Thanksgiving History

The Thanksgiving Proclamation-
George Washington


3 October 1789

By the President of the United States of America: a 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 favor--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 public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many 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 26th 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 which we experienced in the tranquility, union, and plenty, which we have since enjoyed--for the peaceable and rational manner, in which we have been enabled 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 favors which he hath been pleased to confer upon us.

And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech him to pardon our national and other transgressions--to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually -- to render our national government a blessing to all the people, by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed--to protect and guide all Sovereigns and Nations (especially such as have shewn kindness onto us) and to bless them with good government, peace, and concord -- To promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the encrease of science among them and us -- and generally to grant unto all Mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best.


Given under my hand at the City of New-York the third day of October in the year of our Lord 1789".

George Washington

Thanksgiving – The Day
 
Proclamation Establishing Thanksgiving Day October 3, 1863


"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 unequalled 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 had 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 consciousness 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 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, tranquility 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 United States the eighty-eighth".

Abraham Lincoln

A Thanksgiving Day
by B. F. King


O Lord, with humble hearts we pray
Thy blessing this Thanksgiving Day

And ask that at table place,
Where grateful folk say words of grace,

That Thou will come to share the yield
Thy bounty gave to farm and field.

We pray thy love will bless, O Lord,
Each hearth, each home, each festive board;

And that Thy peace will come to stay
Where candles glow, Thanksgiving Day.
Amen

Today I am Thankful For

On This Day; I am Thankful For:

Forgiveness & Forgiving!

This past week found me being taught a lesson that, to be honest, I didn't really care to learn and certainly could have lived without (by my then standards) It was a lesson on truly forgiving someone that has wounded you deeply.

We often; as Christians, talk about forgiveness and for the most part I believe that we as the many membered body of Christ manage to pull it off quite well. But there are times when finding forgiveness in your heart is all but impossible to do. You want to. You try to. But somehow that forgiveness that you are trying so desperately to get a firm hold on manages to elude you and it's frustrating.

Resounding loudly in your spirit you hear the words "Forgive as Christ forgave you" but try as you might you just can't seem to really and truly do it. If you think about the ~wrong~ then you really haven't forgiven. If you talk to another about the ~wrong~ then you really haven't forgiven. If this ~wrong~ seems to continue to be the focal point in your prayers then you really haven't forgiven. What you are is looking to quickly be vindicated and that just isn't how the Lord works. (vengeance being His and all that).

Finally; with a broken (former proud and haughty spirit) I found my way to the Throne Room of Grace and told the Lord that it just wasn't within my power to forgive this. I have never been one to be able to hold a grudge and at 52 years old I did not want to begin now. I wanted to go back to the same loving person that I was before this event occurred and simply pretend that it never happened. But I couldn't; no matter what I did. I didn't like this person that I had become in less than a week. I want my life back! I wanted my self back!

The magnificent thing about the Lord is that when you shut up long enough for Him to be able to get a word in edgewise that He actually has quite alot to say about love and forgiveness. He should; being that He lived His whole life and then died based on the principles of love and forgiveness.

The thing about forgiveness is that if your heart is so full of love, full of grace, full of mercy, full of God then there is no place in to hold malice, vengeance, grudges and all of the awful things that the Enemy would prefer to see in there. There is just no room for it. The Lord can and will stuff your heart so full of wonderful feelings that you think that it can not possible hold any more and then He'll still continue to stuff more great things in there. Majically; as He is filling your heart with love, compassion, mercy, grace and all of the warm and fuzzy feelings that there are to have then pretty soon you discover that you have just walked off and left behind those awful feelings that had tormented you. It just doesn't matter anymore.

It isn't easy and it doesn't happen over night but I found that the more that I was willing to cooperate with the Lord to bring about a change in me then the quicker the changes began to take place. Just saying ...

There will be times during the course of your life things are going to happen that are painful, that don't make sense, that aren't fair. People are going to hurt you and they are going to let you down. Sometimes these things will be done accidentally and sometimes these things will be done on purpose. Regardless; don't let then hold you back and don't let them change who you are. You may not always be able to find it within yourself to forgive someone but the Lord is always ready to step in and show you how and sometimes even supernaturally do it for you.

So; I start this week off as a better person than I was the week before and I thank God for these chances (no matter how painful they are) to grow as a person, grow as a Christian and put into practice at least a few of the things that the Bible speaks of.

Thank You Lord!

“Let your beauty be found in “the hidden person of the heart,
with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit,
which is very precious in the sight of God.”
1 Peter 3:4

November 11th Veterans/Armistice Day

History of Veterans Day

World War I – known at the time as "The Great War" - officially ended when the Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919, in the Palace of Versailles outside the town of Versailles, France. However, fighting ceased seven months earlier when an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, between the Allied nations and Germany went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. For that reason, November 11, 1918, is generally regarded as the end of "the war to end all wars."

In November 1919, President Wilson proclaimed November 11 as the first commemoration of Armistice Day with the following words:

"To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country's service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations…"

The original concept for the celebration was for a day observed with parades and public meetings and a brief suspension of business beginning at 11:00 a.m.

