Friday, November 27, 2015

The Origin of Thanksging




Washington, D.C.
October 3, 1863

By the President of the United States of America.
A Proclamation.
The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God. In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union. Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defence, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle or the ship; the axe has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom. 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. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility and Union.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the United States to be affixed.
Done at the City of Washington, this Third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the Independence of the Unites States the Eighty-eighth.
By the President: Abraham Lincoln

Saturday, November 21, 2015

Putting on the Whole Armor of God


(Ephesians 6:10-17 ESV)
"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,"   (Ephesians 6:10-17 ESV)
Putting on the "whole armor of God" conjurers up many images for me, but the modern US Soldier's battle gear is the one I like best. But putting on God's Armor is more than the physical components of a soldier's gear. Here are the details:

1. The Belt of Truth - The Truth of God - Deut. 4:39 Palm 18:1-3
2. The Breastplate of Righteousness - The Righteousness of Jesus in You
     Palm 100:3, Rom. 3:23-24, Gal. 2:20-21, Phil 3:8-10
3.  Shoes for spreading the Gospel of Peace - Inner Peace and the readiness to spread 
     the Word of Jesus.  Rom. 5:1, Eph. 2:14, John 14:27
4. The Shield of Faith - Living by Faith Rom. 4:18-21, Heb. 11:1, 1 Peter 1:6-7
5. The Helmet of Salvation - Salvation through Jesus Christ Heb. 1:3-6, 2 Cor. 4:16:18, 
    1 Thess. 4:17, 1 John 3:1-3
6. The Sword of the Spirit - God's Word Countering Spiritual Deception, and Accusations
     Matt. 4:2-11, Heb. 4:12, 1 Peter 3:15

God's armor is more than a protective covering. It is Jesus Christ within us "Put on the armor of light," Paul wrote to the Romans, "...clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ." (Romans 13:12-14). When you do, the enemy does not see you and your weakness, but he sees the Living God in His Armor ready to do battle, and all His strengths. 
So put on the Armor of God, and his Victory through Jesus Christ our Lord.