The Christmas Reality in Light of Today's Crises

In light of today's many different faceted trials and plagues that are effecting our society and country's well being, may we tune into the reality of the glorious Christmas message that Almighty God has given to all people!

This Christmas Season, remember the REALITY of Christmas! A Savior was born, for you and for me! (Luke 2:1-20, Matt 1:18-25, 2:1-15, John 1:14)
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A Savior was born, for you and for me!

The TRUE GIFT of Christmas is that Almighty God has provided a Savior to deliver Adam's fallen race from their sins (i.e., the transgressions against Almighty God's ETERNAL righteous standards).

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Do you believe? Do you really believe? Or do you just celebrate a "Traditional Christmas".

What better way of celebrating this Christmas Season than to know the Savior of Christmas and the reality of the season!

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"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved" (John 3:16,17)

God's Christmas Gift

This Christmas, may your heart be open to receive the GIFT of the Lord Jesus Christ and to enjoy the reality of the season. A Savior was born and GIVEN to meet our deepest needs, here in Time and for Eternity.
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Rejoice in the reality! Rejoice in the goodness of Almighty God! Rejoice that our sins can be forgiven! Rejoice that Almighty God has a great plan, purpose and future for our lives, here in Time and for ETERNITY! All because a Savior was born! There is great hope! There is great expectancy! Believe and Receive this Christmas! (John 1:12)

Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! (Phil 4:4)

May you have a Very Merry Reality Christmas this year!

The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!
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DJP I.F
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Almighty God's Christmas Song Witness!

Where ever you go now during this "holiday" season, Christmas music is playing and many of the Christmas songs have a sound Biblical message of salvation. What Child is This?, O Little Town of Bethlehem, Hark the Herald Angels Sing, O Holy Night, O Come Emanuel, Go Tell it on the Mountain, O Come all Ye Faithful, The First Noel, Angels We Have Heard on High, O Come Let Us Adore Him, Joy to the World etc.. are all screaming the wondrous TRUTH that a Savior is born! However... as these songs play with their saving message they sail far over the heads of busy unregenerate men and women who have no time this season to slow down and consider why they so desperately need a Savior (Isa 53, John 3:16-17, Rom. 3:23, 6:23, 10:2-4, 1 John 4:10, Rev. 20:11-15).

However... as these songs play with their saving message they sail far over the heads of busy unregenerate men and women who have no time to slow down and consider why they so desperately need a Savior.

I marvel at how Almighty God's unknowing messengers of the Gospel at Christmas time or this "Holiday Season" are some of the most godless and secular outlets. It must drive the god of this world nuts to know that Almighty God is using his Hollywood Parade, godless music artists, TV stations, radio stations, department stores, work, convenience stores, gas stations etc... etc...  to get out His saving message to a world in which Satan oppresses and deceives (Eph. 2:1-2). Many of these songs are a personal rebuke to him and teem with the ETERNAL TRUTHS of his soon ETERNAL demise (Gen. 3:15, Rev. 20:10).

 I marvel at how Almighty God's unknowing messengers of the Gospel at Christmas time or this "Holiday Season" are some of the most godless and secular outlets.

The Christmas season is an awesome time for personally sharing the simple and wonderful message of Jesus Christ without really a lot of opposition. I have found that many people are really receptive at this time, but of course, there is still a strong government opposition, but generally, Almighty God in our post-Judeo/Christian culture has given us an open door to still share the TRUE Christmas message (Rev. 3:8). Christian Christmas songs - which hold absolute TRUTH, sound doctrine and sound Biblical REALITY - are a wonderful way to point out the Gospel message (Matt. 1:21, John 1:12, Acts 16:28-30, 1 Cor. 15:2-4, Rev. 1:5) to those around us who know all the words by heart but never ever considered what they truly mean. I can't tell you how many times in my 28 years walking with Him that the Lord has given me an open door that I have been able to point out these wonderful ETERNAL TRUTHS! Tragically, many who hear these wonderful Christmas TRUTHS (apostate Christians and secular) have no room in their heart for them, but that does not mean that we do not herald Almighty God's saving message at this time of the season

This Christmas season allow Almighty God to use you to be His personal vessel to witness as the angels of old did that first Christmas night; that a Savior is born (Luke 2)!

