Thanksgiving That God Is In Control Of The Future

Thanksgiving: A Timeless Lesson

The Yoruba people of West Africa have an old saying: “However far the stream flows, it never forgets its source.” But, we may ask, have the people of the United States forgotten the source of their blessings?

The United States observes the national holiday of Thanksgiving, dedicated to remembering the many blessings America enjoys: hills and plains filled with mineral riches; fertile soil that grows endless crops of grain; waters teeming with fish; pastures feeding millions of head of livestock; forests for building homes, schools, hospitals and industrial complexes; two long borders on oceans providing transportation, food and natural barriers for defense.

There is more, of course. But, when we ask ourselves how we have been blessed, another question should come to mind: How grateful are we for these blessings? And, perhaps more crucial, do we remember the real source of these blessings?

Although Thanksgiving Day is an American institution, any country derives the benefits from following the biblical principle of always being thankful to God for His bountiful blessings.

The origins of Thanksgiving

The first Thanksgiving celebration, in 1621, lasted three days. Plymouth Colony’s Governor William Bradford, issued a thanksgiving proclamation, and for three days the Pilgrims feasted with their Indian guests on wild turkey and venison.

Days of thanksgiving were celebrated sporadically until President George Washington proclaimed a nationwide day of thanksgiving on November 26, 1789. He made it clear that the day should be dedicated to prayer and giving thanks to God.

Due credit for finally establishing Thanksgiving Day as a lasting national holiday goes to Sarah J. Hale, editor and founder of the Ladies’ Magazine.

Later, in 1941, Congress adopted a joint resolution setting the date on the fourth Thursday of November.

For 376 years, and with few exceptions, this holiday has been kept. But what does it mean to us? Do we truly show our gratitude to God for His bountiful blessings, or are they merely something we’ve come to take for granted?

The rigors of pilgrimage

America is a nation of immigrants. In the New World, settlers sought spiritual and economic renewal. America represented an opportunity to escape war, despotism, material want and religious persecution. The New World was a place to avoid some of the problems of the Old World.

But the earliest settlements of New England were not established easily. The first permanent settlement had its origins in the restlessness of a small, devoutly religious group of Englishmen living in the Netherlands. Since they felt that their only hope was withdrawal from the established church, they were called Separatists.

Persecution had forced them to flee to Holland in 1609. Yet, after a decade in the Netherlands, the English Separatists were eager to move again. Holland’s society was hospitable and tolerant, but it was too densely settled for the Separatists, who desired to remain apart from the world.

William Bradford, in his History of Plymouth Plantation, explained why the Separatists moved from Holland: “But that which was more lamentable, and of all sorrows most heavy to be borne, was that many of their children … were drawn by evil examples into extravagant and dangerous courses, getting the reins off their necks and departing from their parents. Some became soldiers; others took upon them far voyages by sea; and others some worse courses tending to dissoluteness and danger of their souls to the great grief of their parents and dishonor of God” (Louis B. Wright, The Atlantic Frontier, Cornell University Press, Ithaca, New York, 1959, p. 105).

Another of their reasons, says Bradford, was an “inward zeal … of laying some good foundation … for the propagating and advancing the gospel of the kingdom of Christ in those remote parts of the world; yea, though they should be but even as stepping stones unto others for the performing of so great a work” (Wright, p. 106).

So it was that the Mayflower weighed anchor September 16, 1620, with 101 prospective settlers aboard.

After 65 storm-tossed days, the Mayflower landed, not on Virginia soil that the sojourners had contracted for, but at Cape Cod.

Landing in November, they were unprepared for the harsh winter ahead. They had been led to believe glowing reports that the fertile country would have a climate similar to southern France, since the two areas lie at the same latitude.

Instead, the Pilgrims were confronted with a severe winter on a rockbound coast. Come spring, half of the Mayflower passengers were dead, including 13 of the 18 married women. William Bradford led the survivors, now settled at Plymouth.

His leadership would be considered strict and even harsh by today’s norms, but it helped the early Pilgrims survive.

They escaped Indian attacks during that first winter. “By a freak chance, two Indians in the neighborhood, Samoset and Squanto, could speak English, and the settlers made a treaty with a tribal chief through them” (Wright, p. 108). The settlers thought it an act of God that these two English-speaking Indians were available to help them through their time of distress.

The settlement at Plymouth survived. When the Mayflower sailed for home in April 1621, not one of the settlers returned on it.

By autumn, with health restored, the settlers gathered their harvest and celebrated with a feast, washing down roasted venison, wild duck and cornbread with wine made from native grapes.

Thus they began the tradition of Thanksgiving that President Lincoln declared a national holiday in 1863.

Lincoln and Thanksgiving

James Russell Lowell wrote an introduction to The Works of Abraham Lincoln, State Papers, 1861-1865 (edited by John H. Clifford and Marion M. Miller, The University Society, New York, 1908, Vol. 6).

In it Lowell describes the terrible conditions facing the Union and Mr. Lincoln.

He especially addresses the notion that from that time forward the South and North would experience increasing difficulty feeling at ease and comfortable with one another. It was a sad time.

Note part of the “Proclamation of Thanksgiving” that President Lincoln delivered October 20, 1863: “It has pleased almighty God to prolong our national life another year.

These expressions of praise, thankfulness and humility can guide us in the late 20th century, as some presidents of this century have reminded us. How far have we come as a society since President Lincoln’s formal proclamation?

Modern signs of ingratitude

Sadly, much of society has strayed from the moral and religious underpinnings that characterized America’s earlier years. Hedonism-“If it feels good, do it”-has become the order of the day, continually evidenced in the entertainment media and modern culture.

Self-oriented social fragmentation is replacing a once-common outlook of concern about our personal example and the welfare of others. Increasingly, the prevailing attitude is epitomized by the saying, “I’ve got mine; you get your own.

” These attitudes are pervasive, corrupting the lives of our children, our future leaders.

President Lincoln issued a timeless warning: Our greatest enemy is not beyond our shores, but the enemy within.

On January 27, 1838, he warned his fellow Americans with these words: “All the armies of Europe, Asia and Africa combined, with all the treasure of the earth (our own excepted) in their military chest; with a Bonaparte for a commander, could not by force, take a drink from the Ohio, or make a track on the Blue Ridge, in a trial of a thousand years.

“At what point then is the approach of danger to be expected? I answer, if it ever reach us, it must spring up amongst us. It cannot come from abroad.

If destruction be our lot, we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of freemen, we must live through all time, or die by suicide” (Don E.

Fehrenbacher, Abraham Lincoln, Speeches and Writings, 1832-1858, Literary Classics of the United States, New York, 1989, pp. 28-29).

The unrealized link

One of the greatest basic weaknesses of human nature is that of ingratitude. The Bible has much to say about it.

After their Exodus from Egypt, the ancient Israelites spent 40 years wandering in the wilderness until the earlier, faithless generation died out.

In the book of Deuteronomy, God through Moses reminded members of the new generation of the importance of obedience if they were to learn from the sad example of their parents.

Moses repeated God’s Ten Commandments to Israel (Deuteronomy 5). God expressed His sorrow that Israel simply didn’t have the heart to obey Him consistently: “Oh, that they had such a heart in them that they would fear Me and always keep all My commandments, that it might be well with them and with their children forever!” (Deuteronomy 5:29).

Lack of obedience to God may indicate ingratitude. If we acknowledge that God’s standards are superior to ours, but we fail to obey them, we indicate our lack of understanding, our personal weakness or a willfulness to disobey. All may demonstrate our lack of gratitude for what God has given us. An attitude of thankfulness, on the other hand, can help counteract this weakness.

We see these principles clearly brought out in Scripture. In Deuteronomy 8 God addresses the importance and blessings of gratitude and strongly cautions us to avoid the curses of ingratitude. “Every commandment which I command you today you must be careful to observe, that you may live and multiply, and go in and possess the land of which the LORD swore to your fathers” (Deuteronomy 8:1).

Moses reminded the people of how God had so carefully taken care of them in the wilderness.

He miraculously fed them with manna 40 years, but also reminded them that “man shall not live by [physical] bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the LORD (Deuteronomy 8:3).

Their garments didn’t wear, nor did their feet swell, during those 40 years in the wilderness (Deuteronomy 8:4).

Biblical warning against ingratitude

Since God was bringing His people Israel into a fertile, productive land, filled with “brooks of water, of fountains and springs, . . . a land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive oil and honey” as well as mineral wealth, they should have been grateful (Deuteronomy 8:7-9).

God warned them about the all-too-human weakness to give oneself, not Him, credit for what one has.

