Thanksgiving Turkey (by Lee Dusing)

Tomorrow, many of us here in the United States will be eating turkey on Thanksgiving Day. Luckily, many turkeys will survive our holiday and continue to roam around. Here locally in Polk County, Florida, I see a "rafter" of turkeys (name for a group of turkeys - incorrectly called a "gobble" or "flock") from time to time. Near Bartow I have seen them many times in rafters up to 11 turkeys. Near Circle B Bar Reserve, I have seen other groups up to 8 turkeys.
The domestic turkey is a descendant of the Wild Turkey and features prominently in the menu of the Canadian and U.S. holidays of Thanksgiving and that of Christmas in many countries.

The Turkey is in the Galliformes Order and in the Phasianidae (Pheasants, Fowl & Allies) Family. There are two turkeys - Wild Turkey - Meleagris gallopavo and the Ocellated Turkey - Meleagris ocellata. The Wild is native to North American forrests and the Ocellated is native to the Yucatan Peninsula forrests. They are relatives of the Grouse family. Both Turkeys have a "distinctive fleshy wattle that hangs from the underside of the beak and a fleshy protuberance (flap of skin) that hangs from the top of its beak called a snood." Turkeys are the heaviest member of the Galliformes order. The females are smaller and duller than the males. The male weighs from 11-24 lbs (5-11 kg) [record=38lbs] and measures 39-49 in (100-125 cm). They also have from 20,000-30,000 feathers.

Congressional Proclamations from CreationWiki.
"The United States Congress set December 18, 1777, as a day of thanksgiving on which the American people "may express the grateful feelings of their hearts and consecrate themselves to the service of their divine benefactor" and on which they might "join the penitent confession of their manifold sins . . . that it may please God, through the merits of Jesus Christ, mercifully to forgive and blot them out of remembrance." Congress also recommends that Americans petition God "to prosper the means of religion for the promotion and enlargement of that kingdom which consisteth in righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost.'"[1]
Congress set November 28, 1782, as a day of thanksgiving on which Americans were "to testify their gratitude to God for his goodness, by a cheerful obedience to his laws, and by promoting, each in his station, and by his influence, the practice of true and undefiled religion, which is the great foundation of public prosperity and national happiness."

Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; (Ephesians 5:20 KJV)

See:
WhatBird's Wild Turkey
Wikipedia's Wild Turkey and Ocellated Turkey
Video of an Ocellated Turkey and a Wild Turkey displaying on Internet Bird Collection

(originally posted on November 25, 2009)

Abraham Lincoln, His God, and Thanksgiving (by Peter Brock)

Please take a moment to read the introduction to Abraham Lincoln's Thanksgiving proclamation and then spend a few moments reading his words declaring Thanksgiving a national holiday.His recognition of the providential hand of Almighty God in his personal life and the life of the nation should humble us all.

In early July of 1863, there were some 50,000 American casualties at the Battle of Gettysburg, and President Lincoln traveled to the field of battle some four months afterward to deliver the "Gettysburg Address." Deeply moved by the sacrifice of these soldiers, Lincoln first committed his life to Christ while walking among the graves there. He later explained: "When I left Springfield [to become President] I asked the people to pray for me. I was not a Christian when I buried my son, the severest trial of my life, I was not a Christian. But when I went to Gettysburg and saw the graves of thousands of our soldiers, I then and there consecrated myself to Christ."

During this time of internal strife in the United States, and at this turning point in his own spiritual life, President Lincoln issued the following proclamation.


PROCLAMATION OF THANKSGIVING BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

The year that is drawing toward its close has been filled with the blessings of fruitful years 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 can not fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever-watchful providence.... 

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 theater 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 plow, the shuttle, or the ship; the ax 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 theretofore. 

Population has steadily increased notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege, and the battlefield, 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. 

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.

Abraham Lincoln (October 3, 1863, passed by an Act of Congress.)

(Originally Posted November 21, 2007)

Thankful for the Freedom to Worship God (by Lou Gentry)

(originally posted November, 24, 2010)

The First Thanksgiving, painting by Jean Louis Gerome Ferris

In this season of Thanksgiving, I was led to read once again the words of the official Thanksgiving  Proclamation issued by Governor William Bradford on November 29, 1623. Bradford was the leader of the Pilgrims and was elected as Governor of the Plymouth Colony in 1621, and reelected every year until his death in 1657, except for five years in which he declined. Here is his proclamation issued three years after the Pilgrims' arrival and two years after the first Thanksgiving:

"To all ye Pilgrims:

In as much as the great Father has given us this year an abundant harvest of Indian corn, wheat, peas, beans, squashes, and garden vegetable, and has made the forests to abound with game and the sea with fish and  clams, and inasmuch as he has protected us from the ravages of the savages, has spared us from pestilence  and disease, has granted us freedom to worship God according to the dictates of our own conscience; now I, your magistrate, do proclaim that all ye Pilgrims, with your wives and ye little ones, do gather at ye meeting  house, on ye hill, between the hours of 9 and 12 in the day time, on Thursday, November ye 29th, of the year of our Lord one thousand six hundred and twenty-three, and the third year since ye Pilgrims landed on ye  Pilgrim Rock, there to listen to ye pastor and render thanksgiving to ye Almighty God for all His blessings. 

William Bradford, Ye Governor of Ye Colony."

[William J. Federer, America's God and Country: Encyclopedia Of Quotations (Coppell, Texas: FAME Publishing, Inc., 1994), p. 66]

As I consider all that I have to be thankful for during this season of the year, I am led to include the courage of the Pilgrims and their desire for "freedom to worship God." It would benefit all of us, I believe, to contemplate whether we would have anything to celebrate during this season had it not been for their courage and belief in God.

Proud People Don't Say Thanks

Thanksgiving: When we hear the word our minds go immediately to a usually lengthy list of those things and people that fill our hearts with gratitude and thanks. Family, home, church, and specific people in our lives all fight to be placed at the top of the list. God demonstrates His goodness to us on this earth by the tangible people and things we can observe and touch. And for those we are deeply thankful.

Yet, thankfulness goes much deeper. It begins in our hearts at the very character of God and demonstration of that character in the gift of His Son. John Piper in his sermon, "Proud People Don't say Thanks.", hits it right on the mark.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Proud people can't be grateful. So here are three very humbling truths for the sake of your thankfulness.

1. Nature teaches us that an infinitely marvelous, eternally powerful being created us and all we have. Therefore we are his creatures. He owns us. Our life, our breath, and everything we have is a gift. Our duty is simply to be thankful to him from our heart and to cherish his glory.
     
2. All of us have fallen short of this duty. We have not consistently prized the diamond of God's glory with an affection anywhere near its value. Instead, we've exchanged it again and again for the cracked marbles that in our great "wisdom" we have determined are more valuable.
     
3. God, in his great mercy, sent his Son to suffer the judgment of people who are broken and contrite in spirit and who trust in him.

Proud people don't say thanks, but people who believe these three truths do. We are utterly dependent; we are depraved sinners; and we are redeemed and forgiven through contrite faith.

If this penetrates our hearts today, we will be emptied of pride and filled with thankfulness to God.

Amen!

Other Thanksgiving 2011 Posts:

• I'm Thankful for Pastor Jerry (by Stephen Simpson)
• Thankful for the Lord's Birds (by Lee Dusing)
• Thankful for This Time and Place (by Jonita Barram)
• Thankfulness at Thanksgiving (by Lou Gentry) 
• I'm Thankful For... (by Matthew DelValle)

I'm Thankful For... (by Matthew DelValle)

I am a sinner overwhelmed by the mercy of God. He never ceases to do me good.  How could I ever return back to my old nature, when I “did not honor him as God or give thanks to him” (Romans 1:21)? I can do no such thing. It is my heart’s desire to give thanks and honor to my ever-faithful God. And what else can I say but echo the words of Scripture in giving thanks for all the Lord’s manifold blessings:
  

• I am thankful for the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever! (Psalm 118:1; 107:8).
   
• I am thankful for the Lord’s righteousness (Psalm 7:17).
    
• I am thankful because God chose me to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth (2 Thessalonians 2:13).
    
• I am thankful that God answered me and has become my salvation (Psalm 118:21).
    
• I am thankful for the forgiveness of sins through Jesus Christ, God’s beloved Son, who has delivered me from the domain of darkness and transferred me to his kingdom, and thus qualified me to share in the inheritance of the saints in light (Colossians 1:12-14).
    
