What Happened to Thanksgiving?

What Happened to Thanksgiving?

When delivering a large, beautiful pumpkin to my girlfriend a couple of days after Halloween, her neighbor asked inquisitively, “What’s the pumpkin for?  After all, Halloween was over.  I responded, THANKSGIVING!   “Oh yeah”, was his reply.

It breaks my heart that our culture seems to move from celebrating Halloween then straight on to Christmas.  What happened to Thanksgiving? 

Nearly four hundred years ago, a people desperate to freely worship God, left all they knew behind in order to seek a country where this freedom would be possible.  For this prospect and privilege, these courageous people we call “Pilgrims”, suffered losses and all manner of discomfort. 

Their first winter was devastating.  At the beginning of the following fall, they had lost 46 of the original 102 who sailed on the Mayflower. Still, with determination, they worked with their hands in order to carve out a new life from a wild, nearly uncultivated land.

The first Thanksgiving celebrated the goodness of God for His provision of both freedom of worship and plentiful sustenance.  The Pilgrim’s gave God the glory along with their heartfelt gratitude for these provisions.  All of these years later, we continue to reap the benefits of the determination and single mindedness of the Pilgrim’s.  How?  We may freely worship the Lord our God. 

Have you made worshiping the Lord your determination this Thanksgiving?  Find a way to focus on the focus; giving God thanks.  Might I suggest compiling a list of personal points of gratitude to be shared around your Thanksgiving table?  Why not pray on your knees together, individually offering thanks?  Try singing a favorite hymn or praise song after prayer.   

After all, Thanksgiving is not merely turkey, mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie  but a religious remembrance of the freedom to worship God, and a giving of thanks for His provision day by day.

Let’s overcome the temptation to skip from Halloween and move straight on to Christmas.  Let’s pause to celebrate our worthy God on this worthy day called Thanksgiving.

Have a blessed Thanksgiving everyone!

Esther 6:1-2 Continued

Esther 6:1-2 Continued

1  That night the king could not sleep. So one was commanded to

     bring the book of the records of the chronicles; and they were read

     before the king.

2  And it was found written that Mordecai had told of Big-thawn and Teh’- resh, two of the king’s eunuchs, the doorkeepers who had sought to lay hands on King Ahasuerus (Akh-ash-vay-rosh).

 

A.               The Records of Chronicles

In Eastern courts, there are scribes or officers whose duty it is to keep a journal of every occurrence worthy of notice. A book of this kind, abounding with anecdotes, is full of interest. It has been a custom with Eastern kings, in all ages, frequently to cause the annals of the kingdom to be read to them. It is resorted to, not merely as a pastime to while away the tedium of an hour, but as a source of instruction to the monarch, by reviewing the important incidents of his own life, as well as those of his ancestors.

A more instructive and interesting work could not be brought before the king; because the Persians composed these records in verse, and were generally the work of the most eminent poets of the empire.  They are written in this way to the present time.

I.     God Records

The Lord God keeps annals of every person and his every act in life. 

Psalms 56:8  You number my wanderings; Put my tears into Your bottle; Are they not in Your book?

Psalm 33:13-15

13  From heaven the LORD looks down and sees all mankind;

14  from his dwelling-place he watches all who live on earth—

15  he who forms the hearts of all, who considers everything they do.

Psalm 11:4  The LORD’S throne is in heaven; His eyes behold, His eyelids test the sons of men.

Proverbs 15:3  The eyes of the LORD are in every place, Keeping watch on the evil and the good.

Isaiah 29:15  Woe to those who go to great depths to hide their plans from the LORD, who do their work in darkness and think, "Who sees us? Who will know?"

• One day, these records will be read and judgments will be dispensed; some for honor and some dishonor.  And with these records God will judge mankind with perfect justice.  He will judge all of the sin of man and if that sin is not covered by propitiation the punishment will be eternal death which is hell.

1Corinthians. 4:5  Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one’s praise will come from God.

1Peter 4:5  Man will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.

1 Peter 4

4   Indeed your former companions may think it very strange that you no longer join with them in their riotous excesses, and accordingly say all sorts of abusive things about you.

