We are a blessed people and we should offer thanksgiving for God's blessings, benefits and help everyday. We didn’t get to where we are on our own.
Alex Haley, the author of Roots, had an unusual picture hanging on his office wall. It was a picture of a turtle on top of a fence post. When asked, “Why is that there?” Alex Haley answered,
“Every time I write something significant, every time I read my words and think that they are wonderful, and begin to feel proud of myself, I look at the turtle on top of the fence post and remember that he didn’t get there on his own. He had help.”
We didn’t get to where we are today on our own; we had help.
Psalm 121:1-2
1 I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.
2 My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.
God knew we needed help! How many times has He opened doors that no man could close? How many times has He made a way where there was no way?
The basis of thanksgiving is remembering that we got here with the help of God. It's remembering that He is the provider of every blessing we have.
Psalm 68:19
19 Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation.
When the Pilgrims came to America in 1620 on the Mayflower, they faced unbelievable hardships. They endured harsh winters along with fierce cold and disease. But through it all they felt compelled to offer thanksgiving unto the Lord for simply allowing them to survive.
In 1789, President George Washington declared November 26, 1789 as a day of Thanksgiving throughout the United States. Abraham Lincoln issued a proclamation naming November 26 a National Day of Thanksgiving.
In 1941 Congress made the last Thursday in November Thanksgiving Day. But it all began with the Pilgrims act of gratitude and thanksgiving.
We are pilgrims and strangers passing through a foreign land. We face hardships and difficulties all along the way. The early Pilgrims came to Plymouth Rock, but we are Pilgrims who have come to the Solid Rock; the Rock of our Salvation. We have seen our share of hardships, sickness and disease. We have faced attacks on our homes, families and churches, yet through it all God has been good to us! He has helped us to turn our…
- Stumbling Blocks into Steppingstones
- Failures into Successes
- Defeats into Victories
- Tears of Sadness into Tears of Joy
Count your many blessings, see what God has done!
