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Dear Heavenly Father, On this special day we gather together to thank you for our blessings and we ask that you guide us in all that we do. We know that as Americans we need to be especially grateful, grateful for the wonderful country that you have given us, the beauty and grandeur of our home from sea to shining sea, the bountiful harvest that nourishes us so richly compared to so many others, and for the freedom and security that we have been so blessed with. And yet there is so much more when we ponder our lives and our good fortune.
We thank you for the inspiration that you gave to our Founders, brave souls who risked their all and fearlessly persevered from the first colonists right on through to the revolutionaries who freed us from the yoke of tyranny of the British crown. And we also thank you for all of those pathfinders and innovators, great thinkers and hard workers who took our founding and built on it this great nation that we find today. Without you, they could have accomplished nothing but with you the country became a symbol for freedom and opportunity for all who came here. We know there were bumps and bruises along the way, but we always overcame the obstacles with your guiding hand.
We also know that we falter at times and fail to live up to our obligations to you and we humbly pray that you will keep our hearts open to the Holy Spirit, our internal representative from you given to keep us godly. We ask that you have mercy on us and instill in us the determination to stay faithful and true going forward. We ask forgiveness for our errors and guidance from you in all that we do in our future here on earth.
And we know many are in great need today and help us to do what we can to make their lives better and help them on the road to a better life through you, not through a hand out but a hand up. We know that we are expected to love our fellow man and lead us to do what you expect for those who need us. So help us to remember the sick, homeless, the hungry, the lonely and all those who need help and reassurance and your guiding grace. And may travelers wherever they go to visit family and friends be safe in their journey and return home safely once their holiday is done.
Finally, help us to end the strife that tears us apart and infect those filled with hatred and animosity to find peace through your grace. In so doing we can deal with the issues we face openly and honestly, not with artificial barriers that keep us from finding real truth.
We ask in Jesus' name, Amen.
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On this Thanksgiving Day, let's stop the screaming, yelling, cursing, and physical violence for the only outcome that will lead to is anarchy and chaos which leads only to disaster. If we turn to God and ask for His guidance and inspiration, we can honestly solve our problems and put our energy to a rebirth of this nation. With God, anything is possible.
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone, and may our land truly be the the land of opportunity and freedom once again.