by Msgr. Charles Pope

One of the dangers in presenting New Testament moral teaching is reducing the Gospel to a moralism, a rule to follow using the power of one's own flesh. This is an incorrect notion because for a Christian, the moral life is not merely achieved; it is received. The moral life is not an imposition; it is a gift from God.

The Gospel chosen for Thanksgiving Day features the familiar story of the ten lepers who are healed by Jesus, but only one of whom returns to thank Him. The ingratitude of the other nine prompts an irritable response from Jesus, who more than suggests that they also should have returned to give thanks. Reading this Gospel on the surface, it is easy to conclude that it is a moralism about being thankful to God and others. Well, that's all well and good, but simply reminding people of a rule of polite society isn't really the Gospel.

True thankfulness is receiving from God a deeply grateful heart so that we do not merely say thank you in a perfunctory way, but are deeply moved with gratitude. We are not merely being polite or justly rendering a debt of obligation; we actually are grateful from the heart. True gratitude is a grace, a gift from God, which proceeds from a humble and transformed heart. We do not render thanks merely because it is polite or expected, but because it naturally flows from a profound experience of gratitude. This is the Gospel. It is not a moralism, but a truth of a transformed heart.

An anointing that we should seek from God is the powerful transformation of our intellect and heart such that we become deeply aware of the remarkable gift that is everything we have. As this awareness deepens so does our gratitude and joy at the "magnificent munificence" of our God. Everything—literally everything—is a gift from God.

Permit me a few thoughts on the basis for a deepening awareness of gratitude. Ultimately, gratitude is a grace, but having a deeper awareness of the intellectual basis for it can help to open us more fully to this gift.

1. We are contingent beings who depend upon God for our very existence. He holds together every fiber of our being: every cell, every part of every cell, every molecule, every part of every molecule, every atom, every part of every atom. God facilitates every function of our body: every beat of our heart, every movement of our body. God sustains every detail of the universe: the perfectly designed orbit of Earth so that we do not overheat or freeze, the magnetic shield around Earth protecting us from the harmful aspects of solar radiation, and every process (visible and hidden) of everything on our planet, in our solar system, and in our galaxy. All of this, and us, are contingent; we are sustained by God and provided for by Him. The magnitude of what God does is simply astonishing—and He does it all free of charge! Pondering such goodness and providence helps us to be more grateful.

2. Every good thing we do is a gift from God. St. Paul said, What have you that you have not received? And if you have received, why do you glory as though you had achieved? (1 Cor 4:7) Elsewhere, he wrote, For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do (Eph 2:8-10). Hence even our good works are not our gift to God; they are His gift to us. On judgment day we cannot say to God, "Look what I've done; you owe me Heaven." All we can say on that day is "Thank you!"

3. Gifts sometimes come in strange packages. There are some gifts of God that do not seem like gifts at all. There are sudden losses, tragedies, natural disasters, and the like. In such moments we can feel forsaken by God; gratitude is the last thing on our mind. But Scripture bids us to look again: And we know that all things work together for the good of those who love God and who have been called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28). We don't always know how, but even in difficult moments God is making a way unto something good, something better. He is paving a path to glory—perhaps through the cross—but unto glory. We may have questions, but remember that Jesus said, But I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy. On that day you will have no more questions to ask me (Jn 16:22-23). Yes, even in our difficulties we are more than conquerors (Rm 8:37) because the Lord can write straight with crooked lines, and make a way out of no way.

4. Yes, all is gift. Absolutely everything is gift. Even our failures are gifts, provided we are in Christ and learn humility from them. For what shall we give thanks? Everything! There is an old saying, "Justice is when you get what you deserve. Mercy is when you don't get what you deserve. Grace is when you get what you don't deserve." Like you, I am asked many times a day, "How are you doing?" I've trained myself to respond, "More blessed than I deserve."