The United States Congress officially recognized the end of World War I when it passed a concurrent resolution on June 4, 1926, with these words:

"Whereas the 11th of November 1918, marked the cessation of the most destructive, sanguinary, and far reaching war in human annals and the resumption by the people of the United States of peaceful relations with other nations, which we hope may never again be severed,

and

Whereas it is fitting that the recurring anniversary of this date should be commemorated with thanksgiving and prayer and exercises designed to perpetuate peace through good will and mutual understanding between nations;

and

Whereas the legislatures of twenty-seven of our States have already declared November 11 to be a legal holiday: Therefore be it Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), that the President of the United States is requested to issue a proclamation calling upon the officials to display the flag of the United States on all Government buildings on November 11 and inviting the people of the United States to observe the day in schools and churches, or other suitable places, with appropriate ceremonies of friendly relations with all other peoples."


An Act (52 Stat. 351; 5 U. S. Code, Sec. 87a) approved May 13, 1938, made the 11th of November in each year a legal holiday— a day to be dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be thereafter celebrated and known as "Armistice Day." Armistice Day was primarily a day set aside to honor veterans of World War I, but in 1954, after World War II had required the greatest mobilization of soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen in the Nation's history; after American forces had fought aggression in Korea, the 83rd Congress, at the urging of the veterans service organizations, amended the Act of 1938 by striking out the word "Armistice" and inserting in its place the word "Veterans." With the approval of this legislation (Public Law 380) on June 1, 1954, November 11th became a day to honor American veterans of all wars.

Later that same year, on October 8th, President Dwight D. Eisenhower issued the first "Veterans Day Proclamation" which stated:

"In order to insure proper and widespread observance of this anniversary, all veterans, all veterans' organizations, and the entire citizenry will wish to join hands in the common purpose. Toward this end, I am designating the Administrator of Veterans' Affairs as Chairman of a Veterans Day National Committee, which shall include such other persons as the Chairman may select, and which will coordinate at the national level necessary planning for the observance. I am also requesting the heads of all departments and agencies of the Executive branch of the Government to assist the National Committee in every way possible."







To this day we honor all of the brave men (and women) of the Military Armed Forces along with their families and thank them for their dedication in service.

If you live in a country that is free- Thank A Veteran!

Heroes Die for Me

by Jamie Burns

I am the flag

I look down upon this land called America .

I have been here since this great nation was formed,

I have seen each battle fought

I have seen the heroes die for me, for my country

Thank you all those of you

Who have kept me flying in the breeze

Keeping this country united as one.

Thank you those of you who have sacrificed your lives,

Giving up all that I may still fly,

Watching over the citizens of this nation.

Thank you all those of you who have ever fought,

I am ever grateful for you.

 

 

You risked everything; you faced death each day,

Faced fear, faced many terrible things.

And because of you, my thank you's ring out,

Filling the sky, echoing from the hills

They find their way to the graveyards,

And to all of you still living,

You are a special kind of person.

To anyone who has ever served this country,

And to those serving today

Thank you.

As I watch life from atop my flagpole,

As I think of all you've done,

My feelings become too powerful for words

And all I can say is thank you.

Today I am Thankful For

On This Day; I am Thankful For:

Our Country!



Dearest Beloved Abba Father,

Today, as Americans, we have been given the opportunity to start fresh. A new dawn under our leader President Barack Obama. It doesn't matter who voted for whom; Mr. Obama is our President- the leader of this once great nation- that can be a great nation again.

I ask My Lord that you guide President Obama in all that he sets his hand to. That you strengthen him and infuse in him to the very innermost core of his being with righteousness, grace and mercy. That he will lead us into a future that is greater than the past we leave behind. That he will; as our forefathers have done, lift our nation up to the very pentacle of greatness and restore her to glory.

Help us my Beloved Lord to put aside our difference so that we may love one another because of or diversity; as it is that diversity that makes us greater than the sum of just one person. Help us to value our resources and to waste not in all areas of our lives. Help us to treasure all the wondrous things that this planet provides lest they  vanish tomorrow under our thoughtlessness.

I ask Lord with a humble heart that you weaken the evil and strengthen the righteous from one end of this planet to the other. That good will rise up and triumph over bad so that freedom continues to ring not only in this great Nation we call home but every nation that aspires to live Godly lives.

It is only through Your Grace and Your Mercy that the United States of America still stands as the greatest place in this world. Continue to bless us though we are undeserving of Your divine favor.

It is in Your Mighty Name Jesus and under Your Shed Blood that I pray all these things and more.

Amen and Amen!

Dearest Reader

Dearest Reader,

As I awoke this morning and set down at my computer to decide what I would post today on my Blog I found, instead, my mind wandering to the list that I need to make for our Thanksgiving celebration.

