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Think of that little band of people who crossed\nthe Atlantic in a boat that was 26 feet by 112 feet and landed on the New\nEngland coast during a bitter cold winter. At times that first year the daily\nration of those who were well was only five grains of corn. In early New\nEngland, it was the custom at Thanksgiving time to place five kernels of corn\nat every plate as a reminder of those stern days in the first winter when the\nfood of the Pilgrims was to depleted that only five kernels of corn were\nrationed to each individual at a time. The Pilgrim Fathers wanted their\nchildren to remember the sacrifice, sufferings, and hardships through which\nthey had safely passed — a fitting hardship that made possible the settlement\nof a free people in a free land. They wanted to keep alive the memory of that\nsixty-three-day trip taken in the tiny Mayflower. They desired to keep alive\nthe thought of that stern and rock-bound coast, its inhospitable welcome, and the\nfirst terrible winter which took such a toll of lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They did not want their descendants to forget\nthat on that day in which their rations was reduced to five kernels of corn,\nonly seven healthy colonists remained to nurse the sick, and that nearly half\ntheir members lay in the windswept graveyard on the hill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They worked seven years to repay London the\nloan for their trip. That was before the days of credit cards. After suffering\nevery kind of hardship, they had a harvest of 21 acres of corn and in the fall\nof 1621, they immediately offered thanks to God for His blessings. This little\ngroup led by Gov. William Bradford marched triumphantly through the cornfields\nsinging, “The earth is the Lord\u2019s and the fullness thereof, the world and\nthey that dwell therein.” Then they sat down to a meal in gladness and\njoy. They were giving thanks to God no matter what.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
From a sermon by Gerald Steffy, Thankful No\nMatter What, 10\/14\/2009<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tomorrow we\nwill take a break to stop our regular routine, gather with our loved ones, and\ngive thanks. Even unsaved folks realize\nthey should have gratitude\u2026 but to whom and for what? Tomorrow our thoughts should transcend our\nimmediate family and personal bounty. It\nshould focus on our Great God who bestows unmerited favor on us moment by\nmoment, and day by day. As we reflect\nupon our passage this evening, let us meditate upon the fundamentals of\nThanksgiving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Psalm 95:1 KJV<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n O come, let us sing unto the Lord: \u2022 To the Lord- Jehovah<\/p>\n\n\n\n Exodus 3:14 KJV<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus\nshalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 The Rock of our Salvation<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1 Corinthians 10:4 KJV<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of\nthat spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 The Great God<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 The king above all<\/p>\n\n\n\n Psalm 95:3 KJV<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n For the Lord is<\/em>\na great God, \u2022 Our Maker<\/p>\n\n\n\n Psalm 95:6 KJV<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n O come, let us worship and bow down: \u2022 Our God<\/p>\n\n\n\n Psalm 95:7 KJV<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n For he is<\/em> our God; King James Version Psalm 95<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n O come, let us\nsing unto the LORD:<\/p>\n\n\n\n King James Version Psalm 95<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Let us make a joyful noise<\/p>\n\n\n\n King James Version Psalm 95<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n And make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n King James Version Psalm 95<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Let us<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Corporate Worship<\/p>\n\n\n\n King James Version Psalm 95<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n worship and bow down:<\/p>\n\n\n\n King James Version Psalm 95<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n kneel before the LORD<\/p>\n\n\n\n Psalm 95:3 KJV<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n For the Lord is<\/em>\na great God, King James Version Psalm 95<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n In his hand are the deep places of the earth:<\/p>\n\n\n\n King James Version Psalm 95<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The strength of the hills is his also.<\/p>\n\n\n\n King James Version Psalm 95<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The sea is his, and he made it:<\/p>\n\n\n\n King James Version Psalm 95<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n And his hands formed the dry land.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Romans 1:20 KJV<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n For the invisible things of him from the creation of the\nworld are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even<\/em>\nhis eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Psalm 19:1 KJV<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The heavens declare the glory of God; King James Version Psalm 95<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n For he is our God<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2 Corinthians 6:17 KJV<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith\nthe Lord, and touch not the unclean thing<\/em>; and I will receive you,<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2 Corinthians 6:18 KJV<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and\ndaughters, saith the Lord Almighty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n King James Version Psalm 95<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n And we are the people of his pasture<\/p>\n\n\n\n Psalm 23:1 KJV<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The Lord is<\/em>\nmy shepherd; I shall not want.<\/p>\n\n\n\n King James Version Psalm 95<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n and the sheep of his hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n John 10:27 KJV<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:<\/p>\n\n\n\n John 10:28 KJV<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never\nperish, neither shall any man<\/em> pluck them out of my hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n John 10:29 KJV<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n My Father, which gave them<\/em> me, is greater than all;\nand no man<\/em> is able to pluck them<\/em> out of my Father\u2019s hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n John 10:30 KJV<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n I and my<\/em> Father are one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dramatic and\nsignificant is the story of the Pilgrims. On December 21, 1620, the voyaging\nMayflower dropped anchor in Plymouth Bay, with Captain Christopher Jones at her\nhelm. It had been a grueling voyage, taking the one-hundred-twenty-ton-capacity\nship sixty-six days to make the perilous crossing. There had been disease,\nanxiety, and childbirth among the 102 courageous passengers. Furthermore, they\narrived on the bleak New England shore during a hard winter which ultimately\nclaimed half of their number. However, when spring came and the captain of the\nMayflower offered free passage to anyone desiring to return, not a single\nperson accepted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The fidelity\nof the forty-one men, who while still aboard the Mayflower had signed the\nfamous Compact beginning with the words, \u201cIn ye name of God Amen,\u201d was taking\non visible meaning. These chivalrous souls had dedicated themselves to the\ntotal causes of freedom. They had come to a wilderness to carve out a better\nway of life. Faith prompted the voyage; faith sustained the Pilgrims and their\nreligious convictions constrained them to raise their voices in praise. Their\nhardships, sacrifice, devotion, concept of government, and vigorous religion all\nremind us of those who sought a country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So tomorrow,\nas we reflect, let us thank God for who He is, for who we are in Him, and for\nHis grace to our forefathers seeking a place to worship, and for the privilege\nof living in a country founded in Thanksgiving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Christlikeness<\/p>\n\n\n\n G. Curtis\nJones, 1000 Illustrations for Preaching and Teaching (Nashville, TN: Broadman\n& Holman Publishers, 1986), 43\u201344.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Think of that little band of people who crossed the Atlantic in a boat that was 26 feet by 112 feet and landed on the New England coast during a bitter cold winter. At times that first year the daily ration of those who were well was only five grains of corn. In early New … Continue reading The Fundamentals of Thanksgiving<\/span>
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\nLet us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\nAnd a great King above all gods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\nLet us kneel before the Lord our\nmaker.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\nAnd we are<\/em> the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand.
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\nTo day if ye will hear his voice,<\/p>\n\n\n\nHow Should We Give Thanks?<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
Why Should We Give Thanks?<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
Because God is Great -focus on Him not on how we are made happy by\nHim.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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\nAnd a great King above all gods.<\/p>\n\n\n\nBecause His Power is Great<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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\nAnd the firmament sheweth his handywork.<\/p>\n\n\n\nBecause His Love Is Great<\/h2>\n\n\n\n