THANKFUL AND GRATEFUL
By: BILL CLOUD
Welcome to a very special Weekly Scroll. Perhaps you are watching this on Thanksgiving night, and if you are, I'm sure you're full, hopefully relaxed and surrounded by family. Maybe you're watching this under other circumstances; maybe you're not full or relaxed; maybe you're alone.
Whatever your situation, we are encouraged by Scripture and by the example of those who have come before us to be thankful to our Creator. As it is written, “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!” (1 Chronicles 16:34) and “in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
Whatever your situation, we are encouraged by Scripture and by the example of those who have come before us to be thankful to our Creator. As it is written, “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!” (1 Chronicles 16:34) and “in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
It seems to me that everything includes good and bad; sunny or stormy; pain or ease. In all things that God allows to touch our lives, we should look for something to be thankful for. I readily admit that this doesn't often come easy; it goes against our nature -- our carnal nature that is.
But being grateful and thankful for God's goodness to us, even in the midst of trial and persecution is evidence that His Word and His Spirit is working in us to reprove, to improve and bring to fruition His Will for our lives. As Paul said, “All things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28)
But being grateful and thankful for God's goodness to us, even in the midst of trial and persecution is evidence that His Word and His Spirit is working in us to reprove, to improve and bring to fruition His Will for our lives. As Paul said, “All things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28)
This should be our daily habit; but looking for those things that should prompt us to be thankful for is especially highlighted at this time of year -- my favorite time of year. And of course, our American custom is based on events that took place before there was such a place called America, more specifically, the United States.
And it is to those people -- specifically, one of those people -- that I want to turn to so that we can appreciate the circumstances under which this custom of giving thanks was birthed.
William Bradford, one of the prominent leaders of the Pilgrims, was elected to serve as Governor of the Plymouth Colony from 1621 until his death in 1657, with the exception of five years in which he declined. He also penned a history of the colony called, Of Plymouth Plantation, in which he chronicled the events that led to the Pilgrims departure from England.
He described the persecution they endured at the hands of rulers and those in powerful positions; persecution that included imprisonment, banishments, torments and even death. He attributed this persecution to the powers of darkness attempting to stymie their attempts to advance the Kingdom of Heaven in their world at that time. Nevertheless, Bradford concluded that darkness...
And it is to those people -- specifically, one of those people -- that I want to turn to so that we can appreciate the circumstances under which this custom of giving thanks was birthed.
William Bradford, one of the prominent leaders of the Pilgrims, was elected to serve as Governor of the Plymouth Colony from 1621 until his death in 1657, with the exception of five years in which he declined. He also penned a history of the colony called, Of Plymouth Plantation, in which he chronicled the events that led to the Pilgrims departure from England.
He described the persecution they endured at the hands of rulers and those in powerful positions; persecution that included imprisonment, banishments, torments and even death. He attributed this persecution to the powers of darkness attempting to stymie their attempts to advance the Kingdom of Heaven in their world at that time. Nevertheless, Bradford concluded that darkness...
"Could not prevail by these means against the main truths of the Gospel, but they began to take root in many places, being watered by the blood of the martyrs, and blessed from Heaven with a gracious increase."
Writing long after these events occurred, Bradford was convinced that the magnitude of the persecution was insufficient to tame the enthusiasm his fellow believers displayed for the Gospel, the evidence of that being their commitment to remain true to their faith.
In 1620, Bradford and 102 fellow separatists as they were called, left England on the Mayflower, bound for the New World, Virginia as it was then called. By the end of the first winter, 51 of those (50%) had died never realizing their dream of a new life in a new world.
Reflecting on their departure and the mindset of the people who did not yet know what suffering was yet to come, saw themselves as pilgrims -- the same type of pilgrim described in the book of Hebrews which says:
In 1620, Bradford and 102 fellow separatists as they were called, left England on the Mayflower, bound for the New World, Virginia as it was then called. By the end of the first winter, 51 of those (50%) had died never realizing their dream of a new life in a new world.
Reflecting on their departure and the mindset of the people who did not yet know what suffering was yet to come, saw themselves as pilgrims -- the same type of pilgrim described in the book of Hebrews which says:
"These all (people of faith) died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them."
Hebrews 11:13-16
One terrifying episode occurred while in the midst of the ocean. The Mayflower was battered by a series of storms in the North Atlantic, causing a beam in the midships to bow and crack threatening the continuation of the voyage. The situation worsened during another storm and threatened to sink the ship.
