It is not time for Christmas, yet. There is a time of the year that we are to pause and count our many blessings. In the beginning, Thanksgiving was when all the crops were harvested and put away for use during the winter storms. A celebration for all of the hard work that was done to plant, cultivate and harvest these crops.
Count your blessings, name them one by one
Count your blessings, see what God hath done!
Count your blessings, name them one by one
And it will surprise you what God has done.
When you look at others with their lands and gold
Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold;
Count your many blessings, wealth can never buy
Your reward in Heaven, nor your home on high.
Psalm 50: 13-14 God has no need of animal sacrifices as in the OT. Instead, He wants us to offer Him sacrifices of thanksgiving and praise.
1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18 Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. We should take time to be thankful because this is what God wants.
Exodus 19:5 "God owns everything"
James 1:17 'God does not change". He is the same yesterday, today, tomorrow and forever.
We should be thankful to God because after all we are allowed to enjoy His earth.
Galatians 3:6-9 We need to realize that material blessings were not given to us because of anything we have done. we do not deserve them. God has bestowed them on us...simply becuase of His mercy and His promise to Abraham, the father of the faithful.
Most important to Christian people is the harvest of souls. We are to pause and celebrate what fruits that have been added to God's kingdom! At church this AM, I was privileged to see this harvest unfold through another Thanksgiving hymn that I have sung many times but had NEVER got it's wonderful message of the harvest of souls. I want to be fruitful for my Lord and not be thrown into the fire as a tare. Read these words carefully and if you do not know the Lord as your Saviour, aske Him into your heart today. Tomorrow may be too late.
Come Ye Thankful People Come
All the world is God's own field
For the Lord our God shall come.
Raise the song of Harvest Home;
Fruit on to His praise to yield
And shall take His harvest home;
To Thy final Harvest-Home
All is safely gathered in,
wheat and tares together sown,
From His field shall in that day
gather Thou thy people in,
Ere the winter storms begin
Unto joy or sorrow grown
All offences purge away
Free from sorrow, free from sin;
God our Maker, doth provide
First the blade, and then the ear,
Give His angels charge at last
There forever purified,
For our wants to be supplied;
Then the full corn shall appear;
In the fire the tares are cast,
In Thy Presence to abide:
Come to god's own temple , come,
Lord of harvest, grant we
but the fruitful ears to store
Come with all thine angels , come,
Raise the song of Harvest -Home.
Wholesome grain and pure may be
In His garner evermore
Raise the glorious Harvest-Home.
Being thankful is knowing that we are in the presence of a Holy God who is in control and still on His throne. No matter where you are in your life, God is approachable and He is there. God's Holy reign gives us confidence. He insures/guarantees His church will prevail. For that, I am thankful. Are You?
Happy Thanksgiving
