewed by many health professionals as the single most important aspect of maintaining emotional balance, a healthy outlook, as well as producing a resilient spirit?
Thankful people are optimistic and giving people. They not only see their “water glass” as half-full, but they often spend their time trying to give away the half they have.
Ungrateful people, on the other hand, are usually pessimists who not only see the glass as half-empty, but often spend their time trying to figure out who took the other half of their water!
A great old hymn of the faith reminds you to “Count Your Blessings”, do you remember the lyrics?
When upon life’s billows you are tempest-tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord has done.
Refrain:
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, see what God has done!
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your many blessing, see what God has done.
As we gave thanks yesterday, it is incumbent on us to have that attitude of gratitue. Today, tomorrow regardless of what we are facing. It will seem overwhelming, yet Jesus tells us in Matthew 19:23-26
23 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.
24 And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
25 When His disciples heard it, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?”
26 But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
It is clear He took care of our salvation thus nothing else can be impossible. Trust in the Lord and give thanks.
In God’s Grace,
Elbert Nasworthy
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