Thanksgiving History and Traditions

America's first Thanksgiving, in 1621, was a three-day celebration of feasting and recreation. The prior year was the Pilgrims' first winter at Plymouth, and it was so harsh almost half of the colonists perished.

By the second harvest, there was reason to rejoice. A peace treaty was signed with the Wampanoag, the Pilgrims' Native American neighbors. And Massasoit, their leader, shared his agricultural expertise, which resulted in a bumper crop. As was common in England, where the Pilgrims originated, they chose to commemorate their bounty with a harvest festival.

Most accounts of the actual event mention neither turkey nor pumpkin, our modern Thanksgiving staples. Indian corn was plentiful, however. Four valiant Pilgrim housewives supervised the feast that Massasoit and 90 of his people attended, bringing five deer as their contribution to the communal table.

Presumable, the Pilgrims followed the English custom of the day and served their neighbors buffet-style; dishes were placed on the table and guests helped themselves. There were no forks, only knives, spoons, and large napkins that were used to pick up hot foods and to tidy the face and fingers. Food could be eaten directly from the serving dish or you could share a trencher (wooden plate). No meal could begin without saying grace, since the Pilgrims believed that their good fortune was due to their relationship to God.

Similar New England harvest festivals evolved into an annual tradition, officially acknowledged in 1777, when the Continental Congress declared the first national Thanksgiving. President Lincoln established Thanksgiving as a national holiday in 1863, after 23 years of lobbying by Sarah Josepha Hale, an acclaimed author and editor.

The regional foods of New England, including turkey, cranberries, and pumpkin, came to be identified with the holiday, as did the inspirational story of the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag tribe feasting and coexisting in peace.

Criticism

I consider myself a good cook. My taste buds are sharp. I detect when a strong or wrong spice is used in food. I complain when the meat is tough, the potatoes are not done, the gravy lumpy, the salad limp. You get the picture . Often, I complain about other things as well.



Examining the reason for complaining usually points a finger back at me. Am I finding fault with the issue to make my self feel superior, or am I genuinely wanting to make an improvement?



Are you a fence straddler or do you speak out when an important issue comes before you. Do you make a positive comment, an opposing comment or do you just stay mum. I'm usually vocal with my opinions and sometimes it gets me into trouble.



Recently I read an enlightening article (author unknown) that pointed out how you can actually learn to like criticism. This was a unique idea that people only appreciate 'constructive criticism.'

The key issue is how to take criticism...whether you can take it in stride, or if it shakes you up, or if, hopefully you can use it to your advantage. Sometimes criticism is really a test of how strong you are... and how you can profit from it by trying to improve yourself, and recognize what you know and what you don't know. Few people can take harsh criticism without appearing to be upset by it, but if we take criticism gracefully we can use it to our advantage.



A poet once wrote: "The stones that critics hurl with harsh intent, man may use to build a monument."

God's Blessings Declared Unto You!

"Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee and the light shall shine upon they ways." Job 22:28

That the peace of God will enter into your mind and destroy all confusion sent by the enemy. Phil.4:7

That the joy of the Lord is your strength. Nehemiah 8:10

That you will gain understanding of your God-ordained assignment. Psalm 119:104

That the plots of the enemy against you are cancelled in the name of Jesus Christ. John 10"10

That the blessings of God will overtake you. Deut. 18:1,2

That you are a blessing to the nation. Malachi 3:12

That you children are purpose-filled by the Lord. Matt.21:16

That no weapon that is formed against you will prosper. Isaiah 54:17

That the healing hand of God will cancel every sickness & disease & replace it with wholeness. Isaiah 53:5

That you are no longer a victim but a victor n Jesus' name. I John 4:4

That He who has begun a good work in you will complete it in you. Phil.1:5

That you can do all things through Christ which strengthens you. Phil.1:6

That your God shall supply all of your needs according to His riches in glory. Phil.4:19

That the lies of man have no power over your life. Psalm. 110:1

The the generational curses in your life are broken from your life. Matt.11:29

That your finances are pressed down, shaken together and running over with abundance. Luke 6:38

That you are blessed to be a blessing. Hebrews 6:14

That you are fearfully and wonderfully made by the hand of God. Psalm 13:14

That you are free to praise the Lord. Psalm 150:6

That you have the authority to bind every demon and ungodly spirit. Matt. 16:19

Will People Return to God?

Possible because of so much frustration in our nation and the world today, I have heard a number of people suggest we should pray for our nation and ask God to again to bless our nation. I sincerely agree. As Billy Graham once said: "I want to lobby for God."

Bill listens to Glen Beck on Fox News each evening and I'm not sure whether Beck is a political lobbyist or whether he is lobbying for God when he said we need Faith, Hope and Charity.

The political environment is so disturbing that we recognize the need for a new criteria in selecting Presidents, Vice Presidents and Members of Congress. We must be wiser in our choices and more selective.

The conditions in the world today are less stable than at any time I can remember. What are we doing about them? Are we really seeing beyond the horizon, giving help where it is needed. Are we listening for the voice of God to call us to service. We need a deeper faith and firmer stand for the principles of right.

It has been said that religion tends to spread the language of the heart. Someone wrote: "Religion is life, philosophy is thought; religion looks up, friendship looks in. We need both thought and life, and the two shall be in harmony."

In ancient proverb states: "If there is righteousness in the heart, there will be beauty in the character. If there be beauty in the character, there will be harmony in the family home; if there is harmony in the home, there will be order in the nation. When there is order in the nation, there will be peace in the world.

God will bless what He initiates, what depends on Him for its success, what is done according to His Word, and what is done for His Glory.

