Homily 2004 – Port O’Connor - First Baptist Church, 410 Jefferson Ave, Port
O'Connor, TX 77982
I am thankful for...
...the mess to clean after a party, because it means I have been surrounded by
friends.
...the taxes I pay, because it means that I'm employed.
...the clothes that fit a little too snug, because it means I have enough to
eat.
...my shadow who watches me work, because it means I am out in the sunshine.
...a lawn that needs mowing, windows that need cleaning, and gutters that need
fixing, because it means I have a home.
...the spot I find at the far end of the parking lot, because it means I am
capable of walking.
...my huge heating bill, because it means I am warm.
...the lady behind me in church who sings off key, because it means that I can
hear.
...the piles of laundry and ironing, because it means my loved ones are nearby.
...weariness and aching muscles at the end of the day, because it means I have
been productive.
...the alarm that goes off in the early morning hours, because it means that I'm
alive.
THANKSGIVING READING
The pilgrims came to America in 1620. They spent 66 days in the hold of a ship
called The Mayflower, arriving on Nov. 21. One month later, on Dec. 26, all 102
passengers set foot on land and began to establish the colony of Plymouth.
The pilgrims immediately began to build shelters, but soon they were overcome by
a general sickness. Through the course of the winter 46 died, nearly half their
original number.
One day in mid-March a lone Indian appeared, his name Samoset, he had learned to
speak English from the sea captains that sailed up and down the coast, and was
friendly. He left the pilgrims the next morning returning a week later bringing
another Indian with him named Squanto.
Squanto had been captured and taken to England and lived there for 15 years. He
had returned to America six months earlier only to find that his tribe had been
massacred. When he learned that this colony of English were struggling to
survive, he adopted them as his own, teaching them how to plant, fish, hunt, and
trade with their neighbors the Wampnoag Indians and their Chief, Massasoit.
The following is adapted from The Light and the Glory, by Peter Marshall, and
David Manuel.
That summer of 1621 was beautiful. Much work went into the building of new
dwellings, and ten men were sent north up the coast in the sailing shallop to
conduct trade with the Indians. Squanto once again acted as their guide and
interpreter. It was a successful trip, and that fall's harvest provided more
than enough corn to see them through their second winter.
The pilgrims were brimming over with gratitude, not only to Squanto and the
Wampanoags who had been so friendly, but to their God. In Him they had trusted,
and He had honored their obedience beyond their dreams. So, Governor Bradford
declared a day of public Thanksgiving, to be held in October.
Massasoit was invited, and unexpectedly arrived a day early-with NINETY Indians!
Counting their numbers, the Pilgrims had to pray hard to keep from giving in to
despair. To feed such a crowd would cut deeply into the food supply that was
supposed to get them through the winter.
But they had learned one thing through their travails, it was to trust God
implicitly. As it turned out, the Indians were not arriving empty-handed.
Massasoit had commanded his braves to hunt for the occasion, and they arrived
with no less than five dressed deer, and more than a dozen fat wild turkeys! And
they helped with the preparations, teaching the Pilgrim women how to make
hoecakes and a tasty pudding out of cornmeal and maple syrup. Finally, the
Indians showed the Pilgrims a special delicacy: how to roast corn kernels in an
earthen pot until they popped, fluffy and white - POPCORN!
The Pilgrims in turn provided many vegetables from their household gardens:
carrots, onions, turnips, parsnips, cucumbers, radishes, beets, and cabbages.
Also, using some of their precious flour, they took summer fruits which the
Indians had dried and introduced them to the likes of blueberry, apple, and
cherry pie.
It was all washed down with sweet wine made from the wild grapes. A joyous
occasion for all! Between meals, the pilgrims and Indians happily competed in
shooting contests with gun and bow. The Indians were especially delighted that
John Alden and some of the younger men of the plantation were eager to join them
in foot races and wrestling. There were even military drills staged by Captain
Standish. Things went so well (and Massasoit showed no inclination to leave),
that Thanksgiving Day was extended for three days.
One month later, in November, a full year after their arrival, the first ship
from home dropped anchor in the harbor leaving off a cargo at Plymouth:
thirty-five more colonists. In the air of celebration that followed, no one
stopped to think that these newcomers had brought not one bit of equipment with
them-no food, no clothing, no tools, no bedding.
