Thanksgiving Day in the U.S. is about everything but...

Thanksgiving turkey

Let's face it, as a longstanding American holiday, Thanksgiving is losing more of its traditional significance with each passing generation. To put it bluntly, Americans nowadays don't look at this special day with the same reverence and respect that their parents and their grandparents and earlier generations did. It seems we've lost the true meaning of Thanksgiving.

A Thanksgiving Day tradition

As a child growing up in my mother's house, I remember Thanksgiving much differently from what I see taking place in America today. In earlier times, Thanksgiving meant a time of spiritual reflection and thankfulness to God for bringing our family through the struggles of the past months. We said prayers of thanksgiving to God acknowledging the fact that we could not have made it without His help. Back then, Americans were on one accord in expressing gratitude to God for blessing our land. And while Thanksgiving has distinctly Christian origins, a grateful nation embraced it as a national holiday by Proclamation of President Lincoln in 1863.

But all that seems to have changed. We're no longer as thankful or as grateful a nation as we once were. Thanksgiving celebrations are far from what the first Pilgrims in America had envisioned that first Thanksgiving at Plymouth, Massachusetts with their Native American benefactors. Fast forward to the present day, and Thanksgiving is about everything but giving thanks. A decision by several major U.S. retailers, including Walmart and Target, to open their doors on Thanksgiving to early Black Friday shoppers is evidence of this.

For most of us, Thanksgiving is about family, feasting, and football—approximately in that order. If we think about God at all, it usually involves saying a few simple pre-turkey-carving prayers of thanksgiving for His blessings during the year which is now fast ebbing away. - Mary E. Marshall, president, Peter Marshall Ministries

The Christian beliefs and traditions that birthed Thanksgiving have been questioned, attacked and maligned by anti-Christian forces whose ultimate goal is to remove the God of the Bible from our national life. To our shame, freedom of religion is quickly turning into freedom from religion. We have lost sight of who we are as a nation and of the God brought us to where we are. If we are truly "not just a Christian nation" then who are we? America is now a melting pot of many religions following after many gods, which may be the reason Thanksgiving is no longer celebrated in the U.S. the way it once was. God help us.

Give thanks to the Lord, because he is good; his love is eternal.
Give thanks to the greatest of all gods; his love is eternal.
Give thanks to the mightiest of all lords; his love is eternal. Psalm 136:1-3 GNT

If my people who are called by my name...2 Chronicles 7:14

Who wants to be a millionaire?

 

For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil

Like the popular American TV show, the answer to this question is... nearly everybody.  Who hasn’t had dreams of striking it rich some day?  Such dreams entice millions of Americans to spend an estimated $160 billion a year in casinos and on state lotteries.  Sadly, for the majority of gamblers who throw hard earned money at games of chance, their big payday never comes.  And as for the fortunate few who beat the “millions to 1 odds” to win mega jackpots, winning may change their life, but not always for the better.

Money is no guarantee of happiness.  In fact, the Bible warns against what it calls “the lure of riches,” which can blind you to the things in life that really matter. The story is told of a rich man who was so wealthy that he kept building bigger barns to hold all of his wealth. One day, while he was admiring his possessions, he remarked to himself, “Friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!” When God heard him, God said to the rich man, “You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?”

What profit is there in gaining the whole world if you lose your soul? In light of eternity, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God. God desires to have a personal relationship with you. He promises that if you put him first, he will supply everything else you need.

It’s a sure bet that no one will leave this life alive. Everyone living at this moment in time will one day face death. But it doesn’t have to end there. God’s gift to the world is eternal life (Romans 6:23). But you must be willing to turn your life over to Jesus and let him call all the shots. Salvation is not a gamble. It's a free gift from God to anyone who wants it. Through faith and trust in Jesus Christ, you can receive your free gift right now by praying this simple prayer:

 Dear God, I accept your gift of salvation through Jesus Christ as the pardon for my sins.  I have sinned against you and I am truly sorry. By faith, I ask Jesus to come into my heart and help me to live the rest of my life for you.

If you said this prayer from your heart, your odds of winning at life have just increased. God has accepted you into his family. Contact a Christian ministry in your area or online for the next step toward your new life in Christ.