Thanksgiving 2013: A Brief Look Back As I sit here and reflect on exactly what this day is, and what it means to me, I ponder the things that I mentioned over this month that I am thankful for… Day 1: Wife and Daughters Day 2: Serving Jesus Day 3: Leading Worship Day 4: Sobriety Day 5: ??? Did I forget one??? Day 6: Cats (Bandit/Carnagey) Day 7: Friends Day 8: Ashlee and Music Day 9: Life Day 10: Christian Service Day 11: Veterans Day 12: Medical Technology Day 13: Ladies (Mom/Ashlee/Keely/Rylee) Day 14: Ashlee Day 15: Life Day 16: Church Family Day 17: Pastor Ray Armstrong Day 18: Babysitters Day 19: Dr. Michelson (Ashlee’s Surgeon) Day 20: Pain Medications Day 21: The human body Day 22: Sleep Day 23: Prayer Day 24: Musical Talent Day 25: Ashlee Day 26: Faith Day 27: Modern Medicine I look at each of these and I wonder to myself, what is the big picture here? I try to be a big picture thinker as much as I am able to, and this is really no exception. What do each of these things have in common, if anything at all? That answer to me is very simple: These are all related because of the fact that God placed them in my life at this specific time to remind me that there is a lot for me to be thankful for. I am sure you have all heard it…You wake up in a bed, with a roof over your head, etc…you are already better off than 90 some percent of the world…I think that our first president put it best though: “Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor-- and whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness. Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be-- That we may then all unite in rendering unto him our sincere and humble thanks--for his kind care and protection of the People of this Country previous to their becoming a Nation--for the signal and manifold mercies, and the favorable interposition of his Providence which we experienced in the course and conclusion of the late war--for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty, which we have since enjoyed--for the peaceable and rational manner, in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national One now lately instituted--for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed; and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and in general for all the great and various favors which he hath been pleased to confer upon us.” (George Washington, 1789). President Lincoln also had something to say on the subject as well, back in 1863: The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God. In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theater of military conflict; while that theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union. Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defense, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle or the ship; the axe has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom. No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility and Union” (Abraham Lincoln, 1863). All of this to say that in the end, as we all celebrate Thanksgiving, let’s not forget what we are thankful for. Let’s not forget those people who are not so lucky to celebrate this wonderful day. Let’s not forget those people, places, and things that God has put in our paths. Most of all, I would challenge each and every one of my friends, family, acquaintances, and anyone who may read this, NOT TO LET IT LAST ONLY ONE DAY! We have so much to be thankful for, and I can say that one day just won’t allow me to scratch the surface, let alone give sufficient gratitude or praise for the many things that I have received over the last year, let alone my entire life. God Bless each and every one of us. God Bless our Nation, and please Lord, don’t forget us as we have forgotten you! This ends my rant/sermon……thanks for reading! Pastor Jeff Dixon
Posted on: Thu, 28 Nov 2013 07:25:49 +0000
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