16 Always be joyful.17 Never stop praying.18 Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.
Hebrews 12
14 Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord. 15 Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many. 16 Make sure that no one is immoral or godless like Esau, who traded his birthright as the firstborn son for a single meal. 17 You know that afterward, when he wanted his father’s blessing, he was rejected. It was too late for repentance, even though he begged with bitter tears.
18 You have not come to a physical mountain,* to a place of flaming fire, darkness, gloom, and whirlwind, as the Israelites did at Mount Sinai. 19 For they heard an awesome trumpet blast and a voice so terrible that they begged God to stop speaking. 20 They staggered back under God’s command: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death.”* 21 Moses himself was so frightened at the sight that he said, “I am terrified and trembling.”*
22 No, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to countless thousands of angels in a joyful gathering. 23 You have come to the assembly of God’s firstborn children, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God himself, who is the judge over all things. You have come to the spirits of the righteous ones in heaven who have now been made perfect. 24 You have come to Jesus, the one who mediates the new covenant between God and people, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks of forgiveness instead of crying out for vengeance like the blood of Abel.
25 Be careful that you do not refuse to listen to the One who is speaking. For if the people of Israel did not escape when they refused to listen to Moses, the earthly messenger, we will certainly not escape if we reject the One who speaks to us from heaven! 26 When God spoke from Mount Sinai his voice shook the earth, but now he makes another promise: “Once again I will shake not only the earth but the heavens also.”* 27 This means that all of creation will be shaken and removed, so that only unshakable things will remain. 28 Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe. 29 For our God is a devouring fire.
Dear Friends,
These scripture references at first seem at odds with each other but through my studies I have learned that all things are not as they seem at first glance.
We are now in the week of Thanksgiving here in America. It means football and turkey to most and a great time of family celebrating together. But there is so much more to our history than that. We have forgotten the purpose of true "thanksgiving" and even who we should be giving thanks to in our celebrating. I'm sure the Native Americans were thanked for many things in those early days, but the real bounty giver was GOD. Pilgrims running from religious persecution had not forgotten...
- After the Pilgrims had lost over half of their population in the winter 1620, they formed a relationship with the Wampanoag tribe and who taught them to fish, hunt and plant. After the harvest of 1621, the colonists collected enough food to feed the community and the Wampanoag were part of the feat. Edward Winslow (American Pilgrim and governor of Plymouth Colony~1633, 1636, and 1644) had this to say: "Our harvest being gotten in, our governor sent four men on fowling, that so we might after a special manner rejoice together after we had gathered the fruits of our labor. They four in one day killed as much fowl as, with a little help beside, served the company almost a week. At which time, amongst other recreations, we exercised our arms, many of the Indians coming amongst us, and among the rest their greatest king Massasoit, with some ninety men, whom for three days we entertained and feasted, and they went out and killed five deer, which we brought to the plantation and bestowed on our governor, and upon the captain and others. And although it be not always so plentiful as it was at this time with us, yet by the goodness of God, we are so far from want that we often wish you partakers of our plenty." Mourt's Relation (full title: A Relation or Journal of the Beginning and Proceedings of the English Plantation Settled at Plimoth in New England)
- The first Thanksgiving Proclamation goes like this... 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 favour... and this is only the beginning of what George Washington had to say, October 14, 1879 as he proclaimed November 26 as a day of public thanksgiving and prayer. See the entire text @ http://www.earlyamerica.com/earlyamerica/firsts/thanksgiving/thankstext.html
- Other days of thanksgiving were proclaimed as days of fasting and prayer in America's early history. ..
- Abraham Lincoln's Thanksgiving Proclamation begins... The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God. and there is much more...see the entire text @ http://showcase.netins.net/web/creative/lincoln/speeches/thanks.htm
Let's remember to give thanks in the good times and the bad... GOD is in control and there is a plan. We don't have to know the plan. We only have to trust and obey HIM and He will reveal what we need to know in HIS time.