5. The word "thanks" in English is unfortunately abstract. In Latin and the Romance languages, the words for thanks are more closely related to the concepts of grace and gift. In Latin, one says thank you by saying, "Gratias ago tibi," or simply, "Gratias." And although gratias is translated as "thanks," it is really the same root word as that of "grace" and "gift," which in Latin are rendered as "gratia." Hence in saying this, one is exclaiming, "Grace!" or "Gifts!" It is the same in Spanish (Gracias) and Italian (Grazie). French has a slightly different approach: Merci comes from the Latin merces, which refers to something that has been paid for or given freely. So all of these languages recognize that the things for which we are grateful are really gifts. The English word "thanks" does not quite make the connection. About the closest we get in English are the words "gratitude" and "grateful." All of these words (gratias, gracias, grazie, merci, gratitude) teach us that everything is gift!

Gratitude is a gift to be received from God and should be asked for humbly. One can dispose oneself to it by reflecting on some of the things described above, but ultimately gratitude comes from a humble, contrite, and transformed heart. True gratitude is a grace, a gift that springs from a heart moved, astonished, and deeply aware of the fact that all is gift.

Video

One of the most significant ways that we receive God's generosity is through the gift of forgiveness. Jesus demonstrated the nature and extent of that forgiveness in this story. The woman sought Jesus because she recognized who he was, the Messiah. Church father Augustine (354-430) says that

She knew that he to whom she had come was able to make her whole; she approached then, not to the head of the Lord, but to his feet; and she who had walked long in evil, sought now the steps of uprightness. First she shed tears, the heart's blood; and washed the Lord's feet with the duty of confession. She wiped them with her hair, she kissed, she anointed them: she spake by her silence; she uttered not a word, but she manifested her devotion.

Simon, Jesus' host, observed Jesus' acceptance of the woman's ministrations and thought that this proved Jesus was not a prophet. Ironically, Jesus read his thoughts. Augustine clarifies this passage:

Let now the Pharisee understand even by this, whether he was not able to see her sins, who could hear his thoughts. So then he put forth to the man a parable concerning two men, who owed to the same creditor. For he was desirous to heal the Pharisee also, that he might not eat bread at his house for nought; he hungered after him who was feeding him, he wished to reform him, to slay, to eat him, to pass him over into his own body.

So Jesus related to Simon the short parable, and Simon was forced to acknowledge that the one who has been forgiven most loves most. Jesus pointed out to Simon how little love he had shown for Jesus. He had not washed his feet, as was appropriate for an honored guest, nor had he anointed him, and he did not realize who Jesus was; he did not even acknowledge Jesus as a prophet. Moreover, Simon did not recognize that he was in need of a savior, that "there is no one righteous, not even one" (Ro 3:10). Augustine says,

O Pharisee, therefore dost thou love but little, because thou dost fondly think that but little is forgiven thee; not because little really is forgiven thee, but because thou thinkest that that which is forgiven is but little.

The woman, however, knew that she was a sinner, and she had faith that Jesus could forgive her. Even if Simon the Pharisee was a good, upstanding person with much less to forgive than the woman, this passage only serves to emphasize the fact that the Christian who begrudges God's generosity to the outcast is in great need of forgiveness. It was the woman, not the "clean" Pharisee, who went away with Jesus' forgiveness and Jesus' blessing, "Go in peace" (Lk 7:50).

Think About It

How did the woman in the story know who Jesus was and what he could do for her?
If you heard Jesus was eating dinner at your neighbor's house, how would you approach him?
Do you identify more with the woman in the story or the host?

Pray About It

Lord, I turn to you in repentance and faith. Forgive me, cleanse me and give me peace.

by Carrie Lowrance

The holidays are upon us and soon we will be gearing up for the busiest time of the year. Thanksgiving is almost here. In the meantime, we will all be planning the big meal, helping guests make lodging arrangements and possibly making travel arrangements. It can be a really stressful time and sometimes it's easy to forget to remember what we are thankful for. It is also easy to forget about helping others. A lot of people think of giving and charity at Christmastime, but we can also show love and give thanks at Thanksgiving too. There are many ways that Christians can show love in this season of thanks giving.

Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. Hebrews 10:24

1. Serve At A Homeless Shelter

Have your Thanksgiving dinner early this year and then go serve at a homeless shelter on the actual holiday for a few hours. Helping those less fortunate is good for the heart and helps put your blessings (and struggles) in perspective.

2. Take Dinner To An Elderly Neighbor

Just before you sit down for your own family dinner, take some food to an elderly neighbor who may not have family nearby or is unable to get out.

3. Help A Friend With Make Ahead Food Preparations

Get together with a good friend and do some make ahead food prep. Roast and bone both your turkeys or make your pies together. Not only will this cut down on stress on the holiday, you can also spend some quality time together.

Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples. John 13:35

4. Invite Someone With No Family To Dinner

If you know someone who has no family or has family that is far away and isn't able to make it home, invite them to dinner. If you have a friend who is going through a hard time such as a divorce or financial difficulties, invite them too.

5. Buy Your Pet Some Special Food

Show your pet that you are thankful for them by getting a can of special food or some treats that they are not used to getting. Animals are our faithful companions, protectors and lap warmers. They deserve a special dinner too.

6. Hand Write Notes To Your Loved Ones

Write each of your family members a note telling them what you are thankful for about them. Place the notes by each of their places at the dinner table.

7. Share Your Leftovers With An Elderly Neighbor

If you are up to your eyeballs in leftovers, share some with an elderly neighbor. They will be extremely grateful.

8. Buy Someone's Thanksgiving Dinner

If you are in a financial position to do so, buy the fixings for Thanksgiving dinner for a low income family that you know or a single Mom. If you go out for dinner on Thanksgiving, consider paying for someone else's dinner like an elderly couple or a veteran and their family.

9. Donate To A Charity Or Food Bank

Make a donation to a local branch of a charity like the Salvation Army or to your local food bank. This can be done in a few different ways. It can be monetary, directly to the charity in person, or at your local grocery store. One of our local charities has a food drive every year by stuffing a public transportation bus with food donations.

10. Blessing Bag

Take a gallon size zip lock bag and put things in it like a toothbrush, travel size toothpaste and Antiperspirant, feminine hygiene products, bar soap, hair shampoo/conditioner and food coupons (like dollar coupons from fast food restaurants). Take them down to the poor section of your town the week before Thanksgiving and give them out to the homeless.

There are many ways to show God's love and be a blessing to others this Thanksgiving. Let your light shine and be blessed.

Do you still worry about getting overwhelmed with all the ‘stuff' that needs to be done and that you will totally forget what the holiday is really about? Let us pray.

Dear Lord,

We're coming up on a very busy time of year. I know that I can get totally lost in all the things that need to be prepared, baked, bought and wrapped. It can be so easy to forget all the things You have done for me. I pray that You will help me to keep my mind and heart open. That You will remind me to look beyond myself to see what someone else needs. Bless me with the time and/or finances to do something special. I want to light up someone's world with Your light shining from me. Help me stay focused on the things I'm thankful for everyday, no matter how big or small. Help me stay focused and thankful on all the things You do for me as well. In Your Name I pray.

Amen.

About The Author:

Carrie Lowrance is a freelance writer and author. She has been featured on Huffington Post, She Is Fierce, and Parachute. She has also published two books of poetry and one children's book. ...

by Ralph Bouma

The text is Psalms 116:12.

"What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me?"

What shall we render unto the Lord for all His benefits to us in the past year?

Psalms 100:4-5 says:

4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

So what shall we render unto the Lord? Thanksgiving and praise; blessing His Holy Name!

Notice the connecting word that stands between Verses Four and Five.

5 For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

What does the word mercy mean? We must "Enter into his gates with thanksgiving...For…his mercy is everlasting." Mercy is one-sided love; the benevolence, mildness or tenderness of heart that disposes one to overlook injuries, or to treat an offender better than he deserves.

When the Psalmist says, "For…his mercy is everlasting," he is pointing out that he is giving thanks because the Lord has bestowed much that we have not deserved.

The commission Christ has given the Holy Spirit is in John 16:8

8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment.

