So Thankful for Thanksgiving Day!

The Pilgrims stepped out in faith, and crossed the Atlantic Ocean with practically nothing. They went through daily hardships. Most of them died the first winter. They were believing God for a new found freedom from the bondage of European governments and monarchy’s so they could have the wonderful freedom to express worship to our God and Savior Jesus. They desired a freedom to pursue and grow in God. Wow! Today we are so thankful for the sacrifices they made!

God was ready, and provided friends to help them, the Native Americans. We are thankful! We are thankful for the Pilgrims tenacity, and for God’s divine provisions with the Native Americans.

The first Thanksgiving was a harvest celebration with a formal agreement between the Pilgrims and the Native Americans to help each other with food and protection against other hostile Tribes. The Harvest Celebration actually took place in 1621. Food and fellowship are always good for building relationships. Today we are so thankful for their ability to look beyond their differences and create friendships!

Then in 1863, 242 years later, our brilliant and caring Commander in Chief, President Abraham Lincoln, with a desire to help heal the country after the Civil War, declared Thanksgiving a National Holiday. Food and fellowship have the opportunity to heal hearts if we are thankful for each other, and I believe we are.

After all the heartbreaking travesties of the Civil War, freedom was finally ringing for everyone! Our ancestors persevered so that everyone would have the freedom to pursue the life they wanted, their own liberty which is the freedom to accomplish what they wanted, and their own happiness whatever that is for them! As our Constitution says, “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” Wow! We are so thankful!

Now, it’s been 161 years since President Abraham Lincoln made Thanksgiving a National Holiday.  And again, we are so thankful for the heroism and perseverance of our forefathers to make a home for us with all these freedoms we have today. They had hopes and dreams of a wonderful future for their children, THAT’S US! They were following the unction of Holy Spirit and the pulling of the providence of God on their lives, and here we are today, giving thanks! What an incredible legacy we have in Thanksgiving Day!

Now, we must continue this great movement of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.  We must stand our ground for what is right and healthy for the future generations.  For there is nothing more satisfying than to watch your children and grandchildren fulfill their purpose and calling for the Kingdom of God in a clean and healthy enviornment.

Let us give thanks that God has a plan and a purpose for our nation.  The United States of America IS a beacon of light of the gospel of Jesus Christ to all the nations.  We have a standard of hope for the future for all the nations through our ability to stand for what is pure and Holy in God.

As we continue this good fight for freedom to worship Him, let us give thanks together as a family and as a nation.  God has not left us or forsaken us.  We do haave a hope and a future in Him!

In honor of the past, in honor of our present, and in honor of our children’s future, we must continue this great revelatory walk with Jesus.  He is the meaning of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, and without Him we are and have nothing. 

Let me challenge you to enjoy this Thanksgiving by truly being thankful, and walking in love and forgiveness.  The healing and the restoring of a nation is possible through us.

 I pray you have a blessed and Happy Thanksgiving!

“O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!  For His mercy and loving kindness endure forever!”  I Chronicles 16:34