5  They are the ones who will have to answer for their behavior before the One who is prepared to judge all men, living or dead.

Revelation 20:15  And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.

• How did mankind fall into estrangement or separation from God?  Sin.  Sin separates man from holy God, making it possible for an approach.   How did God reach out to all of mankind to restore its estrangement to Himself?  Propitiation.

What is propitiation:  A blood sacrifice provided through God’s love to remove the estrangement of a sinner to Himself.  How, by covering sin with His own righteousness thereby turning God’s wrath away from the sinner and drawing him close.

• Have you ever experienced an estrangement; a separation or division in a relationship that was very dear to you?  I have – twice – and my heart physically ached inside.  With an earnest desire to repair the rift, each time I cried out and reached out in hope of a response that would result in restoration.

• I can only imagine the deep yearning of the heart of God who longs to bring each person (you) out of estrangement and into a close relationship with Himself.   

• Have you believed in the shed blood of Jesus Christ for the only means of forgiveness of your sins?  In that day, what will the record show?

 

Esther 6:1-2 Part 1

Esther 6:1-2  Part1

I.     Reading the Book of Records

1  That night the king could not sleep. So one was commanded to

     bring the book of the records of the chronicles; and they were read

     before the king.

2  And it was found written that Mordecai had told of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s eunuchs, the doorkeepers who had sought to lay hands on King Ahasuerus.

A.               Providence of God’s Timing

It is said that 6 years had past since Mordecai’s honorable actions saved the king’s life but the deferment of his reward once again reflects upon the providence of God and His timing for the utmost good of mankind.  And further, when God might be more glorified in the preservation of his people or destruction of their enemies.

a.             God’s glory should be paramount to every Christian.  It is certainly paramount to God.   Why? Reason number one is simply because HE IS GLORIOUS; the awe of His person, His achievements, His beauty that inspires feelings of wonder or joy, His worthiness of praise.  Reason number 2 is that He might draw mankind into His eternal salvation.  Consequently, at times, He uses our lives to bring Him glory.

Spurgeon:  The salvation of men is a grand aim, but it must always be in subordination to the glory of the Lord, that his arm may be revealed, and that all flesh may see.

b.             We can see the providence and glory of God in the story of Lazarus.   See John 11:3-7

Lazarus, the brother of Mary and Martha, lay sick.  Therefore the sisters sent a message to Jesus, saying, "Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick."

4  When Jesus heard that, He said, "This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of  God may be glorified through it."  

5  Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.

6  So, when He heard that he was sick, He stayed two more days in the place where He was.

                7  Then after this He said to the disciples, "Let us go to Judea again."

c.             Stayed two more days!  Stayed two more days!  How could Jesus turn away from this urgent need?  Surely NOW was the time to act.

Have you ever felt this way?  Have you ever cried to the Lord with a similar complaint?  I need an answer NOW!  Hasten Your reply and its results!  But God’s providential timing is perfect for meeting your need and more importantly, magnifying His glory.

What Happened to Lazarus?  After four days in the tomb, Lazarus was raised from the dead by Jesus.  John 11:45 says that: Then many of the Jews who had come to Mary, and had seen the things Jesus did, believed in Him. God’s providence, God’s Glory!

David stated in confidence of God, Ps 31:15 My times (my experiences, perpetual fortune, continuing future) are in your hands!

Spurgeon:  What becomes of us is of small consequence compared with bringing glory to His great name.

d.                Ask Yourself: 

·    Will you accept and even receive comforted by the fact that God’s timing for YOU is perfect?

·    Are you willing for the Lord to use you and your present circumstances until it will bring Him the most glory?

My Times are in Your Hands

One of my dear friends received several pieces of bad news today; one worst than the next.  Have you ever felt like your life was falling to pieces all in a few short hours?  Christians, in times like these we must steady ourselves and look to the strength and hope we have in the perfect character of our God.  His love never fails!

When King David was pressed with serious troubles and enemies threatening him all around, he stated in confidence of God:  My times (my experiences, perpetual fortune, and continuing future) are in Your hands! Psalm 31:15

Being "handled" by God is the sweetest privilege in this life.  Let Him have His glory in your circumstance and He will see you through.

Looking UpWORD,

Venita