Madeline Crabb
Thanksgiving- -A time for gratefulness to God
By Madeline Crabb
In a couple of days we celebrate Thanksgiving, a day that's become synonymous with lots of food, family, and football – not necessarily in that order. It is a national holiday and therefore gives millions of Americans a paid day off from work. But are we taking any time out on this day to actually give thanks to our Creator, from whom all blessings flow?
America truly is a great country. Perfect, no, because it is comprised of imperfect people. But we have something most other nations will never have – freedom. We were founded on the principle that we are "endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness." Of course, most of us recognize these words from the Declaration of Independence. Sadly, far too many Americans have been taking these rights for granted, perhaps thinking we would always have them. Consequently, we have become complacent, and run the risk of losing our freedom.
Oh, there are some naysayers who will claim this could never happen. But dear friends, it has been happening for over a century. Our own government has been sucking-away our freedoms bit by bit. The current Resident-in-chief has greatly escalated the process. But then, what can we expect? He said that was what he was going to do when he campaigned for the job. What exactly did we think Obama meant when he proclaimed he was going to "fundamentally transform the United States of America?" Millions of us knew what he meant because we stay informed about important issues like freedom, tyranny, and our out-of-control government.
For those of you who believed all of Obama's lies, why did you think America needed fundamental transformation? What has America done to you that would cause you to favor such change? Aren't you being allowed to chase your dreams, your happiness? Aren't you allowed the right to work in a job of your choosing? How about education? Aren't your children able to attend schools, and even pursue higher education if so desired? How many of you have a roof over your head, food in the fridge, and a car to drive? If you don't have some things, don't you have the opportunity to get a better job, or a second or third job to obtain them? (Hey, I worked two or more jobs at a time to get through college.) And if you are experiencing difficult times, aren't there generous charitable and religious organizations to which you can go to get temporary assistance? Yes, there are some homeless people in America, but there are multitudes of community organizations and programs to assist even these folks.
The fact is that even most poor people in America live better than the truly poor in some countries. Even some of Barack Obama's Kenyan family lives in shanties. We all know so-called poor people who have at least one car, sometimes own homes, have at least one TV – many times big screen versions, and just about every electronic device available. Many of them also eat just about anything they want. Why? Because of government welfare.
Over the past 60 years or so, there has been a major move towards the Welfare State. Even FDR's New Deal and Lyndon Johnson's Great Society haven't lessened poverty. By becoming "daddy" to those it deems needy, government has taken away incentives for people to work harder to pull themselves out of bad circumstances. However, charity isn't the role of government. Founding Father James Madison said, "The government of the United States is a definite government, confined to specified objects. It is not like the state governments, whose powers are more general. Charity is no part of the legislative duty of the government."
America became great through self-reliance, hard work, and belief in God. Our demise is due to laziness, dependency on others, and abandonment of God. Like the Israelites in the Old Testament, Americans have forgotten who God is and all that He has done for us. Again, the Declaration of Independence says life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are from God. We have placed more faith in government than in God, which is very dangerous. God says He is a jealous God. (Deut. 5: 9)
Furthermore, do we not understand the biblical principle of for those given much, much will be required? In the Parable of the Talents, Jesus tells us that God gives to each of us, according to our ability, and expects us to properly use what we have been given. It also shows that when we don't use what He has given us, He will take it from us and give it to the one who has made the most use of his abilities. Jesus concluded the parable, "For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him." (Matt. 25:14-30) One would think that at the very least we are required to preserve what we have been given. But this parable shows that the one man who simply protected what he had been given had it taken away from him.
For America to remain a free nation, We the People must be grateful for what we have been given, and use this great gift in positive, constructive ways. Because we have been given so much as a nation, we have been given even more prosperity through our collective efforts. As a result, our generosity has been great to other less fortunate countries.
Our Founding Fathers pledged their lives, fortunes, and sacred honor to establish America. Many of them indeed gave both lives and fortunes for the cause. So today, where are the people willing to pledge their lives, fortunes, and sacred honor, all while relying on God for protection, to make America what Ronald Reagan called the "shining light on a hill?" Where is that level of dedication to a cause as great as perpetuating liberty? If we were planted here as citizens, then we are called to make America a better place, not destroy it – or allow our destruction.
This Thanksgiving, instead of just doing the same old food, family, and football, let's give serious consideration about what God wants us to do with our lives. Are we using the abilities and "talents" He has given us? Do we acknowledge that God is the Giver of all our gifts, and that only He has the right to take them away? And then, are we using our abilities to grow a stronger America? Or are we allowing enemies of God and freedom to weaken America and curse God?
If our God-given freedoms are removed from us, it is because God allowed it – even commanded it, as He did in the Parable of the Talents. Dear friends, just as God allows us to make our own choices, He will also allow us to suffer the consequences. Thanksgiving is a great time to turn back to God and begin doing what He called us to do with the "talents" He gave each of us. To anyone willing to hear....