If a prophet or a preacher has the Spirit of Truth, what will his message be? This word reprove comes from the Greek word elegcho, which means to admonish or convince, to tell a fault, to rebuke, to convict, to reprove.

True gratitude is based on mercy and a love for the Truth. THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH uses as the sanctifying, purging, cleansing effect of Christ's Bride.

John 14:6 says:

6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

If we learn to know our own hearts; we can understand how we have forfeited His blessing. We understand what we have received is beyond what we have deserved. Our merciful Father has overlooked the injuries that we have committed against His law, against His love, and against His person in the atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ.

It is in the blessed atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ that He is able to have mercy on us. To understand gratitude, we must first understand mercy. There is no such thing as our thanks giving being acceptable while we are serving sin.

Isaiah 1:15-18 says:

15 And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood.

16 Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil;

17 Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.

18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

These blessings are not unconditional. V:19-20 says:

19 If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:

20 But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.

To believe in Christ means to believe the truthfulness of what He says. In Matt 5:7 Jesus says:

7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

If we do not show mercy to our fellow man we will receive no mercy. JAM 2:13 says:

13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.

We must understand mercy to be conformed to the image of Christ. What is it on our part to be merciful? What does it mean to show mercy? It means not to treat a person according to the injuries we have received. It means that we treat them above what they deserve.

To be merciful is to be forgiving. Mark 11:25-26 says:

25 And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.

26 But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.

Our text asks; "What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me?" MIC 6:8 says:

8 He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

Just saying, "I thank thee, Lord," is not giving thanks. Self-knowledge is what prompted the words of our text. Thanksgiving is a heart matter. Our text in context says - Psalms 11- 17:

11 I said in my haste, All men are liars.

12 What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me?

13 I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD.

14 I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people.

15 Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.

16 O LORD, truly I am thy servant; I am thy servant, and the son of thine handmaid: thou hast loosed my bonds.

17 I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the LORD.

The Lord is glorified by true gratitude. Psalms 69:30 says:

30 I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving.

When we reflect the image of Christ, when we reflect mercy - these things that show that the light of Christ is in us glorify the Lord. The Lord is magnified, the Lord's name is exalted, and the Lord is glorified when our hearts are humble by acknowledging His mercy.

When those whom the Lord has chosen from before the foundation of the world as we read I EPH 1:4 are hardened against Him the Lord knows how to humble then. HOS 5:11-15 says:

11 Ephraim is oppressed and broken in judgment, because he willingly walked after the commandment.

12 Therefore will I be unto Ephraim as a moth, and to the house of Judah as rottenness.

13 When Ephraim saw his sickness, and Judah saw his wound, then went Ephraim to the Assyrian, and sent to king Jareb: yet could he not heal you, nor cure you of your wound.

14 For I will be unto Ephraim as a lion, and as a young lion to the house of Judah: I, even I, will tear and go away; I will take away, and none shall rescue him.

15 I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me early.

After "they acknowledge their offence, and [God's] face" the Lord is greatly glorified. 6:1-3 says:

1 Come, and let us return unto the LORD: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up.

2 After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight.

3 Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.

It is in proportion to our realization of unworthiness that our thanksgiving is acceptable unto the Lord. David said in Psalms 8:3-4:

3 When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;

4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?

5 For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.

6 Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:

True thanksgiving cannot be separated from an acknowledgment of God's mercy in all things as we see in Psalms 136:

1 O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.

2 O give thanks unto the God of gods: for his mercy endureth for ever.

3 O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever.

4 To him who alone doeth great wonders: for his mercy endureth for ever.

5 To him that by wisdom made the heavens: for his mercy endureth for ever.

The wonder of wonders is that the Lord is still longsuffering toward a nation like ours and with a people like us. Oh Beloved: think of the longsuffering mercy of the Almighty King of heaven after the innocent blood shed from the millions of children who have been slain in the womb in this nation. See what the Lord said about innocent blood in 2Kings 24:3-4:

3 Surely at the commandment of the LORD came this upon Judah, to remove them out of his sight, for the sins of Manasseh, according to all that he did;

4 And also for the innocent blood that he shed: for he filled Jerusalem with innocent blood; which the LORD would not pardon.

