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Saturday, November 21, 2009

Spiritual Sunday~Lincoln Thanksgiving Prayer

Many thanks to our lovely hostesses, Charlotte and Ginger, for bringing Spiritual Sundays to us. Please visit them by clicking on the blue sky to the right.

I found this prayer quite by accident, but as I read it, the words touched me so much...to have a president that would pray this prayer over his nation, his people...a man that understood the blessings of God, that understood what God had granted to this country, our indebtedness to God, and our need for Him to continue on in freedom.

I know its long, but well worth the read.


Abraham Lincoln's Thanksgiving Proclamation
(from the collection of Lincoln's papers in the Library of America series, Vol II, pp. 520-521).

The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God.

In the midst of a civil war of unequalled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union.

Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defence, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle, or the ship; the axe had enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom.

No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and voice by the whole American People.

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. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to his tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity and Union.

It is the duty of nations as well as of men to own their dependence upon the overruling power of God; to confess their sins and transgressions in humble sorrow, yet with assured hope that genuine repentance will lead to mercy and pardon; and to recognize the sublime truth, announced in the Holy Scriptures and proven by all history, that those nations are blessed whose God is the Lord.

- Abraham Lincoln's Thanksgiving Proclamation October 3, 1863



May your Sunday be filled with goodness.

God bless you all!

Mary

28 comments:

  1. Wish our current government would take a hint. A get sharing Mary. Thanks for a wonderful post. This beautiful Sunday.
    QMM

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  2. his was beautiful,I never saw this before.Thanks so much for sharing it.


    Have a beautiful Sunday!

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  3. Oh Mary, this is wonderful!! Can you honestly imagine a president who so freely loved the Lord and talked about where the country was really at as a result of sin? It would just be sooo awesome. This was so good and yet a sad reminder of where we have come to. I especially like the end for some reason where he says, "those nations are blessed whose God is the Lord." How could we have forgotten that? Have a wonderful worship day my friend! Oh, btw, I wanted to make sure you understood that the new baby born is my great niece, not my granddaughter...(just making sure) Love and blessings! Debbie

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  4. Thank-you Mary it has been a long time since I have read that prayer. This prayer makes me pray even harder for our Country now more than ever.
    God Bless my dear blogging friend,
    Ginger

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  5. dear Mary, what a difference to read the prayers of a true Christian leader. This is what's missing in the world...we have the blind leading the blind. Is it any wonder they are falling into a pit?

    Keep the faith, my sister, may God bless you and yours.
    Hugs

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  6. WOW! What an awesome prayer to the Lord! He is the God of this nation and He is good!

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  7. Hi Mary....What a wonderful prayer at such an appropriate time. Have a peaceful Sunday!~Hugs, Patti

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  8. Thank you for your lovely comment on my blog.
    Happy Thanksgiving to you too!

    Bellaboo x

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  9. Thank you for taking time to post this. It is very inspiring. Your post are ALWAYS inspiring!

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  10. Just like everyone else said, Thank You! I am so glad you found this and shared it with us!
    Happy Thanksgiving!

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  11. Oh yes.... wasn't he eloquent and a reverent man and President. I have bookmarked many of his quotes. To have more godly men for Presidents today...this I pray...
    Thank you for the prayer shared.
    God bless.

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  12. Thank you for sharing this Mary. I've read it in the not so distant past and I especially enjoy the last two paragraphs.

    I wish it were sitting upon the desk of the current President and administration as a reminder of what our nation and government should focus on.

    Blessings.

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  13. Thank you for sharing this...
    God bless and have a blessed Thanksgiving.

    www.myautumnyears.blogspot.com

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  14. What a great president he was. How I wish our nation could get back to thanking and praising God like they did long ago. Thank you for sharing this with us today.
    Blessings,
    Charlotte

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  15. We had a president who looked to God not too long ago.

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  16. Isn't that a wonderful proclamation! It's timeless and who doesn't admire Abe Lincoln. Thank--you Mary for your awesome note, you really touched my heart today! Hugs, Cindy

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  17. Beautiful prayer, and so much more touching knowing it was the leader of our Nation who uttered such words of thanks and praise to God.
    I doubt we'll be hearing anything along the lines of 'our Nation being Blessed because God is our Lord' this Thanksgiving.
    I think our government thinks they are the only thing to look to for leadership.
    But they forget that when you put yourself before God, you are doomed to fail.

    Thanks for this beautiful post, and thank you so much for your wonderful comments to me. I appreciate it.
    Love and Prayers,
    Eileen

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  18. May God have mercy on this great nation that was founded on Biblical principles but has veered off-course.

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  19. A wonderful post! Thank you so much for sharing! Coralie

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  20. May the Lord put godly leaders like Lincoln in all breanches of the government! Thank you for sharing this wonderful prayer from a great president. God bless and Happy Thanksgiving.

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  21. Thank you so much for posting that prayer. It is just so amazing, seeing how far our country has strayed from God.

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  22. Dear Mary,
    What a wonderful prayer by a great man! I am not an American but a Canadian, but I have always admired Abraham Lincoln. Thank you for sharing.

    Blessings,
    Sandi

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  23. Beautiful! Thanks so much, Mary!

    XO,

    Sheila :-)

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  24. Hi Mary,
    I missed you yesterday on Tea Things Tuesdays! You must be getting ready for your big day tomorrow. I'm just stopping by to wish you and your loved ones a wonderful and scrumptious Thanksgiving!

    Blessings,
    Sandi

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  25. Stopping in to wish you a God filled Thanksgiving!

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  26. Should send this to that fella in the White House in DC. Beautiful TY for sharing. May your day be warm & beautiful.

    Please join me at our new blog, blushingrosetoo.blogspot.com

    TTFN ~ Marydon

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  27. I like reading old prayers, but I don't know if I've ever seen this one. Thanks for sharing.

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  28. This was so good and yet a sad reminder of where we have come to.

    Work From Home india

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