In the cold light of the following morning, a sobering appraisal by Bradford,
Brewster, and Winslow was taken, and a grim decision was reached: they would all
have to go on half-rations through the winter, to ensure enough food to see them
into the summer season, when fish and game would be plentiful.
That winter they entered into a time of starving, much like the starving that
took place at Jamestown that killed 8 out of 10 of their people. With all the
extra people to feed and shelter they were ultimately reduced to a daily ration
of Five Kernels of corn a piece.
In contrast to what happened at Jamestown, where they were driven to despair,
the people of Plymouth turned to Christ, and not one of them died of starvation.
When spring finally arrived (1623), They were well aware that they needed at
least twice as much corn as their first harvest. The first planting would be for
common use while the second planting would be for private use.
After the first planting, a dry spell set in that turned into a 12 week drought.
The crops withered - along with the hopes of the pilgrims.
In the words of Edward Winslow:
"These and the like considerations moved not only every goodman privately to
enter into examination with his own estate between God and his conscience, and
so to humiliation before Him, but also to humble ourselves together before the
Lord by fasting and prayer.
To that end, a day was appointed by public authority, and set apart from all
other employments.
But, O the mercy of our God, who was as ready to hear, as we were to ask! For
though in the morning, when we assembled together, the heavens were as clear and
the drought as like to continue as it ever was, yet (our exercise continuing
some eight or nine hours) before our departure, the weather was overcast, the
clouds gathered on all sides.
On the next morning distilled such soft, sweet, and moderate showers of rain,
continuing some fourteen days [!] and mixed with such seasonable weather, as it
was hard to say whether our withered corn or drooping affections were most
quickened or revived, such was the bounty and goodness of our God!"
The yield that year was so abundant that the Pilgrims ended up with a surplus of
corn, which they were able to use in trading that winter with northern Indians,
who had not had a good growing season.
That fall a second Day of Thanksgiving was planned, and Massasoit was again the
guest of honor, and this time he brought his principal wife, three other
sachems, and 120 braves! Fortunately he again brought venison and turkey, as
well.
The occasion was described by one of the Adventurers, Emmanuel Altham, in a
letter to his brother:
"After our arrival in New England, we found all our plantation in good health,
and neither man, woman or child sick... in this plantation is about twenty
houses, four or five of which are very pleasant, and the rest (as time will
serve) shall be made better... the fishing that is in this country, indeed it is
beyond belief ... in one hour we got 100 cod ....And now to say somewhat of the
great cheer we had at the Governor's marriage.
We had about twelve tasty venisons, besides others, pieces of roasted venison
and other such good cheer in such quantities that I wish you some of our share.
For here we have the best grapes that ever you saw, and the biggest, and divers
sorts of plums and nuts ... six goats, about fifty hogs and pigs, also divers
hens ... A better country was never seen nor heard of, for here are a multitude
of God's blessing."
What Altham neglected to mention was the first course that was served: on an
empty plate in front of each person were five kernels of corn ... lest anyone
should forget.
As I witnessed the celebration of Thanksgiving when I came to the US in 1984, I
realized that Thanksgiving is a family celebration. Therefore, from that day on,
I pledged myself to voluntarily be on duty on that day so that other priests
could go home and enjoy that family reunion.
Story of a 78-year-old Lady who was brought to St. Barnabas Hospital. When asked
if she had eaten to much on Thanksgiving Day she answered: Father I truly
confessed that I had sinned in eating too much. But you know, that sin was so
delicious!
Faithful In Thanksgiving
"Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of
life." ( Revelation 2:10 *NIV )
God is always faithful to us and also requires that we be faithful. Without
faith, we cannot be pleasing to our Lord. When we are faithful over the little
things of this life, we will rule and reign with him in all eternity. The
rewards of faithfulness are many, even as we work for Him while on Earth.
In this Season we call "Thanksgiving", let us remember to give thanks to God for
his faithfulness to us. Even in times of hardship or difficulties, He is there
and will never leave or forsake us.
Do you ever feel the trials and tests of this life are overwhelming? Many are
the afflictions of the righteous but the Lord delivereth him out of them all. He
has not required us to give our physical life as he laid down his life for us.