To understand true thanksgiving and true mercy, we must see that whatever we receive has been forfeited and we are totally unworthy of it. Then it becomes personal as it was with the Psalmist. Psalms 136:23-26 says:

23 Who remembered us in our low estate: for his mercy endureth for ever:

24 And hath redeemed us from our enemies: for his mercy endureth for ever.

25 Who giveth food to all flesh: for his mercy endureth for ever.

26 O give thanks unto the God of heaven: for his mercy endureth for ever.

True thanksgiving is not measured in words, but in our actions, which bring glory to God. Psalms 105:1-2 says:

1 O give thanks unto the LORD; call upon his name: make known his deeds among the people.

2 Sing unto him, sing Psalms unto him: talk ye of all his wondrous works."

When He shows us mercy, we are called upon to proclaim it to the people. The Lord wants us to proclaim His name and make known His deeds among the people. Psalms 106:1-2 says:

1 Praise ye the LORD. O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.

2 Who can utter the mighty acts of the LORD? who can shew forth all his praise?

Notice how Jesus was glorified when a man told how great things He had done for Him. Mark 5:18-20 says:

18 And when he was come into the ship, he that had been possessed with the devil prayed him that he might be with him.

19 Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.

20 And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel.

Some people answer their phone with, "Praise the Lord!" Is that praising the Lord? No; confessing to the people how unworthy I am of everything I have received and looking at the wonder of what He has bestowed upon me.

Isaiah 12:4 says:

4 And in that day shall ye say, Praise the LORD, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted."

Thanksgiving is returning unto the Lord with liberality above our tithes and offerings. David's heart was overwhelmed as he cried in 1CH 29:12-14:

12 Both riches and honour come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all.

13 Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name.

14 But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? for all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee.

by Chuck Colson

A few years ago, university psychologists conducted a research project on gratitude and thanksgiving. They divided participants into three groups. People in the first group practiced daily exercises like writing in a gratitude journal. They reported higher levels of alertness, determination, optimism, energy, and less depression and stress than the control group. Unsurprisingly, they were also a lot happier than the participants who were told to keep an account of all the bad things that happened each day.

One of the psychologists concluded that though a practice of gratitude is a key to most religions, its benefits extend to the general population, regardless of faith or no faith. He suggested that anyone can increase his sense of well-being just from counting his blessings.

As my colleague Ellen Vaughn wrote in her book, Radical Gratitude, no one is going to disagree that gratitude is a virtue. But, Ellen says, counting our blessings and conjuring an attitude of to-whom-it-may-concern gratitude, Pollyanna-style is not enough.

What do we do when cancer strikes -- I have two children who have battled it -- or when loved ones die, when we find ourselves in the midst of brokenness and real suffering? That, she says, is where gratitude gets radical.

While they often mingle together in the life of a follower of Christ, there are actually two types of thankfulness. One is secondary, the other primary.

The secondary sort is thankfulness for blessings received. Life, health, home, family, freedom, a tall, cold lemonade on a summer day -- it's a mindset of active appreciation for all good gifts.

The great preacher and American theologian Jonathan Edwards called thanks for such blessings "natural gratitude." It's a good thing, but this gratitude doesn't come naturally -- if at all -- when things go badly. It can't buoy us in difficult times. Nor, by itself, does it truly please God. And, to paraphrase Jesus, even pagans can give thanks when things are going well.

Edwards calls the deeper, primary form of thankfulness "gracious gratitude." It gives thanks not for goods received, but for who God is: for His character -- His goodness, love, power, excellencies -- regardless of favors received. And it's real evidence of the Holy Spirit working in a person's life.

This gracious gratitude for who God is also goes to the heart of who we are in Christ. It is relational, rather than conditional. Though our world may shatter, we are secure in Him. The fount of our joy, the love of the God who made us and saved us, cannot be quenched by any power that exists (Romans 8:28-39). People who are filled with such radical gratitude are unstoppable, irrepressible, overflowing with what C.S. Lewis called "the good infection" -- the supernatural, refreshing love of God that draws others to Him.