“When you have eaten and are full, then you shall bless the LORD your God for the good land which He has given you.

Beware that you do not forget the LORD your God by not keeping His commandments, His judgments, and His statutes which I command you today, lest-when you have eaten and are full, and have built beautiful houses and dwell in them; and when your herds and your flocks multiply, and your silver and your gold are multiplied, and all that you have is multiplied; when your heart is lifted up, and you forget the LORD your God . . . , then you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gained me this wealth’…

“Then it shall be, if you by any means forget the LORD your God, … you shall perish, because you would not be obedient to the voice of the LORD your God” (Deuteronomy 8:10-20, emphasis added).

Gratitude plays a major role in any kind of right relationship with God!

The blessings of gratitude

Most people overlook a simple fact recorded thousands of years ago: “The earth is the LORD’S, and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell therein” (Psalms 24:1). All our blessings come from God, but our actions don’t always acknowledge this wonderful truth.

To its credit, America has set aside Thanksgiving Day for annually reflecting on national blessings. Of course, we should all be thankful every day of every year, but there is certainly nothing wrong with a special day every year to remind us that we should continually be thankful.

In 1621 Plymouth Colony-made up of refugees seeking religious freedom in the New World-observed the first day of Thanksgiving to honor the God who had preserved their lives through a harsh winter, then blessed them with a good summer and a plentiful fall harvest. On October 20, 1864, President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed Thanksgiving Day to be an American national holiday, a time during which he called on all its citizens to thank the great God who bestowed such great bounties on them.

All nations would do well to remember the wise axiom of the Yoruba people of West Africa: “However far the stream flows, it never forgets its source.” May all peoples of the earth remember to give thanks to God, from whom all blessings flow (James 1:17).

Источник: //www.ucg.org/the-good-news/thanksgiving-a-timeless-lesson

Question: “Why is giving thanks to God important?“

Many of us may wonder why it is so important to give praise and thanks to God. Let us look at it in this way, we as people that are made in God's image and his ness, we love to be praised and exalted when we do anything good. It is in our nature to always want to be praise and look up to.

I say that to say this that just us God also love to be praise because we are of him, and not us he deserve it. No man can out do God goodness and love toward mankind therefore his praise must be continuous in our mouth, and pouring thanksgiving to him who deserve it all. There are also many blessing in giving thanks and praise.

 The two things that “offend God” the most are ingratitude (confessing not His hand) and disobedience. Having a thankful heart make us happy it is more a spiritual thing then natural “Why? because God take pleasure in our praise and thankfulness and we know God is a spirit. It even show that giving praise and thanks to God gives us a better health.

When people are not grateful they tend to complain, and that isn’t good for anyone. For example, even though the Lord had delivered the Israelites from slavery and given them manna to eat, they were not grateful. Notice what happens: “And when the people complained, it displeased the Lord: and the Lord heard it” (Numbers 11:1). So the Lord hears when we complain, and He does not it.

 Great blessings are promised to those who are grateful. The Lord said, “He who receiveth all things with thankfulness shall be made glorious; and the things of this earth shall be added unto him, even an hundred fold, yea, more” (D&C 78:19).

Let us follow the counsel of Paul who said, “In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

Scripture instructs us to thank God for many things. We are to thank Him for who He is. Psalm 30:4 says, “Sing praise to the Lord, you His godly ones, and give thanks to His holy name” Psalm 97:12. We should also thank God for His nearness. “We give thanks to Thee, O God, we give thanks, for Thy name is near” Psalm 75:1.

Paul gave thanks to God for his salvation and his opportunity to serve Him: “I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service; even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor.

And yet I was shown mercy, because I acted ignorantly in unbelief” 1 Timothy 1:12–13.

(Luke 17:13) When Jesus encountered the ten lepers on his way to Jerusalem, all ten asked to be healed. All ten obeyed Jesus' command to go show themselves to the priests. As the lepers went to the priests, they were healed. However, only one returned to thank Jesus.

That seemed to surprise Jesus. “Were not all ten cleansed?” he asked. “Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” (Luke 17:17). Jesus did not heal the lepers for the thanks. But He really appreciated it when one He had healed remembered his kindness.

I want to encourage you today that God loves each of you so much and there are so many physical and spiritual benefits for dailygiving thanks. We can have thankful hearts toward God even when we do not feel thankful for the circumstance. We can grieve and still be thankful.

