"We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of heaven. We have been preserved, the many years, in peace and prosperity. We have grown in numbers, wealth and power, as no other nation has ever grown. But we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us; and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own.

    Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self- sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to God that made us! It behooves us, then to humble ourselves before the offended Power, to confess our national sins, and to pray for clemency and forgiveness." -- April 30, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln's Proclamation for a National Day of Fasting, Humiliation and Prayer

I heard about a little fourth-grader who stood up to give a report concerning the origins of the Thanksgiving holiday. Here's how he began:

"The pilgrims came here seeking

freedom of you know what.

When they landed, they gave

thanks to you know who.

Because of them, we can worship

each Sunday, you know where.

    During a Thanksgiving message, I preached on the need for Christians to be thankful in everything. I reiterated how that God has our best interest at heart and that all things do work together for the good. I had just been blessed with free body work on my old car and it was looking brand new. Two days after the Thanksgiving message I hit a deer on a back road to my home. My car was dented and I was heart broke. I was pounded with my own words just a few days before to be thankful in all things. I wrote these words and testified in church on the next Sunday of God's goodness. Let me be thankful: first, because I have never hit a deer before, second, because although it (the deer) dented my car it did not dent my head, third, because although my car had just been fixed, it is an old car and not a new one,fourth, because although I killed a deer, I did not kill my "dear" (my wife was riding with me),aand last, because someone is eating good today.

Where are the Nine? Were there not ten lepers healed? Why didn't they come back?

1. One went home to see his family.
2. One went back to work to earn some money.
3. One stayed in the temple to worship God.
4. One went to see his friends.
5. One went to court sue some people who had treated him badly.
6. One went to find his girl friend.
7. One went to the Olympic games in Greece.
8. One went to tend to his horse and chariot.
9. One went to the store with his wife.

Where are we today? Typical time spent - 70 years: sleep - 23 yrs or 32.9%; work - 16 yrs. or 22.8% TV - 8 yrs. or 11.4%; eating - 6 yrs. or 8.6%; Travel - 6 yrs. or 8.6%; Leisure - 4.5 yrs. or 6.5%; Illness - 4 yrs. or 5.7%; Dressing - 2 yrs. or 2.8%; Religion - 0.5 yrs. or 0.7%

Rudyard Kipling at one time was so popular that his writings were getting ten shillings per word. A few college students, however didn't appreciate Kipling's writings; they facetiously sent him a letter enclosing ten shillings. It read, "Please, send us your best word." They got back a letter from Kipling, "Thanks."

Only One Came Back to Thank Jesus. Why did he come back? Will you come back?

Thanksgiving is the noblest expression of the noblest sentiment of the heart. It is graditude flowing through the lips. It is gratitude looking up with all its generous and swelling emotions and giving out those fragrant sacrifices to God, the author of all good, by fitting acts, and by a fitting service. - E.M. Bounds

1. He was the only Samaritan. He was an outcast and a leper. Leprosy is a type of sin.

2. He was the only one who would not have been invited into the temple. When others say go; Jesus says, no I want you…!

3. He was the only one who recognized Jesus' power and work in his life.

4. He was the only one who wanted to thank Him.

5. He was the only one who was humble enough to bow before the King.

6. He was the only one who was willing to give Jesus the sacrifice of his self in thanksgiving.