THANKSGIVING SUNDAY!

 As we look to the coming Lord's Day, Thanksgiving Sunday, it may be, for various reasons, that you will not be able to be in the house of the Lord!  But even though you may not be able to be present, physically, I am thankful that we can be together in spirit, and can lift our hearts in praise, and Thanksgiving, and worship to our wonderful Lord who has invited us to "enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise -- to be thankful unto Him, and bless His name, for He is good: His mercy is everlasting; and His truth endureth to all generations."

And if you are not able, physically, to be in God's House this Thanksgiving Sunday, you can "Gather Together" wherever you are, lift your voice in praise to God and sing this beautiful Thanksgiving Hymn!  This hymn, "We Gather Together", was written sometime in 1597 to celebrate Holland's freedom from Spain.  Its author, an unknown Dutchman, was full of thanksgiving that his people were finally free from Spanish tyranny, and free to worship as they chose.  I trust it will bless and challenge your heart today!

"We gather together to ask the Lord's blessing; He chastens and hastens His will to make known;    The wicked oppressing now cease from distressing -- Sing praises to His Name: He forgets not His own.           Beside us to guide us, our God with us joining -- Ordaining, maintaining His kingdom divine;                     So from the beginning, the fight we were winning: Thou, Lord, wast at our side, all glory be Thine!

We all do extol Thee, Thou Leader triumphant, and pray that Thou still our Defender wilt be.                       Let Thy congregation escape tribulation; Thy Name be ever praised!  O Lord, make us free!"

And Jesus said in St. John 8:36 -- "If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed."