In the winter of 1620 the Pilgrims that had settled in Plymouth were preparing to nestle in for a cold winter. In a short exchange of life and death, no muskets were fired, no natives were slain, nor had any arrows struck the new settlers. Only disease had been the killer the first winter. The Pilgrims lived on the edge of survival during the first winter after having 66 days of Wild Ocean’s rampage. Only 104 Pilgrims survived and made it to the new land including what seemed a miracle at sea. (This miracle being a new baby that was born, Oceanus.) "Being thus arrived in a good harbor and brought safe to land," wrote Governor William Bradford, "they fell upon their knees and blessed the God of heaven, who had brought them over the vast and furious ocean, and delivered them from all the perils and miseries thereof, again to set their feet on the firm and stable earth, their proper element."
After only a short four months of being in a new world, the diseases set in. Scurvy, pneumonia, and a virulent strain of tuberculosis had slain whole families. No sympathy was given as the storm plagued the lives of the Pilgrims. Out of only 104 pilgrims, there were only six or seven people able to tend the sick and comfort those that were dying. Six died in December, then eight in January, seventeen in February. Of March, Bradford wrote, "This month thirteen of our number die ... scarce fifty remain, the living scarce able to bury the dead." Of eighteen married women, only three remained. Baby Oceanus died. April was a month of a new birth for the new settlers. It was time to put in gardens, the Indians whom they feared came to their aid. The Native Americans taught the Pilgrims where to trap eels and how to plant corn. The Pilgrims, who had pilfered Indian corn the previous December, may not have been deserving, but this unexpected help made the difference for them between survival and starvation.
Settler Edward Winslow described it in this way: "We set the last spring some twenty acres of Indian corn, and sowed some six acres of barley and peas, and according to the manner of the Indians, we manured our ground with herrings or rather shads, which we have in great abundance, and take with great ease at our doors. Our corn did prove well, and God be praised, we had a good increase of Indian corn, and our barley indifferent good, but our peas not worth the gathering, for we feared they were too late sown, they came up very well, and blossomed, but the sun parched them in the blossom." Nevertheless, the harvest was good and the Pilgrims' food ration increased substantially. By fall, eleven houses lined the street of Plymouth Colony, seven private homes and four common buildings. The dying had stopped, and trade had begun with the Indians.
To celebrate, the Pilgrims invited the Native Americans to a harvest festival. It was a three-day feast of venison, roast duck, roast goose, clams and other shellfish, corn bread, -- all enjoyed with wine newly made from grapes that grew wild in the forest. It was a feast of thanksgiving, of thankfulness to God. Edward Winslow wrote to friends in December, "Although it be not always so plentiful as it was at this time with us, yet by the goodness of God, we are so far from want that we often wish you partakers of our plenty." The goodness of God was often on their minds. Though the Pilgrims had suffered great loss and hardship, they also were aware of God's great blessing: the produce of the land, peace with the natives, the joy of life, and homes snug for winter.
As He entered a village, ten leprous men who stood at a distance met Him; and they raised their voices, saying, ""Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!'' When He saw them, He said to them, "" Go and show yourselves to the priests.'' And as they were going, they were cleansed. Now one of them, when he saw that he had been healed, turned back, glorifying God with a loud voice, and he fell on his face at His feet, giving thanks to Him. And he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus answered and said, ""Were there not ten cleansed? But the nine where are they? "" Was no one found who returned to give glory to God, except this foreigner?'' And He said to him, ""Stand up and go; your faith has made you well.'' Luke 17:13-19
Amazing isn’t it? Does this story remind you of anything? Read that passage again. Do you notice anything? Only one person came back and thanked Christ. Notice what Jesus said, “Your faith has made you well”. What about the other nine? They were cleansed but notice what the passage says. He was a Samaritan. Samaritans were a mixed breed of people. The Jewish community considered them low lives and minorities. They were not a pure race and yet he came and thanked Christ. Not only was his physical dilemma healed but also his faith healed him emotionally. Even though I am a Christian, too often I find myself going about my daily praying asking God for THINGS.
