Abraham Lincoln's 1863 Thanksgiving Day Proclamation

By the President of the United States of America.

A Proclamation.

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. In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union. Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defence, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle or the ship; the axe has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consiousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom. 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. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, 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. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity and Union.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the United States to be affixed.

Done at the City of Washington, this Third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the Independence of the Unites States the Eighty-eighth.

By the President: Abraham Lincoln

William H. Seward,
Secretary of State

Texas A&M Law Professor: Time 'to Repeal and Replace Second Amendment'

"Speaking in a gun violence symposium at University of Connecticut's School of Law, Texas A&M law professor Mary Margaret Penrose said it's time "to repeal and replace [the] Second Amendment.""

I never thought I'd see the day that Texas A&M University, home of the Fighting Texas Aggies and the birthplace of the military careers of thousands of American patriots, would wave a banner of liberalism!

"Penrose said her problems with the Constitution are not limited to the Second Amendment. She "advocates redrafting the entire U.S. Constitution" in her law courses at Texas A&M."

The Holy Spirit removes our blinders ...

Sometimes I get to just look at myself and laugh! I grabbed a new pair of reading glasses off my counter and put them on to do a little reading and was confused that the vision before me was more blurry than without the spectacles.  I pulled them off and put them back on a couple of times with no improvement.

Thinking that the glasses  must have been mislabeled in the store, I put on another pair to check the label on the frame, only then noting that there was a plastic cover on both lenses!  It took one pair of glasses to see the need to remove the cover off the next pair of glasses.

The Holy Spirit works like this in those who have come into a redeemed relationship with our Lord, Jesus.  The Bible shows us that it is only by the Spirit of the Lord, that we are able to discern the deep secrets in His Word.

"So he said, "You have been given knowledge about the secrets of the kingdom of God. But to others they are given in parables, so that 'they might look but not see, and they might listen but not understand.'"    Luke 8:10

"But, as it is written, "What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him"—  these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.   For who knows a person's thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.   Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God.   And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.   The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned."  1 Corinthians 2:9-14 (ESV)


The Holy Spirit has removed my blinders, and maybe yours as well.  The rest of life is picking up the glasses, putting them on and searching for deeper things.

Simple choices

There is morality according to God and there is morality according to man.
In the first,  we recognize God as the source and man and world as resources.
In the second, man recognizes himself as the source and resources are created by man.

This Is Why Obama Gets Away With What He Does

Gleaned from Doc's Talk "An attempt is made to share the truth regarding issues concerning Israel and her right to exist as a Jewish nation. This blog has expanded to present information about radical Islam and its potential impact upon Israel and the West. Yes, I do mix in a bit of opinion from time to time."


 

"As a conservative black American who ignores the concept of “self-muzzling” (translated “political correctness”), I have been asked several times why it is that Barack Obama and Eric Holder can do the unlawful, unjust things that they are doing. People who ask me this are Caucasian Americans. I reply in all instances that these men are lawless because white people allow them to be lawless "






This Is Why Obama Gets Away With What He Does

the cycle of sin

The Sin Cycle

Sin: born into sin, sin awaits us every time we take our focus from God

Slavery:  as our sin nature separates us from him, we slip into a life of slavery to that sin, to our sin nature

Supplication:  eventually, grieving over the trouble of our own making, we cry out to Him for salvation

Salvation: and God is faithful, as we turn from sin and repent, He restores us to fellowship with Him

Silence:  it takes effort, moment to moment, to maintain our focus - prayer, study, meditation - if we lose that focus, we return to our sinful nature

and so it goes

adapted from a lesson by Jeff Harris

Bible bookmarks

I'm cleaning out the various pieces of paper that fluff the pages of my Bible and reviewing some of the passages I noted for reflection.  Scribbles of verse references, sermon notes, thoughts to chew on;  I should have studied them immediately and intently, followed them up, for daily, passing peace.

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"But we urge you, brethren, to excel still more, and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands, just as we commanded you,  so that you will behave properly toward outsiders and not be in any need."  ~ 1 Thessalonians 4:10b-12 (NAS)

"Slaves, in all things obey those who are your masters on earth, not with external service, as those who merely please men, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord.   Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve."  ~ Colossians 3:22-24 (NAS)

These two, kept at the front of thinking, would go a great way toward leading me to a stronger and more peaceful relationship with my employer and my fellow workers.

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"For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs."  ~ 1 Timothy 6:10 (NAS)

I don't lust after money or riches, but there are certainly far too many occasions when I could have been a stronger steward of God's bounty, and more certain, could have put His money to use helping someone other than myself.

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I have the following notes titled "chapter six focus"; I don't recall what study, which book, they are referencing, but the thoughts alone bear review.

1. prayer, surrendering, confessing - I can feel God's presences and sometimes His comfort but His "pleasure" eludes me
2. work was God's plan from the beginning - working "hard" was the result of sin - I think work is needed to keep us sharp, mentally and physically
3. surrendering what we "have" to God puts us in the position of seeking his desires with our stewardship as well as (?) us constantly seeking Him, His plans, His purposes for our lives
4. I have no ambition
5. work as its own reward provides for our needs (not at the mercy of others 1 Thessalonians 4:12) and allows us to show God's hand in our lives - Honor God - God displayed - God honored
6. at this point, virtually none of my life is surrendered to God - I am hanging on to control and God is not honored & seldom acknowledged

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Here are some note from a study titled "Relationships":

1. Not sure about everyone else, but I am
2. Somewhat - drilling down deeper - think you could call it "personal dissatisfaction"
3. Fear of failure
4. I would lobe to step aside but time is money and money is ability - "If can't give love, I must give stuff"
5. Amen
6. inward focus - "self trapping"
7. I am more outward outside the home. but part of it is that I get "nitpicked" if i express myself to my three girls - it gets wearisome
8. yes - more frustration at home because I expect them to comply willingly, but they are just as difficult

It's interesting that this most important chapter is the shortest and says the least.

Hmm ...

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This one comes from a sermon, I think at Grace Point, titled "EPIC"

 

Your Ending

The Journey

•  2 Peter 1 3-11 -The journey begins when we exchange our lives; the goal is to have lived a life of moral excellence (vs 5)

 Glimpses of Glory

• 2 Corinthians 2:18
• 1 Corinthians 13:12
• 1 John 3:2

Our New Home

• Geneses 2:19
• Revelation 2:17
• Revelation 19:11-16

 I'll just have to look these up and flesh them out to reveal the cohesion.

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11/28/10 FWFBT (?)

James 4:10-12

1 Peter 2:1-2

Ephesians 4:29-32

Galations 6:1-2

Matthew 7:1-6

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"Life is hard, and then you die."

Why is life hard?  What happens when I die?

The mind and the heart are shaped by our senses, by the influences we see, hear, feel, touch, taste; by the things we live.  As our minds and hearts are shaped, the path before us unfolds and time moves us forward.

What is shaping my path?  Is it smooth or rough?  Do I see the end clearly, or is it murky and undefined?  Can I reshape my path or am I bound to it?

The answers are in The Book.

the people must be armed

"Before a standing army can rule, the people must be disarmed - as they are in almost every kingdom in Europe. The supreme power in America cannot enforce unjust laws by the sword because the whole body of the people are armed."   ~  Noah Webster

the tree of liberty must be refreshed

What country ever existed a century and a half without a rebellion? And what country can preserve it's liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. It is it's natural manure."  ~  Thomas Jefferson to William Stephens Smith, Paris, 13 Nov. 1787

The Tree of Liberty