November 23, 2023 - My thoughts for this Thanksgiving 2023
This has been a "learning" year - about our country, the history, the government as well as other countries history and governments. Fortunately I went to school in the 50's and early 60's - and learned more truth than lies. I am dismayed at our current schools, the current media, the our current government. I'll leave it at that. This past year, I watch friends, neighbors, family - 'die suddenly'. For those in the know, you know what I mean. Once again I refer you to my thoughts last Thanksgiving below...the story of Noah, God's covenant, and
II Timothy 1:7 - "For God has not give us the spirit of fear: but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." I know we will make it through this.
I close with wishing you all a Happy and Blessed Thanksgiving.
November 24, 2022 - My thoughts for this Thanksgiving 2022
I sit here in front of my computer trying to think about what I want to write. So much has happened this year, not only in my family, but with the world. So many family, friends, acquaintances have passed away. As I am typing this, God has put into my mind the story of Noah, and when the waters receded. [Genesis 8: 13-22] and I quote:
"13. In the six hundred and first year of Noah's life, during the first month, the flood water began to evaporate from the land. Noah then removed the ark's cover and saw that the surface of the land was drying. 14. By the twenty-seventh day of the second month, the ground was dry.
The Lord's Covenant
15. God Spoke to Noah, 16. "It's time for you, your wife, your sons, and you sons' wives who are with you to leave the ark. 17. Bring out with you every living creature - including the flying creatures, animals, and everything that craws on the ground - so they my disperse throughout the land, be fruitful, and multiply throughout the earth." 19. Every animal, every crawling thing, every flying creature, and everything that moves on earth emerged from the ark by groups.
20. Then Noah built an altar to the Lord and offered burnt offerings on it from every clan animal and every clean bird. 21. When the Lord smelled the pleasing aroma, He told Himself, "I will never again curse the land because of human beings - even though human inclinations remain evil from youth - nor will I destroy every living being ever again, as I have done.
22. "Never again as long as the earth exists, will sowing and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, and day and night ever cease."
So with whatever is going on around me, I take comfort in the verse that is at the top of my web page, II Timothy 1:7 and this story of Noah. Noah and his family made it! Despite what people all around him said and joked about him building the Ark, he took God's promise to him and his family to heart. I personally believe that God's Covenant is His promise, and He keeps his promises.
May you all have a safe and blessed Thanksgiving.
November 25, 2021 - My thoughts for this Thanksgiving.
I want to take you back to the time of the American Revolution.
The leader of the American army at that time was General George Washington. Did you know that up to the time that Washington crossed the Delaware around Christmas time in 1776 that he never won a battle? There is a painting of this crossing done by a German immigrant, Emanuel Leutze. [see the excerpt below]
"The Colonial cause appeared exceptionally bleak as the year 1776 came to a close. In a military move that navigated the fine line between brilliance and desperation, George Washington led the Colonial army across the Delaware River shortly after nightfall on 25 December in order to attack the Hessian encampment outside Trenton, New Jersey. Washington and his army achieved an unprecedented tactical surprise and delivered a much-needed military and moral victory. Washington’s army killed 22 Hessian soldiers, wounded 98 more, and captured more than 1,000 (Hessians were Germans soldiers hired by the British Empire). The Colonial Army had less than ten combined dead and wounded soldiers. After many military setbacks in the North, Washington’s bold move on Christmas night 1776 helped provide a sense of hope for the Colonial cause.” [excerpt from Leutze, Washington Crossing the Delaware - https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/art-americas/us-art-19c/romanticism-us/a/leutze-washington-crossing-the-delaware>]
If you read the story, you will find out that aboard that tiny boat along with Washington and two of his officers, were a Scotsman, African American, a frontiersman, a couple of farmers, a woman, and a Native American. Funny how these different people realized that they had to come together to save this country.
I firmly believe we, Americans, are at a very similar crossroad. We are at a crossroad not only in this country, but also the world as well. We have allowed ourselves to become divided, not only from our neighbors, our friends, but also, sadly, our families. We have to decide whether we stand on the side of what is good and truthful, or on the side of evil, which lies, instills fear, and divides us.
So, my prayer for this Thanksgiving is best said with the quote from 2 Timothy, Chapter 1, verse 7. "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”
My personal interpretation of this verse is that if God has not given us the spirit of fear, where does it come from? My answer is satan, the great deceiver. I believe those people who were in the boat with Washington understood this verse and chose to be on the side of good.
May you all have a blessed Thanksgiving.
November 26, 2020
Well, who would have thought that I would run out of space for doing this annual post. So this is Part Two.
Most of you will agree that this has been quite the year! Whatever side you fall on, this year has taken an emotional, mental, and physical toll on all people. In my 75 years I have never seen the hatred one person can have for another just because they don't agree with them. I was looking forward to the holidays and the chance of getting to spend them with my family, but that is not going to happen. Why, you may ask. Because of fear. Plain and simple - fear has paralyzed most people's brains. Common sense - out the window. Haven't seen my grandchildren since December 2019.
However, I will not let these things deter me. Several good friends in and near my age group have decided to celebrate Thanksgiving. We are getting together and having a Thanksgiving dinner with all the trimmings.
Thanksgiving is not just about family and friends, it is also about the reason why we have Thanksgiving. Those Pilgrims back in the day, despite all the hardships they faced, realized that they were part of something bigger than them. That God put them through the crucible of hardship and death to strengthen them because they were about to become the cornerstone to the founding of a Great and Wonderful Country - The United States of America.
God's Blessings to all of you.
No comments:
Post a Comment