You know, I have witnessed that some people do not accept that American’s foundation was based on Christian principles. But I say, how can anyone read our history and not see GOD in it? We must let them believe what they will, because history does reveal that many generations in America were taught and brought up in Christian homes from the time of the first colonies until today.
Some of our earliest founders came here for religious freedom. I believe that they listened to the call of GOD. They fought their way through the wilderness of settling in a New World. Yes, there were some disgraceful actions in American history. But have we truly looked at the goodness that America has brought to the world? But looking at the culture within families in early America we find that it was vastly different then. In most homes children grew up in the glow of scripture and godly parenting. This is where the work ethic of America was born. It was just part of the call of GOD to a people in a new land that became a new nation.
These families did not keep to themselves but built communities. They met regularly together. They planned and worked together. They worshipped and prayed together. They became a conquering machine with GOD as the engine. No community was without a church, even if they had a circuit riding preacher. For those who think we were never a Christian nation, if the first settlements didn't believe in GOD, why did they build churches?
At any rate, this work ethic that we know as the American way was established firmly in our beginnings. Then something happened. As people who were willing to work hard achieved great things for themselves and their families, they began to neglect GOD. Over time, families were no longer worshipping and praying together. There became a time in our history where only women were bringing their children to church. This probably started when so many men had to go off to war. But, those that returned from war also stayed home. Church became a place for women and children. GOD did not change, but our values did. If men were not going to church, then they were not setting good examples at home.
At any rate, this work ethic that we know as the American way was established firmly in our beginnings. Then something happened. As people who were willing to work hard achieved great things for themselves and their families, they began to neglect GOD. Over time, families were no longer worshipping and praying together. There became a time in our history where only women were bringing their children to church. This probably started when so many men had to go off to war. But, those that returned from war also stayed home. Church became a place for women and children. GOD did not change, but our values did. If men were not going to church, then they were not setting good examples at home.
Eventually, even the mothers were not attending church and children were coming only when invited by others or because of a church bus ministry. I grew up in this era and it hasn't been that long ago (just about 50 years or so). GOD has purposefully been left out of families. The next thing that happened is that families disintegrated more and more. Divorce spread like a disease. Once families had a high priest in their own homes The fathers were the high priests of the home. Now, in most homes there is no priestly guidance. .. no example to follow...
When children grow up without a loving father, they have difficulty understanding that GOD is a loving father. Look at our homes today, sad but true is the fact that parents are signing up their children for all kinds of things at earlier ages. The thought is that I don't want my child to be bored and I want the best for my child.
Well, wanting the best for your child is wonderful, but what ever happened to teaching a child to be content with the things he/she already has? How can a well versed child ever be bored? Boredom doesn't come from a lack of things to do or lack of entertainment. It comes when children are constantly given things and never taught to consider others and to be grateful for the things that they have. When we give children everything they become ungrateful and expect more and more. We are not teaching children to make inward motivational changes so that their lives can be enriched, because we have not learned this lesson yet for ourselves. We neglect to train them to study GOD, but most of all we neglect to train them to listen to GOD. When we are too busy, we cannot hear from GOD. It is the same for our children. We all need to slow down our busy life and listen for GOD.
But let's get back to history, this turning away from GOD has had its impact, not only on families but also on society as a whole.
We have become arrogant as a nation and many times have believed that through our own power and wisdom we have arrived to a certain status. We put our faith and trust in our elected officials and in political gods who have made promises that can never be kept. As a people, our way of doing anything has not been with respect to seeking HIS face but has been by doing it all our way. May GOD have mercy on us as a people and forgive us for turning away from HIM.
Now, I realize that what I’m saying is a generalization and that not everyone who came here was Christian, but history reveals that many were. Our nation was built with the blessing of GOD and we are still being blessed but often don't realize how blessed we truly are. Let's consider what we need to do...
- Study the Word of GOD, praise HIM and pray to HIM but most of all listen to HIM...