And that, more than any words we might utter, is a powerful witness to our neighbors that God's power is real, and His presence very relevant, even in a world full of brokenness as well as blessings.

By Rev. Mark H. Creech

Try to imagine this situation. It's been an exceedingly difficult year for you and your family. In fact, half of your relatives recently died. You've been living in a foreign land far away from home – essentially a wilderness you don't understand. You've faced real hunger. You've been cold and others in your community have had illnesses that have put everyone at risk. There have been no supermarkets to run to down the street. Inclement weather, as well as other hostile forces has stalked your every step. Not only have you had no health insurance, but there have been no emergency rooms, no hospitals, no doctors or nurses either. There has been no Coast Guard to air lift you out – no Red Cross to parachute food in to you.

Sounds like the episode of "Survivor" from hell. Let me ask, do you think in such circumstances you would be feeling very thankful?

Yet in a similar way this had been the plight of that little band of Pilgrims who gathered together with Indian guests for the New World's first Thanksgiving dinner. They had suffered incredible losses and their difficulties were life-threatening at every turn. Their table would have also been meager in comparison to our own today, but they possessed an indomitable spirit of gratefulness to God.

When writing his autobiography during the twilight of his life, G.K. Chesterton sought to define the most important lesson he had ever learned. He concluded nothing was of greater significance than whether an individual took things for granted or took them with gratitude. [1]

It almost goes without saying Americans have a propensity for taking too much for granted. In an article that was a response to the Occupy protestors movement a couple of years ago, Courtney Blair contended the protestors may have claimed to represent the grievances of the 99%, but with respect to the global income distribution Americans are the 1%. She wrote that "[w]ith more than a billion people around the world living on less than $1 per day," the Occupy protestors who were camping out on Wall Street were actually in better living conditions than most of the global poor. People even brought the Occupy protestors Thanksgiving dinner, she said. While the Occupy Philly protestors were postponing a move to a new site until they could ascertain whether they would have access to adequate electricity and water. [2] Again, we take too much for granted.

Dr. Billy Graham once noted:

"When we sit around our tables laden with sumptuous delicacies, let us not forget that half the world will go to bed hungry. As we enjoy the comfort of our cozy homes, let us not forget that great numbers in other parts of the world have no home to go to. When we step into our sleek automobiles, let us not forget that most of the people in the world cannot afford even a bicycle. In the Lord's Prayer as recorded in the sixth chapter of Matthew, we read, 'Give us this day our daily bread.' Scripture teaches that the good things of this life are the gifts of God, and that He is the donor of all our blessings. Thanksgiving? Yes. Let us get on our knees humbly and thank God for the blessings He has given us, both material and spiritual. They have come from His hands." [3]

Many today are asking, "What's wrong with America?" A Rasmussen poll reported as late as last week that just one-in-four likely U.S. voters (25%) actually believes our country is heading in the right direction, meaning the vast majority of Americans believe we are going the wrong direction. [4] The problem, however, is that we continue to look for political solutions. This is not to be dismissive of the importance of politics, government, or public policy. Nevertheless, America's greatest and core problems are spiritual. We seem to have lost our concept of sin. We constantly affirm the so-called rights of men at the expense of God's rights. And as one great preacher put it, we've sold our birthright for a paltry bowl of humanism's pottage.

Real thanksgiving this season would not simply be to offer up an obligatory, "thank you." Instead it would be the recognition of our utter dependence upon God. Despite the fact our national motto still says, "In God We Trust," we seem to have lost much of our faith in Him.

We've done what the prophet Jeremiah accused ancient Israel of doing, "For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water" (Jeremiah 2:13).

Apart from the national issue there is a more delicate question here. What about you this Thanksgiving season? Are you aware of how dependent you are on God for everything?

