Thanksgiving is always a special time of the year. Historically, the holiday has a long and honored background going back to the Pilgrims of Plymouth Colony who celebrated the first Thanksgiving in 1621. In 1789, President Washington proclaimed a nationwide day of thanksgiving; and then in 1863 Abraham Lincoln designated the last Thursday of November as Thanksgiving Day. No further changes were made until 1939 when Franklin Roosevelt moved it to the fourth Thursday of November.
For the Christian, giving thanks to God is a daily practice. In that regard, Psalm 145 is especially helpful in giving us reason after reason for thanking God. Note these verses:
“One generation shall praise
Your works to another,
And shall declare Your mighty
acts.”
(verse 4)
Holidays such as Thanksgiving help us to focus on God's mighty works, and provide an opportunity to share His greatness with future generations.
“The Lord is gracious and full of
compassion,
Slow to anger and great in
mercy.
The Lord is good to all,
And His tender mercies are
Over all His works.”
(verses 8-9)
Thanksgiving helps us to remember the many gifts God has provided each of us.
“All Your works shall praise
You, O Lord,
And Your saints shall bless
You.”
(verse 10)
Thanksgiving Day is another opportunity for God's children to declare His good works. For this we should be thankful. Have a “thankful Thanksgiving!” --Larry
