Thanksgiving Wishes and The Evidence of History
My Journey Through Cancer, Part 31 by David Maddox
I wanted first to thank God for you who have so faithfully walked with me this past year on this journey of fighting the intruder within. Your prayers have sustained me in times of darkness and fear – your encouragement and obviously love are gifts from the Lord. You have allowed me to share this journey not only physically, but much more importantly Spiritually as I share what God is teaching me. What we see in your lives show that God is using these days to glorify Himself and reveal more of Himself which is our goal and purpose. I would never have chosen this path, but likewise – had I a choice – I would never have walked away from the increased intimacy and knowledge of the Lord that He has granted during these days. Be blessed even as you are a blessing.
I also wanted to share with you a portion of that first Thanksgiving Proclamation – what George Washington wrote after a request from both Houses of Congress. You cannot read this without grieving for how distant we now are from that duty to God which our founders and the first President – both Houses of Congress – acknowledged. That is what we must pray God will return our nation to.
WASHINGTON’S THANKSGIVING PROCLAMATION:
“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, by their joint committee, requested me ‘to recommend to the people of the United States a DAY OF PUBLICK THANKSGIVING and PRAYER, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness:’
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; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and the favorable interpositions of His providence in the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed;– for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enable to establish Constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted;– for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge;– and, in general, for all –the great and various favours which He has been pleased to confer upon us.”
About David Maddox – After a legal career in both Texas and Arizona that spanned over 40 years as a civil litigator, God called David to leave his law practice and work full time as Discipleship Director for Time to Revive. That call is really the fruit of decades of prayer for revival and teaching God’s Word, writing discipleship materials and seeking to make disciples. David married Janet Whitehead in 1976 and they minister together from their Phoenix home. God has blessed them with four children and thus far seven grandchildren.