Pilgrim went to Massachusetts in America, seeking religious freedom, and gave thanks to God for their newfound religious freedom.
The first winter killed 44 of the original 102 pilgrims. Their daily food had become so depleted that they were given rations of five kernels of corn a person daily.
A trading vessel arrived, swapping them pelts for grain, providing them crops for the next year.
The first Thanksgiving was a time to celebrate because now they could serve God with freedom and was blessed with food.
Psalms 107:1 O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
They had met some friendly Indians who brought food to their celebration. It was a celebration of fellowship with family and friends for three days which consisted of eating, songs of praise, sermons, and prayer.
Psalms 150:1 Praise ye the Lord. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power.
Psalms 150:2 Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness.
Psalms 150:3 Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp.
Psalms 150:4 Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs.
Psalms 150:5 Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals.
Psalms 150:5 Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord.
This day is not just a day of eating, but a day of fellowship, praise and prayer. It’s a celebration of the abundance that God has given us.
Philippians 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
We are so blessed that we should always remember the ones that aren’t as fortunate as we are. Thanksgiving is a great time to help the poor and needy. Maybe invite our neighbor to dinner or fix a Thanksgiving dinner for the elderly, or go to a shelter that passing out food to the needy and volunteer or give them food.
There is no shortage of people that we can help on Thanksgiving. There are over 9 million people who starve to death a year and most are children, so giving money to an organization that feeds the hungry is a great way to say thank you, Jesus.
Luke 6:38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure pressed down and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
2 Corinthians 9:7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
1 John 3:17 But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have to need, and shutteth up his bowels [of compassion] from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?
Proverbs 19:7 He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.
Matthew 25:33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
Matthew 25:34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
Matthew 25:35 For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
Matthew 25:36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
Matthew 25:37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
Matthew 25:38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
Matthew 25:39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
Matthew 25:40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
Matthew 25:41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
Matthew 25:42 For I was an hungered, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:
Matthew 25:43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.
Matthew 25:44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
Matthew 25:45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmust as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.
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