G’day from Steve,

The Spirit of Thanksgiving

Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done. 1 Chronicles 16:8

Last week America celebrated Thanksgiving Day. In the United States it is an annual day of thanks for the blessings of the past year. It is a historical, national, and religious holiday that began with the Pilgrims. After the survival of their first colony through the bitter winter, and the gathering of the harvest, Gov. William Bradford of Plymouth Colony issued a thanksgiving proclamation in the autumn of 1621. This first thanksgiving lasted three days, during which the Pilgrims feasted on wild turkey and venison with their Indian guests. Days of thanksgiving were celebrated sporadically until, on November 26, 1789, President Washington issued a proclamation of a nation-wide day of thanksgiving. He made it clear that the day should be one of prayer and giving thanks to God. It was to be celebrated by all religious denominations, a circumstance that helped to promote a spirit of common heritage.

I have a good mate in Northern Ireland. An Irish American Pastor called Ray Clancy. The Clancy family celebrated Thanksgiving Day last week from Galway Ireland. It doesn’t matter where you are on the planet. It’s what is in your heart that matters. Here’s some Thanksgiving words from Ray.

The Lord surely has been faithful to us all and even in the midst of difficulties and trials, He is our Loving God, who loves and cares for us, and we are thankful.
In His perfect wisdom, knowledge and timing, He answers every prayer according to His will and we are thankful.
In His unfailing love He sent His Son to pay a debt which we could not pay, and we are thankful.
In His amazing grace He poured His loving kindness into our hearts and saved us through the finished work of Christ Jesus, and we are thankful.
Now by no efforts of our own, we are clothed in His righteousness and given a new life in Christ, and we are thankful.
Let us not loose sight of the grace upon grace that we have received. And in His strength, may we press on in the purpose He has for each of our lives, where ever and whatever that may be, and we are thankful.

And as we proclaim this Gospel to those around us, let us all remember those who help us along the way; who encourage, exhort, challenge & sharpen us; those who lock arms for the Kingdom, those who have impacted our lives with their testimony of living; for these we are thankful.

The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song. Psalm 28:7

We are thankful.

Godspeed,