Thanksgiving and Testings
What blessing to know my Savior, Jesus Christ has given me forgiveness of sins and sent His Spirit into my whole being so that i indeed as he said would have The Comforter to be in me, the Spirit of Truth
John 15.26 When the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me.
With my Bible, and my coffee, I find every day the strength to meet whatever life may bring me. Philippians 4.13 "I can do all things through Christ who strengtheneth me." Psalms 119.105 tells us "Thy word is a lamp to my feet, and a light unto my path." Again, Job declares "Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him; but I will maintain mine own ways before him. He also shall be my salvation: for an hypocrite shall not come before him." Job 13.15,16.
Thanksgiving is a time when people gather together and enjoy their families in our country. It has been a matter of great concern that increasingly is not out of THANKS to GOD but more a secular idea of just "being together" and "finding comfort in friends and family".
It was not like that for the PILGRIMS who came on the Mayflower in 1620. They had much testing - in illness, a strange land of which they knew nothing, and they struggled on, setting for themselves a home in the NEW LAND. It was 1621 when they had three days of feasting and activities to celebrate their HARVEST. Their deepest longing for a country where they could be FREE TO BELIEVE THEIR FAITH AND TO TRUST IN GOD FOR THEMSELVES was a reality. They were thankful to God for their Blessings. They did not take them for granted.
ALL PEOPLE THAT ON EARTH DO DWELL SING TO THE LORD WITH CHEERFUL VOICE HIM SERVE WITH FEAR, HIS PRAISE FORTHWITH, COME YE BEFORE HIM AND REJOICE. KNOW THAT THE LORD IS GOD INDEED; WITHOUT OUR AID HE DID US MAKE; WE ARE HIS FOLK, HE DOTH US FEED, AND FOR HIS SHEEP HE DOTH US TAKE. O ENTER THEN HIS GATES WITH PRAISE, APPROACH WITH JOY HIS COURTS UNTO, PRAISE, LAUD, AND BLESS HIS NAME FOR IT IS SEEMING SO TO DO. FOR WHY? THE LORD OUR GOD IS GOOD, HIS MERCY IS FOREVER SURE, HIS TRUTH AT ALL TIMES FIRMLY STOOD, AND SHALL FROM AGE TO AGE ENDURE. PRAISE GOD FROM WHOM ALL BLESSINGS FLOW, PRAISE HIM ALL CREATURES, HERE BELOW, PRAISE HIM ABOVE, YE HEAVENLY HOST, PRAISE FATHER, SON AND HOLY GHOST.
The OLD HUNDREDTH melody From Psalm 100 Attributed to William Kethe, late 16th century with the music from the Genevan Psalter 1551 by Louis Bourgeois, about 1516
When I visited the Plymouth Plantation in 1987
with my husband Wm. Henry Cash, Jr.
we noticed how small the homes were,
While there, a Pilgrim lady sang this song for us.
ALL PEOPLE THAT ON EARTH DO DWELL SING TO THE LORD WITH CHEERFUL VOICE HIM SERVE WITH FEAR, HIS PRAISE FORTHWITH, COME YE BEFORE HIM AND REJOICE. KNOW THAT THE LORD IS GOD INDEED; WITHOUT OUR AID HE DID US MAKE; WE ARE HIS FOLK, HE DOTH US FEED, AND FOR HIS SHEEP HE DOTH US TAKE. O ENTER THEN HIS GATES WITH PRAISE, APPROACH WITH JOY HIS COURTS UNTO, PRAISE, LAUD, AND BLESS HIS NAME FOR IT IS SEEMING SO TO DO. FOR WHY? THE LORD OUR GOD IS GOOD, HIS MERCY IS FOREVER SURE, HIS TRUTH AT ALL TIMES FIRMLY STOOD, AND SHALL FROM AGE TO AGE ENDURE. PRAISE GOD FROM WHOM ALL BLESSINGS FLOW, PRAISE HIM ALL CREATURES, HERE BELOW, PRAISE HIM ABOVE, YE HEAVENLY HOST, PRAISE FATHER, SON AND HOLY GHOST.
My Sins Are Blotted Out, I Know !
What a wondrous message in God's Word !
My sins are blotted out, I know !
If I trust in His redeeming blood,
My sins are blotted out, I know !
Chorus:
My sins are blotted out, I know ! My sins
are blotted out, I know !
They are buried in the depths
of the deepest sea:
My sins are blotted out, I know !
Once my heart was black, but now what joy,
My sins are blotted out, I know !
I have peace that nothing can destroy,
My sins are blotted out, I know !
I shall stand some day before my King,
My sins are blotted out, I know !
With the ransomed hose, I then shall sing,
My sins are blotted out, I know !
I expect Jesus to come and call for us to meet Him
in the clouds SOON HE IS COMING SOON
Until then, whatever life brings my way, I will
give thanks and praise Him who is Worthy. "Give thanks in everything for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."
II Thess. 5.17
What a wondrous message in God's Word !
My sins are blotted out, I know !
If I trust in His redeeming blood,
My sins are blotted out, I know !
Chorus:
My sins are blotted out, I know ! My sins
are blotted out, I know !
They are buried in the depths
of the deepest sea:
My sins are blotted out, I know !
Once my heart was black, but now what joy,
My sins are blotted out, I know !
I have peace that nothing can destroy,
My sins are blotted out, I know !
I shall stand some day before my King,
My sins are blotted out, I know !
With the ransomed hose, I then shall sing,
My sins are blotted out, I know !
in the clouds SOON HE IS COMING SOON
Until then, whatever life brings my way, I will
give thanks and praise Him who is Worthy. "Give thanks in everything for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."
II Thess. 5.17