We can hurt and still be thankful. We can be angry at sin and still be thankful toward God. That is what the Bible calls a “sacrifice of praise” Hebrews 13:15.

Giving thanks to God keeps our hearts in right relationship with Him and saves us from a host of harmful emotions and attitudes that will rob us of the peace God wants us to experience Philippians 4:6–7.

What makes Christians most thankful is the work of Christ. In 2 Corinthians 9:15, Paul exclaims, “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!” He gave thanks for the result of the work of Christ, which is our salvation 1 Corinthians 1:4. That is also his theme in Colossians 1:12–14.

Paul sums up the doctrine of salvation in three great truths: inheritance, deliverance, and transference. They are both a description of salvation and a cause for thanksgiving. He unfolds the specifics of his gratitude in those verses. Giving thanks also reminds us of how much we do have.

Human beings are prone to covetousness. We tend to focus on what we don’t have. By giving thanks continually we are reminded of how much we do have. When we focus on blessings rather than wants, we are happier. When we start thanking God for the things we usually take for granted, our perspective changes.

We realize that we could not even exist without the merciful blessings of God.

Psalm 100:4 Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. Heb. 13:15 Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.

16 But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
Giving thanks helps keep our lives clear of anxiety, sin, darkness, deception.

Romans 1:21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.

Professing to be wise, they became fools, Philippians 4:6, Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;

Giving Thanks is a container that allows us to hold blessings, benefits and responsibilities

Eph. 5:18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, 20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another in the fear of God.

#4 Giving Thanks puts us in a position to allow God to transform every weakness into a strength through Christ. 2 Cor. 12:9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
#5 Thanksgiving draws us closer to God and to others for help and healing James 5:16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. Psalm 35:18, I will give You thanks in the great assembly; I will praise You among many people. I pray that God speaks to your heart this Thanksgiving day, as you praise Him and give Thanks to Him.

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Note: This lesson was not written entirely by us. Parts of this lesson was taking from different articles that was written by different people on the topic therefore we are not taking credit for all of it. This was post only to help those who read it to understand about the importance of the  topic, to the glory of God.

Источник: //www.facebook.com/notes/jesus-saves-church-of-god-of-prophecy/the-importance-of-giving-thank-and-praise/910143679038863/

8 Bible Verses That Remind Us God is in Control

Anxiety and fear are relentless. These are two of the enemy’s most popular weapons that he uses against us. Unchecked fear can keep you in bed for hours past what is healthy or wise. Anxiety can also show us as a fiery anger, in unkind speech and hurtful attitudes.

The longer you struggle with fear, the more ly it is for you to be overwhelmed by it, allowing it to control your every decision and move. Choosing not to deal with it can leave you with scars.

Even still, we have a promise that “God is faithful, and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability” (1 Corinthians 10:13), and this includes the sinful unbelief of an anxious heart.

One of the best ways to rid yourself of the fear that is plaguing you is to turn to Scripture. Here are eight Bible verses that remind us God is in control.

Isaiah 41:10

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Sometimes, we can read certain verses from Scripture a hundred times and fail to take them to heart the way the Lord wants us to. Other times, we can linger on a verse or two, and let them minister life, healing and comfort to us.

Isaiah 41:10 is so rich with the promises of God that it warrants some special attention from us. Ultimately, the Lord wants to impart to us through this verse that we shouldn’t be afraid. “Fear not [there is nothing to fear].

” On reason why God warns us against fear is that it can short-circuit the answered prayers and blessings that He has in store for us.

Psalm 46:1

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.”

By definition, a refuge is a safe place. When the Bible describes God as our refuge, it is saying that God is our safe place when we need protection from something.

Knowing God is our refuge enables us to trust Him more freely. We need not fear situations or people who threaten our well-being, whether in a physical or spiritual sense.

There is no situation we will ever face that is God’s control, so the best place to be, always, is right with Him.

Philippians 4:6-7

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

According to data released by Amazon on the most highlighted passage in Kindle ebooks, the most popular passage from the Bible is this passage from Philippians.

Most biblical scholars agree that the apostle Paul composed Philippians while he was in prison so the fact that Paul was able to reject anxiety even during his own imprisonment makes the passage all the more encouraging.

Although it might seem novel to see biblical writers addressing modern worries, the lesson from this passage is timeless and can affect anyone. The life of faith is filled with constant challenge to risk more to become our true selves.