Eph 5:15-16!

The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!

DJP I.F.

Simeon Was Waiting! How About You?

Dear friends, two thousand years ago, Simeon was "waiting" for His Savior's first advent (Luke 2:25)! This same word "waiting" is used in (Titus 2:13), “Looking" for the blessed hope!

Simeon was "waiting" with all eager anticipation and expectancy, "looking" for the Messiah to come, longing for the Messiah to come, eagerly expecting His first coming! Oh dear friends, how many believers in this same Jesus today look with all eager anticipation and expectancy like Simeon did 2000 years ago, not for  Messiah's first coming but for His return for His Body in the clouds? Tragically, not too many.

Simeon was "waiting" with all eager anticipation and expectancy, "looking" for the Messiah to come, longing for the Messiah to come, eagerly expecting His first coming!

Simeon knew that Messiah's first coming would be soon for two simple reasons. Firstly, Simeon studied the Holy Scriptures and knew from the Daniel 9:24-26 prophecy that the Messiah would present Himself to Israel around 30 A.D.,  plus or minus a few years (he didn’t measure time by B.C. or A.D. back then) and knew that Messiah would be cut off for his (Simeon's) sins and for the sins of the whole world (Isa. 53, John 3:16-17). My friends, now add 483 years (69 weeks) to 445 B.C. (the command to rebuild the temple in Nehemiah’s day) and that will bring you approximately to 30 A.D. This amazing prophecy was fulfilled when Jesus Messiah presented Himself as the King to Israel on Palm Sunday, the Sunday before the Passover (Matt. 2:1-11).

He was given a personal prophecy by the Holy Spirit that he would SEE the Messiah his Lamb and ETERNAL Atonement before he would see death!

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Simeon had the sure Word of Almighty God and the Daniel 9:24-26 prophecy to go by in his very trying day, but he also had a very personal prophecy which made the coming of the Messiah even more imminent. He was given in verse 26 a personal prophecy by the Holy Spirit that he would SEE the Messiah, his Lamb and ETERNAL Atonement (Isa 53, Dan. 9:26, 1 John 2:2, 4:10) before he would see death (Isa. 53, Dan. 9:26, Rom. 6:23)! Simeon at this time was an old man and he knew that this event (the seeing of the Consolation of Israel; his Messiah) would be very soon! Oh, what great expectation and joy-filled Simeon's heart at this time when he was at the end of his life and lived in the days of Roman oppression. Simeon would personally see face to face his Consolation and Savior, who was his EXCEEDINGLY GREAT joy, hope, and expectation (Psalm 62:5, 130:5)!

The godly Jews were looking for a Messiah who would bring comfort to Israel. They were looking for a Comforter, One who could help them in their time of distress.

Now, I’m interested in the title Simeon uses for the Messiah here, “the Consolation of Israel.” The word “consolation” means comfort. It is used in 2 Cor. 1:3, referencing the God of ALL comfort! This word is used in Rom. 15:4-5, which speaks of the comfort the Holy Scriptures (Almighty God's precious Word) bring to the believing heart! This word is used also in Hebrews 6:18, to encourage the believing heart of Almighty God's two unchangeable TRUTHS, which brings ETERNAL HOPE to the child of God in this very changeable world! Lastly, there is also a closely related word in the Greek, which is used of the Holy Spirit's ministry to us as the Comforter!