My daughter and I combine each of our family meals for Thanksgiving and in addition I also make a smaller meal for just my husband and I to munch on through the weekend as we trim our Christmas tree. So; I must make two separate lists- the list of food to make to take to her house and the list of food to make to keep here at my house. Sometimes it can be a little maddening and I have been know in the past to mix up the two lists and end up bring food that my daughter has already prepared thus giving her a double portion of one thing and missing another. As I said; it can be a little maddening to keep up with.

As I turned my eyes away from my computer screen to focus on my list making; again, my mind began to wander and instead focus on all of the things that I have to be thankful for. Of course family and great friends top the list along with having a roof over my head, plenty of food to eat, heat in the winter, air conditioning in the summer, clothing and so on. But these are the things that Jesus Christ promised us anyway in Scripture and naturally we are thankful for these things that He promised us. But He never stops there; does He?

No.

He always goes beyond the simple things (that we so often take for granted) and even when He blesses us in ways that should completely knock our socks off .. then too we seem to take a ~mmme, whatever~ attitude about it. We get spoiled. It happens.

I am guilty at times of having wonderful things occur in my life that instead of falling to my knees and Praising God for them at the instant it happens I am too busy twirling around in excitement and diving in to enjoy that particular blessing. Giving my thanks for it seems almost an after thought- not the main focus. Shame on me.

I have decided that from now through the remainder of this Thanksgiving season that I will post a list of questions "Today I Am Thankful For"  that I hope will have us really examine our day and see all of the beautiful ways that God has blessed us over and beyond the things that He has promised us in His Word.

I hope you will join me each day and share your daily ~blessings~ as well. You can post your response in the "Comment" section or keep them private on a piece of paper on your desk.

God Bless You Dearest Reader as we focus this month on our many, many blessings.
Much Love;
~Lazzy~

“Let your beauty be found in “the hidden person of the heart,
with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit,
which is very precious in the sight of God.”
1 Peter 3:4

Velvet Trinket Bookmarks

~SEW~ Easy Velvet Bookmarks

Materials:

Velvet strips of fabric - 9 inches long by 2 inches wide per bookmark
1 inch Ribbon Clamps
Jump Rings (O rings)
Various Trinkets of your choosing (think vintage!)
Flat nose pliers


Instructions:

1. Cut fabric to 9 inches long by 2 inches wide.

2. Double over your fabric so that you have velvet on each side.

3. Sew along the top, open side and bottom in a corresponding color thread.


 

4. On each of the top and bottom on your bookmark affix a Ribbon Clamp with a pair of flat nose pliers. Crimp tightly.

5. Attache a jump ring (O ring) to the hole in your ribbon clamp.

 

6. Adorn with your trinket and close the jump (O) ring.



* You can add as much length or adornment to your bookmarks as you like by simply continuing to add another jump ring and more trinket.

* If you should have a difficult time finding 2 inch velvet ribbon- you can always purchase 1 inch ribbon and sew them together with each of the velvet facing outward

Very Easy, Very Simple and a Double Cute gift when paired with a vintage book.

The Circle of Love

~ The Circle of Love ~


The circular path of the Blood began in Heaven "before the foundation of the world" (1 Peter 1:18-20).

The blood of Jesus was not an afterthought of the Creator taken in surprise at the fall of man. God never plays catch-up to Satan. If He did, Satan could lead God.

No.

Before God created man He knew he would fall. Before God formed man He foreordained his redemption with "precious Blood." Divine plans originate in the Father. Somewhere in the divine council rooms of Heaven, the Father put forth His plan for man.

Man would be spirit. In God's image. On God's order and kind. Therefore, man would be able to fellowship God. Man would be able to love God. Man would be created to work with God; to have dominion over the works of God's hands. For such high eternal purpose man could not be a robot. Spirit man would be given a soul; a mind, a will, and emotions.

Fallen Lucifer would tempt man's will. Man would fall into the tempter's hand. But God would redeem man. God would design man for redemption in his creation. God would make man a creature of blood. (God was not restricted to create creatures of blood. Angels were not created with blood. Lucifer was not created with blood.)

God would call man Adam, connecting him in the wonderfully revealing Hebrew language to blood (dam) and to the ground (adamah). Both blood and ground are red (adom). God would put spirit man and his soul into a body of flesh made of the dust of the ground. (See 1 Thess. 5:23.)  The life of the flesh would be in the blood (Lev. 17:11,14).

Man's body; an earthen vessel; could be broken and the blood poured out, a life for a life. If the Divine One would go to earth Incarnate and live without sin in "a body prepared," His vessel could be broken and His perfect Life poured out in His Blood for the remission of all sin.

In some eternal moment, in some heavenly place, the One we call Savior agreed to fulfill the Father's great plan of redemption. First in Heaven, and eventually at Calvary, our Lord Jesus offered Himself through the Eternal Spirit, without spot to God (Heb. 9:14).

The Psalms records Jesus' words, in glorious contrast to the rebellious words of Lucifer, "Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me, I delight to do thy will, O my God..." (Ps. 40:7-8).  (See also Heb. 10:5-10)

In what is a great mystery, God the Son became, "...the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world" (Rev. 13:8). "For asmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold...But with the precious blood of Christ, as a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you"  (1 Peter 17:18-19).