• I am thankful that I, who was once a slave of sin, have been set free from sin and become a slave of righteousness (Romans 6:17-18).
    
• I am thankful for victory over death through the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:55-57).
    
• I am thankful that in everything by prayer and supplication I can make known my requests to God (Philippians 4:6).
    
• I am thankful for the Church, because its faith is proclaimed in all the world, spreading the fragrance of the knowledge of God everywhere (Romans 1:8; 2 Corinthians 2:14).
    
• I am thankful for Faith Baptist Church, because of our partnership in the gospel from the first day I joined until now (Philippians 1:3).
    
• I am thankful for the generosity of God’s people, for giving me scholarships to attend seminary (2 Corinthians 9:11).
    
• I am thankful for Bible-saturated hymns and gospel songs to sing to God with my brothers and sisters in Christ (Colossians 3:16; Psalm 35:18).
    
• I am thankful for the people God has placed in my life: for my wonderful parents who raised me to love God and His Word and to follow Christ; for my brother and sister-in-law who model godliness to me and encourage me to pursue ministry; for my many friends and relatives for their constant love and support throughout all the years—thank you, thank you, thank you for investing in me, praying for me, supporting me, and for your faithfulness.  Words are inadequate to describe my gratitude to God for all of you. I would not be who I am without God providentially placing you in my life. I cannot wait to spend eternity with you as we worship our triune God together. I love you with all my heart (1 Timothy 2:1).

Other Thanksgiving 2011 Posts:

• I'm Thankful for Pastor Jerry (by Stephen Simpson)
• Thankful for the Lord's Birds (by Lee Dusing)
• Thankful for This Time and Place (by Jonita Barram)
• Thankfulness at Thanksgiving (by Lou Gentry)

Thankfulness at Thanksgiving (by Lou Gentry)

As we approach Thanksgiving Day, it is a time to pause and reflect upon our blessings. Like most Christians, the blessing I am most thankful for is my salvation through the redemptive blood of Jesus. But beyond my salvation, what is it for which I am most thankful? For me, it is the Bible and its preservation by the hand of the Lord down through the ages. Just as Jesus came to earth to be the living revelation of God, I believe the Bible serves as God's written revelation of Himself.

I do not worship the Bible. Jesus the Christ, and He alone, is the only One worthy of my worship; but I revere God's Word. When you consider the many heresies which exist today, just think about what kind of religion Christianity would be without the Bible. The many factions which now exist even though we have the written Word would pale in comparison with the number we would have without it--and many of these factions would probably be extreme.

The Bible has been under attack since the early centuries of the church. Yet, under God's providence, it has been protected and still stands. Perhaps A. Z. Conrad in a piece entitled, "There It Stands," best sums up the survival of the Bible:

Century follows century---There it stands.
Empires rise and fall and are forgotten---There it stands.
Dynasty succeeds dynasty---There it stands.
Kings are crowned and uncrowned---There it stands.
Despised and torn to pieces---There it stands.
Storms of hate swirl about it---There it stands.
Agnostics smile cynically---There it stands.
Profane, prayerless punsters caricature it---There it stands.
Unbelief abandons it---There it stands.
Thunderbolts of wrath smite it---There it stands.
The flames are kindled about it---There it stands.
The arrows of hate are discharged against it---There it stands.
Radicalism rants and raves against it---There it stands.
Fogs of sophistry conceal it temporarily---There it stands.
The tooth of time gnaws, but makes no dent---There it stands.
Modernism tries to explain it away---There it stands.
An anvil that has broken a million hammers---There it stands.

I praise God frequently for the preservation of His Word throughout the ages. I hope you do as well.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Other Thanksgiving 2011 Posts:

• I'm Thankful for Pastor Jerry (by Stephen Simpson)
• Thankful for the Lord's Birds (by Lee Dusing)
• Thankful for This Time and Place (by Jonita Barram)
• I'm Thankful For... (by Matthew DelValle)

Thankful for This Time and Place (by Jonita Barram)

When I think of the lives of the majority of women who have lived or ever will live, I am thankful to have been born in the last half of the twentieth century and to be living in the first half of the twenty-first century. I am especially thankful to live in the United States of America.