Simeon and Anna and a very small remnant of godly Jews were looking for the Messiah with GREAT EXPECTATION to bring comfort to them and to the people of Israel (Luke 1-2). These were looking for a Comforter, One who could help them in their time of distress and present dark days and in their weakness they found great comfort in Almighty God and His promise of Almighty God's coming Messiah! Why was unbelieving Israel and a small remnant of believing Israelis to expect a Comforter from the Lord? Dear friends, the Holy Scriptures tell us why and gave them GREAT COMFORT that Almighty God did not forget them or abandon them! Isa. 40:1; 49:13; 52:9; 61:1-2; 66:13.

Now the day finally came when Simeon's faith became sight as he was led by the Holy Spirit to the Comforter of Israel, the Messiah, his salvation/deliverance (Luke 2:26-35)! Simeon then held his Lamb and promise One in his arms and was greatly comforted and exceedingly filled with great joy and praise! The fulfillment of God's promise to him greatly strengthened his being and he was now ready to die knowing that his salvation and Almighty God's promise (Jesus - Matt. 1:21) was now in His arms (Psalm 110:1, Isa 53, Dan. 9:26)!

Our Day

Now to our dispensation my dear friends, the Messiah of Israel is also the Comforter of the Church (the Body of Messiah)! John 14:16-18

In v.16, Jesus Messiah said He would send another Comforter, another of the same kind, another just like Himself. In one sense, Jesus Messiah was the first Comforter and the Holy Spirit our second Comforter!

In v.18 Jesus states that He will not leave us comfortless; He will not leave us without a Comforter! Literally the word “comfortless” means “orphans”. Jesus would NOT leave them and us as orphans (as those who were utterly helpless and destitute).  

The last phrase in v.18, Jesus stated, “I will come to you” and this could be understood in one of three ways, all of which are very true!

Firstly, Jesus would come to His disciples after His resurrection in various resurrection appearances. This is not likely the meaning, “I will come to you” because the context speaks of Him going away, going back to be with the Father. The focus here is upon Pentecost (Acts 1, 2), not upon His post-resurrection appearances.

Secondly, Jesus would have means that He would come to them in the Person of God the Holy Spirit since the Holy Spirit's ministry is to EXALT the Lord Jesus Messiah (John 16:13-14) and this visitation of the Savior fits this context found in (v.17).

Thirdly, even though the risen Jesus would go back to His Father and be seated at His right hand (Psalm 110:1, Heb.1:1-3, 10:1-12), yet at the same time Jesus would also be with them and working with them! Dear friends, see Mark 16:19-20 where Jesus is ascended to the right hand of the Father (Psalm 110:1), yet at the same time He was “working with” the disciples on earth. Also compare this text to (Matt. 28:20), His promise in this text, “Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the age” !

Beloved, now hear this glorious and wondrous ETERNAL TRUTH and leap for great joy!! The Church (the body of Messiah) actually has three ETERNAL RIGHTEOUS Comforters: 1.) God the Father (God of all comfort - 2 Cor. 1:3)   2.) God the Son (the word Advocate in 1 John 2:1 is this same word “Comforter”). This word means someone who is called alongside to help and bring aid. In 1 John 2:1 this word refers to a Helper in court, or a defense attorney) 3.) God the Holy Spirit is also our Comforter, the One we most often identify with that term Comforter (John 14:16-17).

Dearly beloved of God, Almighty God has NOT left us comfortless or orphans in such days (2 Cor. 1:3-7)! He is the Consolation of Israel and the Consolation of the Church (the Body of the Messiah)!  May each of us say with a pure heart, “He is the Consolation of my heart! Oh how we are in desperate need of His daily comfort, help and encouragement.  He is my Consolation, for He is ETERNAL Consolation to ALL who put their trust in Him!”

Dear friends, are you as Simeon of old waiting for the Savior's return? Have you found GREAT consolation in the Son of God your Savior which is our ETERNAL Comforter! As we await for our Savior's return, may we find GREAT COMFORT in our God of ALL comfort by trusting in Him to outwork His wondrous will for our lives for His glory and honor till He comes! May it be so!

The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!

DJP I.F

Black Friday and the American Godless Holiday Season

One ‘s TRUE and GREATEST POSSESSION! ☝️

Well, here we go kid-do’s… After the majority of Americans concluded THEIR “godless” Thanksgiving without Almighty God and ALL the realities of Who He is, which is dictated by His HOLY WORD it is “Black Friday”. America’s Thanksgiving and Holiday season now consists of thanking THEIR god’s of self narcissism, human efforts and personal ambitions, while of course eating, drinking and watching football. My friends don’t get me wrong… there is absolutely nothing wrong with enjoying a fine diner with your loved ones, eating good food, stuffing yourself, watching football, exchanging gifts, rejoicing over the work of you hands and even trying to save a few bucks on material things when its done with thanksgiving to Almighty God (1 Cor. 10:31), but the whole mood now in this country at this time of the year is to serve self and in some places it is very subtle and hard to see.

We as a nation have rejected Almighty God’s SAVING message to us and to the world that Almighty God sent His Son to deliver us from our sins.

Godless living affects the majority of Americans today. We as a nation have rejected Almighty God’s SAVING message to us and to the world that Almighty God sent His Son to deliver us from our sins (John 3:16-17).

This “Christmas” message is now drowned out by worldly self interest and personal materialism. Indeed, Satan has won a great victory in replacing the realities of one’s ETERNAL needs for temporal and fading wants (1 John 2:15-17). Whether one is a conservative, moderate, liberal or a progressive commie or whether one is of the lazy poor, the true poor, the middle class, the rich or the filthy rich, the bottom line and common denominator is self generated interest which excludes our Creator and our true ETERNAL needs (Matt. 15:7-9, Rom.1:18-32, 2 Tim 3:2).

Anyone who lives their existence here in time that EXCLUDES Almighty God our Creator, His saving grace and Savior, His Word and sound biblical doctrine is one of utter futility, vanity and is self centered.

What do I mean by serving self? I am sure for many reading this assessment might think I have gone way over the top on this. Well hear me out… The “bottom line” of what I am trying to state is that ANY life (i.e., one’s brief existence here in time), whether conservative, moderate, liberal or a progressive commie, whether one is of the lazy poor, the true poor, the middle class, the rich or the filthy rich that lives out their existence here in time that EXCLUDES Almighty God our Creator, His saving grace and Savior, His Word and sound biblical doctrine is one of utter futility, vanity and is self centered (Eccl., Mark 24:35-39, Rom. 1:20-22). It is the wide road which leads to damnation and ETERNAL ruin and it is named the “do as thou wilt” highway (Matt. 7:13-14, Rev. 20:11-15). This road ends with its travelers doing a Thelma and Louise into ETERNAL damnation and ruin. It would be an awesome thing to interview many of life’s travelers who have taken this narcissistic highway to ruin. I am sure that they would testify in the end that their brief godless existence was NOT worth the ETERNAL consequences (Luke 16:19-31, John 3:16-17, Rev. 20:11-15).

This road ends with its travelers doing a Thelma and Louise into ETERNAL damnation and ruin!

Nothing in this brief fallen world can EVER fill the ETERNAL void of humanity for we were designed to house our ETERNAL Creator (Eccl. 3:11, Rom. 11:33). Go ahead my friend, STUFF IT with all your heart desires (virtuous or vice); Sex, drugs, wine, women, song, IPods, flat screens, new cars, houses, lands and gold, purpose, adventure, glory, whatever; indulge my friend until you possess the WHOLE ENTIRE world (Matt.16:26)! It will NEVER satisfy and in the end you will be as Solomon of old and profess that "ALL is vanity" (Eccl.1:1-5)! You will end up as the rich fool who was building barns only to lose it all in the end (Luke 12:15-23).

"Jesus stated, I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly" (John 10:10).

God’s Word states; "But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him" (1 Cor. 2:9).

