The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Leviticus 7:12-15, “If he offers it by way of thanksgiving, then along with the sacrifice of thanksgiving he shall offer unleavened cakes mixed with oil, and unleavened wafers spread with oil, and cakes of well stirred fine flour mixed with oil.
13 ‘With the sacrifice of his peace offerings for thanksgiving, he shall present his offering with cakes of leavened bread.
14 ‘Of this he shall present one of every offering as a contribution to the LORD; it shall belong to the priest who sprinkles the blood of the peace offerings.
15 ‘Now as for the flesh of the sacrifice of his thanksgiving peace offerings, it shall be eaten on the day of his offering; he shall not leave any of it over until morning.’”

Most of the history books tell us that “Thanksgiving” was an occasion when the settlers who landed at Plymouth Rock, later banded together to praise Almighty God for safety over the ocean and friendship with the Indians they had
discovered in the “new world.”

Our passage above, however, gives us the initial use of the word “thanksgiving,”
as it appears in Scripture. The word “thanksgiving” and “thanks,” apart from other related words of praise, are mentioned more than 160 times in the entire Bible.

The numerous usages of “thanks” should inspire and encourage us greatly! Especially, should we glorify the LORD for the untold times He has blessed us
in the years He has allowed us. We have more than reason to praise Him for our
parents and grandparents, many of whom sacrificed for us as we grew to maturity.

We have reason to praise and thank Him for life itself and the opportunity to know
the LORD Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord. We also live in a “free” country. No, it’s not a country bereft of problems; but it is a country that allows us to know
and worship the One who cares for us and solves many of our problems.

We are blessed as we are encouraged to cry out with the angels of Heaven,
“saying, ‘Amen, blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might, be to our God forever and ever. Amen.’” So, today and on every Thanksgiving Day, let us be thankful and praise the LORD for His Son, Jesus. For it is He who has delivered us from trouble and encouraged us by His example in the Word.

How do we praise Him? We praise Him by yielding our lives to Him in total trust!
I have done that. I hope that you have, too. Who else could be so worthy?

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom