The True Story Of Squanto Series

The Celebration of Thanksgiving

God Has a Plan to Use You for His Glory

Introduction:

Ilustration, Thanksgiving weather: A weight watch and indigestion warning have been issued for the entire area, with increased stuffiness around the beltway. During the evening, the turkey will diminish and taper off to leftovers, dropping to a low of 34F in the refrigerator. Looking ahead to Friday and Saturday, high pressure to eat sandwiches will be established. Flurries of leftovers can be expected both days with a 50 percent chance of scattered turkey sandwiches late in the day. By early next week, eating pressure will be low as the only wish left will be the wish bone.

Scriptures:

2 Tim 3:1-5 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful , unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! NKJV

Eph 2:8-10 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works , lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works , which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. NKJV

Body of Sermon:

Sandwiched between Halloween and Christmas is a holiday that is slowly becoming smaller each year in the hearts and minds of millions of Americans – Thanksgiving. It is celebrated on the 4th Thursday of each November. If you look hard, you might find one small section of Thanksgiving cards, autumn decorations, and a turkey platter in the midst of miles of Halloween costumes, Christmas decorations, and toys. Many now call it Turkey Day.

For some people, Thanksgiving is a day to get a list together for their Christmas shopping. Others plan a big dinner with their family. Others just enjoy having the day off from work, and they spend this time working around the house, go Christmas shopping, go fishing, play golf or watch football on TV.

But, historically we think of Thanksgiving as a time of feasting for the Pilgrims and Indians. In the fall of 1621, the Pilgrims had been in America less than a year. During those months, over half their original population died from disease or starvation. The Pilgrims hosted the first feast not to try out their latest recipes, but to celebrate life with their Indian friends and give thanks to God for His provision in difficult circumstances.

Perhaps it would be wise, perhaps it would be a good idea to redirect our families and friends toward gratitude, toward heart -felt Thanksgiving this year.

The first National Day of Thanksgiving was declared by President George Washington. I’m going to read his entire declaration.

Illustration:

On the the 3rd day of October, 1789, President George Washington, at the request of Congress made the following declaration, proclaiming a A National Thanksgiving.

"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 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 favor, able 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 upon us. all the great and various favors which He has been pleased to confer