Posts tagged thanksgiving

There is a song we sing in our church titled “Count Your Blessings” that goes something like this “Count your blessings, name them one by one, and it will surprise you what the Lord has done.” I love that song!

Thanksgiving celebrations have occurred here in the United States of America for hundreds of years. In fact, these Thanksgiving celebrations go all the way back to the Pilgrims first celebration in 1621.

This national holiday stems from the feast held in the autumn of 1621 by the Pilgrims to celebrate the colony’s first successful harvest. Later, in 1863, then President Lincoln declared it a day to be set aside and observed as “Thanksgiving Day”, and in 1941 Congress declared it a National Holiday.

Sadly, as we approach Thanksgiving Day 2009, we find our world becoming an increasingly dangerous place. North Korea and Pakistan already have the big bomb, while Iran is coming close to possessing the big bomb. War is being currently waged in Iraq and Afghanistan as well as Pakistan, while Iran is threatening to wipe out Israel.

Many of our finest and bravest men and women in our military are engaged in a battle with militant Islam, trying to stop their efforts of world conquest, and just recently, right here in America, one of these Islamic terrorists gunned down 13 of our finest and bravest young men and women in cold blood for no reason other than his attempt to appease his god.

At the same time, right here in America, we see some in government trying to take away the freedoms we have enjoyed in America since our founding fathers, with God’s help, established this Nation in 1776. Many in Government are currently trying to take over the private sector and turn our nation into a Socialist society, where government controls not only private industry, but even our physical bodies through government run Health Care.

The Bible talks about these types of things occurring just before the return of our Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ in Luke 21:9-27, and then concludes with these words in verse 28:

“And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.”

Well, in the midst of all this turmoil, and in spite of the gloomy outlook, I am so thankful we still have a day set aside here in these United States of America called “Thanksgiving,” a very special day set aside to give thanks to God for His multiple blessing.

So while we still have the privilege of doing so as a Nation, let’s make Thanksgiving Day 2009 more than just a day of feasting, but also a day of thanking God for all the blessings and privileges we still possess. In the church where Rhonda and I attend, which has some 500 in the auditorium service, the pastor announced yesterday that this Wednesday evening, it will be a service of praise and testimony as those who so desire will have 30 seconds to tell what they are thankful to God for. Rhonda and I will be hard pressed to share what God has done for us in 30 seconds, but we will for sure share how God has blessed us.

And with regard to our nation, I believe there is still HOPE, if we will heed and act upon what the Bible tells us in II Chronicles 7:14:

“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land..”

Rhonda and I wish each of you reading this a blessed Thanksgiving! We also send our love and want you to know that we thank God for each of you who have stood with us in our attempt to restore health to God’s people around the world and keeping America the “Land of the free.”

Please continue to remember Hallelujah Acres and our nation in your prayers!