Thanksgiving

The Blessing

By William M. Self, Sr.

David said for all God’s blessings

Bless the Lord, O my soul;

And all that is within me, bless His holy name!

Fellow Americans lets bless God

 

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is an American holiday…

A holiday celebrated in the United States

on the fourth Thursday in November.

It has been an annual tradition since 1863,

when during the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln

proclaimed a national day of "Thanksgiving and Praise

to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens".

The New England colonists were accustom

to regularly celebrating “thanksgiving” –

days of prayer thanking God for blessings.

We, in America, have been blessed.

Every American knows the song

“God Bless America”.

 

As we raise our voices in a solemn prayer,

God bless America

We asked God for blessing and peace.

So if we ask God to Bless America shouldn’t

we also say “America Bless God”.

One of the definitions for thanksgiving

is “a prayer expressing gratitude”.

We should not wait till we sit down at

the Thanksgiving meal with our loved

ones to give thanks and bless God.

 

Otherwise, the food will get cold

and the one praying will not be blessed

by the hungry souls sitting at the table.

 

So when will you take time out of

your busy schedule to bless God?

Americans, if this is the annual celebration

of thanks to God how will you express it?

Hopefully, it will be more than a

quick prayer before the food gets cold.

Maybe the greatest blessing we could give God

this Thanksgiving is to make a commitment

to regularly bless God throughout the year.

Maybe to increase prayer and meditation time

with Him, more church involvement and service,

or gifts toward farthing the Kingdom of God.

You and I are blessed by God as Americans...

And through Jesus Christ are

blessed to be citizens of heaven.

 

Scripture Reading

Psalm 103:1-5 NKJV

103 Bless the Lord, O my soul;

And all that is within me, bless His holy name!

2 Bless the Lord, O my soul,

And forget not all His benefits:

3 Who forgives all your iniquities,

Who heals all your diseases,

4 Who redeems your life from destruction,

Who crowns you with loving kindness and tender mercies,

5 Who satisfies your mouth with good things,

So that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.