The Blood line began in Heaven. It circled earthward first in revelation through types and shadows. For God had to reveal to fallen man the place and the power of the Blood of the Lamb to redeem him. God Himself shed the first blood in type when He made coats of animal skins to cover man.

Blood would cover man until he was again fit for glory. The blood of every animal on every legitimate altar of Old Testament times was to reveal the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

"For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul"  (Lev.17:11).

The precious Blood was manifested in the earth when Jesus came. John the Baptist looked upon Jesus and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world" (John 1:29). The earthly part of the Blood's path was consummated when the manifested Lamb poured out His life in His Blood on Calvary's altar.

The circle of the Blood turned upward again on the third day. Our Lord Jesus Christ arose; triumphant over death, hell, and the grave; and carried His own precious Blood into the Heavenly Holy of Holies where it was accepted for man.

The resurrected Lamb closed the circle giving glory to God the Father. The powerful, redemptive Blood is returned to its Heavenly Terminal. There before the throne of the Living God, the Blood ever speaks "mercy" for man (Heb. 12:24).

The Family Of God

Spiced Pine Cones

Spiced Pine Cone Potpourri Recipe

In a plastic garbage bag:

Small Pine cones- as many as you want
1 full container of ground cinnamon
1 small bottle of apple (or) cinnamon spice oil
(or)
1 of each for a stronger fragrance-
* These can be found in the candle section of your local chain store (like Walmart) or craft store (like Michael's)


Place your pine cones in the plastic bag and pour the ground cinnamon and the oil (or oils) over the pine cones. Tie the bag closed tightly. Shake for a few seconds to distribute the oil and cinnamon over each. Set aside in a closet or some other out of the way area. Each day for one week go and give the bag a mighty shake.

After one week you scented pine cones are ready to use. Place them in a basket or bowl and your room will smell fantastic for months. When the pine cones begin to lose their scent you can reuse them- using the same technique or go out in the yard and collect a new batch of pinecones.

Since you are using all natural ingredients you don't have to worry about the muck they put in the commercial scented pine cones (shudder) who knows what they use in those. Ohh and you might want to place the bowl or basket of scented cones in an area where the dogs and cats can't get at them and use them for paw batting practice or chew toys. It won't harm them but what a mess you will be cleaning up when they have had their fun. We are trying to create a cleaner environment; not trying to create more work for ourselves!

* If you love the smell of pine you can simply use the pine oil over the pine cones instead of apple or cinnamon oil. Replace the use of a container of ground cinnamon with a container of ground cloves. Everything else applies the same.

~ LUKE ~

~Luke~ Physician & Quiet Quillman

Luke 1

1  Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us,

2  just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word.

3  Therefore, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus,

4  so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.

Dear Luke ...

Did a tear drop onto Luke's papyrus as he wrote? Did it smudge ink as he reminisced on Mary's words and in his distant mind hear a cooing baby Jesus?

Maybe Luke worked deep into the nights.

Maybe the candlelight's flicker brought ambience to every recollection as Luke lingered over his notes and penned the most beautiful Gospel, one of the most beautiful books ever written.

Maybe the crackle of his fire reminded him of the one that warmed the precious Infant.

Surely Luke smiled when his stylus scripted across the sheet. The thoughts of Jesus, a newborn crying His arrival into the world He would save, must have been overwhelming.

How do you write with goosebumps?

Some sixty years after Jesus’ birth, Luke recorded for eternity the most eloquent, detailed account of the conception, birth, childhood, and ministry of our Lord. 24 Chapters total.

Luke likely labored over his work for months, writing from his notes and the Holy Spirit's prompting. The results are the third Gospel and the book of Acts, a record of the inception and growth of the Christian Church.

We know so little about Luke.

Yet we know all we need.

There are only three references to him in the Bible:

Colossians 4:14;
14 Our dear friend Luke, the doctor, and Demas send greetings

2 Timothy 4:11;
11 Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry

Philemon 1:24;
24 And so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, my fellow workers


But through them and his writing style we can sketch a glimpse of the man whom God used to write more words of the New Testament than anyone else.

He was a Gentile, a Greek.

He was a close traveling companion of Paul, perhaps his closest, a physician beloved by Paul. (Colossians 4:14)

Luke no doubt shared in Paul's persecutions and trials, all the while repeatedly doctoring the mighty apostle to recovery.

Tradition holds that Luke was a native of Antioch and that he died unmarried and childless at the age of eighty-four.

He is believed to have written each of his books while Paul was imprisoned, first in Caesarea and finally in Rome.

That is where Paul wrote the most telling of words:
“Only Luke is with me” (2 Timothy 4:11).

Luke was a Greek writing to fellow Gentiles, reassuring them that Christ came for all mankind.

Luke's work is unique in that it emphasizes the manhood of Jesus in all its perfection, purity, splendor, and sublimity.

Jesus was the model for us all.

The Gospel of Luke displays a keen interest in individuals, social outcasts, women, children, and social relationships, especially situations involving poverty or wealth. These features tell us something about Luke as a person and his unique understanding of Christianity.