However, it just so happened that William Brewster, a man who had operated a printing press in Holland, had brought with him the central screw from the printing press -- which came to be known as the "Pilgrim press." This "great iron screw" was used to raise the beam back into place and support it and save the Mayflower from sinking during a storm. When they at last landed on Cape Cod on November 11, 1620, according to Bradford they:
However, it just so happened that William Brewster, a man who had operated a printing press in Holland, had brought with him the central screw from the printing press -- which came to be known as the "Pilgrim press." This "great iron screw" was used to raise the beam back into place and support it and save the Mayflower from sinking during a storm. When they at last landed on Cape Cod on November 11, 1620, according to Bradford they:
"...fell upon their knees and blessed the God of Heaven who had brought them over the fast and furious ocean and delivered them from all the perils and miseries thereof, again to set their feet upon the firm and stable earth."
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By the way, if they had landed just a few years prior to this, they would probably have been massacred by one of the fiercest tribes on the Atlantic coast, the Patuxet. However, for some unknown reason that tribe was all but wiped out by a mysterious plague in 1617. When Bradford and his fellow travelers arrived at what would become Plymouth Plantation, they found fields that had been cleared -- as if the place was waiting on them.
It turned out that there was one surviving member of the Patuxet tribe; a man known as Squanto who, according to Bradford was instrumental in helping the Englishmen adapt to their new home. And so the point would be, that even in the midst of trial and hardship, God provides for our needs even before we realize we need the assistance.
The challenges they faced are too numerous to expound upon here but, in spite of loss and hardship, in 1623 -- two years after the first Thanksgiving -- Bradford issued this proclamation:
It turned out that there was one surviving member of the Patuxet tribe; a man known as Squanto who, according to Bradford was instrumental in helping the Englishmen adapt to their new home. And so the point would be, that even in the midst of trial and hardship, God provides for our needs even before we realize we need the assistance.
The challenges they faced are too numerous to expound upon here but, in spite of loss and hardship, in 1623 -- two years after the first Thanksgiving -- Bradford issued this proclamation:
"To all ye Pilgrims: In as much as the great Father has given us this year an abundance of Indian corn, wheat, peas, beans, squashes and garden vegetable; and has made the forests to abound with game and the sea with fish; ... and in as much has spared us from pestilence and disease, has granted us freedom to worship God according to the dictates of our own conscience, ... on Thursday November 29, of the year of our Lord, 1623, ... gather to render thanksgiving to the Almighty God for all His blessings."
In 1647 Bradford wrote these words:
"Last and not least, they (Pilgrims) cherished a great hope and inward zeal of laying good foundations, or at least making some ways toward it, for the propagation and advance of the gospel of the kingdom of Christ in the remote parts of the world, even though they should be but stepping stones to others in the performance of so great a work."
He continued:
Thus out of small beginnings greater things have been produced by His Hand that made all things of nothing, and gives being to all things that are; and, as one small candle may light a thousand, so the light here kindled hath shone unto many, yea in some sort to our whole nation; let the glorious name of Jehovah have all the praise."
This man, representing those men, women and children who braved such hardship and persevered, with others would have capitulated at the first sign of trouble, should be admired. Not that they were perfect beings; they were not. But they were committed to their God and to the purpose to which they were called.
And let's not forget that they are the people who continue to remind us -- to inspire us -- to stop and give thanks to the Almighty for His goodness to us.
Several years ago, my family visited Bradford's final resting place in Plymouth, MA. Inscribed on his grave are these words:
And let's not forget that they are the people who continue to remind us -- to inspire us -- to stop and give thanks to the Almighty for His goodness to us.
Several years ago, my family visited Bradford's final resting place in Plymouth, MA. Inscribed on his grave are these words:
"Under this stone rests the ashes of William Bradford, a zealous Puritan and sincere Governor of Plymouth Colony."
Inscribed in Hebrew (a language he studied and adored) were these words:
"God (YHVH) is my strength."
In Latin, the words are written:
"What our fathers with so much difficulty attained, do not basely relinquish."
Which brings me to some concluding thoughts: have we relinquished what was attained? Do we honor the principles and virtues they held dear, so much so, that they endured suffering that few in this day and time could ever hope to overcome. We get upset when our cell phone doesn't have service or our favorite restaurant isn't opened. By and large, we are pampered and weak.
Even those of us who have been forced to endure suffering of some kind would do well to remember this admonition from the writer of Hebrews:
Even those of us who have been forced to endure suffering of some kind would do well to remember this admonition from the writer of Hebrews:
Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Yeshua, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin. Hebrews 12:1-4
In other words, though we have suffered, we have not gone as far as Yeshua did for us. In other words, we must keep it in perspective, and if we do, we might be more inclined to be thankful in spite of the suffering we may have to endure. Let us not fall into the trap that this generation has run headlong into -- that is, to be so accustomed to the blessings that we forget and ignore to the One who is the source of those blessings.