Centuries ago, the Duke of Wellington was about to pronounce a death sentence on a confirmed deserter. The great general struggled with the decision, saying, "I am extremely sorry to pass this severe sentence, but we have tried everything, and all the discipline and all the penalties have failed to improve this man who is otherwise a brave and good soldier." Then he gave the man's friends an opportunity to speak for him. "Please, your Excellency," said one of the man's comrades, "there is one thing you have never tried. You have not tried forgiving him." The general forgave the man and it worked: the soldier never again deserted and from thenceforth showed his undying gratitude to the Iron Duke. [5]

This blessing, the blessing of forgiveness is basic to the recognition of all life's other blessings. Without it, thanksgiving, and dependence on God can never fully follow. God made you and redeemed you in Jesus Christ. He wants to cleanse you of all your sins. He wants to spare your soul of the ultimate death – spiritual death. Have you received Christ? When we initially comprehend our spiritual need and cast ourselves upon the altar of God's grace and mercy, it is then with thankful hearts we are able to see in everything the divine.

That tiny lot of Pilgrims during the first Thanksgiving certainly teaches us one of life's supreme lessons. They showed us that during times of challenge, when matters appear to be failing and the darkness seems the greatest, the spirit that defies defeat is the one that takes nothing for granted and everything with gratitude. To be rich and without trust in God, is to suffer the worst form of poverty. To have faith in Him while suffering the most impoverished of circumstances is to be rich beyond degree. It is to enjoy the sweetest assurance of hope and the surest promise of becoming more than a conqueror. It is this spirit that laid the foundations for the American republic – one that would face seemingly insurmountable odds over and again, yet endure the centuries, change and bless the world. It is this spirit that can sustain its existence for time immemorial.

Thanks be unto God!

Resources:

[1] Reston, James, "Sketches in the Sand." quoted in Readers Digest, September 1972, pg. 172

[2] Blair, Courtney. "Compared to the Rest of the World Americans Are All the 1%." PolicyMic, 6, December 2011 http://www.policymic.com/articles/2636/compared-to-the-rest-of-the-world-americans-are-all-the-1

[3] Graham, Billy. Day by Day with Billy Graham. Minneapolis, Minn.: World Wide Publications, 1976, devotional for November 24.

[4] "Right Direction or Wrong Track." Rasmussen Reports, 20, November 2013 http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/top_stories/right_direction_or_wrong_track

[5] Olford, Stephen F. The Pulpit and the Christian Calendar. Grand Rapids, Mich.: 1991, pg. 111

© Rev. Mark H. Creech

About The Author:

by Michael Craven

As we, once again, approach this national day of "thanksgiving" I thought it necessary to reflect upon our nation's long history of acknowledging and giving thanks to the Almighty God.

On October 3, 1789 George Washington issued the nation's first presidential proclamation in which he called the nation to set aside a day for giving thanks to that "great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be…."

President Washington gave under his official hand the following 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…

Furthermore President Washington acknowledged that he was joined by the Congress in his appeal to the nation:

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 and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness…

This presidential proclamation represented - in unequivocal terms - the government's call upon the people of this nation to acknowledge and give thanks to God. These were not benign religious platitudes but unambiguous statements reflecting the consensus view of life and reality, which acknowledged that there is one God; the God who has revealed Himself in Scripture, in nature and in the person of Jesus Christ. Sadly much has changed; today our government institutions panic at the slightest reference to God and crumble in the face of every challenge to remove religious perspectives from the public square.

This weak-kneed posture stands in stark contrast to the ideals set forth by our Founding Fathers. Consider President Washington's concluding appeal in his momentous proclamation:

And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions; to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our National Government a blessing to all the people by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations (especially such as have shown kindness to us), and to bless them with good governments, peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us; and, generally to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as He alone knows to be best (emphasis mine).

Seventy-four years later, in the midst of the great Civil War, President Lincoln would issue a similar call to the nation acknowledging the nation's many blessings from the Lord, "…who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy." President Lincoln, like our first president, would once again call the nation to national thanksgiving and repentance with these words:

And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience…and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility and Union.

