>>John Bradshaw:
This is It Is Written.
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I'm John Bradshaw.
ThThanks for joining me.
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"It t has pleased Almighty
God to prolong our natnal life
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"another y year, defending
us with His guardian care
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"against unfendly
designs from abroad,
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"and vouchsafing to us in
His mercy many a and signal
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victories "over the enemy,
who is of ourur own household.
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"It has also
pleased our Heavenly Fher
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"to favor as well
our citizens in their mes
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"as our soldiers in
their camps,nd our sailors
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"on the riversrs and
seas, with unusual health.
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"He has largely auented our
free population by emancipation
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"and by immigration, while He
"of wealth, and has crowned s
opened to us new sources the
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labor r of our working men in
every department of industry
withbundant rewards."
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Isn't that something?
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Thatat's not the kind of
language that you hear tay.
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This was part of a declaration
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written by
President Abraham Lincoln.
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It was issssued on
October the 20th, 1864.
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And it went on to say,
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"Now, therefore,
I, Abham Lincoln,
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"President of the United Stas,
do hereby appoint and set apart
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"the last Thursday in November
nenext as a day which I desire
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"to be obserd by
all my fellow-citizens,
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"wherever they may then
be,, as a day of thanksgiving
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"and praise to Almhty
God, the beneficent Creator
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"and Ruler of the Universe.
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"And I do [further] rerecommend
to my fellow-citizens aforesaid,
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"that, on that occasion, they
do reverentlyumble themselves
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"in the dustst, and from thence
offer up penitent and feent
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"prayers and supplicications
to the Great Disposer of events
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"for a rurn of the
inestimable blessings of peace,
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"union, and
harmrmony throughout the land
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"which it has pleased Him
toassign as a dwelling-place
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"for ourselves
and for our posterity
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throughout all generations."
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This washe president of
the United States of America
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urging citizens s to "reverently
humble themselves in the dus
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"and...offer up
penitentand fervent prayers
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and supplications" to God, "the
Great Disposer of events." or,
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in t this case, And d that's
how Thanksgiving was born.
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Of course, the story
goes back much furtherer.
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The Pilgrims
arrrrived in this land in 1620,
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landing at Plymouth Rock,
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according to the
historical accounts,
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and quickly
encotering serious challenges.
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Forty-five of the 102 peopople
who arrived on the Mayflower
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dieded in the
winter of 1620-1621.
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Becoming
established in t New World
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was extraordinarily difficult.
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It was brutally cold.
Disease took a tererrible toll.
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They didn't have
nenearly enough supplies.
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Willlliam Bradford, the leader
of the Plymouth Cony, wrote,
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"The dangers we
great, but not desperate;
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the fficulties were
many, but not invincible."
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That was very
optimistic viewpoint
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and offered by one who
hadsurvived the hardships.
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You can understand why the
Plymouth cololonists celebrated
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after their
firstt harvest in 1621.
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God had graciously saved
them and prorovided for them.
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They looked to God as
ththe Giver of all good gifts,
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understanding what
James wrote when he said,
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"Every good gift and every
perfect gift i is from above,
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"and comesown from
the Father of lights,
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with whothere is no
variation or shadow of turning."
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That's's James 1:17.
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It was more than 200 years
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after what we might call
that f first Thanksgiving
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that Thanksgiving was
officially r recognized.
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It's now celebrated in
the Uned States every year,
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initially a time
of devotion  God,
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but now really a f family
event-- which certainly isn't
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all bad. FaFamily,
food, a day off work for most,
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and that's Thanksgivin
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The Canadian version
also started as an pression
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of thanksgsgiving to God.
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So what are you thankful
for? Really thankful for?
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If I were tohare with
you what I'm thankful for
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this Thanksgiving, I'd
have to start by sayingng
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I'm thankful for
God,, for family, for you,
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and for freedom.
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Let's walk
through some of thahat.
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Many of the Pilgrims
who o came to this country
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were in search of
religious freedom.
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Mind you, once they got here,
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they weren't espspecially
gracious about extending
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that religious
freedom to others.
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ThThis is from a report
published by
SwarthmorUniversity,
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a scho located just outside
Philadelphia, Pennsylvaniaia,
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and founded by Quars.
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It's sobering reading.
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"The first known
Quakers to arrive in Bostoton
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"and challengege
Puritan religious domination
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"were Mary Fisher and Ann stin.
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"These two women entered
Boston's harbor onhe Swallow,
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"a ship from
Barbadoss in July of 1656.
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"The Puritans of Bosto
greeted Fisher and Austin
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"as if they carried the plagueue
and severely brutalized them.
