Sabbath Keeping

"Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, 

his steadfast love endures forever."

~ Psalm 136:1 ~

"In everyone's life, at some time, our inner fire goes out.
It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being.
We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit."
~ Albert Schweitzer ~ 

"Hem your blessings with thankfulness so they don't unravel."

~ proverb~

"Instead of complaining that God had hidden himself, you will give him thanks for having revealed so much of himself." ~ Blaise Pascal ~ 

"Silent gratitude isn't much use to anyone."

~ G. B. Stern ~

"A man who is eating, or lying with his wife, or preparing to go to sleep in humility, thankfulness and temperance, is, by Christian standards, in an infinitely higher state than one who is listening to Bach or reading Plato in a state of pride." ~ C. S. Lewis ~ 
"I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought, and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder." ~ G. K. Chesterton ~ 

"God gave you a gift of 86,400 seconds today. 

Have you used one to say "thank you?""

~ William A. Ward ~ 

"The only people with whom you should try to get even, are those who have helped you."
~ John E. Southard ~ 

"Who does not thank for little, 

will not thank for much." 

~ proverb ~

"A sensible thanksgiving for mercies received is a mighty prayer in the spirit of God. It prevails with him unspeakably." ~ John Bunyan ~ 
"An active faith can give thanks for a promise, though it be not as yet performed, knowing that God's bonds are as good as ready money." ~ Matthew Henry ~

"Thanksgiving comes after Christmas." 

~ anonymous ~

"For everything created by God is good, 

and nothing is to be rejected,

if it is received with gratitude; 

for it is sanctified by means

of the word of God

and prayer."

~ I Timothy 4:4-5 ~

If you'd like a name added to the prayer list, please let me know...but no anonymous requests, please. Names will be kept until end of the year and then removed so the list can begin anew in January. Around the world, people are praying.

Prayer Keeping ~ Maxine ~ Roland ~ Jason and Sara ~ Patty ~ Lizzie ~ Pamela ~ Marydon ~ Katie ~ Debbie ~ Sandy ~ Geoffrey and Terry ~ Jane and Lance ~ Misha and J ~ Timi's family ~ Stephanie's family ~ Quesenberry family ~ Smith family ~ Jones family ~ LindaSue ~ Raeann ~ Mike ~ Wayne ~ Steve and Gwen ~ Greg ~ Ethan ~ Mildred and John ~ Billy ~ Charles and Cassie ~ Erik and Jessica ~ Ally Belle ~ Claudie ~ Maryann and family ~ Annie's family ~ Evan ~ Minnie ~ LaShon ~ Sparky ~ Kathie ~ Charlotte ~ John ~ me ~

Thanksgiving 2012

~ Harvest Table ~

December 4, 1619 ~ Berkeley Plantation, Virginia 

"Wee ordaine that the day of our ships arrival at the place assigned for plantacon

 in the land of Virginia shall be yearly and perpetually kept holy as a day of 

Thanksgiving to Almighty God."

"THE FIRST THANKSGIVING PROCLAMATION: June 20, 1676: "The Holy God having by a long and Continual Series of his Afflictive dispensations in and by the present War with the Heathern Natives of this land, written and brought to pass bitter things against his own Covenant people in this wilderness, yet so that we evidently discern that in the midst of his judgements he hath remembered mercy, having remembered his Footstool in the day of his sore displeasure against us for our sins, with many singular Intimations of his Fatherly Compassion, and regard; reserving many of our Towns from Desolation Threatened, and attempted by the Enemy, and giving us especially of late with many of our Confederates many signal Advantages against them, without such Disadvantage of ourselves as formerly we have been sensible of, if it be the Lord's mercy that we are not consumed. It certainly bespeaks our positive Thankfulness, when our Enemies are in any measure disappointed or destroyed; and fearing the Lord should take notice under so many Intimations of his returning mercy, we should be found an Insensible people, as not standing before Him with thanksgiving, as well as lading him with our Complaints in the time of pressing Afflictions." 

Blessings ~ Thanksgiving ~ Almighty God ~ 

Give Thanks

~ timely reminder ~

George Washington's Thanksgiving Proclamation

Although the Continental Congress had issued a Thanksgiving Day Proclamation in 1777, George Washington was the first President to issue such a Proclomation. This Proclamation in 1789 called for America's first National Thanksgiving. According to the Congressional Record for September 25 of that year, the first act after the Framers completed the framing of the Bill of Rights was that:

"Mr. [Elias] Boudinot said he could not think of letting the session pass without offering an opportunity to all the citizens of the United States of joining with one voice in returning to Almighty God their sincere thanks for the many blessings He had poured down upon them. With this view, therefore, he would move the following resolution:

Resolved, That a joint committee of both Houses be directed to wait upon the President of the United States to request that he would recommend to the people of the United States a Day of Public Thanksgiving and Prayer. . . .

Mr. Roger Sherman justified the practice of thanksgiving on any single event not only as a laudable one in itself but also as warranted by a number of precedents in Holy Writ. . . . This example he thought worthy of a Christian imitation on the present occasion."

That congressional resolution was delivered to President George Washington, who heartily concurred with the request and issued the first federal Thanksgiving proclamation:

"By the President of the United States of America.

A Proclamation.

Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor; and whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me 'to recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness.'

Now, therefore, I do recommend and assign Thursday, the 26th day of November next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and the favorable interpositions of His providence in the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed; for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted; for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and, in general, for all the great and various favors which He has been pleased to confer upon us.

And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations, and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions; to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our National Government a blessing to all the people by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations (especially such as have shown kindness to us), and to bless them with good governments, peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us; and, generally, to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as He alone knows to be best.

Given under my hand, at the city of New York, the third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty-nine.

G. Washington."

That same year, the Protestant Episcopal Church (of which President Washington was a member) announced that the first Thursday in November would become its regular day for giving thanks, “unless another day be appointed by the civil authorities.”

Later, on October 3, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln issued a proclamation calling for the observance of the fourth Tuesday of November as a national holiday.
In 1939, President Franklin D. Roosevelt moved the holiday to the third Thursday of November (to extend the Christmas shopping season and boost the economy). After a storm of protest, Roosevelt changed the holiday again in 1941 to the fourth Thursday in November, where it stands today.

Rebecca Writes of November gratitude; my heart is grateful for Godly, Christian men, and women, who were founders of the USA and for current Godly, Christian men and women who interceed now on behalf of the USA. Also, for Rebecca at Rebecca Writes who has brought bloggers together in a November of gratitude. Please visit her and pray for Kezia, another blogger's daughter, whose health is in danger.

Blessings ~ a day set aside to give thanks to the Almighty God for our many blessings ~ Godly, Christian men and women both then and now ~

Grace and Peace,
Sandra