Thanksgiving: The verb

Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:18 NIV)

At a country church, the Pastor always opened prayer with an expression of gratitude and thanks to God. Then one Sunday, there came a terrible winter storm. There was a foot of snow on the ground and a freezing wind blowing from the north. Due to the horrible conditions, few of the congregation showed up for church. Those that were there were anxious and wondering how the Pastor could be thankful this time. The Pastor approached the pulpit and began his prayer with, “Father God, thank you for this day, and thankfully it is not always like this.”
In the United States we are celebrating Thanksgiving. A time when we look back at the past year with fond memories, remembering to give thanks for the life that we have. It is also a time to look back at the struggles, and to see how we were delivered through those struggles with God’s help.
The pilgrims celebrated the first Thanksgiving, following a harsh winter and raids from the natives. After befriending another tribe, they were taught how to survive the surroundings and the climate. While they struggled, they still found time to thank God for His divine providence.
We need to realize when giving thanks to God, it is not something that we should do as an afterthought. The phrase given here is “in all circumstances.” It does not say, “after the circumstances,” nor does it say, “before the circumstances.” We are to give thanks while we are experiencing the circumstances. Good, bad, or indifferent.
While we find it generally easier to thank God during the good times and the normal times, it is far more difficult to thank Him during our struggles. Yet, it is through our struggles that we grow. We grow stronger spiritually, and we grow closer to God. The Holy Scriptures even tell us to be joyful when we go through trials. “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.” (James 1:2,3,12 NIV)
The ability to give thanks in all circumstances was taught to the pilgrims by one of their leaders. William Bradford wrote in his journal, “Being thus arived in a good harbor and brought safe to land, they fell upon their knees & blessed ye God of heaven, who had brought them over ye vast & furious ocean, and delivered them from all ye periles & miseries therof . . . What could not sustaine them but ye spirite of God & his grace?” (http://www.pilgrimhall.org/bradfordjournalarrival.htm) Bradford is one who wrote from experience. While traveling across the Atlantic on the Mayflower, his wife fell overboard and died. He personally knew of God’s sustaining grace during the times of struggles.
It is customary to look back at all the good times and thank God for all the blessings that we have received. Let us not forget to look back at our trials and thank God for the deliverance the He gave us. It is through our trials that we learn to lean on God and grow in strength. Thanksgiving is more than a holiday family dinner. Thanksgiving is more than a proper noun. Thanksgiving is a verb. It is something that we must do. It is always appropriate to give thanks to God.

Obama's President . . . Now What?

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.” (John 14:1)

The election is over and Obama is President. Now what? As a believer in Christ, what should I and every other Christian do? What should we believe?
Is Obama the AntiChrist (as many e-mails have erroneously suggested)? Will the ultra liberal left wing political faction run rampant, unchecked to pass all their agendas? Will churches be forced to to perform homosexual marriages? Will the pro choice movement get looser abortion laws passed so that any woman seeking an abortion can attain one, even after the fetus has reached 12 years in age? What will the next four years be like for the United States?
It has been said "For a nation to get on it's feet, it must first get on it's knees." All throughout history, God has rewarded nations that favored Him, and destroyed nations that turned their back on Him. In the book of Judges, a theme that was repeated is, "In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes." When a nation strayed from God, they were punished by either God himself (as in the case with Egypt) or the nation was punished by outside sources (Israel and Judah by means of Assyria and Babylon). Each time a calamity would strike down upon Israel, a cry was heard from the people, "What have we done against God." They would then repent and turn back to God. Until God's patience ran out and they went into captivity.
Right now, the United States is not at that point (repentance, not sure about God's patience though). Whenever a calamity has been brought against the United States, the response is, "Why would God allow this to happen to us, we have done nothing wrong." Again, repeating the refrain, "We are doing right and good." Then we wonder why another tragedy befalls us.
What must we do to help the situation that we have found ourselves in.
We must get on our knees and pray fervently for deliverance and forgiveness for the sins of the nation. Also we must pray for our leaders, even if we don't agree with their politics. “First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. (1 Timothy 2:1,2 NASB emphasis mine) Pray that they will seek God's wisdom, but above all, pray that God's will is done.
The believer must also preach louder and harder, "See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son." (Hebrews 12:16 NIV)
We must continue to live the life that God has called us to live, we must be obedient to what God has commanded us to do. "Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. For it is God's will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men. Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king." (1 Peter 2:13-17 NIV)
Finally, we must not give up nor become downcast for the “bleak” future. As Jesus said, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.” (John 14:1). We must not be troubled by these events. We must put our trust in God and know that He is in control.
God raised many ungodly leaders for Israel and Judah to recognize their sin. When their sin became apparent through the actions of it's leaders, they repented. Will this be a wake up call for the believers and for the nation, or will we (the nation) continue to live in ignorance to all the things that are going on?