Randyhartford Loc: Lawrence, Kansas

Greetings and happy Lord’s Day to all Fishing Stagers and guests!

Earlier this past week, I was thinking and praying about what to say on the subject of Thanksgiving for the devotion today. Then I read all the posts that you all shared on Thursday and that’s all it took!
I was particularly inspired by a couple posts by Troy and Papa Jack - probably because they both referenced my favorite chapter in the whole Bible! I believe Psalms 100 is the perfect Thanksgiving chapter.
In verse 3, David tells us that God made us - not we ourselves:

“Know that the Lord, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭100‬:‭3‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Not only did God make US, He made EVERYTHING!

“All things were made by Him; and without Him was not any thing made that was made.”
‭‭John‬ ‭1‬:‭3‬ ‭

The truth is, we are not able to create ANYTHING ourselves. Everything WE make is really just made/built/assembled from what God has already created. We can make nothing from nothing; only God can make something from nothing!

David goes on in verse four to tell us to be thankful to Him.

“Enter His gates with thanksgiving; go into His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him and praise His name.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭100‬:‭4‬ ‭NLT‬‬

With this chapter being my favorite of all time, I have read and quoted it many, many times. However, for the first time, while thinking about this verse in Troy and Papa Jack’s posts on FS, this question came to my mind: For those who do not believe in God, who do THEY give thanks to, at Thanksgiving?
As Christians, we believe that all our blessings come from God.

“Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.”
‭‭James‬ ‭1‬:‭17‬ ‭NLT‬‬

According to John, we are not even able to do anything fruitful for the Kingdom, without God’s help.

““I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.”
‭‭John‬ ‭15‬:‭5‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

The truth is, we ALL rely on God for our every breath.
So… my question to everyone is:
Who do YOU give thanks to?

May God bless you ALL abundantly during this Thanksgiving season and always!

The following (38 min.) video is by Allen Jackson, titled “America - Be Thankful”. It was taped two years ago. Enjoy!

https://youtu.be/f81gkTIQL4w?si=enC1W8z0830bYSbY

troyfrd1 Loc: Hampstead,NC

Good morning Randy. Thanks again for our daily devotionals. I am so thankful to God. Thankful for how he allows me to live. I know it’s God for without him I am not can I do anything. He has brought me through this. He has brought me through that and I am so ever grateful. I could never do this or anything without God. Ever through my storms of life he kept me. Have a great day. Again thank you.

Chuckay Loc: Central Florida

Good morning Randy, you're so right without God we are nothing🙏 I put God first every day he guides the way for us all we have to do is follow, I give him thanks every morning and through out the day🙏🙏🙏
Hope everyone has a blessed day and remember someone out there needs a kind word so make their day today 😂

Randyhartford Loc: Lawrence, Kansas

Thank you for your encouragement Troy! You are a blessing to me. 🙏🏻

Randyhartford Loc: Lawrence, Kansas

Yep - you never know how much a kind word can make a difference in one’s day or life…

troyfrd1 Loc: Hampstead,NC

You are welcome Randy. How can I say I love God whom I have not seen and yet hate my brothers/sisters. In our world today we need a word. Doesn’t matter what we may be going through but we need a word. A word from the Lord. Some will not receive the word but at the end of the day they heard the word. You have a choice. The worse part is you heard the word but did nothing. Secondly you turned away from the word and spoke against it. It’s not the person who gave the word. Godvuses whom and what he please. You have sin against God. You don’t want to be on that side. It’s not pretty.

plumbob Loc: New Windsor Maryland

" Who do we give Thanks to ", is an excellent question Randy and that you mentioned about the non believers " who do THEY give thanks to, at Thanksgiving?"

For me before the foot hits the floor God gets the I am awake message. As the day progresses he gets the reminders throughout the day for the odds and ends of being Thankful for the simple things we encounter.

Than let us not forget " Bless us Oh Lord for and these thy gifts " at meal time.

I guess no response will come from the non believers, however there is hope when they see the title.

ghaynes1 Loc: Strawberry Plains, TN

If any non believers responded on FS, they would get blasted by people who aren't willing or able to accept any belief that runs contrary to their own. That probably why you won't get a response.

plumbob Loc: New Windsor Maryland

Blasted is kind of a strong word Greg. Informed on the opposite of their thoughts would be more like it.

Randyhartford Loc: Lawrence, Kansas

You are probably right about the “no response from the nonbelievers”, but it is my prayer, like you and Troy both said, they WILL see the word and have to make a choice to believe/accept it or not believe and reject it. All we can do is plant the seed and pray it rains…
Only Jesus and the Holy Spirit can save. 🙏🏻

ghaynes1 Loc: Strawberry Plains, TN

Apparently you have forgotten the history of some people and their remarks. I won't go into it here but let's just say it goes way beyond an "informed" opposing thought.

Randyhartford Loc: Lawrence, Kansas

It is NOT our own belief, Greg. It is the “belief” in God.
He IS THE AUTHORITY. He created it all and is omnipotent and omniscient. We know what HE SAYS, is the truth. There is only one way to Heaven and that is through Jesus. If you really think there is another way, I’m sorry. You are mistaken.

“Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.””
‭‭John‬ ‭3‬:‭3‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Randyhartford Loc: Lawrence, Kansas

I haven’t forgotten your history or remarks, Greg. You said your religion is the golden rule. The golden rule is a good behavior, but there is nothing in the golden rule that even implies that it is a way to get to Heaven. In fact the Bible explicitly says the opposite. We are NOT saved by our works, but by grace from Jesus’ death on the cross and His resurrection.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭2‬:‭8‬-‭9‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”
‭‭Titus‬ ‭3‬:‭5‬-‭7‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

If we could be saved just by our good works, like living by the golden rule, then Jesus would not have had to come to earth and die on the cross. Salvation is only because of God’s grace and mercy. All we have to do is believe that , confess our sins, and repent. (change how we think and act)
It’s that simple. It IS THE ONLY WAY…

plumbob Loc: New Windsor Maryland

Gomer and a snipe hunt

Another good video Randy

ghaynes1 Loc: Strawberry Plains, TN

My response was to plumbob.