- Study our American history… don’t take anyone’s word for it…go to the original texts and diaries… go to the original documents of our foundations. It’s recorded… it’s history… You will find the good, the bad, and the ugly in our history, but you will also find the faith of our forefathers of American history. Were they above sin? No. Did they do ungodly things? Yes, at times they did. But, did they have faith? Yes, most of them did. They believed in a good providence… this good providence we know as GOD through JESUS CHRIST our LORD. We need to be aware of history, so that we can learn from it and not repeat the same bad mistakes of the past. We need to be aware of history and put back into place the foundation on which our forefathers built this nation.
- These are just a few examples of the many you can find if you look... In the text of the Declaration of Independence, we find that GOD is mentioned in the very first paragraph. The next paragraph speaks of truths endowed by our Creator.
- Quote: "Resistance to tyranny becomes the Christian and social duty of each individual. … Continue steadfast and, with a proper sense of your dependence on God, nobly defend those rights which heaven gave, and no man ought to take from us."— Massachusetts Provincial Congress, Resolution October 6, 1774
- Quote: “I sat next to John Adams in Congress, and upon my whispering to him and asking him if he thought we should succeed in our struggle with Great Britain, he answered me, ‘Yes—if we fear God and repent of our sins.’”— Benjamin Rush (1745-1813) Founding Father& signer of the Declaration of Independence
- Quote: “God grant that not only the love of liberty but a thorough knowledge of the rights of man may pervade all the nations of the earth, so that a philosopher may set his foot anywhere on its surface and say: ‘This is my country.’”— Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) Statesman, Scientist, Inventor, Printer and Philosopher
- Quote: “Resistance to tyrants is obedience to God.”— Thomas Jefferson, Author of the Declaration of Independence, 3rd President of the U. S.
- Quote: “A freeborn people are not required by the religion of Jesus Christ to submit to tyranny, but may make use of such power as God has given them to recover and support their laws and liberties." (after the Boston Tea Party)— Samuel Adams (1722–1803) Father of the American Revolution, Patriot and Statesman
Today, many of us know GOD as someone watching us from a distance. We sometimes call on HIM when we get in a jam. HE often answers us and helps us through and then we go straight back to the same way of living. Why are we so dumb? Why does it take so long for us to learn? You would think that we would learn after the first time but that usually does not happen. We forget that GOD is holy. HE is divine. HE turned HIS face from HIS own SON when the sins of all of us were laid on HIM. Do we really think that HE will not turn from us when we continue to go back to the very thing that drained HIS SON of human life?
Hebrews 12 reminds me just how awesome HE is. When I read it, I have an openness to accept the power and might of OUR GREAT CREATOR. I read it to remember that when I raise my voice in praise and prayer to HIM that I call on a living GOD where angels gather joyfully. I enter into a great assembly of GOD’s firstborn children, whose names are written in heaven. I enter before the judge over all things. I enter before JESUS who is my advocate and pleads forgiveness on my behalf rather than vengeance for my disobedience.
Friends, we must not reject our GOD. HE has promised that HE would shake the heavens and the earth so that only things that are unshakable in HIS KINGDOM will remain. If we are truly HIS, we will remain… GOD is a devouring fire… We should remember HE is holy and that HE is to be respected.
HE reaches down in HIS power and might to lift us up when we call on HIM to receive JESUS. HE bends down and hears us as David said in the Psalms. HE sees us because HE cares about us and HE is GOD…
- Look around… the shaking has begun here on earth… There will be no place to hide self or secret sin. All things will be revealed… Everyone is being called in and given the chance to turn to HIM and become new, for the old is being shaken away… O FATHER, OUR CREATOR! O JESUS, OUR SAVIOR! O HOLY SPIRT, OUR TEACHER!
Kings and kingdoms will all pass away,
but there’s something about that name...
but there’s something about that name...
JESUS! JESUS! JESUS!
HE is the King of Kings!
Have we all listened and obeyed HIS call on our lives?
What is HE calling you to do?
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