It is your Creator that loves you with an EVERLASTING love and has ONLY glorious things for you FOREVERMORE (1 Cor. 2:9, Rev. 21, 22:1-5). That is why you were created. To know God and to enjoy Him FOREVER! Oh the FOOL who would rather seek vain temporal worldly glory and earthly possessions in a narcissistic delusional reality (Luke 12:20, James 4:14, 5:1-5, Rev. 20:11-15).

As we head into another narcissistic godless Christ rejecting “holiday season” may you be sure that you personally know the very One who left Heaven’s glory and put on humanity so He might die on the cross to pay for the sins of the world (John 1:14, 3:16-17, Phil.2:5-10, Heb.10:4-14). That is what our existence (born - die) here is all about!

The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!

DJP I.F.


 

One’s Greatest Possession

A Song of Thanksgiving to our Heavenly Father! Count it ALL Joy! (Lyric Video)

Happy Thanksgiving from The Ignorant Fishermen Blog!

Beloved, Greetings in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ! Who is the TRUE source for ALL Heavenly blessings here on earth and in Heaven above (Eph. 1:3)!

As we celebrate this time of Thanksgiving we are very mindful of many things. We are thankful for our loved ones, a measure of health and a sound mind. We are thankful for the earthly blessings and liberties that we possess as Americans. We are thankful for those who have shed their blood on our nation's behalf which have preserved our freedoms and liberties. We are thankful for the vision and labor of our Founding Fathers which steadfast sought to provide its posterity with a nation and constitution that we may enjoy our unalienable rights as human beings. We are thankful to those who labor for the Lord on our behalf, who challenge us and encourage us in the ETERNAL truths and promises of Almighty God.

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you! (1 Thess. 5:18).

But most of all we are thankful for Almighty God our Father for so loving us that He sent His only begotten Son on our behalf (John 3:16-17), that we may be redeemed, forgiven, received, adopted and made righteous in the Person and work of Jesus Christ (Rom. 10:4, 1 Cor. 1:30).

We are truly thankful that we are still able to worship Almighty God in spirit and truth here in America and that we still have a measure of time left to get out His saving message to a dying and condemned world. We rejoice that Christ is coming again very soon and that this fallen world is NOT our home. We have a glorious future forevermore with our Savior and Lord in perfect RIGHTEOUSNESS in Almighty God's ETERNAL day (1 Cor. 2:9, Rev. 22:5).

May this Thanksgiving be a great blessing to you all! We indeed have much to be thankful for (Phil. 4:4)!

Beloved, The Kingdom of Heaven is truly at hand!

The Ignorant Fishermen

Only One Said 'Thank You'

Only One Said 'Thank You'
By Dr. John C. Whitcomb

The Command
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God commands us to give Him thanks for everything He has done, is doing and will do for us.
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"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God" (Phil. 4:6).

"In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you" (1 Thess. 5:18).

"Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men" (1 Tim. 2:1).

"Giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Eph. 5:20).
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The Problem

But this is not the normal response of the sinful heart of man. Even in times of health and prosperity, do we genuinely thank God for what He has given us?
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One day, our Lord cleansed 10 lepers who cried out to Him, "'Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!' So when He saw them, He said to them, 'Go, show yourselves to the priests.' And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed. And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan. So Jesus answered and said, 'Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?' And He said to him, 'Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well'" (Luke 17:13-19). As in the entire nation of Israel, many thousands were physically healed by the Lord Jesus, but relatively few really believed in Him as God and Savior.
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In fact, from the beginning of the world, even in the hearts of our first parents, Adam and Eve, "although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools" (Rom. 1:21, 22).
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Difficult Circumstances for Thankfulness

While inside the body of a gigantic fish deep in the Mediterranean Sea, with "weeds...wrapped around [his] head" (Jonah 2:5), the disobedient prophet Jonah cried out:
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"I will sacrifice to YouWith the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay what I have vowed. Salvation is of the LORD" (Jonah 2:9).

In response to that amazing prayer, "the LORD spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land" (Jonah 2:10).

