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A Quick Word with Beth Moore
Living Proof Ministries is dedicated to Biblical literacy and a commitment to guide believers to love and live on God's Word.
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Copyright ©2008 • First United Methodist Church • Palestine, TX • 903-729-6205
Pastoral Conversation
Thanksgiving, where did it come
from? Our USA Thanksgiving holiday
grew out of harvest celebrations
of England. They were days of thanking
God for the blessing of plentiful
crops.
The first New England Thanksgiving
was elebrated less than a year
after Plymouth Colonist had settled
the new land. The first dreadful winter
in Massachusetts had killed nearly
half the members of the Colony.
Then new hope began in 1621with a
successful corn harvest. Governor
William Bradford declared a three day
feast to be held. Thanksgiving, a day
for prayer, sharing and thanksgiving
began on July 30, 1623.
In 1789, President George Washington
issued a general proclamation
naming November 26 a national
thanksgiving. However, for many
years the USA had no regular national
Thanksgiving holiday.
Finally, President Abraham Lincoln
proclaimed that the last Thursday
in November 1863, was “a day of
Thanksgiving and praise to God.”
For most of us, Thanksgiving is a
family day, centered on a meal, lunch
or dinner with family, also friends. A
time we give thanks to God for these
personal blessings.
Last year, 2007, CC and I visited
New York City and went to Ground
Zero. We stood looking at that sobering
site of a huge hole in Manhattan’s
landscape and saw the list of
people killed. Thanksgiving took on
a new meaning. It is spelled freedom;
precious freedom. Thanksgiving
is a time to thank God for our
freedom. We also thank those men
and women who have sacrificed to
give us the freedom we enjoy. We
remember those who put their lives
on the line each day to protect us and
keep us free. We remember those in
the past who fought that we might
have our precious freedom. For all
of these we are truly thankful and
pray God’s guidance and oversight
upon them.
The apostle Paul wrote in his letter
to the Galatians: “For freedom
Christ has set us free, stand firm.”
Freedom always involves responsibility.
In his letter Paul also listed
characteristics of freedom such as;
love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, gentleness
and self-control. This is the kind of
freedom you and I need. The kind of
freedom we celebrate at Thanksgiving.
So, Thanksgiving is a national
holiday that gives us the opportunity
to display how much we value and
appreciate our freedom under God.
Have a great Thanksgiving
and God bless the United States of
America.
Your Pastor and Friend,
Bruce Hay
Club 502
Tutoring Begins September 16
4:15 pm