The famous “we” passages beginning in Acts 16:10 reveal that Luke was eyewitness to much of Paul's ministry. Yet Luke makes clear in the introduction of the book of Luke that he was not witness to the events of his Gospel but had “investigated everything carefully from the beginning” (v. 3).

What possibilities does this statement open?

If, as most scholars agree, Luke wrote his Gospel around a.d. 60, it is possible that Mary, the mother of Jesus, was alive and about eighty years old. The captivating thought of Luke interviewing Mary is ascribed credibility by the fact that Luke lingers over the birth of Jesus like none other. He also includes a recitation of Mary's Song (Luke 1:46-55) that invokes at least twelve quotations of Old Testament Scripture. Luke's detail may have come from the very lips of Jesus’ mother.

Caesarea was only a few miles from Jerusalem, Jesus’ mother may have been still alive, at John's home in Jerusalem. Luke may have spent many precious hours with her, listening to her reminiscences of her Wondrous Son.

Respected scholar F. B. Meyer adds: “Luke dwells specially on the early incidents of our Lord's life, and some have detected in the Greek forms of sentences the direct recital of Mary as she recounted to Luke those sacred recollections which she pondered in her heart.”

Luke stressed the blessed humanity of Jesus and plights of women and children and the poor, sick, and outcast. From spending so much time with those closest to Jesus, Luke knew this is what the Lord would have wanted.

One of the most challenging elements of using the quill is finding a way to hide behind it. Luke got out of the way and allowed the Lord His rightful place out front. He served in the background, never directly referring to himself.

Luke labored without regard to himself or the persecution that raged around him. Luke was mighty in spirit because he did this by dying to self and living for the Lord whom he came to love more and more through the facts culled in interviews. He did this though his closest friend was in jail and ultimately under a death sentence.

"Only Luke is with me,” Paul says.

Nearby, Luke squinted at his notes, smiled, and picked up his stylus.

He is with us still.

Mary's Song
Luke 1:46-55 NIV

46  And Mary said: "My soul glorifies the Lord

47  and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

48  for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed,

49  for the Mighty One has done great things for me — holy is his name.

50  His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation.

51  He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.

52  He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble.

53  He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty.

54  He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful

55  to Abraham and his descendants forever, even as he said to our fathers."

Pumpkin ohh Pumpkin

Ohh Great Pumpkin

Did you know that the pumpkin is a fruit and not a vegetable? And that 80 percent of the pumpkin supply in the United States is available in October? This article explores some interesting facts about the common pumpkin and provides useful websites where you can find pumpkin recipes, original pumpkin carving ideas and school activities to keep kids busy during Halloween and Thanksgiving.
Pumpkin Facts
 
The name pumpkin originated from the Greek "pepon" which means "large melon." The pumpkin is a member of the cucurbitacae family which includes cucumbers and melons. Pumpkins were unknown to Europe until after Christopher Columbus sailed to America. They are grown around the world with the biggest productions being in China, India, United States and Mexico. Out of all the continents only Antarctica is unable to produce pumpkins. The Native American name for pumpkin is "isqoutm squash." Around 90-95 percent of the processed pumpkins in the United States are grown in Illinois.
Pumpkins are 90 percent water and contain vitamin A and potassium. 100 grams (3.5 oz) of pumpkin contain 0.01 grams of polyunsaturated fat, 1.0 grams of protein and 3100 pg of beta-carotene, an antioxidant. The seeds which are usually roasted are a popular treat and a good source of protein, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, and other vitamins. Studies and research show that beta-carotene is linked with cancer protection.






Cooking with Pumpkins


Most parts of the pumpkin are edible. The seeds can be dried and eaten as a nutritious snack. The flowers, leaves and shell are also comestible. The first pumpkin pies were made when colonists sliced off pumpkin tops and removed the seeds, then they filled the pumpkins with honey, milk and spices and baked them in hot ashes.


Pumpkins are said to have originated in the Americas and Native Americans had multiple uses for them. They roasted and ate the seeds, dried pieces of pumpkin in flour, they ate the blossoms and made strips from pumpkins which they flattened and wove into mats. They also used pumpkin seeds for medicinal purposes. Today pumpkins have become a North American tradition and a staple especially during Halloween and Thanksgiving. Pumpkin is used for cooking in a number of recipes from muffins and bread to pies and custards. It is also used in soups, to make pudding and cakes. Pumpkin can be bought whole fresh or canned for a longer shelf life


In other parts of the world pumpkins are used for cooking in a variety of ways. In Italy pumpkins have different regional cooking uses, they are used as a savory stuffing for ravioli, sliced in small pieces and then fried or they are cut in pieces and then candied. In the Middle East pumpkin is used in desserts. In Thailand small pumpkins are served as desserts with custard inside. In India pumpkin is cooked with sugar, spices and butter to produce a dish called kadu ka halwa. In China pumpkin leaves are cooked and eaten alone or in soups.