America, in its folly, has been in the process of reordering its national identity and severing dependence from the God who has given it birth and blessed it for so long. Therefore, it seems that we might be well served to recall the proclamation of these great men set aside for this Thanksgiving holiday and once again give thanks to Almighty God for His longsuffering patience and mercy toward this nation and humbly repent of our national rebellion and wanton disregard for all that is holy and just.

This national repentance begins in the Church, which has seemingly lost its way - abandoned (practically speaking) its first love and so often conformed to the world. May we on this Thanksgiving Day acknowledge the many and abundant blessings of Almighty God accompanied by a deep and sorrowful repentance for our individual, corporate and national sins. This, my dear brothers and sisters is our only hope and it is for this real hope and the promise of forgiveness that we can give thanks indeed!

May the Lord, in His great mercy, pour out his Spirit upon you, your families, His Church and this nation this Thanksgiving Day!

© 2013 by S. Michael Craven

About The Author:

THANKSGIVING DAY, 2017
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
A PROCLAMATION

On Thanksgiving Day, as we have for nearly four centuries, Americans give thanks to Almighty God for our abundant blessings. We gather with the people we love to show gratitude for our freedom, for our friends and families, and for the prosperous Nation we call home.

In July 1620, more than 100 Pilgrims boarded the Mayflower, fleeing religious persecution and seeking freedom and opportunity in a new and unfamiliar place. These dauntless souls arrived in Plymouth, Massachusetts, in the freezing cold of December 1620. They were greeted by sickness and severe weather, and quickly lost 46 of their fellow travelers. Those who endured the incredible hardship of their first year in America, however, had many reasons for gratitude. They had survived. They were free. And, with the help of the Wampanoag tribe, and a bountiful harvest, they were regaining their health and strength. In thanks to God for these blessings, the new governor of the Plymouth Colony, William Bradford, proclaimed a day of thanksgiving and gathered with the Wampanoag tribe for three days of celebration.

For the next two centuries, many individual colonies and states, primarily in the Northeast, carried on the tradition of fall Thanksgiving festivities. But each state celebrated it on a different day, and sometime on an occasional basis. It was not until 1863 that the holiday was celebrated on one day, nationwide. In the aftermath of the Battle of Gettysburg, one of the bloodiest battles of our Nation's Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed that the country would set aside one day to remember its many blessings. "In the midst of a civil war of unequalled magnitude and severity," President Lincoln proclaimed, we recall the "bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come." As President Lincoln recognized: "No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy."

Today, we continue to celebrate Thanksgiving with a grateful and charitable spirit. When we open our hearts and extend our hands to those in need, we show humility for the bountiful gifts we have received. In the aftermath of a succession of tragedies that have stunned and shocked our Nation – Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria; the wildfires that ravaged the West; and, the horrific acts of violence and terror in Las Vegas, New York City, and Sutherland Springs – we have witnessed the generous nature of the American people. In the midst of heartache and turmoil, we are grateful for the swift action of the first responders, law enforcement personnel, military and medical professionals, volunteers, and everyday heroes who embodied our infinite capacity to extend compassion and humanity to our fellow man. As we mourn these painful events, we are ever confident that the perseverance and optimism of the American people will prevail.

We can see, in the courageous Pilgrims who stood on Plymouth Rock in new land, the intrepidness that lies at the core of our American spirit. Just as the Pilgrims did, today Americans stand strong, willing to fight for their families and their futures, to uphold our values, and to confront any challenge.

This Thanksgiving, in addition to rejoicing in precious time spent with loved ones, let us find ways to serve and encourage each other in both word and deed. We also offer a special word of thanks for the brave men and women of our Armed Forces, many of whom must celebrate this holiday separated from the ones for whom they are most thankful. As one people, we seek God's protection, guidance, and wisdom as we stand humbled by the abundance of our great Nation and the blessings of freedom, family, and faith.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim Thursday, November 23, 2017, as a National Day of Thanksgiving. I encourage all Americans to gather, in homes and places of worship, to offer a prayer of thanks to God for our many blessings.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this seventeenth day of November, in the year of our Lord two thousand seventeen, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-second.