Thanksgiving And Attitude

The Mayflower sighted land on November 9, 1620. It proved to be Cape Cod, which although the right latitude, was well east of their original destination at the mouth of the Hudson River.

The Mayflower came to anchor in what is today Provincetown harbor on November 11, after 66 days at sea. That day the male passengers signed the famous agreement we now know as the "Mayflower Compact."

The First Winter at Plymouth:

The Mayflower remained in New England with the colonists throughout the terrible first winter. Although the ship was cold, damp and unheated, it did provide a defense against the rigorous New England winter until houses could be completed ashore.

Nevertheless, exposure, malnutrition and illness led to the death of half the group, both passengers and crewmen. There were four deaths (and one birth - Peregrine (paragwyne)White) during the month they spent at the tip of Cape Cod. The remainder of the winter saw the deaths of another 40 or 41 colonists. At the lowest ebb, only seven people were healthy enough to tend the sick.

Friday, March 16, they encounter an Native American named Samoset. He greeted them with "Welcome, Englishmen." Samoset had learned English from the English fishermen who crossed the North Atlantic each year to fish for cod. He told the Pilgrims of the great plague which had killed all of the Patuxet people who had previously occupied the cleared farmland where the new colony sat.

On March 22nd, Samoset returned with another Native American, Squanto, who was one of the men who had been captured by Hunt. His adventures abroad, from slavery in Spain, escape to London and return to America as a guide in the employ of Sir Ferdinando Gorges, had taught him well about the ways of the Europeans. Squanto, or Tisquantum, became the little colony's chief interpreter and agent in their interaction with the Native Peoples. His arrival paved the way for a visitation by Massasoit, the regional leader among the native people, the Wampanoag (non-ma-knoxs). After an exchange of greetings and gifts, the two peoples signed a treaty of peace which would last over fifty years.

They starting planting seeds that the Native Americans gave them. A seed that we call corn and taught them about putting a fish in with the seed to help it grow.

Sowing plants, the ones they brought with them and the New Seed the Native Americans gave them, that was called Corn that offered continual life in the new world. It was a way for the early Americans to provide for themselves and their families.

It also has spiritual ramifications.

Galatians 6:7-8 ESV

Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.

(read Scripture Text here)

----------Isaiah 5:1-6-----------

Galatians 6:7-8 ESV

Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.

God gave you a vineyard!

Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference.

Winston Churchill Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/topics/topic_attitude.html#YYwQZFyfwSZcT0hg.99

We must realize we cannot change our past. We can not change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the things that can't be changed. We can not change other people. We must accept the fact that you will struggle with that inner person for the rest of our earthly life. The only thing we can do is play on what belongs to us and Christ that lives within us, and our attitude.

Modified from a statement from: Charles R. Swindoll Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/topics/topic_attitude.html#YYwQZFyfwSZcT0hg.99

Even if we live in a Vineyard that has many weeds in it. Even if our vineyard is grown up and the winepress is broken and the watchtower is falling apart we have one things. Christ, and the attitude that:

Philippians 4:13

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.