OUR AMERICAN THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY IS ONCE AGAIN PAST:
HOWEVER, THANKSGIVING WAS NEVER INTENDED TO BE —

PAST THAT IS…

 

Selah.

This is exactly why Adam sinned. Adam, the first created man, created pure and in the image of likeness of God, his Creator, chose thanklessness by deliberately, yes, deliberately subverting God’s command. This command was not only sacred, holy – but it was also in the very best interest of Adam, of Eve and of all their children, grandchildren, great grandchildren: truly, of all their children of the world. Their world, which Adam literally sold to satan for a mere taste experience.

Adam chose not to be thankful to God by discrediting the truth of his Creator’s command!

 

Genesis 2:15-17
The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.  And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.”

 

Adam was told. Adam was warned; and because he was unthankful to God to the point that he willingly subverted God’s truthful command. Do not eat it! Eat it – and die!

That is unthankful! God had created all things for His glory. Adam was the blessed man created in the image and likeness of this perfect, infallible Creator of Heaven, Earth and everything else under and near the sun…

So, as Adam willingly and knowingly disobeyed the LORD of glory, we too, have fallen short and sinned, except, of course, the Son sent from Heaven to redeem all of us fallen, sinful people…

Selah.

 

THE TOPIC IS THANKSGIVING.

I, for one, and countless others, have chosen to be thankful to our Creator, who created all things. People like me willingly thank our Lord for salvation. This word, salvation, includes forgiveness of sins, healing, deliverance from our enemies, safety. We who choose to believe God are in right standing with Him. We choose to be thankful for salvation!

And, because of this
My POINT IS ALSO THIS:

I hear this typical American statement yearly, “So! How was YOUR Thanksgiving?” It ticks me off and I know that I know that I know — it displeases God when some respond,
“It was okay.”
“I’ve had better!”
“It was fair.”
“It was a bust.”

Who made it ‘okay’? How can Thanksgiving Day be ‘better’? Why was it ‘fair’? Who chose to make it a ‘bust’?

Let me tell you! Those individuals – not God. He gave us all things richly – to enjoy!

 

1 Timothy 6:17
Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.

 

Since I have made a deliberate choice to strive to keep God first, love Him first, believe Him always and shun liars, hypocrites, the self-righteous I have no patience for those who don’t choose a thankful heart on Thanksgiving Day or any other day!

Selah.

Yes, I speak from experience. We all have opportunities to be depressed, oppressed, possessed… BUT, God has made His glory known to all people of all time. Beloved, once upon a time I was alone on Thanksgiving Day, long before my marriage, longer before my children, longest before my precious granddaughters. And yet: I chose then. Friends, I was even a dirty, lowdown sinner at that time. Yet, God spoke to me constantly and I pushed Him back! However, even on this particular Thanksgiving Day I chose to have a good day.

Believe me now (as I am no longer that dirty, lowdown sinner – but a child of the Most High) I chose to be happy. Now I choose that and I choose to be joyful! There is a difference. Yes, I was alone, all alone for reasons I’m not willing to share with the majority. But I made up my mind to have a good day! I made cookies and took them to work the next day!

Thanksgiving Day was one message God had always bestowed on me, Ann Marie Turner (Ann Marie Schacher back then.) And: I always received it! I looked to a better day: a loving husband, children, grandchildren, old age – healthy and loved! I knew I could and would have a wonderful family of my own…. some day.

We all have trials. We all have people hurt us. Only One is never an enemy when we accept His gift. Only One will never lie to us – ever! Only One is worthy of worship – continually!

When you choose, as I did, the storms always settles, the boat never sinks and the slings and arrows of the evil one can never puncture your faith. Live with me!

 

 

SCRIPTURAL TRUTHS FOR THIS “JOY STORY”

 

 

Acts 17:24-28
“The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’

 

 

Titus 2:11-15
For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,  who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you.

 

 

Jeremiah 29:11-12
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.