My father’s generation was the first in his extended family to attend college. While I was growing up, my dad talked to me as though going to college was a foregone conclusion. I lived in a family that valued higher education and could afford to provide it for me. I lived in a culture that encouraged higher education and careers for women. In previous generations, that opportunity would not have been open to me. It may not be available to future generations.

I have never been married. But my college education has equipped me to support myself through full-time employment. In previous generations, had I been unmarried, my employment opportunities and living arrangements would have been limited. I am thankful, too, that today, never-married women are considered “single,” not “unclaimed jewels” or “old maids.”

Jonita with her brother and a sister after graduating Bob Jones
University with an EdS in English education.

I am especially thankful to be part of the Baby Boomer generation in America, because, for the most part, females are valued. This is largely because of the influence of Biblical Christianity. Past generations sometimes viewed women with less balance than what I have experienced. Women of future generations may not be as valued as women of my day have been, because our culture is losing the influence that held women in such high regard, protected us, and cared for us.

While I am not married, I think I have benefited from the Bible’s teaching on how men ought to treat their wives. The Bible’s teaching has influenced how all women are treated where Christ has transformed hearts. So I am cared for with respect by the men in my life. Universally, however, the majority of women have not had that respect. They have not been protected and cared for.

I am especially thankful that I do not live in a time or culture that considers women a disappointment or burden, disposable, and unimportant. I am thankful that our culture does not consider it justice for a woman to be abused as a way to shame her family because of what male family members did. I am thankful that our society does not yet encourage violence against women who “shame” their families.

I am thankful to have lived in wealthy, free America. I’m thankful to have lived in Christian America. I have truly been blessed!

Other Thanksgiving 2011 Posts:

• I'm Thankful for Pastor Jerry (by Stephen Simpson)
• Thankful for the Lord's Birds (by Lee Dusing)

I'm Thankful for Pastor Jerry (by Stephen Simpson)

This Thanksgiving season, I am thankful for Pastor Jerry Smith.  He is our Associate Pastor for Music and Visitation.  My experience with Pastor Jerry began in 1990 when my family began attending FBC.  At that time, FBC was without a Senior Pastor and Pastor Jerry was 'holding down the fort.'  When I first met Pastor Jerry, I was probably 9 years old.  In the 21 years that I have know him, my respect and appreciation for him has only grown.

When I think of Pastor Jerry, I am especially thankful for:

• His Faithfulness - Pastor Jerry has served at FBC for over 27 years.  It is increasingly rare for an individual to stay at the same job for this length of time. It is even more rare for a man to be an Associate Pastor at the same church for 27 years.  During his time at FBC, he has seen Senior Pastors come and go.  He has seen Youth Pastors come and go.  Yet through it all, Pastor Jerry has faithfully continued to serve God and Faith Baptist Church
     
• His Steadiness - Pastor Jerry is steady.  When things get tough, he remains steady.  If no one shows up for choir practice, he remains steady.  When a dress rehearsal goes terribly, he remains steady.  In situations where others might be susceptible to emotional highs and lows, Pastor Jerry remains steady.  When our church went a few years with no Senior Pastor, Pastor Jerry remained steady and kept on serving.  I am thankful for his steady demeanor.
     
• His Perspective - Pastor Jerry keeps things in perspective.  He excels at seeing the bigger picture.  The big picture is that souls are lost and need Jesus.  He understands that the Music Ministry is simply a tool to help people find Jesus.  He understands that the preaching of God's Word is primary in the worship service.  Music is secondary.  I am thankful that Pastor Jerry keeps things in perspective.
     
• His Kindness - Pastor Jerry is kind.  He demonstrates kindness to his wife and family.  I have seen him demonstrate kindness to complete strangers.  I have seen him show kindness in even the most difficult of situations.  Kindness is not easy.  I am thankful for the kindness that Pastor Jerry consistently shows to those around.
    
• His Humor - Pastor Jerry is very funny.  I appreciate his sense of humor.  He makes me laugh all the time.

Wagon Wheel Willy from VBS 2003

Above all, I am thankful for the example that Pastor Jerry is to me.  He is not perfect.  But, he is an excellent example of a man who has faithfully served his wife, his family, and his church for many years.  May God bless Faith Baptist Church with many more men like Pastor Jerry Smith.