Let us not be as so many in this generation who are, as Paul said, "lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God." (2 Timothy 3:1-4)
Let us not be as so many in this generation who are, as Paul said, "lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God." (2 Timothy 3:1-4)
Notice, unthankful is quite prominently mentioned between being disobedient and unholy.
Most of us observe Thanksgiving sitting at table with family and friends and feasting on more food than some will see in a year. That is nothing to be ashamed of, necessarily; the shame of it would be if we are so hardened to think that our blessings are exclusively the work of our hands. Let us be those who demonstrate thankfulness in the midst of an ungrateful society.
Let us be humble people who continuously give thanks to God for all He has done, is doing and will do. And as Bradford and his contemporaries were so faithful to do, let us play our role in advancing the Kingdom and the Gospel of Messiah for the benefit of this and future generations; so that when they consider our lives spent on this earth, they will know that God was our strength and the source of every blessing.
Most of us observe Thanksgiving sitting at table with family and friends and feasting on more food than some will see in a year. That is nothing to be ashamed of, necessarily; the shame of it would be if we are so hardened to think that our blessings are exclusively the work of our hands. Let us be those who demonstrate thankfulness in the midst of an ungrateful society.
Let us be humble people who continuously give thanks to God for all He has done, is doing and will do. And as Bradford and his contemporaries were so faithful to do, let us play our role in advancing the Kingdom and the Gospel of Messiah for the benefit of this and future generations; so that when they consider our lives spent on this earth, they will know that God was our strength and the source of every blessing.
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About Bill Cloud
BILL CLOUD
Bill Cloud was raised in a traditional Christian home in South Georgia. Yet it was a trip to Israel to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles, in 1990, that truly provoked him to become more interested in his faith. It was during this "appointed time" that God gave him a deep love for the land, the people and the language.
Soon thereafter, Bill began learning Hebrew under the tutelage of a local rabbi and has since spent many hours studying, not only the Hebrew text, but the Hebraic roots of Christianity as well. This interest in the language is tied to Bill's desire to unlock the hidden treasures within the Word of God and to teach them, along with our Hebraic roots, to believers in Messiah. Furthermore, this insight has allowed Bill to better understand the prophetic element of Scripture. As a result of this study, Bill has developed a variety of media resources dealing with prophetic themes as well as teachings related to our lost Hebraic heritage.
Bill is a featured speaker in venues throughout the country and has appeared with notable teachers such as Perry Stone, Jonathan Cahn, Joel Richardson and Hal Lindsay. He has also made several appearances on a variety of television broadcasts seen on different Christian networks throughout the world. Recently Bill, along with his wife, Beth, and their children started a fellowship in the Cleveland TN area.
Through Shoreshim Ministries, Bill and his family strive to re-introduce Christians to the Jewish Yeshua and to educate believers in the Hebraic roots of their faith. As a result of this information, disciples of the Messiah can more accurately interpret end-time events and better discern our role in these last days.
Bill and his family reside in Cleveland, Tennessee.
Soon thereafter, Bill began learning Hebrew under the tutelage of a local rabbi and has since spent many hours studying, not only the Hebrew text, but the Hebraic roots of Christianity as well. This interest in the language is tied to Bill's desire to unlock the hidden treasures within the Word of God and to teach them, along with our Hebraic roots, to believers in Messiah. Furthermore, this insight has allowed Bill to better understand the prophetic element of Scripture. As a result of this study, Bill has developed a variety of media resources dealing with prophetic themes as well as teachings related to our lost Hebraic heritage.
Bill is a featured speaker in venues throughout the country and has appeared with notable teachers such as Perry Stone, Jonathan Cahn, Joel Richardson and Hal Lindsay. He has also made several appearances on a variety of television broadcasts seen on different Christian networks throughout the world. Recently Bill, along with his wife, Beth, and their children started a fellowship in the Cleveland TN area.
Through Shoreshim Ministries, Bill and his family strive to re-introduce Christians to the Jewish Yeshua and to educate believers in the Hebraic roots of their faith. As a result of this information, disciples of the Messiah can more accurately interpret end-time events and better discern our role in these last days.
Bill and his family reside in Cleveland, Tennessee.
Posted in Biblical Truth, History, The Weekly Scroll
Posted in Thanksgiving, History, Paul, Gratitude, Grateful, Thankful, Hebrews, William Bradford, Plymouth, Society, Puritan, America
Posted in Thanksgiving, History, Paul, Gratitude, Grateful, Thankful, Hebrews, William Bradford, Plymouth, Society, Puritan, America
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