Thanksgiving

What am I thankful for today?

English: "The First Thanksgiving at Plymo...

English: “The First Thanksgiving at Plymouth” (1914) By Jennie A. Brownscombe (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

There is so much for which I am thankful. My blessings are many and endless. I am thankful for every waking hour, every breath I take and every step I make.

I especially thank God for His saving grace. His love and His mercy. He looked beyond my faults and saw my needs and pulled me from the mire clay. I thank Him for spared life, my family and friends, those who are near and far, and those on Facebook, Twitter, and WordPress. I thank Him for my neighbors and co-workers. I thank Him for governments; Federal, State and Local. I thank Him for the utility companies, and the mail carrier. I thank Him for my church family, and I thank Him for my employer, who took a chance on me and gave me a job. Thank you Lord for everything.

Finally, my brethren, Just like the pilgrims were in early autumn of 1621, I am particularly thankful to God today for the opportunity to live in the greatest country on earth. Despite its sordid past and its problems at home and abroad, the USA is still a beacon, and I would not exchange it for any other country…Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

What are you thankful for?

United States of America

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Lord, I am thankful for today. I thank you for your Son Jesus, who gave His life that I can live. You said in your Words: “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, That whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). Lord, I believe in Him, and I have committed myself to serve Him. The songwriter said:

“Oh, I want to see Him, look upon His face,
There to sing forever of His saving grace;
On the streets of glory let me lift my voice,
Cares all past, home at last, ever to rejoice.”

Lord, I thank thee for the United States of America, and all its people. We are an exceptional nation of many different backgrounds, culture and ethnicity, political and religious persuasions. And even though our people have various religious, political and social views–we are still the greatest nation on earth. We never fail to lend a helping hand to anyone who will accept it. Many people around the world look to this great nation for help and inspiration.

Lord I thank you for our leaders, past and present. I thank you for our president and his cabinet and the different agencies of government. I thank you for the Legislature, the Judiciary and the Executive branch. Grant our leaders wisdom, knowledge, and understanding. Prevent them from leaning on their own understanding. Remind them dear God, of your words in Proverbs 3:5-6: ” Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;  in all your ways submit to him,  and he will make your paths straight. Guide their hands O God, and let them exercise wisdom in their judgement–just like Solomon did to settle the dispute between two mothers (1 Kings 3:16-28).

Lord, I commit this great nation into your care. I pray that you will speak to the hearts of our leaders and all people. Remind us one and all, what made this country great in the first place. History has shown that it was not the effort of any one ethnic group or political party, but it was a joint effort of all people. Remind us heavenly father that irrespective of our color class or creed, we are one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all… Thank you Lord.

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Happy Thanksgiving America

The First Thanksgiving, painted by Jean Leon G...

Image via Wikipedia

Giving Thanks

by Author Unknown

Giving Thanks
For the hay and the corn and the wheat that is reaped,
For the labor well done, and the barns that are heaped,
For the sun and the dew and the sweet honeycomb,
For the rose and the song and the harvest brought home –
Thanksgiving! Thanksgiving!

For the trade and the skill and the wealth in our land,
For the cunning and strength of the workingman’s hand,
For the good that our artists and poets have taught,
For the friendship that hope and affection have brought –
Thanksgiving! Thanksgiving!

For the homes that with purest affection are blest,
For the season of plenty and well-deserved rest,
For our country extending from sea unto sea;
The land that is known as the “Land of the Free” –
Thanksgiving! Thanksgiving!

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Religion: I Thank Thee O God

“I Thank Thee” is a beautiful Thanksgiving prayer. This Christian poem was originally written by Jane Crewdson (1860) as a prayer of thankfulness to God for all things in life, both the good and the bad, the bitter and the sweet.

I Thank Thee

O Thou whose bounty fills my cup,
With every blessing meet!
I give Thee thanks for every drop—
The bitter and the sweet.

I praise Thee for the desert road,
And for the riverside;
For all Thy goodness hath bestowed,
And all Thy grace denied.

I thank Thee for both smile and frown,
And for the gain and loss;
I praise Thee for the future crown
And for the present cross.

I thank Thee for both wings of love
Which stirred my worldly nest;
And for the stormy clouds which drove
Me, trembling, to Thy breast.

I bless Thee for the glad increase,
And for the waning joy;
And for this strange, this settled peace
Which nothing can destroy.

–Jane Crewdson (1860)

Psalm 95:1-6

1O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.

2Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.

3For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods.

4In his hand are the deep places of the earth: the strength of the hills is his also.

5The sea is his, and he made it: and his hands formed the dry land.

6O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker.

Psalm 100

1Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.

2Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.

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.

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Spreading The Gospel Through Contemporary Worship Music

Road up Mount Bently, Palm Island

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Contemporary worship music (CWM) is a loosely defined genre of Christian music used in contemporary worship. It has developed over the past sixty years and is stylistically similar to pop music. The songs are often referred to as “praise songs” or “worship songs” and are typically led by a “worship band” or “praise team”, with either a guitarist or pianist leading. It is a common genre of music sung in Western churches—particularly in Protestant churches, both denominational and nondenominational.

Opposition To Contemporary Worship Music

Many people in the body of Christ oppose Contemporary worship music 

Criticisms include Gary Parrett’s concern that the volume of this music drowns out congregational participation, and therefore makes it a performance.[8] He quotes Ephesians 5:19, in which St. Paul tells the church in Ephesus to be ‘speaking to one another with psalms, hymns and songs from the Spirit’, and questions whether the worship band, now so often amplified and playing like a rock band, replacement than enable the congregations’ praise.

Tell us what you think!…Do you think Contemporary Worship Music has a place in the Body of Christ?

Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my thoughts; and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Psalm 100:1-5

1Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.

2Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.

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.

I will sing a new song to You, O God; Upon a harp of ten strings I will sing praises to You (Psalm 144:9).