On October 3, 1863, an Act of Congress designated an annual National Day of Thanksgiving as proclaimed by President Abraham Lincoln. The following is part of our national history:
I do, therefore, invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States... to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens... [it is] announced in the Holy Scriptures and proven by all history, that those nations are blessed whose God is the Lord... It has seemed to me fit and proper that God should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged, as with one heart and one voice, by the whole American people.
As amazing as it seems, this was the actual wording used by a President of the United States. I have been so blessed in my life; however, one of my greatest blessings, and most likely yours as well, is being a citizen of this great country. If you have not thanked God for your country lately, then today is a great time to do so.
I will leave you with some scriptures for Thanksgiving...
"Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done." 1 Chronicles 16:8
"Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let them say among the nations, "The Lord reigns!"
1 Chronicles 16:31
"Be joyful always;... give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."
1 Thessalonians 5:16 & 18
"You are my God, and I will give you thanks; you are my God, and I will exalt you. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever."
Psalms 118:28-29
"Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men. Let them exalt him in the assembly of the people and praise him in the council of the elders."
Psalm 107:31-32
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
Monday, November 13, 2006
Julie's Casting Call
This past weekend I experienced something totally new and exciting. My brother, my younger brother, asked his girlfriend to marry him. That’s right, he is now engaged! In some ways it is kind of weird and yet in others it just kind of seems very natural. My brother met his newly christened ‘fiancée’ at camp. She was actually introduced to someone else, whom according to the way she tells it, she was not attracted to in the least. (Sorry Lynn.)
Anyway, my brother was totally taken with this girl, whom we will call ‘Julie’ to protect her identity. However, Julie was not taken with him. She enjoyed his company, but didn’t really like him nearly as much as he liked her. In March, she came to my father’s funeral and I have heard that is where she ‘fell’ in love with him, although this has not been confirmed to me by the source. (Strictly hearsay!)
At first, I must admit, I was not very happy with the situation. Don’t get me wrong, I liked Julie. I always did. I always told my brother that she was perfect for him. But, in light of the recent emotional roller-coaster ride our family had been on I just didn’t feel comfortable with him starting a relationship that could so quickly turn into something very serious. I didn’t want the pain, sorrow, and longing for comfort to somehow taint what could very well turn out to be the most important relationship of his life. God has been in control though, and I believe He has led and directed both of them to each other.
Not too long ago ‘Julie’ told me that she would enjoy ‘sparing’ with me. (For all of you who do not know what that means, it basically means arguing.) My brother, whom for the sake of identity protection we will call ‘Jason’, told me he thought she would win. I don’t really know how to take this. I wonder if he said that because he thinks, after only a few years of knowing Julie that she would win. Did he say it because he thinks I, after a life time of knowing me, will lose? Or, did he say it because he feels I will ‘let’ her win?
Anyway, as of this past weekend, ‘Julie’ has had her Ouellette casting call. She is now officially, or soon to be officially, joining our wonderful little drama of life. I am happy to have her. Happy not only to be her arguing buddy, but also a life-long brother.
Sunday, November 05, 2006
Family
Three years ago my Grandmother passed away. A few months after she passed my Mother found out that she had ovarian cancer. She has been on some sort of chemotherapy since that time. In March of this year my Father passed away. I miss him more than I know how to say. There are days that my inside just aches. I have no words to express human suffering. No words to tell what it is like to be aching, empty, and hollow on the inside of your spirit. But in spite of all the days, nights, and sometimes a whole week of pain, I am blessed.
Until I was 26 years old, I never knew death, disease, or extreme sorrow. I have a cousin who passed away when I was in my early teens. Although I knew and loved him, he lived in New York, and over the course of my life, we had only spent short periods of time together up until that point. Up until three years ago, my world had never really been turned upside down by life. In the last three years though, I can truly say that I have grown ‘old’ in so many ways. Life has happened in ways I never imagined it would.
My pastor’s wife was talking about our church a few nights ago. She was talking about her sister that had recently moved away, her mother, father, and brother that had gone on to be with the Lord. She commented on how much she misses our church when she is away, and has realized lately that our church is her ‘family.’ I could not agree more with her. Over the last few years I have fallen in love with the ‘family’ of God. Where can we go when we are in need of friendship, love, and support? Who can we turn to when all else seems to be falling apart.
For years my mother and father have been a part of Sunday school, Bus Ministry, cleaning the church, and ushering; however, I think the last few years, this last year especially, the church has been carrying our family. Who would my family be without Life Tabernacle. From cleaning the church to working in Sunday school, my brother and I were taught to pour ourselves into the kingdom of God. We were taught by example that what we do for Christ is the most important part of our existence. In those lessons of pouring out, I fell in love- in love with the church: in love with God’s family.
Until I was 26 years old, I never knew death, disease, or extreme sorrow. I have a cousin who passed away when I was in my early teens. Although I knew and loved him, he lived in New York, and over the course of my life, we had only spent short periods of time together up until that point. Up until three years ago, my world had never really been turned upside down by life. In the last three years though, I can truly say that I have grown ‘old’ in so many ways. Life has happened in ways I never imagined it would.
My pastor’s wife was talking about our church a few nights ago. She was talking about her sister that had recently moved away, her mother, father, and brother that had gone on to be with the Lord. She commented on how much she misses our church when she is away, and has realized lately that our church is her ‘family.’ I could not agree more with her. Over the last few years I have fallen in love with the ‘family’ of God. Where can we go when we are in need of friendship, love, and support? Who can we turn to when all else seems to be falling apart.
For years my mother and father have been a part of Sunday school, Bus Ministry, cleaning the church, and ushering; however, I think the last few years, this last year especially, the church has been carrying our family. Who would my family be without Life Tabernacle. From cleaning the church to working in Sunday school, my brother and I were taught to pour ourselves into the kingdom of God. We were taught by example that what we do for Christ is the most important part of our existence. In those lessons of pouring out, I fell in love- in love with the church: in love with God’s family.
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