Thanksgiving

“IN THE NAME OF GOD, AMEN. We, whose names are underwritten, the Loyal Subjects of our dread Sovereign Lord King James, by the Grace of God, of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, &c. Having undertaken for the Glory of God, and Advancement of the Christian Faith, and the Honour of our King and Country, a Voyage to plant the first Colony in the northern Parts of Virginia…”

-Mayflower Compact

They left persecution to find freedom to worship.

And because someone was brave enough to “rebel” against the king, we are free to worship today.

“Our corn [i.e. wheat] did prove well, and God be praised, we had a good increase of Indian corn, and our barley indifferent good, but our peas not worth the gathering, for we feared they were too late sown. They came up very well, and blossomed, but the sun parched them in the blossom. Our harvest being gotten in, our governor sent four men on fowling, that so we might after a special manner rejoice together after we had gathered the fruit of our labors. They four in one day killed as much fowl as, with a little help beside, served the company almost a week. At which time, amongst other recreations, we exercised our arms, many of the Indians coming amongst us, and among the rest their greatest king Massasoit, with some ninety men, whom for three days we entertained and feasted, and they went out and killed five deer, which they brought to the plantation and bestowed on our governor, and upon the captain and others. And although it be not always so plentiful as it was at this time with us, yet by the goodness of God, we are so far from want that we often wish you partakers of our plenty.”

-Edward Winslow, in his letter back home to England in regards to the first “Thanksgiving “

“Yet by the goodness of God, we are SO FAR FROM WANT…”

Sometimes it may seem like you’re barely making it, but look at how far from want you are. All because of the goodness of God.

Gratefulness is looking for the good.

It’s everywhere.

You’re drowning in it.

Don’t let the toils of this life blind you to the goodness of God.

For all that he’s done I WILL thank him.

For those who signed that Mayflower compact, paving the way for me to worship today, I’m thankful.

My heart is overflowing with worship today as I survey that “yet by the goodness of God, I am so far from want.”

Happy Thanksgiving from my little family to yours.

May you recognize how far from want you are, all because of Jesus🤍