A Season of Thanksgiving

Exodus 15:1–21 AV 1873

Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the Lord, and spake, saying, I will sing unto the Lord, for he hath triumphed gloriously: The horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea. The Lord is my strength and song, And he is become my salvation: He is my God, and I will prepare him a habitation; My father’s God, and I will exalt him. The Lord is a man of war: The Lord is his name. Pharaoh’s chariots and his host hath he cast into the sea: His chosen captains also are drowned in the Red sea. The depths have covered them: They sank into the bottom as a stone. Thy right hand, O Lord, is become glorious in power: Thy right hand, O Lord, hath dashed in pieces the enemy. And in the greatness of thine excellency thou hast overthrown them that rose up against thee: Thou sentest forth thy wrath, which consumed them as stubble. And with the blast of thy nostrils the waters were gathered together, The floods stood upright as a heap, And the depths were congealed in the heart of the sea. The enemy said, I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil; my lust shall be satisfied upon them; I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them. Thou didst blow with thy wind, the sea covered them: They sank as lead in the mighty waters. Who is like unto thee, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like thee, glorious in holiness, Fearful in praises, doing wonders? Thou stretchedst out thy right hand, The earth swallowed them. Thou in thy mercy hast led forth the people which thou hast redeemed: Thou hast guided them in thy strength unto thy holy habitation. The people shall hear, and be afraid: Sorrow shall take hold on the inhabitants of Palestina. Then the dukes of Edom shall be amazed; The mighty men of Moab, trembling shall take hold upon them; All the inhabitants of Canaan shall melt away. Fear and dread shall fall upon them; By the greatness of thine arm they shall be as still as a stone; Till thy people pass over, O Lord, Till the people pass over, which thou hast purchased. Thou shalt bring them in, and plant them in the mountain of thine inheritance, In the place, O Lord, which thou hast made for thee to dwell in, In the Sanctuary, O Lord, which thy hands have established. The Lord shall reign for ever and ever. For the horse of Pharaoh went in with his chariots and with his horsemen into the sea, and the Lord brought again the waters of the sea upon them; but the children of Israel went on dry land in the midst of the sea. And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances. And Miriam answered them, Sing ye to the Lord, for he hath triumphed gloriously; The horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.

Exodus 15:1

Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the LORD, and spake, saying, I will sing unto the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea. 2 The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father's God, and I will exalt him.

Exodus 15:19 AV 1873

For the horse of Pharaoh went in with his chariots and with his horsemen into the sea, and the Lord brought again the waters of the sea upon them; but the children of Israel went on dry land in the midst of the sea.

Exodus 15:1–2 AV 1873

Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the Lord, and spake, saying, I will sing unto the Lord, for he hath triumphed gloriously: The horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea. The Lord is my strength and song, And he is become my salvation: He is my God, and I will prepare him a habitation; My father’s God, and I will exalt him.

Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the LORD, and spake, saying, I will sing unto the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea. 2 The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father's God, and I will exalt him.

Introduction

We have a few days each year that we set aside to celebrate our freedom as well as those who fought to provide and/or ensure that freedom for future generations.

On Memorial Day, we honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice, on July 4th, we celebrate our independence, and tomorrow (November 11), is Veterans’ Day the day we honor all of our veterans, living and deceased.

Freedom is a wonderful blessing. I venture to say that none of us probably know fully how much we should appreciate the freedoms we have been given.

However, we should be showing respect and honor to our veterans. We should respect the flag of the United States - the symbol of that freedom for which so many sacrificed greatly.

Many young people have grown up with no real sense of responsibility. Many have an entitlement mentality that says, “If I want it, I should be able to have it!”

There are those who take a knee or don’t even show up to respect the flag because they disagree with a policy or a politician. Never let anyone cause you to disrespect the sacrifices that have been made for your freedoms.

There is no understanding of waiting until you earn enough money to buy it. They don’t see the need to wait on fulfilling their desires. They want what they want and they want it NOW!

This mindset has left so many discontented and constantly looking at what others have.

We see our own situations and are tempted to think that God has forgotten about us, or maybe He does not love us like we thought He was supposed to.

November 11 is important to our nation’s history for more than Veteran’s Day. It is also the day when the Mayflower Compact was signed by the passengers of the Mayflower and the Pilgrims stepped onto shore in the New World.

The Mayflower brought 102 souls across the Atlantic Ocean for various reasons. Some were coming for business (they were to hunt and trap in order to send pelts back to England to be sold). Others came to set up a colony where they could worship God the way they choose.

These pilgrims suffered through a hard winter - only 52 made it through alive. Over the next year, they successfully grew several crops and made contact with some of the Native Americans.

At the end of a successful harvest, they gathered together with some of their new friends and enjoyed a bountiful feast in remembrance and celebration of all that God had done for them.

Years later, an official proclamation of Thanksgiving was given when President George Washington declared November 26, 1789. Again, in 1863, President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed the last Thursday of November to be an annual day of Thanksgiving.

Each year, we gather with family and friends and give thanks together for the many blessings we have received at the hand of the Lord over the past year.

Lately, it seems that our society has tried to skip over this day entirely. However, we need to follow the example of Scripture, set an example for our children, and give honor to the Lord for all that He has done for us.

We need Thanksgiving Day because it is

Exodus 14:13–14 AV 1873

And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever. The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.

And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever. 14 The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.

Psalm 136:1 AV 1873

O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: For his mercy endureth for ever.

O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.

Luke 7:47 AV 1873

Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.

Luke 17:12–17 AV 1873

And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off: and they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass that, as they went, they were cleansed. And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan. And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?

-17

And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off: 13 And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. 14 And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed. 15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, 16 And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan. 17 And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?

Psalm 46:8–11 AV 1873

Come, behold the works of the Lord, What desolations he hath made in the earth. He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; He breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; He burneth the chariot in the fire. Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.

Come, behold the works of the LORD, what desolations he hath made in the earth. 9 He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire. 10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. 11 The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.

Luke 7:37–38 AV 1873

And behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, and stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.

And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, 38 And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.

Conclusion

A Season of Thanksgiving

A Season to Rest

A Season to Reflect

A Season to Respond

Appreciation

Action

Adoration

A Season to Refocus

A Season to Reflect

A Season to Respond

Appreciation

Action

Adoration