Thanksgiving 2017 StrongStakes.org Thanksgiving Resources Have you noticed how our culture forgets Thanksgiving in the mad dash from Halloween to Christmas? … even in the church. Once October ends, we quickly begin preparations for Advent, culminating in Christmas celebrations and traditions. The fourth Thursday in November gets relegated to the day before “Black Friday” sales events, rather than a national day set aside to remember God’s goodness and thank Him for His provision. When President Abraham Lincoln officially proclaimed a national holiday on October 3, 1863, he penned these amazing words: “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 … I do, therefore, invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday in November next as a day of Thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in heaven.” This handout provides resources to help turn this holiday into an intentional disciple–building opportunity with those who will join you around the Thanksgiving dinner table. Before enjoying the meal, consider these options: • Invest several minutes reading aloud some of the historical narratives and Scripture passages. • Ask members of your family to participate in the readings. • Incorporate a time of corporate praise and prayer between the meal and dessert.
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Thanksgiving2017StrongStakes.org
ThanksgivingResourcesHaveyounoticedhowourcultureforgetsThanksgivinginthemaddashfromHalloweentoChristmas?…eveninthechurch.OnceOctoberends,wequicklybeginpreparationsforAdvent,culminatinginChristmascelebrationsandtraditions.ThefourthThursdayinNovembergetsrelegatedtothedaybefore“BlackFriday”salesevents,ratherthananationaldaysetasidetorememberGod’sgoodnessandthankHimforHisprovision.WhenPresidentAbrahamLincolnofficiallyproclaimedanationalholidayonOctober3,1863,hepennedtheseamazingwords:
“Nohumancounselhathdevised,norhathanymortalhandworkedoutthesegreatthings.TheyarethegraciousgiftsofthemosthighGod,who,whiledealingwithusinangerforoursins,hathneverthelessrememberedmercy…Ido,therefore,invitemyfellowcitizensineverypartoftheUnitedStates,andthosewhoaresojourninginforeignlands,tosetapartandobservethelastThursdayinNovembernextasadayofThanksgivingandpraisetoourbeneficentFatherwhodwellethinheaven.”
Thishandoutprovidesresourcestohelpturnthisholidayintoanintentionaldisciple–buildingopportunitywiththosewhowilljoinyouaroundtheThanksgivingdinnertable.Beforeenjoyingthemeal,considertheseoptions:
• InvestseveralminutesreadingaloudsomeofthehistoricalnarrativesandScripturepassages.• Askmembersofyourfamilytoparticipateinthereadings.• Incorporateatimeofcorporatepraiseandprayerbetweenthemealanddessert.
Thanksgiving2017StrongStakes.org
HistoricalAnecdotes:Therearenumerousclaimstothe“first”ThanksgivinginAmerica.
• Ahalf–centurybeforethePilgrimslandedatPlymouthin1621,asmallcolonyofFrenchHuguenotsestablishedasettlementnearpresent–dayJacksonville,Florida.OnJune30,1564,theirleader,RendeLaudonnire,recordedthat“WesangapsalmofThanksgivinguntoGod,beseechingHimthatitwouldpleaseHimtocontinueHisaccustomedgoodnesstowardsus.”
• In1610,afterahardwintercalled“thestarvingtime,”thecolonistsatJamestowncalledfora
timeofthanksgiving.Thiswasaftertheoriginalcompanyof409colonistshadbeenreducedto60survivors.ThecolonistsprayedforhelpthatfinallyarrivedbyashipfilledwithfoodandsuppliesfromEngland.Theyheldaprayerservicetogivethanks.
• OneFridayinthemiddleofMarch,1621,aNativeAmerican,wearingnothingbutaleather
loincloth,walkeduptheEnglishsettlers’mainstreetinPlymouth,andtotheirstartledfacesboomedinflawlessEnglish,“Welcome”!HisnamewasSamoset,achieffromalocaltribe.Hehadbeenvisitingtheareaforthepreviouseightmonths,learningEnglishfromvariousfishingcaptainswhohadputintotheMaineshoreovertheyears.
HereturnedthefollowingweekwithanotherNativeAmericanwhoalsospokeEnglish,andwhowastoproveaspecialinstrumentofGodfortheirgood,beyondtheirexpectations.HisnamewasTisquantum,alsocalledSquanto.HequicklyobservedthattheseEnglishwerehelplessinthewaysofthewilderness,sohetaughtthemhowtocatcheels,stalkdeer,plantpumpkins,refinemaplesyrup,discernedibleherbsandthosegoodformedicine,too.
OneofthemostimportantthingshetaughtthemwastheNativeAmericanwaytoplantcorn.Theyhoedsix–footsquaresintowardthecenter,puttingdownfourorfivekernels,andthenfertilizingthecornwithfish:threefishineachsquare,pointingtothecenter,spoke–like.Guardingthefieldagainstthewolves(whowouldtrytostealthefish),bysummertheyhad20fullacresofcornthatsavedeveryoneoftheirlives.
Squantoalsotaughtthemtoexploitthepeltsofthebeaver,whichwereinplentifulsupplyandingreatdemandthroughoutEurope.Heevenguidedtheirtradingtoinsuretheygotfullpricesfortop–qualitypelts.Thecornwastheirphysicaldeliverance,whilethebeaverpeltswouldbetheireconomicdeliverance.
• ThePilgrimswereagratefulpeople.GovernorBradforddeclaredadayofpublicThanksgiving,tobeheldinOctober.NinetyNativeAmericansjoinedtheircelebration,butdidnotcomeempty–handed:Theybroughtfivedresseddeerandmorethanadozenfatwildturkeys.Theyhelpedwiththepreparations,teachingthePilgrimwomenhowtomakehoecakesandatastypuddingoutofcornmealandmaplesyrup.Theyevenshowedthem
Thanksgiving2017StrongStakes.org
howtomakeoneoftheirIndianfavorites:white,fluffypopcorn!ThePilgrims,inturn,providedmanyvegetablesfromtheirgardens:carrots,onions,turnips,parsnips,cucumbers,radishes,beets,andcabbages.Theyalsointroducedthemtoblueberry,apple,andcherrypie.ThePilgrimsandNativeAmericansenjoyedcompetinginshootingcontests,footraces,andwrestling.Thingswentsowell,thatthisfirstThanksgivingwasextendedforthreedays!
BiblicalPrecedents:Inadditiontoournationalhistory,therearestrongbiblicalprecedentsforcelebratingThanksgiving.AskvariousfamilymembersandfriendstoreadportionsfromthefollowingOldTestamentpassages.
• “ThenonthatdayDavidfirstassignedAsaphandhisrelativestogivethankstotheLord.‘OhgivethankstotheLord,calluponHisname;makeknownHisdeedsamongthepeoples.’”1Chronicles16:7–8
OntheverydaythatKingDavidbroughtthearkofGodintoatentbuiltforit,healsocommissionedanextendedfamilytoformallygivethanksandsingpraisestoGod.Theiroutburstofpraisecontinuesfor29versesin1Chronicles,andlistsmultipleimperativesforhowtogivethankstoGod.
• Psalm105repeatsandamplifiesDavid’sprayerofthanksgiving.
• Psalm34
• Psalm100
• Psalm107
Moreinformationmaybefoundatthesesources:
• TheLightandtheGlory–PeterMarshall&DavidManuel• OurNationalChallenge:Thanksgiving–ChuckMissler[www.khouse.org/articles/1998/72/]• TheFirstThanksgiving–ChuckMissler[www.khouse.org/articles/1997/111/]
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