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"The t two were strip searched,
accused of witchcrt, jailed,
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"deprived  food, and
were forced to leave Boston
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on the Swallow when n it next
left Boston eight weeks later."
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Eight Quakers who
arrived after the two o women
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wewere imprisoned and beaten.
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Authorities forc the captain
who brought the eight Quakers
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to Boston to take
them back to England.
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In his excellent book
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"Roger Williams and the
CrCreation of the American
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Soul," John M. Barry wrote,
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"Massachusetts.imposed fines
of ten shillings for attending
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"a Quaker meeting, forty
shillings s for speaking at one,
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"and forty shillings for
every hour s someone allowed
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"a known Quaker to
remain in his home.
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"Quakers themselveves upon
first conviction, if a man,
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"lost an ear, upon second
conviction, ththe other ear;
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"if a woman, severe whippis
for first and second offenses;
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"f"for men and women
both, upon third convictio
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"the tgue would be
bored with a red-hot iron.
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anishment went without saying.
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"Then, one month after cutting
off the ear of one Quaker,
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"Massachusetts spepecifically
legislated death for Quakers
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who returned after banishment."
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w, while Quakers certainly did
have some intereststing ideas,
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you can't possibly
justi persecuting someone
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for their relious beliefs.
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Around the world there are
many people who riright now
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are not free to o worship.
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In some places faith in
Jesus can cocost you your life.
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But here wre we
are free to worship,
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the Pew Research forum
publblished an article in 2019
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titled "In U.,
Decline of Christianity
00:07:04.15\00:07:07.59
Continues at Rap Pace."
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It showed at no
matter how you cut it,
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the number of f Christians in
the United States is declining
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FrFree to worship, and more and
more people are oosing not to.
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How thanul are you for
your freedom to worship?
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MiMight not be something you
think about on a rular basis.
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But according to the
Bible, there's coming day
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when releligious
freedom won't exist for anyone.
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This is Revelation, chapter
13, startingng in verse 1.
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The Bible ys this:
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"And I stood upon
the sand of the sea,
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"and saw a beast
rise up out of the seaea,
00:07:43.73\00:07:45.99
"having seven
heads and ten horns,
00:07:46.03\00:07:48.30
"and un his horns ten crowns,
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"and upon his heheads
the name of blasphemy.
00:07:50.80\00:07:54.04
"And the beast wch I
saw was like unto a leopard,
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"and his feet were
a the feet of a bear,
00:07:56.47\00:07:58.44
"and his mouth as
the momouth of a lion:
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"and the d dragon gave him "and
great authority. And I saw one
of hisis heads his power, and
00:08:03.98\00:08:07.02
his seat, "as it were wounded to
death;and his deadly wound was
00:08:07.05\00:08:11.42
healed: and all the world
wondered after the beast."
00:08:11.45\00:08:16.86
The chapter goes on to sayay
00:08:16.89\00:08:18.16
that a s second beast
would enforce worship.
00:08:18.19\00:08:21.86
And keep in mind,
in Biblele prophecy,
00:08:21.90\00:08:24.50
a beasast represents a nation.
00:08:24.53\00:08:27.30
You'll see that in Daniel,
chapter 7, verses 1717 and 23.
00:08:27.34\00:08:32.81
This is
Revelation 13 and rse 15:
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"And he had power to give life
unto the image of f the beast,
00:08:36.44\00:08:40.12
"that the image of the
beast shshould both speak,
00:08:40.15\00:08:43.02
"and cause thahat as
many as would not worship
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the image of the
beast should be kikilled."
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ToToday I'm
thankful for freedom,
00:08:48.76\00:08:50.86
thankful to live in a
country where frdom is valued,
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thankful to liven a land
where I'm free to worship
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accoing to the
dictates of my own conscience.
00:08:56.93\00:09:00.04
I'm m thankful for the
Declaration of Independenc
00:09:00.07\00:09:02.54
which says, "That alall...are
endowed by their Creator
00:09:02.57\00:09:06.54
withertain unalienable rights."
00:09:06.57\00:09:09.81
If you're thankful
for yourur freedoms today,
00:09:09.84\00:09:12.95
what are you doing
about those e freedoms?
00:09:12.98\00:09:15.02
I hope you'll utilize the
freedom that God h has given you
00:09:15.05\00:09:18.15
and encourage
others to know the Savior
00:09:18.19\00:09:20.52
that offers
everlasting life to o all.
00:09:20.59\00:09:24.49
In his first letter to the
Thessaloni church, Paul wrote,
00:09:24.53\00:09:28.26
"In every thing give thanks:
00:09:28.30\00:09:30.63
for this is the will of GoGod
in Christ Jesus concerning you."
