One of my blessings is to have been born in America.  Where else do they have the freedom of speech and worship as we do?  I am thankful for the career opportunities that exist.  I am thankful for our Christian heritage.  What other country has been blessed with the abundance that we have?  However, it didn’t just happen.  God made and prepared this country so that people could come who felt they didn’t have the freedom to worship as Scripture taught.  It reminds me of what He promised to some Israelites.

Isaiah 41: 17 – 20 – ““When the poor and needy search for water and there is none, and their tongues are parched from thirst, then I, the Lord, will answer them.  I, the God of Israel, will never abandon them.  I will open up rivers for them on the high plateaus.  I will give them fountains of water in the valleys.  I will fill the desert with pools of water.  Rivers fed by springs will flow across the parched ground.  I will plant trees in the barren desert—cedar, acacia, myrtle, olive, cypress, fir, and pine.
I am doing this so all who see this miracle will understand what it means—that it is the Lord who has done this, the Holy One of Israel who created it.”

When was the last time you thanked God for giving to we Americans such a beautiful country with a tremendous amount of natural resources?  In addition, He took Christian men who were inspired by the Holy Spirit to provide our constitution and laws to guide us.  You have allowed us to become the most powerful and prosperous nation on earth.  One of our purposes is to become the world’s peace keeper and to spread Your gospel to all peoples in every nation.  For the millions of America Christians we have been grateful.  It was Abraham Lincoln that established the Thanksgiving holiday in gratitude to our Creator.

After 400 years we have done as many before us.  We turned the purpose of the original holiday to material things rather than the giving of thanks to God Who deserves it.  Instead of counting our blessings and achievements we are hearing too much whining.  People are not content and satisfied with what they have; they want more and are not always willing to earn it.

I am blessed for knowing God’s Word and what He promises.  He allows me to have a personal relationship with Him.  He provides me with His Holy Spirit into my life that guides and watches over me.  He gives me my faith and what wisdom I have.  I live a life of peace with a joyful, positive attitude.  He inspired me to be motivated and be prosperous.  There are times He has protected me from accidents and serious problems.  His Spirit has taught me to have a servant’s heart, to be confident and stay humble.  He has instructed me to share love and be generous with what He has given me.  He teaches that we can all be successful.  We can be successful parents, teachers or leaders in whatever endeavor we choose.

Why are so many Americans disrespectful and disobedient to God?  They refuse to rely and be dependent upon God and put their trust in self or government.  Why are they takers rather than givers?  Show me someone having fame or fortune that has the same joyful and peaceful calmness that many needy Christians, living as Christ has instructed us, have.

One thing that God taught, we were to give a tenth of what we had to the Temple or His ministry. It had to be our very best, without spot or defect. Yet it is so hard for so many to be givers.  What would motivate them to give to God’s ministry as taught by Scripture?  What blessing could they receive?

Matthew 6:20 – “Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal.”

Being generous and giving is like storing up treasurers in heaven.  I have wondered if someone like Billy Graham were taken to heaven like the Apostle John was and God said: Tell My people, every time Christians charitably give it is recorded in heaven.  Those who give will receive a 20% return annually, compounded and that amount will be given to them when they spend the 1000 years with Christ on earth.  Do you think Christians would give more knowing it was being recorded for their future use?

It shouldn’t just be on Thanksgiving that we count our blessings but, daily.  If you watch carefully and patiently you will see God intervening in your life.  These “It’s A God Thing” occur more than we realize unless we are alert and expecting.   I count each as blessings!