Other Thanksgiving 2011 Posts:

• Thankful for the Lord's Birds (by Lee Dusing)
• Thankful for This Time and Place (by Jonita Barram)

Thankful For The Lord's Birds (by Lee Dusing)

In view of the Thanksgiving season, I have asked our blog authors to write about one thing they are thankful for.  Lee is up first.

 

Give thanks unto the LORD, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the people. (1 Chronicles 16:8 KJV) 

One thing is all Stephen will let us be thankful for. So I won't mention the other 9,000 things I am thankful for.

The Lord has given me an interest in our avian friends, the birds, and it has brought so many blessings from it. When observing them, their colors, behavior, the variety, and just the wonder of them, I can't help but be THANKFUL!

The Lord and I have a running conversation when birdwatching or looking for photos of birds for my blog. Here are some of my thought and talks with Him:

"Wow! Look at you! Lord you really created them neat"

"Lord, what an amazing coloring."

"Amazing! How did you think of so many different designs and colors?"

"(Chuckle) Lord you sure have a sense of humor on some of these birds!"

"Lord, you caused the donkey to talk, could you bring that bird out where I can see it.?" (Thankfully, it has worked several times. Thank You Lord.)

On and on the conversations go. I love the Lord and I am so thankful to Him for that interest and the love He has put in me for His Creation, especially the birds.

Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; (Ephesians 5:20 KJV)

Other Thanksgiving 2011 Posts:

• I'm Thankful for Pastor Jerry (by Stephen Simpson)
• Thankful for this Time and Place (by Jonita Barram)

Other Posts by Lee:

• Thanksgiving Turkey
• Birds of the Bible - Thanksgiving

Ten Things I'm Thankful For (by Bobby Thompson)

1. A faithful, gracious, sovereign God
2. A beautiful, loving, supportive wife
3. 3, fun, adorable, challenging children (see above)
4. A servant leader for a boss
5. God's piercing and encouraging Word
6. Good health
7. The forgiveness of sin
8. Daily provisions
9. Good books
10. Golf

Related Posts:

• 8 Things I'm Thankful For (by Stephen Simpson)
• 8 Things I'm Thankful For (by Jonita Barram)
• Ten Things I'm Thankful For (by Dave Totman)
• Thankful Thoughts (by Peter Brock)

8 Things I'm Thankful For (by Stephen Simpson)

1. My Wife ~ She is an excellent wife and mother.  I am extremely thankful that she is able to stay at home with our children.
2. My Two Redheads ~ My two daughters are a blessing from the Lord.  I love listening to them sing!
   
3. Financial Peace University ~ It is difficult to put into words how much this class has helped Nicki and me with our personal finances.  I am so thankful that I had the opportunity to take this class.
4. Five Guys  ~ The best hamburgers and fries around.  Period.
5. A Job ~ I pray that I never take employment for granted.  I am thankful for the job that the Lord has provided. 
6. itunes ~ I cannot remember the last time I bought an actual CD that I can hold in my hand.  If you don't understand this one - ask your grandchildren :) 
7. My Church Family ~ I am thankful for the wonderful church family that the Lord has blessed me with.
8. Books by Mail ~ Did you know that you can go to our local library's website, pick out a book, and they will actually mail it directly to your house?  Did you know that they do this for free?  I am thankful for Books by Mail!

Related Posts:

• Ten Things I'm Thankful For (by Bobby Thompson)
• 8 Things I'm Thankful For (by Jonita Barram)
• Ten Things I'm Thankful For (by Dave Totman)
• Thankful Thoughts (by Peter Brock)

Thankful Thoughts (by Peter Brock)

As we run through our days, we so often fail to pause long enough to reflect on those gifts God has given us for which we are thankful. The Thanksgiving holiday provides us opportunity to express our thankfulness for those gifts.  Here are some things I'm thankful for.

1. A good and gracious God.

2. A wife that I have loved for over 25 years will love till death.

3. My kids. They're great!

4. A church family that humbles me weekly with it's display of Christ-like love.

5. The Word of God. It humbles, challenges, rebukes and encourages me everyday.

6. Smaller gifts from our provider God, Jehovah-Jireh, that are too numerous to list.

8 Things I'm Thankful For (Jonita Barram)

1. Florida. I love living here. I’m thankful for sunshine, verdant growth, rain, breezes, palm trees, blue skies, gray skies, love-bugs. Mild winters. Senior citizens. Citrus. Beaches. History. No state income tax.
    
