Tuesday, November 21, 2017

Thanksgiving, Purim and Hanukkah. Blessings of Abraham: How They Came to the United States. More than Turkey and Football! Update.

    

For “Scripture Sunday”:

Thanksgiving, Purim and Hanukkah

“Since so many holidays have pagan origins, some have wondered, is there anything wrong with national holidays like Thanksgiving, Purim and Hanukkah?

Thanksgiving

Since so many religious holidays have pagan roots, some have wondered if all modern holidays are suspect. What about national holidays such as Thanksgiving in the United States and Canada, and the Jewish national holidays of Purim and Hanukkah?

Purim and Hanukkah mentioned in the Bible

Though Purim and Hanukkah are not commanded feasts of the Lord, they are mentioned in the Bible. The book of Esther describes the events that led to the establishment of the festival of Purim, as God saved the Jews from destruction by evil Haman. Hanukkah was also called the Feast of Dedication, mentioned in John 10:22-23. It celebrates the rededication of the temple after it had been defiled by Antiochus Epiphanes.

Days for giving thanks

Both of these holidays were established to give thanks to God, just as the American and Canadian Thanksgiving days are. Though some modern customs of these days may not be pleasing to God, they are not rooted in paganism and do not subvert any of the truths presented in the festivals of God.”       From: https://lifehopeandtruth.com/life/plan-of-salvation/holy-days-vs-holidays/thanksgiving/

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Blessings of Abraham: How They Came to the United States

How did the United States become such a prominent nation? What made America great? How can we trace her roots?

The Blessings of Abraham given to America

The United States has been the most materially blessed single nation in history. Though few have recognized it, America’s rise to superpower status started with one man’s faithfulness to God.

Some 4,000 years ago God called a man named Abram (whose name God later changed to Abraham). God told Abram to leave his present country and go where He would lead him. God promised Abram that if he obeyed, He would cause many nations and kings to come from his lineage (Genesis 17:1-6).

Abraham continued to be faithful to God, and when Abraham passed the supreme test of being willing to sacrifice his son, God made an unconditional promise that his descendants would be innumerable and have world dominance (Genesis 22:16-18). The blessings of Abraham were then passed down to his descendants.

Promise of national greatness passed down

This birthright promise was passed down to Abraham’s son Isaac, then to Isaac’s son Jacob, and then to Jacob’s son Joseph.

Joseph had two sons while he was in Egypt, Ephraim and Manasseh. Just before Jacob died, he adopted these two grandchildren and, being guided by God, made them inheritors of his birthright promise (Genesis 48:13-16).

Jacob was also inspired by God to give a prophecy about his two grandchildren. He said that Ephraim would become a multitude of nations and Manasseh would be a great single nation (Genesis 48:19). Jacob foretold that in the last days the descendants of Ephraim and Manasseh would spread (Genesis 49:1, 22). They would prevail in wars because God would be with them (verses 23-24). And they would also inherit great natural resources (verses 25-26)—all part of the blessings of Abraham.

Ancient Israel failed to receive the full birthright promise

God wanted to give ancient Israel national greatness. When He made the covenant with the 12 tribes of Israel in the wilderness, He told them they would become great if they obeyed Him.

We know that Israel did not obey God; and eventually 10 of the tribes, including Ephraim and Manasseh, went into captivity to Assyria in 721-718 B.C. From this point forward, they were scattered and seemed to disappear from the historical records.

What became of God’s promises to give the blessings of Abraham to his descendants? Many Christians understand that the promise of salvation through Abraham’s Seed was fulfilled in Jesus Christ (Galatians 3:16). But what of the physical birthright promises? If we believe that God fulfills all His promises, we will look for a company of nations and a powerful single nation who have been blessed by God.

Where did the Israelites go?

Even though Israel was scattered, God said He would keep and preserve them (Amos 9:9). The Bible tells us in several passages, including Isaiah 49:12, that the Israelites migrated toward the northwest and to the “isles afar off” (Jeremiah 31:10). The British Isles are northwest of their previous homeland and the location of their captivity in Assyria.

Is it just a coincidence that the word British resembles two Hebrew words “beriyth-iysh,” which mean “covenant man”? The Bible repeatedly refers to the covenant (agreement) God made with Israel (Exodus 19:5; Deuteronomy 4:13).

God’s people would also be known by Isaac’s name. Americans and Britons are known as Anglo-Saxons. “Saxons” is simply a derivation of “Isaac’s sons.”

The United States and Britain become world powers

Before 1800, both America and Britain were regional powers. But shortly after 1800, both suddenly received many blessings. First Britain then the United States became world-leading superpowers.

In 1803 the United States acquired the Louisiana Purchase, which nearly doubled the size of the country. Britain’s empire suddenly spread around the globe, and the sun never set on her company of nations. At their peak, the United States and Britain came into possession of more than two-thirds of the world’s resources and wealth. God fulfilled the biblical promises to provide the blessings of Abraham to his physical descendants.

So what does it all mean?

There are many more biblical and historical clues that the United States and Britain (and the British “multitude of nations” including Australia, Canada and New Zealand) are indeed the descendants of ancient Israel. For more information about the United States’ roots in ancient Israel, read the related articles in “America in Prophecy.” To learn more about the promises to Abraham, read the articles “Promises to Abraham” and “God's Promise to Abraham.””    From: https://lifehopeandtruth.com/prophecy/america-in-prophecy/blessings-of-abraham/

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Thanksgiving: More than Turkey and Football!

Thanksgiving is about more than turkeys and football. It's a day dedicated to our Lord and Creator. As we approach the holiday this year, let's remember and acknowledge Him, and His role in our national blessings.