On the other hand, I want people to sympathize with me, so when something is going wrong, -- and when doesn't it? -- I begin to complain. Not enough money…. My Dallas Cowboys are having a bad season again… The morals of our nation are terrible…My job is not satisfying to me. Normal complaining comes all too easily to my lips when things seem not to go MY WAY. If you will notice, we seem to complain when we focus on MY WAY. When things do go MY WAY, do I stop and thank others for the things they have done in my life? I didn’t used to until God humbled me in many different areas in my life. One day, I read Colossians 2:6-7. "So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.” One phrase stuck in my mind like being stuck in the mud. “Overflowing with thankfulness." It began to repeat itself over and over in my mind. It’s almost like singing a tune that’s stuck in your head from hearing it earlier in the day. Overflowing in some translations brings the mental picture of the Thanksgiving spilling out an abundant harvest blessing. Jesus said, "Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks." What is in my heart? Complaining? Selfishness? Pride? -- or Thanksgiving?”
Thanksgiving should be the mark of a Christian. Thanksgiving is an outward giving of myself and it blesses God the Father while my complaining points only back to me and feeds my pride and dissatisfaction. Thanksgiving towards God and man fits the Great Commandment like a glove, to love God with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love my neighbor as myself. What better instrument than thankfulness to express love? Thanksgiving Day has always been a time of people and families coming together. The Pilgrims could have complained but they were thankful for the bountiful blessings God bestowed upon them. "Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise. Be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endures to all generations." (Psalm 100:4-5)
When you gather together for the holiday of Thanksgiving be thankful. Some do not have enough to eat. Some do not have houses. Some do not have families. The next time you take a bite of turkey, ask yourself this question: Am I being a turkey for not thanking others for what they have done for me? Life is too short! It will gobble your time away if you don’t take time to roost and to think about the blessings you have encountered.
God, Thank you for my wonderful friend, playmate, lover, and soul mate Tanya. Thank you for my wonderful children, Amber, Jon, Krista and Daniel. Thank you for my adopted mom and dad Jim and Wanda Crownover in Lubbock, Texas. Thank you for my grandmothers, Granny and Mama. Thank you for bringing me through tough times. Thank you for Jason Thornton who has helped me to see you and put you as Lord in savior of my life as I was baptized. What a life Father. It is a wonderful life. Much to be thankful. I can't wait to hug you! Amen.
So, be stuffed and overflowing with thanksgiving and be glad. Jesus died for you in order for you to live this Thanksgiving Day! Happy Thanksgiving!
After only a short four months of being in a new world, the diseases set in. Scurvy, pneumonia, and a virulent strain of tuberculosis had slain whole families. No sympathy was given as the storm plagued the lives of the Pilgrims. Out of only 104 pilgrims, there were only six or seven people able to tend the sick and comfort those that were dying. Six died in December, then eight in January, seventeen in February. Of March, Bradford wrote, "This month thirteen of our number die ... scarce fifty remain, the living scarce able to bury the dead." Of eighteen married women, only three remained. Baby Oceanus died. April was a month of a new birth for the new settlers. It was time to put in gardens, the Indians whom they feared came to their aid. The Native Americans taught the Pilgrims where to trap eels and how to plant corn. The Pilgrims, who had pilfered Indian corn the previous December, may not have been deserving, but this unexpected help made the difference for them between survival and starvation.
Settler Edward Winslow described it in this way: "We set the last spring some twenty acres of Indian corn, and sowed some six acres of barley and peas, and according to the manner of the Indians, we manured our ground with herrings or rather shads, which we have in great abundance, and take with great ease at our doors. Our corn did prove well, and God be praised, we had a good increase of Indian corn, and our barley indifferent good, but our peas not worth the gathering, for we feared they were too late sown, they came up very well, and blossomed, but the sun parched them in the blossom." Nevertheless, the harvest was good and the Pilgrims' food ration increased substantially. By fall, eleven houses lined the street of Plymouth Colony, seven private homes and four common buildings. The dying had stopped, and trade had begun with the Indians.