And what about the prophet Daniel? When threatened with death in a lions' den for offering a prayer to "any god or man" (Dan. 6:7) besides the king of Medo-Persia, Daniel "went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days" (Dan. 6: 10).
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Thus, in every conceivable circumstance, "by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name" (Heb. 13:15).
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Why? Because "we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose" (Rom. 8:28).

In ETERNITY

What will believers be doing in heaven? We will be saying:
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"Blessing and glory and wisdom, Thanksgiving and honor and power and might, Be to our God forever and ever" (Rev. 7:12).
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So let us ask God to help us today to thank Him for His infinite grace and love in sending His Son to pay in full the penalty for our sins which we could never pay. What a gift!

Yes, "Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!" (2 Cor. 9:15).

Do you want to learn more about this topic?
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Listen to "Only One Said 'Thank You'" by Dr. Whitcomb on SermonAudio.com.

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Thanksgiving Street

Thanksgiving Street

I knew a man whose name was Horner

Who used to live in grumble corner;

Grumble corner in crosspatch town

And he never was seen without a frown.
He grumbled at this, and he grumbled at that,

He growled at the dog. He growled at the cat.

He grumbled at morning. He grumbled at night,

And to grumble and growl was his chief delight.
He grumbled so much at his wife that she

Began to grumble as well as he.

And all the children, wherever they went,

Reflected their parents discontent.
If the sky was dark and betokened rain,

Then Mr. Horner was sure to complain.

And if there was not a cloud about,

He grumbled because of a threatened drought.
His meals were never to suit his taste,

He grumbled at having to eat in haste.

The bread was poor, or the meat was tough,

Or else he hadn't had half enough.
No matter how hard his wife would try

To please her husband, with scornful eye

He'd look around and then with a scowl

At something or other he'd begin to growl.
One day as I walked down the street,

My old acquaintance I chanced to meet;

Whose face was without the look of care

And the ugly frown that had drifted there.
"I may be mistaken" perhaps I said

As after saluting I turned my head!

"But it is, and it isn*t the Mr. Horner

Who used to live on grumble corner."
I met him next day and I met him again;

In melting weather and in pelting rain.

When stocks were up, and when stocks were down,

But a smile, somehow, had replaced the frown.
It puzzled me much, and so one day,

I seized his hand in a friendly way and said,

"Mr. Horner, I*d like to know

What can have happened to change you so?"
He laughed a laugh that was good to hear;

For it told of a conscience, calm and clear.

And he said with none of his old-time drawl,

"Why I've changed my residence, that is all.
"Yes," said Horner, "It wasn't healthy on grumble corner"

And so I've moved: twas a change complete,

"And you will find me now On

Thanksgiving Street."
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."Giving Thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Eph. 5:20).
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."In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you" (1 Thess. 5:18).

Governor Bradford's First Thanksgiving Proclamation!

Governor Bradford of Massachusetts made this first Thanksgiving Proclamation three years after the Pilgrims settled at Plymouth:

"Inasmuch as the great Father has given us this year an abundant harvest of Indian corn, wheat, peas, beans, squashes, and garden vegetables, and has made the forests to abound with game and the sea with fish and clams, and inasmuch as He has protected us from the ravages of the savages, has spared us from pestilence and disease, has granted us freedom to worship God according to the dictates of our own conscience.
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In everything give thanks; for this is the will of  God in Christ Jesus concerning you! 1 Thes. 5:18

Now I, your magistrate, do proclaim that all ye Pilgrims, with your wives and ye little ones, do gather at ye meeting house, on ye hill, between the hours of 9 and 12 in the daytime, on Thursday, November 29th, of the year of our Lord one thousand six hundred and twenty three and the third year since ye Pilgrims landed on ye Pilgrim Rock, there to listen to ye pastor and render thanksgiving to ye Almighty God for all His blessings."

William Bradford
Ye Governor of Ye Colony

George Washington's 1789 Thanksgiving 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:"
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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 enable 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 3d day of October, A.D. 1789.

Go: Washington