Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1909-11-17
CHRISTIAN ENDEAvoR.
Prayer Meeting Topic For the Week
Beginning Nov. Fl, 1909.


Beginning Nov. q, 1909.
Topic.-Ths biessing OF . thankful heart.
-Neh. viii. l-l2
The walls and the temple of Jerusa-
lem at this part Of Jewish history had
been rebuilt by Nehemiah and Ezra,
who had each made two trips from
Babylon to do this work. The law of
Moses had been arranged by Ezra. the
priest and the people of Israel had
become possessors Of their various
homes. Under these suspicious cir
cumstances the people gathered them
selves together as one man into the
street that u before the water gate"
They asked Ezra to bring the book of
the law Of Moses. This he did and.
assisted by others. read it and explain
ed 1t to the people. They read in the
book In the law Of God distinctly and
gave the sense and caused them to I'M
derstand the reading" Nehemiah and
clared that day a holy day. or holiday,
and urged them to JOY and thanksgiv-
ing. "and all the people went their way
to eat and to drink and to send por-
tons and to make great mirth because
they had understood the words that
were declared unto them" - joyous
THANKSGIVING and gratitude that the
law Of God, so long lost and forgotten,
had been read to them and explained
to them in such a way that they could
understand 1t. Would that the Amer
lean people at this season of thanks
giving would more fully appreciate the
word of God and be filed with greater
desires to have 1t read and explained
to them.
The duty Of thanksgiving requires no
argument Ingratitude, whether to
God or man, is looked upon as trait
Of baseness In the character Of any
one who practices 1t. This is especially
80 In our relation to God, from whom
in this final analysis all blessings of
life come. The appropriateness Of ap-
pointed thanksgiving days Is also rec
ognized, particularly as applied to
nations. In our Individual lives and
hearts every day should be day Of
thanksgiving to God. Israel had reg
ular days for national thanksgiving.
The Passover was in reality thank
from the land Of Egypt and from the
house Of bondage. Pentecost was a
feast Of thanksgiving for the first
fruits Of the harvest. which were a
prophecy Of a full harvest, and when
the harvest itself had been gathered
in the feast OF the tabernacles express
ed gratitude to God for it. Then, upon
particular occasions. such as the one
before us. especial days Of thanksgiv-
ing were appointed. Our national
Thanksgiving day is permanent one
by an unwritten law Of our land. The
nation should make 1t not merely a
holiday, but holy day. when In the
midst Of our feasting and mirth we
should acknowledge the hand of God
in our national life and express our
sincerest gratitude unto Him for bless
ings past and present and implore be-
fore His throne their continuance for
the future.
Thlnkfulpess of heart and Of life
have a reflex influence. They give to
the one who is truly thankful increased
blessings. Every time we recall the
blessings of God and thank Him for
them we experience again the joy that
possessed us when they were first be-
slowed upon us. The thankful heart
increases its blessings. while the I'M
thankful one diminishes them. There
is joy in the possession of a spirit of
thankfulness and also joy in ex-
pressing it. Ii we would get the very
best out of the good things of life we
should therefore be constantly thank
full for the benefits and blessings di-
vinely bestowed upon us.
But thanksgiving must not end with
the heart or the tongue. 1t should ex-
tend to good deeds. The lsraelites
were not exhorted to "eat the fat and
drink the sweet alone but to share
with those who were not provided for.
This they did. and their JOY was in
creased thereby. Are you thankful
for the blessings and benefits of the
past year? Then express it by sending
portions to others not so richly blessed
In SO doing you will receive blessing
and give another cause for joy and
thanksgiving.
BIBLE READINGS.
Ps. xxxiv, IS; |. IA, Is; xviii. 10; c,
CHI. is; evil. Is; Mark v, 1921; Acts
II, 44-47; Iii. ITO; ii Cor. il. S-11; Phil
iv. Ii; Col. ii, 6, Z; iv, 2; Rev. vii,
II, -.
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