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Five Grains of Corn
by Claude A. Frazier
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Tradition says that the Pilgrims, in later
years, put five grains of corn upon each empty plate before their
annual Thanksgiving feasts were served. The father, mother, children
and others at the table would each pick up a grain of corn and
tell something for which they were thankful. The corn was to
remind them that in the first year in the New World they had
been in such dire straits that their allowance had been only
five grains of corn per person per day.
The Pilgrims had little, but they
did posses gratitude.
It was upon this base of genuine
gratitude to God that America was built.
Why not, this Thanksgiving, take five grains
of corn and think of five persons for whom we feel especially
appreciative, then take the time to tell them how much we appreciate
them - in person, by a telephone call, letter or even by e-mail!
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Put "Thanks" Back
in Thanksgiving
Billy Joe Thrasher
"Enter His gates with thanksgiving
and His courts with praise, give thanks to Him and praise His
name."
The inspired writers have consistently
pointed us toward the expression of thanks. Paul goes so far
as to tell the saints at Thessalonica to "give thanks in
all circumstances" (1 Thess. 5"18). We indeed have
much to be thankful for and as this Thanksgiving season approaches,
let me suggest some things:
Truth-"We shall know the truth and
the truth will set us free" (John 8:32). "Sanctify
them in truth, thy word is truth" (John 17:17).
Heaven-"Let not your hearts be troubled...
in my Father's house are many rooms...and I go to prepare a place
for you" (John 14:1-2).
Abundance-"I have come that they might
have life, and...have it more abundantly" (John 10:10).
Newness of life-"We are buried with
Him by baptism into death... in order that...we too may live
a new life"(Rom. 6:4).
Kingdom of God-Upon this rock I will build
my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it"(Matt.
16:18).
Salvation-"He became the source of
eternal salvation for all who obey him" (Heb. 5:9).
Goodness of God-"The goodness of God
leadeth thee to repentance" (Rom. 2:4).
Identification-"You are a chosen people,
a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God"
(1 Pet. 2:9).
Victory over death-"Death has been
swallowed up in victory" (1 Cor. 15:54).
Inheritance-"And if children, then
heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ" (Rom.
8:17).
No condemnation-"There is there-fore
now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus" (Rom.
8:1).
Gift of the Son-"For God so loved
the world that on the cross he gave his one and only Son"
(John 3:16).
Thanksgiving is not the only time of the
year we are to be thankful, but it is a special time. My prayer
is that we might always remember those great blessings mentioned
above and while there are certainly others, these provide us
a starting place.
Southern Baptist The Mediator Pulpit Helps
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The
Power of the Bended Knee
Click below to learn how you can know Jesus!
Birds go to sleep on their perches, but they never fall off.
This is because of the tendons in the bird's legs. They are so
constructed that when the leg is bent at the knee, the claws
contract and grip like a steel trap. The claws refuse to let
go until the knees are unbent again. The bended knee gives the
bird the ability to hold on to his perch so tightly.
Isn't this also the secret of the holding power of the Christian?
Daniel found this to be true. Surrounded by a pagan environment,
tempted to compromise with evil, urged to weaken his grip on
God, he refused to let go. He held firm when others faltered
because he was a man of prayer. He knew the power of the bended
knee.
From sleeping birds we can learn the secret of holding things
which are most precious to us-honesty, purity, thoughtfulness,
honor, character. That secret is the knee bent in prayer, seeking
to get a firmer grip on those values which make life worth living.
When we hold firmly to God in prayer, we can rest assured He
will hold tightly to us.
Rollin S. Burhans, End-Times Harvester
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Bits
- of - Praise
Earth should be a temple filled with the
songs of grateful saints, and every day should be a smoking censor
filled with the sweet incense of thanksgiving. Spurgeon
Prayer is an expression of want, and when the want is overwhelming,
prayer prevails.
A Bible stored in the mind is worth a dozen stored in the bottom
of one's trunk.
Robert Harvey
How many times you have been through the Bible is not nearly
as important as how thoroughly the Bible has been through you!
The man was wise who prayed over a heavy
Thanksgiving table, "God, please grant us one more blessing
a thankful heart."
Preach the gospel at all times-and when
necessary, use words.
St. Francis of Assisi
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- Life is not a problem to be solved,
but a gift to be enjoyed.
Your life is God's gift to you. What you do with your life is
your gift to God.
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