This is a wonderous holiday. It lacks the commercial spin of some of the other holidays. It is a time for getting together with family and friends and remembering the One who made us; the One we are here to serve with thanksgiving in our hearts. May we bless Him and be blessed in the process.
Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor – and 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.”
Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these 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 – That we may then all unite in rendering unto him our sincere and humble thanks – for his kind care and protection of the People of this country previous to their becoming a Nation – for the signal and manifold mercies, and the favorable interpositions of his providence, which we experienced in the course and conclusion of the late war –for the great degree of tranquillity, union, and plenty, which we have since enjoyed – for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national One now lately instituted, for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and in general for all the great and various favors which he hath been pleased to confer upon us.
Email via Jim Hollingsworth (Idaho) Source: The Massachusetts Centinel, Wednesday, October 14, 1789
A copy of the original Centinel printing is also available.
This year a general theme for me has been proclamation. It is important what we think. It is important what we say outloud. It is important how we say it and when we say it and how often we say it. If we are really serious about a matter, we repeat it. If we are asking our children to do something, we repeat it until it happens. If we want something from the king (or Congress), we keep bringing up the matter until it occurs. Please consider reading some of these verses around your dinner table and proclaim His word to your family and friends!I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart;
I will recount all of your wonderful deeds.
The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me;
to one who orders his way rightly
I will show the salvation of God!”
It is good to give thanks to the Lord,
to sing praises to your name, O Most High;
Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous,
and give thanks to his holy name!
—Psalm 97:12
Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
and his courts with praise!
Give thanks to him; bless his name!
Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name;
make known his deeds among the peoples!
Sing to him, sing praises to him;
tell of all his wondrous works!
do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
Thanksgiving Blessings from My House to Yours — Thanks be to the Lord for His Provision! (2013) – an annual letter update done at Thanksgiving time
A Thanksgiving Prayer and a Blessing from My House to Yours! (2012)
Enter into His Gates with Thanksgiving in your Heart — Enter into His Courts with Praise (2011)
Thanksgiving Celebrations are about Thanking God and Celebrating with Family! (2010) – My political graphic on the holiday is a composite of the flag and the cross 
A Thanksgiving Prayer (2009) – My little ‘sermonette’ on the matter of the importance of the holiday.
And so once again I send blessings from my house to yours.
I thank God for your friendship and your labor
for Life and Liberty in our land.
Finding Gems and Sharing Them 
