George Washington’s Original Presidential Thanksgiving Declaration of 1789..

George Washingtons original presidential Thanksgiving declaration of 1789..

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 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 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 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 favors which He has been pleased to confer upon us. … See More

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 shown kindness to us), and to bless them with good governments, peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase 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 3d day of October, A.D. 1789.

Published by Pastor Tim Burt
Copyright© 2009 Tim Burt, All rights reserved.

The United States – A Christian Nation

Fresh Manna 2009© by Pastor Tim Burt

As we celebrate Thanksgiving, let us remember the directing force — God’s Word — to hold on to and pray that the United States of America remain a Christian nation. His Word says, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people he chose for his inheritance.” Psalm 33:12

Our nation’s Christian faith has been affirmed throughout its history.

On March 3, 1863 while in the midst of the Civil War, the U. S. Senate requested President Abraham Lincoln to “designate and set apart a day for national prayer and humiliation” because:

Sincerely believing that no people, however great in numbers and resources or however strong in the justice of their cause, can prosper without His favor; and at the same time deploring the national offences which have provoked His righteous judgment, yet encouraged in this day of trouble by the assurances of His word to seek Him for succor according to His appointed way through Jesus Christ, the Senate of the United States do hereby request the President of the United States, by his proclamation, to designate and set apart a day for national prayer and humiliation.

American Presidents Affirm that America is a Christian Nation

Notice a few representative statements on this subject by some of the forty-three previous presidents:

The general principles on which the fathers achieved independence were. . .. the general principles of Christianity. JOHN ADAMS The teachings of the Bible are so interwoven and entwined with our whole civic and social life that it would be literally… impossible for us to figure to ourselves what that life would be if these teaching were removed.TEDDY ROOSEVELT America was born a Christian nation – America was born to exemplify that devotion to the elements of righteousness which are derived from the revelations of Holy Scripture.WOODROW WILSON American life is builded, and can alone survive, upon . . . the fundamental philosophy announced by the Savior nineteen centuries ago. HERBERT HOOVER This is a Christian Nation. HARRY TRUMAN Let us remember that as a Christian nation . . . we have a charge and a destiny.

American Jewish Leaders Agree with History

Jewish leaders, although firmly committed to their own faith, understand that by defending Christianity they are defending what has provided them their own religious liberty in America. For example, Jeff Jacoby, a Jewish columnist at the Boston Globe explains: This is a Christian country – it was founded by Christians and built on broad Christian principles. Threatening? Far from it. It is in precisely this Christian country that Jews have known the most peaceful, prosperous, and successful existence in their long history.

Aaron Zelman (a Jewish author and head of a civil rights organization) similarly declares: Christian America is the best home our people have found in 2,000 years. . . .This remains the most tolerant, prosperous, and safest home we could be blessed with.

Dennis Prager, a Jewish national columnist and popular talk show host, warns:If America abandons its Judeo-Christian values basis and the central role of the Jewish and Christian Bibles (its Founders’ guiding text), we are all in big trouble, including, most especially, America’s non-Christians. Just ask the Jews of secular Europe.

Prager further explained: I believe that it is good that America is a Christian nation. . . . I have had the privilege of speaking in nearly every Jewish community in America over the last 30 years, and I have frequently argued in favor of this view. Recently, I spoke to the Jewish community of a small North Carolina city. When some in the audience mentioned their fear of rising religiosity among Christians, I asked these audience-members if they loved living in their city. All of them said they did. Is it a coincidence, I then asked, that the city you so love (for its wonderful people, its safety for your children, its fine schools, and its values that enable you to raise your children with confidence) is a highly Christian city? Too many Americans do not appreciate the connection between American greatness and American Christianity.

I pray that we will affirm this to each other, to those in our realms of influence, and amongst our families and loved ones this Thanksgiving Day. Let us humbly thank God for the blessing that He has bestowed upon this nation. Let us also pray that He by His divine power restore us as a nation who reveres His Word as the authority for life, reveres His Son Jesus Christ as Savior, and by His grace, helps each of us live by His Word honoring and glorifying Him.

I thank David Barton and Wallbuilders.com for the excellent effort and research for this information.

Published by Pastor Tim Burt
Copyright© 2009 Tim Burt, All rights reserved.

Thanksgiving – “We the People…”

Fresh Manna 2009© by Pastor Tim Burt

Do you remember that in our nation — the United States of America — that we are “We the people…” That‘s what’s written in the United States Constitution. “We the people of the United States…” That’s you and me. That means we have a voice. This government was established by the people and for the people.

Our forefathers had the intellectual honesty and wisdom to know and acknowledge that it was the hand of God that helped our nation become what it was at that time and would become in the future. They had the courage to set a day aside for families across the nation to give thanksgiving to Almighty God and our Savior Jesus Christ and to celebrate His blessings upon our nation.

We are the people and not only can we continue this tradition, but we can do it with great sincerity and prayer by asking God to forgive us of all our sins, personally and as a nation. We can thank Him for what He established and ask Him to lead us and our nation back to Him. We all know too well that without His help, it could never happen.

We must first ask God to revive each of us individually knowing that we need help to return to a place that we don’t seem to have strength to get to on our own. Then we must pray for revival of our nation — a manifestation where God will work in the hearts of Christians across this nation through the power of the Holy Spirit. The result would be that believers would experience a deeper, refreshed love and intimacy with God transforming thinking and changed lifestyles — a supernatural transformation. From there, the result would be a spilling of that change to unbelievers who in turn would flood the altar of Heaven giving their lives to Jesus Christ. And finally the result would be a changed nation.

We are the people of this nation. We are the people of God. Can we show the honesty, wisdom and courage our forefathers did and make this the most meaningful Thanksgiving Day ever? Let us follow their example! How can we practically do that? More tomorrow…

The following are portions of the text of the Continental Congress November 1, 1777 national Thanksgiving Day Proclamation; as printed in the Journals of Congress.

…It is therefore recommended to the legislative or executive powers of these United States, to set apart Thursday, the 18th day of December next, for solemn thanksgiving and praise; that with one heart and one voice the good people may express the grateful feelings of their hearts, and consecrate themselves to the service of their divine benefactor; and that together with their sincere acknowledgments and offerings, they may join the penitent confession of their manifold sins, whereby they had forfeited every favor, and their humble and earnest supplication that it may please God, through the merits of Jesus Christ, mercifully to forgive and blot them out of remembrance; that it may please him graciously to afford his blessings on the governments of these states respectively, and prosper the public council of the whole; to inspire our commanders both by land and sea, and all under them, with that wisdom and fortitude which may render them fit instruments, under the providence of Almighty God, to secure for these United States the greatest of all blessings, independence and peace; that it may please him to prosper the trade and manufactures of the people and the labor of the husbandman, that our land may yield its increase; to take schools and seminaries of education, so necessary for cultivating the principles of true liberty, virtue and piety, under his nurturing hand, and to prosper the means of religion for the promotion and enlargement of that kingdom which consisteth in righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost….

Psalm 33:12 (NIV) Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people he chose for His inheritance.

In His love,
Pastor Tim

Published by Pastor Tim Burt
Copyright© 2009 Tim Burt, All rights reserved.
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