Other Pumpkin Uses


Pumpkin seeds produce oil that is used for cooking, as salad dressing or mixed with other oils. The oil is a good source of essential fatty acids that help maintain a healthy heart and blood vessels.
Veterinarians recommend canned pumpkin as a dietary supplement for cats and dogs with digestive problems. Pumpkins are also used as animal feed.


In 2007 in a research on type-1 diabetes conducted by East China Normal University it was suggested that chemical compounds found in pumpkin extract are very good for pre-diabetic people and for those who already have diabetes.






The Pumpkin and Halloween


Many centuries ago the Celts used to celebrate the end of the Celtic year from October 31 at sundown until November 1st by remembering their loved ones who had passed away. To honor them on this magical night they set on their porches and window sills glowing jack-o-lanterns carved from turnips and gourds. The original Jack-o-lantern was an old drunkard who played tricks on anyone who went his way, so says the legend of Stingy Jack. When the old man died neither heaven nor hell wanted him because he had been mean and cruel during his life. Afraid that he would have to keep wandering in a never ending darkness Jack turned to the devil to help him his way through the darkness, the devil tossed an ember from the flames of hell to help Jack find his way. Jack kept the ember in a hollowed out turnip and since then Jack is said to have roamed the universe with his lit Jack-o-lantern.


When European settlers, especially the Irish, arrived in North America they discovered the pumpkin which lent itself to carving the Jack-o-lantern and they thought it was easier to carve because of the larger size. Halloween, however, didn't catch on until the late 19th century. Since then pumpkin carving at Halloween has become a North American tradition and a fun activity for children and adults alike. In the United States, long before its association with Halloween, the pumpkin was associated with harvesting, hence Thanksgiving.






How to Select a Pumpkin for Cooking or Baking


The best selection for a pumpkin to cook or bake is a pie pumpkin or sweet pumpkin. Pie or sweet pumpkins are smaller than the type of pumpkins used to carve jack-o-lanterns and the flesh is sweeter and not as watery. When selecting a pumpkin, look for a stem that is one to two inches. When the stem of a pumpkin is cut too low, the pumpkin will quickly decay or may already be decaying at time of purchase. Pumpkins should be heavy, and pumpkins that are blemished or have soft spots should be avoided. A pound of raw pumpkin usually constitutes one cup finished pumpkin puree.






Other Pumpkin Facts


•The size of pumpkins range from less than a pound to over 1,000 pounds, with the largest pumpkin ever grown weighing 1,689 pounds.


•In 2006 the total U.S. pumpkin production was 1 billion pounds. Top states in pumpkin production are: California, Illinois, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.

This Month in History: October

 

 

October's Shawl

October is a lovely month
Wrapped in a flaming shawl
It holds the richest treasures
As the summer turns to fall.

The brilliant leaves swirl to the earth
Colors of orange and brown
Dipped in scarlet and touched with bronze
They fall silently to the ground.

The grass is dying, the flowers are gone
October is taking his stand
He is paving the way for winter
Leaving his mark upon the land.

He does his job so silently
Splashing the woodlands with gold
To be altered by ruthless 'Ole Winter
Who enters so careless and bold.

He will crinkle the leaves that you've colored
Causing a state of despair
And cover the day with a blanket of gray
Forgetting you ever were there.

But, although your radiant flame must die
And the delicate leaves do fall
You've paved the way for snowflake days
As winter drapes your shawl.




October in History


October 1

The Television series "The Twilight Zone" premeired (1959)
Walt Disney World opened in Orlando, Florida (1971)
Alexander the Great defeated Darius III in the Battle of Gaugamela (331 BC)
Yosemite becomes a National Park (1896)
Ford Model T motor car goes on sale. It was only available in black and cost $850 (1908)


October 2

Peanuts comic strip by Charles Schultz first appeared in newspapers (1950)
The Royal Navy commissions its first submarine (1901)


October 3

President Lincoln declares the last Thursday in November Thanksgiving Day. (1863)
Frank Robinson becomes major leagues baseball's first black manager for the Cleveland Indians. (1974)


October 4

Buster Keaton was born (1895)
Actor Charlton Heston- Best Known for "The Ten Commandments" was born (1924)
Mexico becomes a republic (1824)
Russia launched Sputnik I into space (1957)


October 5

The World Series was broadcast on radio for the first time (1921)
Bulgaria declared independence from Turkey and Ferdinand I became Tsar. (1908)


October 6

Thomas Edison showed the 1st motion picture (1889)
The first Physician's Assistants graduate from Duke University (1967)


October 7

Edgar Allan Poe died (1849)
In the Netherlands KLM Airlines was established. KLM is the oldest airline still operating under its original name. (1919)


October 8

Chicago fire began (1871)
In Britain, the Conservatives were re-elected to government (1959)


October 9

The general public was first admitted into the Washington Monument.
Singer and songwriter John Lennon of "The Beatles" was born in Liverpool, England. (1940)
Pope Pius XII died. (1958)
Uganda gained independance from Britain (1962)