We are only asked to give up our self life by crucifying the flesh daily, taking
up our cross and following Him. Earthly crowns will all perish and fade but the
crown of life which the Lord gives will be eternal. To be crowned with the
righteousness of Christ is the greatest crown anyone could ever receive. One day
we will see our Lord face to face. We will behold the nail prints in his hands
as he wipes the tears from every eye. Until that day, we can know Him better
each new day as we commune with him in prayer.
Faithfulness is an attribute that pays off eternally. Many people in the days of
trouble ahead will give their lives for to Give Thanks
"Give and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down and running
over, shall men given into your bosom. For with the same measure that you
measure with it shall be measured to you again" (Lk 6: 38.)
It is a joy to give thanks unto the Lord as we were created to worship and adore
Him. Giving unto God involves more than just our finances. We are to give back
unto Him of what He has given to us. When we share with others and help as
commanded, it is as if we are doing it for the Lord himself when offered in a
right spirit.
When we give unto God and sow into his Kingdom, his promise is that He will give
unto us. When we seek Him first and his righteousness, we know He will supply
all of our needs according to his riches in glory. This is a promise to us.
God's promises are faithful and true and will never fail us. Seeking God first
in everything we do includes being a wise steward over all the things He has
given unto us. As we trust God to supply our needs, we can help others and also
be blessed.
He desires us to trust Him and realize if he provides for the lilies of the
field which neither toil nor spin, and the birds of the air; He will provide
even more for us because we are His children. May we trust Him today and know
that He will make a way when there seems to be no way, a new day when there
seems to be no future; and will never leave or forsake us. He gave his life for
us because of love. We can give our lives back to Him as we take up our cross
daily and follow Him.
As we give sacrifices of praise unto the Lord, He will bless us because He
delights in the praises of His children. If we have Jesus in our heart, we
always have a sacrifice of praise. Sacrifice is the "crucifixion of our flesh"
as "offered up", as we have chosen to take up our cross daily and follow him as
commanded. If we have "died to self", we live in Christ and can present an
acceptable, holy, and living sacrifice unto Him. It is giving from the heart
back unto the God of our salvation because he has given us new life. If we have
been crucified with Christ, we have a sacrifice of praise to present unto the
Lord. Our salvation is not dependant on the circumstances around us but on the
one who lives within us.
As Paul the Apostle said, "it is no longer I that liveth, but Christ who lives
within me." God will never ask us to give something which we do not have. He has
placed within each one of us a measure of faith and the gift of salvation. He
has given good gifts unto his children and we are to give back unto Him the
fruit of our lips and works of our hands that he might be glorified. He is
worthy of all praise.
Even in times when we may not feel like verbally expressing our gratitude, there
is 'rejoicing in the heart of God's children' over the joy of their salvation.
If one loses this joy, they must pray as David the Psalmist,"create in me a
clean heart" and "renew a right spirit".
David asked God to restore unto Him the joy of his salvation. (Ps. 51: 10). As
God heard his prayer, He will hear and answer his children as promised in his
word. A humble and contrite heart he will not despise.
As we present our hearts to God, he receives them and delights in our praises.
Because He has made us glad, we can give back unto Him the sacrifice of praise
which comes from a heart that has been set free from sin and filled with his
presence. Will we let Him be Lord of all?
We give thanks unto the Lord for salvation and praise
for his goodness and mercy which endures forever. May we give our lives to the
Lord now by living for Him each day. We must seek to help win souls into the
Kingdom of God and will be blessed of the Lord.
Things to Be Thankful For
The good, green earth
beneath our feet,
The air we breathe,
the food we eat,
Some work to do,
a goal to win,
A hidden longing
deep within
That spurs us on
to bigger things
And helps us meet
what each day brings--
All these things
and many more
Are things we should
be thankful for.
And something else
we should not forget
That people we've known
or heard of or met
By indirection
have had a big part
In molding the thoughts
of the mind and the heart.
And so it's the people
who are like you
That people like me
should give thanks to,
For no one can live
to himself alone
And no one can win
just on his own.
Too bad there aren't
a whole lot more
People like you
to be thankful for.
Give Thanks Every Hour
We all have many things
to be deeply thankful for,
But God's everlasting promise
of life forevermore
Is a reason for thanksgiving
every hour of the day
As we walk toward eternal life
along "the King's highway."
Thank you, Lord!
Thank you, the earth and all that lives
Thank you, brothers and sisters.
Amen.
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