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Devotions for Thanksgiving:
Watching the Sunset part 1 lesson and devotions for Kids — for Teens
Misdirected Expectations — Adult Devotion
Watching the Sunset part 2 lesson and devotions for Kids — for Teens
Divine Appreciation — Adult Devotion
The Pilgrims had little, but they did posses gratitude.
Five Grains of Corn by Claude A. Frazier
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.
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!
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
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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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Southern Baptist The Mediator Pulpit Helps Inserts
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