To celebrate, the Pilgrims invited the Native Americans to a harvest festival. It was a three-day feast of venison, roast duck, roast goose, clams and other shellfish, corn bread, -- all enjoyed with wine newly made from grapes that grew wild in the forest. It was a feast of thanksgiving, of thankfulness to God. Edward Winslow wrote to friends in December, "Although it be not always so plentiful as it was at this time with us, yet by the goodness of God, we are so far from want that we often wish you partakers of our plenty." The goodness of God was often on their minds. Though the Pilgrims had suffered great loss and hardship, they also were aware of God's great blessing: the produce of the land, peace with the natives, the joy of life, and homes snug for winter.
As He entered a village, ten leprous men who stood at a distance met Him; and they raised their voices, saying, ""Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!'' When He saw them, He said to them, "" Go and show yourselves to the priests.'' And as they were going, they were cleansed. Now one of them, when he saw that he had been healed, turned back, glorifying God with a loud voice, and he fell on his face at His feet, giving thanks to Him. And he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus answered and said, ""Were there not ten cleansed? But the nine where are they? "" Was no one found who returned to give glory to God, except this foreigner?'' And He said to him, ""Stand up and go; your faith has made you well.'' Luke 17:13-19
Amazing isn’t it? Does this story remind you of anything? Read that passage again. Do you notice anything? Only one person came back and thanked Christ. Notice what Jesus said, “Your faith has made you well”. What about the other nine? They were cleansed but notice what the passage says. He was a Samaritan. Samaritans were a mixed breed of people. The Jewish community considered them low lives and minorities. They were not a pure race and yet he came and thanked Christ. Not only was his physical dilemma healed but also his faith healed him emotionally. Even though I am a Christian, too often I find myself going about my daily praying asking God for THINGS.
On the other hand, I want people to sympathize with me, so when something is going wrong, -- and when doesn't it? -- I begin to complain. Not enough money…. My Dallas Cowboys are having a bad season again… The morals of our nation are terrible…My job is not satisfying to me. Normal complaining comes all too easily to my lips when things seem not to go MY WAY. If you will notice, we seem to complain when we focus on MY WAY. When things do go MY WAY, do I stop and thank others for the things they have done in my life? I didn’t used to until God humbled me in many different areas in my life. One day, I read Colossians 2:6-7. "So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.” One phrase stuck in my mind like being stuck in the mud. “Overflowing with thankfulness." It began to repeat itself over and over in my mind. It’s almost like singing a tune that’s stuck in your head from hearing it earlier in the day. Overflowing in some translations brings the mental picture of the Thanksgiving spilling out an abundant harvest blessing. Jesus said, "Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks." What is in my heart? Complaining? Selfishness? Pride? -- or Thanksgiving?”
Thanksgiving should be the mark of a Christian. Thanksgiving is an outward giving of myself and it blesses God the Father while my complaining points only back to me and feeds my pride and dissatisfaction. Thanksgiving towards God and man fits the Great Commandment like a glove, to love God with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love my neighbor as myself. What better instrument than thankfulness to express love? Thanksgiving Day has always been a time of people and families coming together. The Pilgrims could have complained but they were thankful for the bountiful blessings God bestowed upon them. "Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise. Be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endures to all generations." (Psalm 100:4-5)
When you gather together for the holiday of Thanksgiving be thankful. Some do not have enough to eat. Some do not have houses. Some do not have families. The next time you take a bite of turkey, ask yourself this question: Am I being a turkey for not thanking others for what they have done for me? Life is too short! It will gobble your time away if you don’t take time to roost and to think about the blessings you have encountered.
God, Thank you for my wonderful friend, playmate, lover, and soul mate Tanya. Thank you for my wonderful children, Amber, Jon, Krista and Daniel. Thank you for my adopted mom and dad Jim and Wanda Crownover in Lubbock, Texas. Thank you for my grandmothers, Granny and Mama. Thank you for bringing me through tough times. Thank you for Jason Thornton who has helped me to see you and put you as Lord in savior of my life as I was baptized. What a life Father. It is a wonderful life. Much to be thankful. I can't wait to hug you! Amen.
So, be stuffed and overflowing with thanksgiving and be glad. Jesus died for you in order for you to live this Thanksgiving Day! Happy Thanksgiving!
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