© Madeline Crabb
November 27, 2013
In a couple of days we celebrate Thanksgiving, a day that's become synonymous with lots of food, family, and football – not necessarily in that order. It is a national holiday and therefore gives millions of Americans a paid day off from work. But are we taking any time out on this day to actually give thanks to our Creator, from whom all blessings flow?
America truly is a great country. Perfect, no, because it is comprised of imperfect people. But we have something most other nations will never have – freedom. We were founded on the principle that we are "endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness." Of course, most of us recognize these words from the Declaration of Independence. Sadly, far too many Americans have been taking these rights for granted, perhaps thinking we would always have them. Consequently, we have become complacent, and run the risk of losing our freedom.
Oh, there are some naysayers who will claim this could never happen. But dear friends, it has been happening for over a century. Our own government has been sucking-away our freedoms bit by bit. The current Resident-in-chief has greatly escalated the process. But then, what can we expect? He said that was what he was going to do when he campaigned for the job. What exactly did we think Obama meant when he proclaimed he was going to "fundamentally transform the United States of America?" Millions of us knew what he meant because we stay informed about important issues like freedom, tyranny, and our out-of-control government.
For those of you who believed all of Obama's lies, why did you think America needed fundamental transformation? What has America done to you that would cause you to favor such change? Aren't you being allowed to chase your dreams, your happiness? Aren't you allowed the right to work in a job of your choosing? How about education? Aren't your children able to attend schools, and even pursue higher education if so desired? How many of you have a roof over your head, food in the fridge, and a car to drive? If you don't have some things, don't you have the opportunity to get a better job, or a second or third job to obtain them? (Hey, I worked two or more jobs at a time to get through college.) And if you are experiencing difficult times, aren't there generous charitable and religious organizations to which you can go to get temporary assistance? Yes, there are some homeless people in America, but there are multitudes of community organizations and programs to assist even these folks.
The fact is that even most poor people in America live better than the truly poor in some countries. Even some of Barack Obama's Kenyan family lives in shanties. We all know so-called poor people who have at least one car, sometimes own homes, have at least one TV – many times big screen versions, and just about every electronic device available. Many of them also eat just about anything they want. Why? Because of government welfare.
Over the past 60 years or so, there has been a major move towards the Welfare State. Even FDR's New Deal and Lyndon Johnson's Great Society haven't lessened poverty. By becoming "daddy" to those it deems needy, government has taken away incentives for people to work harder to pull themselves out of bad circumstances. However, charity isn't the role of government. Founding Father James Madison said, "The government of the United States is a definite government, confined to specified objects. It is not like the state governments, whose powers are more general. Charity is no part of the legislative duty of the government."
America became great through self-reliance, hard work, and belief in God. Our demise is due to laziness, dependency on others, and abandonment of God. Like the Israelites in the Old Testament, Americans have forgotten who God is and all that He has done for us. Again, the Declaration of Independence says life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are from God. We have placed more faith in government than in God, which is very dangerous. God says He is a jealous God. (Deut. 5: 9)
Furthermore, do we not understand the biblical principle of for those given much, much will be required? In the Parable of the Talents, Jesus tells us that God gives to each of us, according to our ability, and expects us to properly use what we have been given. It also shows that when we don't use what He has given us, He will take it from us and give it to the one who has made the most use of his abilities. Jesus concluded the parable, "For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him." (Matt. 25:14-30) One would think that at the very least we are required to preserve what we have been given. But this parable shows that the one man who simply protected what he had been given had it taken away from him.
For America to remain a free nation, We the People must be grateful for what we have been given, and use this great gift in positive, constructive ways. Because we have been given so much as a nation, we have been given even more prosperity through our collective efforts. As a result, our generosity has been great to other less fortunate countries.
Our Founding Fathers pledged their lives, fortunes, and sacred honor to establish America. Many of them indeed gave both lives and fortunes for the cause. So today, where are the people willing to pledge their lives, fortunes, and sacred honor, all while relying on God for protection, to make America what Ronald Reagan called the "shining light on a hill?" Where is that level of dedication to a cause as great as perpetuating liberty? If we were planted here as citizens, then we are called to make America a better place, not destroy it – or allow our destruction.
This Thanksgiving, instead of just doing the same old food, family, and football, let's give serious consideration about what God wants us to do with our lives. Are we using the abilities and "talents" He has given us? Do we acknowledge that God is the Giver of all our gifts, and that only He has the right to take them away? And then, are we using our abilities to grow a stronger America? Or are we allowing enemies of God and freedom to weaken America and curse God?
If our God-given freedoms are removed from us, it is because God allowed it – even commanded it, as He did in the Parable of the Talents. Dear friends, just as God allows us to make our own choices, He will also allow us to suffer the consequences. Thanksgiving is a great time to turn back to God and begin doing what He called us to do with the "talents" He gave each of us. To anyone willing to hear....
© Madeline Crabb
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