Paul McKenzie

Memory Verse, Thursday, November 27, Thanksgiving, Psalm 117

"O praise the Lord, all ye nations: Praise Him all ye people. For His merciful kindness is great toward us; And the truth of the Lord endureth forever. Praise ye the Lord!"

Today we celebrate Thanksgiving, a day made a National Holiday in the midst of the Civil War by Abraham Lincoln, drafted by the Secretary of State, William H. Seward. Lincoln knew that America had forgotten and rejected God. We don't hear about the great revivals that went on during that period, where Christian men and women realized their sin and neglect, and great awakenings brought the fear of God back into their hearts.

It was the heart of the re-born Christian American whose eyes were opened to the evils of slavery and made their voices heard loudly against it. Many were awakened by the power of God in revivals and were preaching throughout the land. And thousands gave their lives, fighting for the freedom of the enslaved, and bringing true freedom to America. Here is a portion:

"No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy.

"It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens." (link below)

He also had "In God we Trust" first minted on coins in 1864, if I read my history right.

Most of us have heard the hymn: "Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory". This was the "Battle Hymn of the Republic", written by Julia Ward Howe. When written, we were enmeshed in such an awful Civil War that the outcome was very uncertain. Yet, you see the undying trust that many in the Union held to as they marched into battle. We all know the first verse, but my favorite is the last:

"In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea,
With a glory in his bosom that transfigures you and me;
As he died to make men holy, let me die to make men free,
While God is marching on."
(link of the original copy in the journal below)

Also, after WW2, seeing the wave of atheistic Communism trying to strangle the world, President Eisenhower, after listening to a sermon by Rev. George M. Docherty, was inspired to add "under God" in our Pledge of Allegiance, to distinguish our great country from this reign of godless terror, passed by Congress in 1954. I left a link of that as well. Here is the quotation from this link:

"From this day forward, the millions of our school children will daily proclaim in every city and town, every village and rural school house, the dedication of our nation and our people to the Almighty. To anyone who truly loves America, nothing could be more inspiring than to contemplate this rededication of our youth, on each school morning, to our country's true meaning… In this way we are reaffirming the transcendence of religious faith in America's heritage and future; in this way we shall constantly strengthen those spiritual weapons which forever will be our country's most powerful resource, in peace or in war."

And now, we have failed Him again. Our country is "spitting in the face" of God at this very moment, electing the godless, teaching blasphemy in our schools, and rejecting God just 70 years later. There may be an awakening brewing, and we pray that the Holy Spirit will bring that wave of Light back into our country in the midst of the horrendous darkness, a darkness that may finally bring about that "strong delusion" of 2 Thessalonians 2; that "little horn", which we will be seeing very soon in Daniel.

But today, I hope that those given the ministry to lead their families before God, will at least say a prayer of repentance before them, and a plea for revival. For it starts in the hearts of each person who then can, by their words and deeds reflect the only Savior of the World: Jesus Christ.

What will you do?

Today if you hear His voice, harden not your heart.

*ESV used unless noted*