Happy Thanksgiving

Give thanks with a grateful heart!

Take some time this Thanksgiving to thank God for all His blessings and mercies (and remember the hurting and less-fortunate this season of giving).

Thanksgiving 2015

It's that time again; it's thanksgiving in the United States.

It has been a particularly interesting month - with the recent terrorist attacks in Paris, the constant unrest and mass-exodus in Syria, the newly heated conflict between Turkey and Russia, and the surprisingly mild weather in the Northeastern U.S., November 2015 has been one for the record books!

But you already know where I will be headed. I am reminded of Philippians 4:11 which says "Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content". This is a tough pill to swallow! Is this really possible? Can we be content in whatever state we are in? How about when we are sick or depressed, or when facing death or the death of a loved one? If God tells us we can be content in whatever state we are in, then it MUST be possible.

If you look at the word used here, Paul speaks of 'contentment'. He doesn't use the word 'happy' here. No one can be happy all the time, but we CAN be content once we keep Christ as the object of our focus. This Thanksgiving season, let contentment be your watchword, and learn how to live Philippians 4:11 from thanksgiving 2015 and onwards.

Blessings From Baltimore

My fiancé and I had a wonderful Sunday in Baltimore!

 

We were in Maryland for our pre-wedding photo shoot and things couldn't have gone better! Our time in that city was wonderful (even if it was a little cold), and the time together was beyond a blessing.

 

On our drive down, we got to watch what seemed like 100's of hawks circling the New Jersey skies (breath-taking!), stopped in Delaware for lunch, and enjoyed the Baltimore inner harbor area. The LORD continues to surprise and bless us with the ways He's been orchestrating all our wedding plans. Everything; even down to the colors chosen; were hand-picked by Him. All things are truly working together for good for our big day and we are so thankful to The LORD for it all!

 

Before our shoot, we got a surprise gift from our photographer  which included a thank you note and some other verrrrry special items! I am still floored by the thoughtfulness and kindness!!!

 

Now, we are just a few days away from Thanksgiving and yes, there are many things to be thankful for. I am not ignorant of the unrest and terrorism that is plaguing the world at this time, but while we have breathe, we still have much to be thankful for. I now have even more things to add to this list thanks to God!

 

 

A Season of Thanksgiving

Ah yes it's that time again.

The brisk, cold wind gusts and bare trees remind us that we are fast approaching winter and Thanksgiving is almost upon us.

I am looking forward to my family's Thanksgiving custom; we gather in a circle and name things we are all thankful for and how The LORD blessed us in the last year. I have a lot to mention; I can't wait!

We also remember those who do not have families (those who are singled; widowed) and those who do not have anything to eat on this 'feast' day. The season of Thanksgiving should also be a season of giving and helping those in need. On Sunday, I was able to join my co-workers in service as we volunteered at the AFYA Foundation warehouse, and it was beyond fulfilling!!

What is AFYA?

AFYA is a non-profit organization who seeks to recover targeted surplus medical supplies, hospital equipment and humanitarian provisions from the New York healthcare, corporate and private communities and donates them to hospitals and clinics in Africa and the Caribbean. The organization was born after Danielle Butin (an occupational therapist) spent the summer of 2007 in Tanzania and met several medical workers who spoke about their limited medical resources. Her experiences with these medical personnel and their need impacted her so much, that she was moved to action and AFYA was born. AFYA means 'good health' in Swahili. 

AFYA has been able to partner with many medical institutions in New York (including my hospital; MSKCC) to get these much needed supplies for use in other countries. This Sunday, many volunteers from MSK came together to participate in the AFYA 'sortathon'. Because AFYA gets a vast amount of supplies, they are always in need of volunteers to help 'sort' and bag them - hence the name sortathon. There are about 40/50 of us present at this sortathon, and in three hourse, we have over 6 enormous bins and counted boxes filled with the many bags we sorted and organized! It was my second time volunteering with AFYA, and I can't wait to go back!!!

Because of the recent Ebola outbreak in West Africa, AFYA has been concentrating on sending more medical supplies to countries affected by this deadly disease.

This Thanksgiving, as you start contemplating what dish to bring for dinner, or which stores you are going to camp outside of on Friday (shame!), why not give your time and donations to organizations that need it most:

To learn more about AFYA, or to volunteer with them, visit

- The AFYA Foundation (NY)

If you are interested in volunteering at a Soup Kitchen or donating goods, visit
- Hungervolunteer.org (NY) 
- Foodbanknyc.org (NY)
-Foodpantries.org (All States)
- Dosomething.org (All States)

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is here again.

Thanksgiving is celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November. This is one of the oldest holidays celebrated in the United States and dates back to the 1600's. Early celebrations date back to December 1619, and especially 1621 where Americans commonly trace the beginning of the holiday to. As with many holidays, Thanksgiving was initially celebrated as a 'holyday'; a day of giving thanks to God for all that He had done. The first national proclamation of Thanksgiving was in 1777. Below is just a portion of the proclamation that caught my eye:

"It is therefore recommended to the legislative or executive Powers of these United States to set apart Thursday, the eighteenth Day of December next, for Solemn Thanksgiving and Praise: That at one Time and with one Voice, the good People may express the grateful Feelings of their Hearts, and consecrate themselves to the Service of their Divine Benefactor; and that, together with their sincere Acknowledgments and Offerings, they may join the penitent Confession of their manifold Sins, whereby they had forfeited every Favor; and their humble and earnest Supplication that it may please God through the Merits of Jesus Christ, mercifully to forgive and blot them out of Remembrance."

On October 3rd 1789, President George Washington made a proclamation and created the first Thanksgiving day designated by the national government. Here is also a portion of what he said:

"Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor, and whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me "to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness. Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be."

In November 1863, President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national Thanksgiving day to be celebrated on the final Thursday of November. Here is an excerpt:

"I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens."

The founders of this nation knew Who to render thanks to. Thanksgiving was instituted with God in mind! This thanksgiving, give your first 'thanks' to God Almighty for all that He has done and continues to do for you.
God bless you and "in every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you" (1 Thess 5:18).

References
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thanksgiving_(United_States) http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/religion/vc006494.jpg http://www.abrahamlincolnonline.org/lincoln/speeches/thanks.htm http://www.plimoth.org/learn/MRL/read/thanksgiving-history