Deuteronomy 16:9-11 KJV
(9) Seven weeks shalt thou number unto thee: begin to number the seven weeks from such time as thou beginnest to put the sickle to the corn.
(10) And thou shalt keep the feast of weeks unto the LORD thy God with a tribute of a freewill offering of thine hand, which thou shalt give unto the LORD thy God, according as the LORD thy God hath blessed thee:
(11) And thou shalt rejoice before the LORD thy God, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite that is within thy gates, and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, that are among you, in the place which the LORD thy God hath chosen to place his name there.

Festival of Seven Weeks is much like American Thanksgiving as far as it giving national time of thanksgiving to God for the harvest. Today in modern world Thanksgiving has gone far from the Puritan and Indian gathering. In fact it has gone far from celebrating of harvest of our land to God. Thanksgiving seems to be more about football and parades. A time to gather at the medium with family and friends still exist. Though our traditions have changed the universalism of thanksgiving as far as gathering with people you care about has not changed. Though you might find some not caring to give thanks to God, you do find people still caring about each other. Why are people taking God out of Thanksgiving?

People gather around a table looking at the roast bird and maybe sending children to the living room or den to watch television with a plate of food. Adults sit and reminisce of thanksgivings that have come and gone along with memories of ancestors present and dead. Yet the talk of God is absent from the table. If He is mentioned it only for a second when people bow their head for prayer.

Israel took time after the harvest to praise the Lord in celebration for seven weeks. Each giving to God according to what God had provided through their labor. Key it was out of their labor not out of what they did not have. The other day a group of people were discussing gift giving at Christmas and how much was appropriate money spent on a gift. Most would agree 15 sounds responsible, but for a poor person fifteen for their spouse is lucky. Many poor are left from the circle of giving in circumstance of a set limit, yet nobody wants that 2 dollar candy bar under the tree.

Life is full of a bowl of cherries, but in truth limits are made for a purpose and yet there is no limit of how often one can praise God. Thanksgiving is only reminder of thankfulness to God. Every year for nine years I have done a Thanksgiving Day countdown. Some are continuing a tradition I started on my website that are family and friends and others are looking and wondering we are missing something this year. In truth my thankfulness went out the window when the thought of all the destruction this time of year. With Paris being attack and talk of Syrians coming to America, we can not help but wonder if enemy will not come in through refugees, of people needing help and some enemy looking like he is in need taking advantage of the situation to get behind our borders.

This November is no different then the last ten years in regards to some disaster or war, but what is different is how we look at it from love to protection. If we say we have victory against all weapons formed against us, and yet we fear to help people are we saying our God not bigger then the problem? No I think God aspects his people to use common sense in some cases and in others cases God sees the full picture of what will happen whether it will solve a problem or cause one. The time of Thanksgiving for God’s protection, for The harvest, and for memories shared around a table and thoughts of refugee/prison camps or freedom. I don’t know what I think of anymore concerning these issues when these thoughts plague our homeland. World War II has enough horror stories of its own. Yet I am suppose to look around me and rejoice when the world is upside down and inside out.

Rejoice in all circumstances. See the reason for the feasting has not changed, food has been stored and freezer made full, only to be empty by spring. Much to be thankful for. Yet we sit at our tables and worry about war and problems at our backdoor. These things need time of putting on the shelf so we can Praise the Lord.

Learning to Praise God first and then worry about other stuff later. As we begin a late countdown to Thanksgiving let us not forget to rejoice for what God has given and for His mercy on our land. For our freedom to worship God and Christ Jesus. To celebrate the works of God. God gave the harvest for storage, He gave the harvest for a time of rest. After the gathering of last summer and fall fruit comes that time of celebration of God’s provision. Some years there is drought and some years there is abundance of all vegetation. Yet we hope for enough to feed our families and our friends. We might be able to do a thing about the world around us but we can be thankful this thanksgiving season for what God has truly blessed us with. Give out of fruits and heart the things you desire to give to God. Make a vow and keep it. Give to the Lord what is rightfully His.

Dear Heavenly Father Thank you for a time to Praise you for the bounty you have provided in our life. For the end of harvest season and time of rest. Help us to put time to thank you in our daily life and not just once a year. In Jesus precious name, Amen.