October 10

The actor and director Orson Welles died age 70 (1985)
The U.S. Naval Academy opened in Annapolis, Maryland. (1845)
The Boer War in South Africa began (1899) and ended on 31st May (1902). It was fought between Britain and the Boers.
The Bayer Company started selling Asprin in Germany (1903)
A volcanic eruption on Tristan da Cunha, an island in the south Atlantic, resulted in the whole population being evacuated to Britain (1961)


October 11

Apollo 7 is launched at Cape Kennedy. The crew are Walter Schirra, Don Eisele and Walter Cunningham. (1968)
Space Shuttle Challenger astronaut Kathryn Sullivan became the first American woman to walk in space. (1984)


October 12

The very first Oktoberfest is held in Munich, Bavaria, Germany (1810)
Christopher Columbus discovered America (1492)


October 13

The U.S. Continental Navy was created. (1775)
The first World Series in baseball is won by the Boston Red Sox. (1903)


October 14

The Austrian doctor Sigmund Freud published his book about psychoanalysis, entitled 'The Interpretation of Dreams' (1900)
Martin Luther King Jr was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize (1964)


October 15

"I Love Lucy" premiered on television. (1951)
U.S. Department of Transportation was created (1966)


October 16

Marie Antoinette was guillotined for treason. (1793)
Cuban Missile crisis begins. (1962)


October 17

Mobster Al Capone was convicted of income tax evasion. (1931)


October 18

Thomas Alva Edison died (1931)
Sir Alec Douglas-Home (Lord Home) became the British Prime Minister after Harold Macmillan resigned. (1963)
The United States took formal possession of Alaska from Russia. Secretary of State William H. Seward had agreed to buy the region for $7,200,000, about 2 cents per acre. (1867)


October 19

The Senate passed a bill making Martin Luther King's Birthday a national holiday. (1983)
The Revolutionary War ended. (1781)


October 20

The first edition of the Sunday Times was published in London (1822)


October 21

Thomas Edison invented the incandescent electric lamp. (1879)
Nelson defeated Napoleon's fleet at Trafalgar (1805)


October 22

The New York Metropolitan Opera House opened (1883)


October 23

25,000 women marched gin New York City demanding the right to vote. (1915)


October 24

The United Nations came into existence. (1945)
Anna Edison Taylor is the first person to survive going over Niagara Falls in a barrel. (1901)


October 25

U.S. forces invade Grenada. (1983)
Johann Strauss the Austrian composer was born. (1825)
The painter Pablo Picasso was born (1881)


October 26

The Erie Canal opens, connecting Lake Erie to the Hudson River. (1825)
The "Gunfight at the OK Corral" occurs. Wyatt Earp, his two brothes, and "Doc" Holliday, have a shootout with the Ike Clanton gang. (1881)
The Erie Canal opens. (1825)


October 27

President Theodore Roosevelt's birthday. The "Teddy bear" was named after him. (1858)


October 28

France presented the U.S. with the statute of Liberty. (1886)
The Gateway Arch in St. Louis is completed. (1965)
Harvard College was founded (1636)


October 29

The New York Stock Exchange crashed on what came to be known as "Black Tuesday", starting the Great Depression (1929)


October 30

First successful television experiment by the inventor John Logie Baird (1925)
Dr. Albert Schweitzer received the Peace Prize (1952)
Gen. George C. Marshall was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize (1953)
The U.S.S.R. tested a hydrogen bomb that had a force of 58 megatons (1961)


October 31

Magician Harry Houdini dies from complications of a ruptured appendix. (1926)
Indian Prime Minister Indira Ghandi was assassinated. (1984)
Nevada became the 36th state. (1864)
Rear Admiral G.J. Dufek became the first person to land an airplane at the South Pole (1956)

 

Peter the Apostle

The Stuff of Scars

"And he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, "You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas" John 1:42 NIV (which, when translated, is Peter).

Footnotes:
Both Cephas (Aramaic) and Peter (Greek) mean "rock" or "stone".


I have always found it immeasurably comforting that Jesus gave Simon the name "Cephas," or Peter, before Cephas had done much of anything. Before Peter had even determined to follow Jesus, let alone serve him and love him as the Christ, before Peter had muttered his denials of knowing Jesus or had one of his moments of blurted insight, before Jesus had reason to call Peter "Satan," Jesus called him the "rock" (John 1:42).


What does this say?


First, I believe it shouts of God's sovereignty. God knows who we are before we know ourselves. God can use us in spite of ourselves. God is sovereign over our failures and our successes. But secondly, it reminds us that we are more than the sum of our blunders and failings, as well as our victories and our bright spots. As the apostle Paul wrote to the Romans: "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). Before we had a chance to prove ourselves, before we had a chance to fall on our faces or say something smart, God knew that He would need to die for us, and did.


Peter is the disciple that makes many of us feel okay. He is a loud statement to the hopeless, to the skeptic, and to the guilt-ridden that the Father can take our doubt, our regret, the hopelessness of our past or our present, and create in us something solid by giving us Himself. In Peter we also find that pains of regret and faithlessness may leave scars, but that scars can be powerful reminders of the living hope we profess: the Word that will not wither (See 1 Peter 24-25). Through Peter, God encourages the weary. Through our scars, Christ heartens us to see a God very much in control.