1 John 4:18

“There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The One who fears is not made perfect in love.”

In the previous verse (verse 17), John tells us how to have confidence or boldness on the Day of Judgment. And in verse 18, he tells us how to cast fear our lives.

These are simply positive and negative ways of saying the same thing: getting rid of fear is the negative way of saying become confident. John wants to help us enjoy confidence before God.

He does not want us to be paralyzed or depressed by fear of judgment.

Psalm 94:19

“When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul.” Psalm 94:19

What this Psalm tells us is that even in rough or desperate situations, we can be filled with the joy of the Lord. He is our consolation and His Word eases anxiety nothing else can. God can bring joy to your soul even during times when you’re most anxious by simply knowing that He’s present and trusting in His power.

Luke 12:22-26

“Do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes.

Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them.

And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?”

Life is more than food and clothing. God has reminded us of that throughout the Scriptures. Jesus reminded us of it when He faced temptation from Satan.

So why let ourselves get so worked up into a frenzy over “big things”? Cast your cares on God and then trust in His wisdom.

Psalm 27:1

Источник: //www.beliefnet.com/faiths/christianity/articles/8-bible-verses-that-remind-us-god-is-in-control.aspx

15 Bible Verses For The Control Freak

If you're anything me, you firmly believe that you are in charge of your life. If you do everything your way, then everything will go right.

But what if I told you that you're not even in charge of holding the map? That you're just sitting idly in the backseat as God takes you exactly where you're supposed to go? It's a hard concept to understand, and it's even harder to accept.

But the Lord wants us to know that His plan is a perfect one, even when it doesn't seem that way. The lives we're living here in 2016 were planned even before God created the planets and the stars. The Lord knows all – past, present and future – and He only wants the absolute best for His children.

God wants us to give it all up to Him, so that He can have the glory He deserves. And that glory will radiate through you, so that others may see the happiness that is possible in Him. When you let Him have control, life will become an even more beautiful journey. All we have to do is sit back, relax and enjoy the ride.

1. Romans 8:28 – And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose

When control is given up to God, only good things will come to us. Even when something seems devastating, it will come together for good.

2. Jeremiah 29:11 – For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope

The Lord's plans for each of us are filled with goodness, happiness, and hope.

3. Joshua 1:9 – Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go

God is always by our side and He promises to never leave our side. We have no reason to be afraid of what may come because He is always with us.

4. Matthew 6:34 – Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble

God sees no need for us to worry about what will happen the next day because He already knows what's going to happen. He will provide for us as we need it, so we only need to live for today.

5. Matthew 19:26 – But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

With God, all things are possible! There is nothing He can't do and He does it all for us.

6. Isaiah 41:10 – Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand

God promises to help us in times of good and in times of bad. He will hold us up because we are devoid of the power to hold ourselves up.

7. Psalm 115:3 – Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases

And He is pleased when He is loving His children. God is in control of all things in heaven and on earth, and He makes sure to do what is best for us.

8. Ephesians 1:11 – In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will

All aspects of our lives have been planned out piece by piece, all according to the Lord's will, His perfect plan. It all leads to our glorification in Heaven, which we inherited when Christ sacrificed Himself on the Cross.

9. Matthew 11:28 – Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest

We do not have the strength to live each day on our own. We do not have the strength to plan out every aspect of our lives; it becomes very tiring. But when we give that power to God, we will be able to rest.

10. Philippians 4:6 – Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God

Trying to control everything clearly gets stressful after awhile, but if we ask God to take control and release us from our anxieties, He will answer.

11. Psalm 37:24 – Though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the Lord upholds his hand

Even when life gets hard and we begin to crumble, we must know that the Lord will not let us be lost forever. He will guide us through each step of our lives.

12. Psalm 9:10 – And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you

If we put our trust in Him, He will not disappoint. The Lord will never disappoint.

14. Psalm 22:4 – In you our fathers trusted; they trusted, and you delivered them

The Bible is full of accounts in which the Lord delivered His people from evil pure love. What leads you to believe you don't deserve the same? Because you do.

15. 1 Chronicles 29:11 – Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all

All in this universe belongs to the Lord. He is control of all things. He will bring glory to His children, He will protect His children, He will carry the burdens of His children.

Источник: //www.theodysseyonline.com/15-bible-verses-for-the-control-freak