I was blessed to go to church today for Sunday school and morning and evening service.Unfortunately with Daniel just having a seizure and Ariel and Michael still ill with this Bronchial stuff they weren't able to make it.
The message today was on thankfulness.With this being the season of Thanksgiving,hopefully we remember to be thankful to the Lord for all he does for us,but are we truly thankful every day and in all circumstances? Or just one day a year and only in good circumstances? I'll admit it is so much easier to be thankful when there is money in the bank and food on the table and no medical issues going on.
We learned a lot more about the voyage of The Mayflower and how the Pilgrims came to America to find religious freedom.We learned about the horrid circumstances The Pilgrims were in when they sailed across the ocean and the first difficult winter they endured.
A lot of these things we already knew,but when you really think about their circumstances you realize how scary it must have been for them.
Imagine leaving home and going to a foreign and very much uninhabited land.
It must have been pretty frightening,but yet they were willing to do it to worship The Lord in the way that they knew was right.
The Pilgrims delt with damp and smelly quarters,rough seas,cold weather,starvation and a mountain of other difficulties and lost half of the Pilgrims the first year,but yet they started each day with prayer and thanksgiving,thanking God for all things.
It really puts me to shame to think about all the times I have grumbled and complained about the most insignificant things.
I am so blessed to live in a free country,to have food and shelter and clean water to drink. When my kids are sick or hurt I can take them for care and get them needed medical attention and medicine.
You don't really think about all the things you take for granted, until something like your power goes out and you see how much just having hot water, heat or electricity means.
Psalm 100:3-5
King James Version (KJV)
3Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
4Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
5For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.
Even in the times we are in the midst of trial and tribulation and trouble seems to be abounding we are to be thankful.
Philippians 4:6-7
King James Version (KJV)
6Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
7And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Proverbs 17:22
A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.
By giving thanks to God in all things we are bringing peace and joy to ourselves.
1 Thessalonians 5:18
King James Version (KJV)
18In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
When you really start to count your blessings, you see there is so much to be thankful for.
This Thanksgiving I hope to be thankful in all things and in all circumstances.
Being Thankful is something many people don't really get. It was funny when I was reading about the Pilgrims I was thinking I've been to Plimouth Plantation. We took my first grade internship class. We had the traditional Thanksgiving dinner pilgrim style that year. The thing I didn't realize and I heard on t.v. a week ago was that it wasn't the Pilgrims that were the ones that added food to the Thanksgiving table but their friends the Native Americans that suggested the food. After all the Pilgrims had just starved through a horrible winter. We as Americans are lucky to have clean water and yes medicines that many people die without. With God looking over us anything is possible. Hugs!!!!
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