Video: An Englishman’s first Thanksgiving : https://youtu.be/SXSuBCgzBjQ

Transcript: “When I came to the United States a number of years ago, I was surprised and pleased to be invited into the home of some friends in late November. I knew little about Thanksgiving then, having just arrived from England, where we had no such national celebration.

What an enjoyable day it was! Lots of food, friends and football! I delighted in this very American national celebration, quite unlike anything I had ever done in my native land.  At first, it seemed to be a day just to stuff oneself, like the turkey on the table. But as time went by, I began to learn about the rich and meaningful history of Thanksgiving Day.  First observed in Plymouth Colony in 1621, Thanksgiving was a day for the pilgrims to thank God for having protected and provided for them in those perilous times. The day was later proclaimed by President George Washington, in the year 1789. Listen to these words of America's first president: 

“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 favour; and Whereas both Houses of Congress have… requested me "to recommend to the people of the United States a DAY OF PUBLICK THANSGIVING and PRAYER, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God…" NOW THEREFORE, I do recommend and assign THURSDAY, the TWENTY-SIXTH 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... “

What's striking about that first Thanksgiving proclamation is the nation's readiness to acknowledge the Creator, and to dedicate a day to Him. Even in 1863, over seventy years later, the sixteenth president, Abraham Lincoln, was unabashed in his gratitude to Almighty God, as he set a date for the celebration. Here are some of Lincoln's words:

“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… 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. .. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States… 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.”

The United States of 1863 was going through times of great crisis, just as we are now, in the year 2009. Yet now we hesitate even to mention God in public, much less to request His help in our national trials. It would today serve us well to remember Lincoln's words, and to make them our own.

Thanksgiving is about more than turkeys and football. It's a day dedicated to our Lord and Creator. As we approach the holiday this year, let's remember and acknowledge Him, and His role in our national blessings. For GN Magazine, I'm Ralph Levy.”        Transcript of: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXSuBCgzBjQ&feature=youtu.be .

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Update, late again.

Sunday was busy as it is the day when potential buyers like to look at items for sale because I am not available to show things on Saturdays, the Sabbath.  I showed a twin bed that Hans had for sale and they bought it right away.  Then a man came to look at a big old side-by-side refrigerator that is down at Roni’s old place, but he decided it was too big for what he needed. 

Several folks, including Jay, kept me busy on Sunday, so I was too tired to write this.  Jay says that he has given up drinking, and wants to have a better life.  So I let him watch TV and made him some dinner of Bison, Sweet Potatoes and Brussel Sprouts, with toasted Brioche for dessert.   I don’t suppose he has had a home-cooked meal for weeks, as his mother went to live with her daughter just to get away from drunken Jay.  Now she is in the hospital, with a bleak prognosis, so he is all upset that he treated her that way and might not have the chance to make it up to her.   

Do what you can for others while they are still around, you never know if you will lose your chance to make amends later.

Another morning, Zack and I cleaned the front screen porch.  It had become quite dusty over the summer, and we moved all the bins of potted soil, sand, rocks and broken pots (to put in the bottoms of potted plants) into the green house.   Zack and I placed the winter covers on my long trough of aloe vera plants, and moved all the potted ones into the greenhouse.  We are getting ready for winter and took the automatic timer off the hedge/aloe sprinkler system so that it couldn’t freeze.

The winds had blown pine needles and leaves all over, so that took a morning to get them raked up and burned, but I wouldn’t want to be without the shade trees here in TX. Even pine trees.   We unpacked some more of the boxes that Wendy had brought, and took more pictures of the things she wants me to sell. Then I went down to Hans with parts to fix his water leak.  He wants to get all these little jobs done as he is going on a cruise to see Jerusalem, Israel and Jordan.

One day, I just wanted a day off and went into Conroe shopping.  That means taking the paper to be recycled, going to a different Kroger’s, and maybe a glance in a thrift shop.  Zack went with me as he had something to return at Home Depot, so we shopped there a bit, too.  We took some unwanted clothes and things to be donated, and looked to see what they had in their shop, and I bought a leopard pattern jacket.  It should go well with my leopard purse, and the two-tone brown shoes that I bought.

Then Friday was Preparation Day again.  I had made some black quinoa, but decided not to take it to the church potluck.  I took some previously cooked gumbo as I had two containers in the freezer, and I really needed to make space in there.   Dumped them both in a pot on the stove to defrost and then into a crockpot.  Then, in another crockpot I made brown rice to go with it.  I also took some previously cooked frozen cabbage which I spiced it up with Cajun spices, and they loved it.

The Bible readings read by the Pastor were Psa. 136, God’s Love Endures Forever, Gen.23:1-25:18, 1 Kings 1:1-31.  Then Isa. 56, about the Sabbaths, was quoted by Gary, as a favorite place.  The teaching was about The Forgiveness of Sin, and Romans 10, which says there is no mediator except Christ.  For the potluck there was crockpot beef, chicken and rice, chicken and homemade noodles, my gumbo and brown rice, slaw, veggies and a lot more good food, plus a lot of camaraderie and conversation.  We have some new folks, so that is always interesting to listen to what they have to discuss.

Zack and I had the dog room ready for the kitten’s Thanksgiving week off from the Cat Habitat at Petco, and two arrived on Saturday evening, after I got home from church.  They were Tux and Marble, as I had expected, and they are just about inseparable.  They loved playing loose in the dog room, but I did lock them up in cages at night, for their own safety.  The following day I let them have the run of the house so that my foster cat “Puddin’” would get used to them being here.  I was hoping that they would all play together, but they haven’t so far.  Puddin’ stays away from them.  They are just like little toddlers, and into everything, but like granchildren, I am sure that I will miss them and will also be glad when it’s over and they go back to the SPCA Cat Habitat at Petco next Sunday.

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