Even so, when we look at our own moments of faithlessness or foolishness, our scars of humiliation, or the bitter sting of missed and lost opportunities, it is hard to see much beyond regret and remorse, even if we know Christ has forgiven us. Can there be more to see in the weight of our past, the pains of childhood and the wounds of life, the glimpses of guilty motives and poor behavior? The testimony of Scripture is that yes, very definitely, there is.


For arguably, Peter's passion for Christ was largely shaped by that which the pain and humiliation of denying Jesus rightly reminded him: "If we are faithless, God remains faithful, for God cannot deny Himself" (2 Timothy 2:13). Our scars are similar. Some of my own scars simply remind me that I am alive, living within a fallen world, participating in this fragile thing called life. Some remind me that I am not an island, that I need people, that I desperately need a savior, that I need God in all that I face. Still others remind me that I am healed and being healed. But all of my scars can remind me, as they did Peter, of the sovereignty of God and the weight and responsibility of the hope which I profess. "Do you love me?" asks Jesus. "Yes, Lord," responds Peter. "Then feed my sheep."


When Jesus appeared to the gathered, frightened disciples after his resurrection, he said to them, "See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me and see" (Luke 24:39). The frightened disciples had gathered together to discuss the rumors some had heard that Christ was alive and out of the grave, risen from the cruel death they witnessed days ago. They were disoriented and afraid, and Jesus said to them, "Look at my hands and my feet." And to Thomas, "Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side" (John 20:27). To his closest friends, Jesus said, "Look at my scars, see that it is me. Recognize me by my scars; they will point you to God."


Christ was recognized by the scars that marked his body, and shouted of his love. As the powerful lyrics of musician Michael Card exclaim, "The marks of death that God chose never to erase/ The wounds of love's eternal war/ When the kingdom comes with its perfected sons/ He will be known by the scars."


Like our own, but far beyond this, the scars of Christ point us to a sovereign God who goes great lengths to touch our disfigured world and scarred souls with his holy hands. As the prophet Isaiah proclaimed long ago, "He was crushed for our iniquities. By his stripes we are healed." No doubt, it was this piercing reality of Christ bearing the scars of our sin, carrying our pain, and taking our shame, that Peter bore in mind as he dynamically instructed, "Throw all your anxieties upon Him, because He cares about you" (1 Peter 5:7). For Peter, of all people, knew.

Falling Autumn Leaves

Preserving Autumn Leaves

Collect and preserve autumn leaves to bring the beauty of the season into your home.

As the fall foliage starts to change, consider turning autumn leaves into decorative home accents. Colorful maple leaves in rich fall reds and coppers make beautiful centerpieces. Pile them into baskets and bowls and clusters them around lamp bases. Create leaf collages to frame or mount in shadowboxes—the possibilities go on and on.

The key to leaf crafts though is to keep the leaves from crumbling, curling or turning brown. On an ironing board place the leaves between two sheets of wax paper with the waxy side on the leaf. Cover with brown paper (like a grocery bag) and iron on medium heat. The iron will melt the wax onto the leaf, preserving not only its shape but its color.

And after the season is over, store the leaves in a cool, dry place for next year.

Wax Poetic

Make pillar candles embellished with leaves the highlight of your table. Or arrange them on the mantel.


Here's how

Plan the leaf pattern on a flat surface. Brush a thin layer of craft glue onto each leaf and press onto pillar candles of various heights. Arrange candles on a tray and surround with loose leaves. So Pretty!

Christian Pumpkin Carving

Christian Pumpkin

I am a Jack O' Lantern
My light will shine so bright
For I am a Christian pumpkin
My symbols tell what's right.

My nose is like the cross
on which on Savior died
To set us free from sin
We need no longer hide.

My mouth is like a fish
The whole wide world to show
That Christians live in this house
And love their Savior so!

The story starts at Christmas
My eyes are like the star
That shone on Baby Jesus
And wise men saw from far

My color it is orange
Just like the big bright sun
That rose on Easter Day
Along with God's own Son.

And so on Halloween
Let's set our pumpkins out
And tell the trick or treaters
What God's love is all about!

"Pumpkin Carving Prayer"
~ childrens' activity ~
 
Dearest God,

As I carve my pumpkin,
Open my mind so I can learn about You;
(Cut the top of the pumpkin)


Take away all my sin and forgive me for the wrong things I do;
(Clean out the inside)


Open my eyes so Your Love I will see;
(Cut eyes shaped like hearts)


I'm sorry for turning up my nose to anything You have given me;
(Cut a nose in the shape of the cross)


Open my ears so Your Word I will hear;
(Cut ears shaped like the Bible)


Open my mouth so I can tell others You're near;
(Cut mouth in the shape of a fish)


Let Your Light shine in all I say and do! Amen.
(Place a candle and light)