2. Children. I have no kids, but I enjoy other people’s children. The Lord used preschool kids to show me His fruit in my life. For seven years I taught in the preschool department of my previous church. God made me gentle, patient, kind, and loving in ways that the younger me could never have imagined. He recently let me interact with children in Haiti, and I loved it. I’m thankful for them and for the opportunity.
   

   

   Jonita and Gayel, one of the Haitian
   children she met on her trip to Haiti

     
3. My ladies’ Sunday School class. One day in Helen VanHorn’s home, our class took turns sharing prayer requests, as well as just talking. The Lord put in my heart a love for each lady there. And, wonder of wonders, He put love for me in their hearts. Each one is a blessing and encouragement to me! I am so thankful for them.
    
4. My “Other Mothers.” My parents became missionaries my senior year in high school. They stayed in Brazil, I came to the States. They moved to Portugal, I moved to Illinois. I rarely saw them, but God provided me with women who mothered me, particularly a lady named Connee Woolford. Now my mother is in Heaven, but God has blessed me with “other mothers” at Faith: Sandy Campbell and Ellen Balsley. I am very thankful to have them in my life!
    
5. Sisters who are friends. My closest sister is 19-months younger than me. When we were little we fought a lot. Now we’re good friends. She encourages me in my walk with God. My other sister is nearly seven years younger than me, but in many ways she’s the older sister. She lives in Lakeland and takes good care of me. She is my best friend. I’m so thankful for my sisters.
   
   

   

   Jonita with two sisters, Lori and Sandy

    
6. Heaven. I am thankful that God the Son is preparing a place in Heaven for me so that I can spend eternity with God in a place that is more beautiful, peaceful, and glorious than any place on earth—and there are many spectacular places on earth. I am thankful for the millions of believers who will be there and for the perfect love we will share then.
    
7. The Word of God. Without it, we would know so little about God. I am thankful that it never becomes old; it always has something to say to wherever my life is at the moment.
    
8. God and salvation. Wow! I am thankful that God is love as well as just. I’m thankful that His character drove Him to provide salvation. I’m thankful He chose to glorify Himself by saving me instead of letting me continue on my way to Hell!

I Am Thankful For... (Matthew DelValle)

Every year my family writes out what we are thankful for on note cards and reads them out loud to each other after our Thanksgiving meal. It is a great opportunity to reflect on God’s goodness to me. The Lord has lavished so many blessings upon this sinner who deserves only God’s righteous judgment. Yet instead he gives me grace upon grace. Here is just a short summary of what I am thankful for:

1. My Lord and my Savior; my God and my King; the Creator and Sustainer of all things; the One who was and is and is to come—Jesus Christ.
2. Parents whose marriage pictures Christ and the church, a temporary parable of a permanent reality, who raised me to love God and others.
3. A brother who admonishes and exhorts me to godliness—a best friend I treasure dearly.
4. A new sister whose imperishable beauty is in the heart, a gentle and quiet spirit, precious in God's sight. I couldn't have asked for a better sister-in-law.
5. Family that truly enjoys beings a family, and making sure to spend the most significant times of the year together.
6. Friends that have been there for so many years I consider them like family, and great traditions we enjoy together like soccer on Thanksgiving.

Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth! Serve the LORD with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! Know that the LORD, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the LORD is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.  (Psalm 100)

Ten Things I Am Thankful For (Dave Totman)

Thanksgiving is just around the corner and so I thought it appropriate to ask several of our blog authors to share with us what they are thankful for.  Today is the first of several articles that will appear throughout the month of November.  Be sure to take some time this month to reflect on all that you are thankful for! 

10 Things Dave Totman is Thankful For

1. The opportunity to work with international students
2. The ability to read and the blessing of resources to read
3. The opportunity to study the Bible for my job
4. Great bosses at every level (Sahel Academy, mission leaders, church leaders)
5. The Faith’s 100 missions program – what a blessing to so many!
6. Appliances that work well and a vehicle that starts and has AC
7. Friends that pray for me and hold me accountable
8. Three kids that love God and are full of life
9. A beautiful, incredible wife that has stuck with me through 150 months (Nov. 16!!) of a wild journey called marriage
10. God’s grace, sovereignty, forgiveness, justice and love – all amazing attributes individually, but combined . . . indescribable!

