In This Issue• Introduction
• Now Thank We All Our God
• The Faith of Our Forefathers
• The First National Thanksgiving Proclamation
Greetings!
Capitol Hill Prayer Partners
P.O. Box 5152
Herndon, VA 20172-1970
chpp@patriot.net
HAPPY THANKSGIVING! - Thursday, November 26, 2009
"Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name." (Hebrews 13:15) "
Introduction
Happy Thanksgiving!
Today, as we gather together with family and friends to celebrate and to honor this uniquely American holiday, Capitol Hill Prayer Partners wants to share three messsages of hope and encouragement for this hour.
The first one, entitiled "Now Thank We All Our God," was issued yesterday by Family Research Council. Thank you, FRC!
The second one, entitled "The Faith of our Forefathers," is a word from the Lord released by one of our prayer partners who lives in the State of Georgia. Milissa (last name withheld upon request) grew up in a country in Eastern Europe under a communist regime. Her love and passion for the freedom we all enjoy is tangible -- may we, too, experience the "fire of her love" for America!
The third message is from "the American Minute" for today: November 26 -- the date that President George Washington issued The First National Thanksgiving Proclamation.
May you each be enriched, blessed and strengthened as you meditate upon the following messages.
In His Amazing Grace,
Sara Ballenger, Founder and President
Capitol Hill Prayer Partners
Now Thank We All Our God
Thursday, November 26, 2009
George Washington was first and foremost, a farmer. Anyone visiting his estate at Mount Vernon, fifteen miles from the city named for him, will be struck by how deeply he loved farming. The implements carved in plaster on the ceiling of his impressive dining room are not those that brought him fame in war. They are, instead, the tools of peace and agriculture.
So, when he was elected our first President, one of the sacrifices he willingly made was to live in New York City, far from his farms. When he issued the nation's first Thanksgiving Proclamation in 1789, he praised God not only for victory in our War of Independence, and for the peaceful means by which our government had been established, but also for the bounteous harvests of our fields. He thanked God for "the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed."
As a farmer, Washington knew how dependent we are on His favor for our daily bread. The rains that quench the parched soil, the sun that casts its benevolent rays upon striving crops, the waters that provide a rich catch of fish--all these were familiar to the Father of Our Country; all these are gifts from our Heavenly Father. In the last year, we have often been told, Americans have suffered a severe economic setback. Millions have found their plans for the future swept away. Millions more have lost their jobs and some even their hope. As a nation we share in these challenges together and we pray especially for these during this day of Thanksgiving. But we are mindful of what the Apostle James says about these trials, we to count it all joy as it strengthens us in our faith which makes us a more virtuous people.
President Washington knew that virtue and industry were indispensable to the success of the new nation. And he knew that religion and morality were necessary supports to the survival of our country. We affirm the wisdom of our Founders whenever we uphold the traditions of our people. We recall that the first Pilgrims came to these shores not for religious freedom alone-- they enjoyed that in Holland--but for the right to raise their children in the fear and admonition of the Lord. We cherish that right and defend it to this day. That first Thanksgiving Proclamation thanked "the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be" for establishing among us not only civil but also religious liberty.
On this day of Thanksgiving, we remember that man does not live by bread alone. Certainly, the best of our country's leaders understood this. That is doubtless why, when Washington took the first Oath as President, in the presence of God and a cloud of witnesses, he kissed the Bible. Of all things for which we give thanks this day, we are most grateful for the Lord God and His Word.
(Tony Perkins, Family Research Council)
The Faith of Our Forefathers
This Thanksgiving, America, give thanks like never before to the Lord thy God for this precious land. America, you have been for a long time, under a covering from on high. Thy God has blessed thee abundantly with blessings untold. You have to honor thy God for the faith of your forefathers, with thanksgiving. They fought the battle as soldiers and as warriors of the cross to establish this beautiful land upon godly principles and foundations. With God-given liberty, freedom, and righteousness only through unshakeable faith have we achieved godly wisdom and knowledge. Our forefathers and fathers have been great patriots with courage on the front line to fight the enemy. Through their heroic faith and confrontations in every conflict they always prevailed.
This Thanksgiving, Christian America has to be strong and full of faith to reclaim our country back. We have to rise up again from the peak of the highest mountain and from the lowest valley. Let the people of the land believe again in the name of the Lord who shed His precious blood for all of us. That holy blood never loses its power. America, rise up with a voice to be reckoned and heard. We plead before our Lord this Thanksgiving to rise up our government, our congressmen, and senators to be the voice of the people and for the people, full of godly wisdom and knowledge, and for them to return to the faith of our forefathers.
America, is there any righteous men among you, men of valor to lead this land, to rise up godly standards and bring the nation into one accord? We have to defend our heritage and America you cannot lose your freedom. You cannot anymore ignore the Lord your God. His love hovers over you and your people are raising their voices. We need the faith of our forefathers to lead us again in victory through these national and international crises.
We as Christian America stand in one accord with the nation of Israel, the beloved holy land of our Savior. We pray that thy kingdom will come on earth Lord, as it is in heaven, with deepest thanksgiving in our hearts.
GOD BE MERCIFUL UNTO US AND BLESS US, AND CAUSE THY FACE TO SHINE UPON US AGAIN. (PSALM 67:1)
His servant,
Milissa
The First National Thanksgiving Proclamation
The American Minute:
November 26, 1789
In order to thank God for the First Amendment, which was passed a week earlier by Congress, President George Washington issued the first National Thanksgiving Proclamation, 1789:
"Whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me 'to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness;'"
Washington continued:
"Now, therefore, I do recommend . . . Thursday, the 26TH DAY of NOVEMBER . . . to be devoted by the People of these United States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be;" Washington concluded: "That we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks . . . for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government . . . particularly the national one now lately instituted, for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed . . . to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue."
[Source: The American Minute with Bill Federer]
