Faith and Insight

1789 A Proclamation of Thanksgiving was set forth by the first President of

the United States, George Washington.

1863 A Proclamation of Thanksgiving was set forth by the sixteenth

President

of the United States, Abraham Lincoln..

2000 Our First Thanksgiving in this new Millennium has come and I hope it

was

a time

of counting our blessings and thanking and praising God for His mercy,

grace,

and love to

each of us!

George Washington said that it was the duty of all Nations to acknowledge

the

providence

of Almighty God, to obey His will and to be grateful for His benefits and

humbly to implore

His protection and favor.

Abraham Lincoln said it is the duty of nations as well as men to own their

dependence upon

the overruling power of God; to confess their sin and transgressions in

humble sorrow, yet

with assured hope that genuine repentance will lead to mercy and pardon;

and

to recognize the

sublime truth, announced in the Holy Scriptures and proven in history, that

those nations are

blessed whose God is the Lord.

Abraham Lincoln went on to say that we have forgotten God. We have

forgotten

the gracious

hand which preserved us in peace and multiplied and enriched and

strengthened

us. He said

we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and

preserving grace,

too proud to pray to the God that made us.

Now some 137 years later may we in our day not forget to continually give

Thanksgiving to

our God! It is proper and right to gratefully acknowledge God who has

preserved our great

land and blessed its people. In spite of any shortcomings of America or

Americans in 1789

or 1863 or 2000 we have a gracious God who forgives and loves. All year

may

we give God Thanksgiving through worship, praise, obedience and service.

We have and can enjoy our

wonderful God when we open our hearts to Him.

Thanksgiving in thanksliving to our Wonderful Lord!