Thankful for What God Gives Me or Thankful for the Giver?

As the Thanksgiving holiday approaches, I want to direct our attention to the object of our gratitude. Too often our minds are focused on the benefits and gifts and far too often we neglect the Giver. John Piper in his book, A Godward Life, takes the reader back to Jonathan Edwards to teach us about true gratitude and thanksgiving. Gleaning from Edward's writings in Religious Affections, Piper says:

"And God is not glorified if the foundation of our gratitude is the worth of the gift and not the excellency of the Giver. If gratitude is not rooted in the beauty of God before the gift, it is probably disguised idolatry. May God grant us a heart to delight in him for who he is so that all our gratitude for his gifts will be the echo of our joy in the excellency of the Giver!"

Link here to read the entire entry by Piper. May our hearts and minds be consumed with the divine Giver.

6 Things I'm Thankful For...

Happy Thanksgiving. Here are 6 things that I'm thankful for.

1. I'm thankful that I've been adopted by God. I wasn't born into His family. I had no right to be in His family. Yet, He reached down and chose me to be His son. I'm so thankful that He did.
2. I'm thankful for my Family. God has blessed me with a wonderful wife and two beautiful daughters. My children are so fortunate to have such an outstanding mother. I would truly be lost without her. I'm so thankful for my family.
3. I'm thankful for my Parents. Godly parents are becoming harder and harder to find. I am so thankful to have two of the godliest people I know as my parents. What an honor it is to be their son.
   
4. I'm thankful for my Job. 2009 has reminded me that jobs can come and go like the wind. I am so thankful for a job that allows me to provide for my family.
5. I'm thankful for my Pastor. He sets an example for me in so many ways: his marriage, his family, his personal life, his finances, his compassion, his patience, his character. He is such an example and an encouragement to me and I am so thankful for him.
6. I'm thankful for my Church. Being a member of Faith Baptist Church is a unique privilege that I have. It unites me with brothers and sisters who genuinely love me and my family. I am so thankful for my church.

What are you thankful for?

Two Things I'm Thankful For (by Stephen Simpson)

I wanted to use today's post to accomplish a couple of things. First, we recently had some great family pictures taken. I thought I'd share a couple with you today.

Secondly, since Pastor Brock opened the subject of Thanksgiving yesterday, I thought I would continue that theme today.

There are numerous things I am thankful. Today I mention two. First, I am immensely thankful for my wife, Nicki. She completes me. I would be so lost without her. I was thinking just this morning of how difficult my life would be without her. I am so thankful that God has brought us together. She is truly an excellent wife. Not only that, she is an excellent mother. Abi has got it made!! She has the best mother.

Which brings me to the second thing I'm thankful for, my daughter Abi. I am so thankful to God for the baby girl that He has given us. What a blessing it is to come home from work and watch Abi get all excited when I walk in the room.

God has blessed me with so many wonderful things. I praise Him for His goodness and kindness towards me. What are you thankful for?

Early Thanksgiving Thoughts (by Peter Brock)

With Thanksgiving a little more than a week away, I thought it would be interesting to take a brief look at the holiday and its beginnings in the United States. Next week we'll read the words of Abraham Lincoln regarding Thanksgiving, but this week we'll begin with our first president, George Washington. I read with great interest his Thanksgiving proclamation found below. As you read the proclamation, you will gain insight into Washington's understanding of almighty God. May you be challenged, as I was, by Washington's acknowledgment of God as the Sovereign Author of all life and goodness, the Lord and Ruler of nations.

A NATIONAL THANKSGIVING

"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 and 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 interpositions of His providence 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 has been pleased to confer upon us.

And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplication to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations, and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions; to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our national government a blessing to all the people by constantly being a government of wise, just and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations (especially such as have shown kindness to us), and to bless them with good governments, peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us; and, generally, to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as He alone knows to be best."
Given under my hand, at the city of New York, the 3d day of October, AD 1789 George Washington