"For freedom Christ has set us free, stand fast therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of
slavery." Gal. 5:1

Let us return to God and have Faith, Hope and Charity.

The ME Generation

I read the following in 'Our Daily Bread' recently: IT'S ALL ABOUT ME! This message is declared by so many men and women today that it could be the motto of our modern world - a challenging world that is destructively self-centered. The question we must ask is: Is it really all about me?

Obviously understanding that no one is perfect and probably would not make 100 per cent if tested on the following attributes: To be helpful, courteous, kind, constructive, sincere; or to serve, give, have faith and listen to advise. We could test ourselves and see what kind of mark we would score if we took a personal inventory, or we could listen to our friends for they will tell us what they really think, and this way we would learn to know ourselfs better.

We should be open-minded enough to talk difference over with our family and friends. This will shift the conversation from all about me as an individual to all about us. This will enable the important decisions to be made jointly and not solely by me. A selfish person will have a hard time finding happiness.

However, there are other enemies of character as bad as or worse than being self-centered. Equally as costly is doubting our faith , which is deficiency of faith; superstition, which is misdirection of faith; hypocrisy, which is insincerity of faith, irreverence, which is contempt of faith, and perhaps worst of all, indifference, which is neglect of faith.

For the followers of Christ however, the answer is clear - it is not all about ME - it's all about Jesus Christ and others. The power is not in us but through us. That power comes from the "one God and Father of all, who above all, and through all, and in all." Eph. 4:6

Fear

Bill has a condition call 'Gastroparasis.' It seems to be unique with people with diabetes. When it occurs, the person is in extreme pain. The first time this happened to Bill, he was very fearful, afraid that something really bad was happening to his body, and emergency precautions were taken. He was taken to the emergency department at Baylor Hospital and was diagnosed with Gall Stones. A surgeon was consulted and the surgery was performed. Before long however, Bill was having the same pain and having the pain frequently. Finally a new diabetic doctor recognized the symptoms for what they were. Now Bill has learned to relax instead of being afraid and after a few minutes the pain goes away, but today he had an attack and it lasting longer than usuall. Fear can be a devastating experience.



Ralph Beebe. Having seen these words over the fireplace of the Hind's Head Hotel in Bray-on-Thames, not far from London: "FEAR KNOCKED AT THE DOOR. FAITH ANSWERED. NO ONE WAS THERE," wrote the following.



Too often Fear rules over our lives, intruding into every situation. Fear sits by our side and whispers advice while we make decisions. Fear embraces us when we meet grief. Fear frays our bodies and our minds, and robs us of the very sleep we need to mend them.



Fear masquerades in countless forms and under many names: Doubt, Indecision, Procrastination, Alarm, Timidity and Anxiety. Sometimes Fear becomes Terror, Horror, Shock and Consternation.



Fear constantly knocks at our door, asking to enter our lives. Fear poses as a friend. Fear claims to be Prudence, Caution, Care, Diligence and Discretion. But if we open our lives to Fear, we admit a guest who will not soon or gracefully depart.



Faith is the comrade who will serve us best against Fear. For Fear is shadow, but Faith is real. Faith too assumes other shapes and names. There is the Faith that is met as Prayer, the alliance with the Almighty that enables one to meet the contrary ways of the world. Faith is the courage that has battled for man's highest ideals. Faith supports us as Confidence, in ourselves and to those we serve and those who serve.



Keep Faith as a constant companion. When Fear knocks at your door, send Faith to answer. Faith will dissolve the shadow of Fear that would blot every thought and action.



"...Fear not, for I am with you, be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you..." Isaiah 41:10

Ten Unique Commandments

For six weeks the pastor at my church is preaching on the ten commandments. I have heard many interpretation of the ten commandments, but it is always refreshing to be reminded of those rules.
ver since the Ten Commandments, with their guidelines for Christian living, were given by God to Moses on Mount Sinai, they have been considered as probably the most important document in the history of mankind.

If these guidelines had been meticulously followed, and it's never too late to start, there would be less turmoil and more peace and happiness in our world today.

Whenever a great masterpiece of literature is written someone usually comes up with a practical, but much less religious version of the great and historic document. I found this one in my file - author unknown.

The Ten Commandments of How to Get Along With People:

1. Keep skid chains on your tongue; always say less than you think. Cultivate a low, persuasive voice . How you say it often counts more than what you say

2. Make promises sparingly and keep them faithfully, no matter what it costs.

3. Never let an apportunity pass to say a kind and encouraging word to or about somebody. Praise good work regardless of who did it. If criticism is needed, criticize helpfully, never spitefully.

4. Be interested in others, their work, their homes and families. Make merry with those who rejoice, mourn with those who weep, regard others as a person of importance.

5. Be cheerful, don't burden or depress those around you by dwelling on your minor aches and pains and small disappointments. Remember everyone is carrying some kind of a load.

6. Keep an open mind. Discuss but don't argue. It is a mark of a superior mind to be able to disagree without being disagreeable.

7. Let your virtues, if you have any, speak for themselves. Refuse to talk of another's vices. Discourage gossip. It is a waste of time and can be extremely destructive

8. Be careful of another's feelings. Wit and humor at the other person's expense may hurt when least expected.

9. Pay no attention to ill-natured remarks about yourself. Remember, the person who carried the message may not be the most accurate reporter in the world. Simply live so that nobody will believe them.

10. Don't be too anxious about the credit due you. Do your best and be patient. Forget about yourself and let others 'remember.' Success is much sweeter that way.

Remember, the important thing in life is not so much where you stand, but in what direction you
are moving. To reach the port of Heaven, you must sometimes sail with the wind, sometimes against it, but never dirift or lie at anchor.