00:09:30.67\00:09:35.27
"In everery thing give thanks."
00:09:36.30\00:09:39.17
Everything? How
is that possible?
00:09:39.21\00:09:42.14
I'll be right back.
00:09:42.18\00:09:43.55
¤[music swells and ends]¤¤
00:09:43.58\00:09:50.62
>>Announcer 1: The
gift of the HolSpirit.
00:09:53.29\00:09:55.62
But how do we take hold of i it?
00:09:55.66\00:09:57.59
To learn more,
request your frecopy
00:09:57.63\00:09:59.79
of the booklet he
Gift of the Spirit."
00:09:59.83\00:10:02.83
Simply call 800-253-3000.
00:10:02.86\00:10:07.14
That's's 800-253-3000.
00:10:07.17\00:10:10.91
You may also
write to It Is Written,
00:10:10.94\00:10:13.01
PO Box 6, attanooga, TN 37401
00:10:13.01\00:10:18.35
orisit our
website at iiwoffer.com.
00:10:18.38\00:10:22.05
¤[u[upbeat music]¤
00:10:23.69\00:10:26.02
>>AnAnnouncer 2:
Planning for your financial fute
00:10:26.05\00:10:27.66
is a vitalspect of
Christian stewardship.
00:10:27.69\00:10:31.53
For this rean, It Is
Written is pleased to offer
00:10:31.56\00:10:34.30
free planned giving
and estatate services.
00:10:34.36\00:10:37.10
For informatn on
how we can help you,
00:10:37.13\00:10:39.47
please call 800-992-2219.
00:10:39.50\00:10:44.07
Call today
00:10:44.11\00:10:45.01
or visit our
website, slegacy.com.
00:10:45.04\00:10:48.58
Call 800-992-2219.9.
00:10:48.61\00:10:52.15
¤[mususic ends]¤¤
00:10:52.18\00:10:53.18
>>John Bradshaw: Thanks for
joining me on It Is Written.
00:10:54.22\00:10:56.82
What are you thankfufor? If
your children are doing well,
00:10:56.85\00:11:01.06
if you're
experiencing good health,
00:11:01.09\00:11:02.86
if you've comehrough a
difficult medical situation,
00:11:02.89\00:11:05.33
if y have a job, money in
the bank, food in the pantntry,
00:11:05.36\00:11:09.36
you're thankful.
00:11:09.40\00:11:10.70
And if you c check
all of those boxes,
00:11:10.73\00:11:12.93
then you're in rare company.
00:11:12.97\00:11:14.87
In 2019, 34 million
people in the United States
00:11:14.90\00:11:19.77
were said to be
living bew the poverty line.
00:11:19.81\00:11:22.84
That's 1 in every 10.5 people.
00:11:22.88\00:11:25.65
The ited Nations
reported that in the year 2015,
00:11:25.68\00:11:29.15
about 10 percent of
the world's polation--
00:11:29.18\00:11:31.22
or 730 million people--
00:11:31.25\00:11:34.22
lid on less than $2 a day.
00:11:34.26\00:11:37.79
While the numbers of
pple in extreme poverty
00:11:37.83\00:11:39.76
have beedeclining,
the COVID-19 pandemic
00:11:39.79\00:11:42.86
saw those numbers rise
by as much as 15050 million,
00:11:42.90\00:11:46.33
acrding to the World Bank.
00:11:46.37\00:11:48.47
I hope you can join me in saying
that you're thanankful for
00:11:48.50\00:11:53.81
Jesus. I've not
always been a a Christian.
00:11:53.84\00:11:55.44
I was raised to go to church,
00:11:55.48\00:11:56.98
but we weren't Bible
readers by any means.
00:11:57.01\00:11:59.65
We prayed,d, before
meals, but there wasn't a focus
00:11:59.68\00:12:03.55
on a personal
relationship with Jesus.
00:12:03.59\00:12:06.25
I know what it
meansns to be lost.
00:12:06.29\00:12:09.36
And I ow what it
means to discover the hope
00:12:09.39\00:12:11.06
that Jesus offers d
to enter into that hope
00:12:11.09\00:12:13.36
and claim the giftf salvation.
00:12:13.40\00:12:15.60
I know what it means
to looook in the mirror
00:12:15.63\00:12:17.20
and see a lost sinner,
00:12:17.23\00:12:19.33
and then to look at
Jesus and see a Savio
00:12:19.37\00:12:22.14
and to know that
through faith in Him,
00:12:22.17\00:12:24.87
yoyou possess everlasting life.
00:12:24.91\00:12:27.04
So I'm thankful for Jesus.
00:12:27.08\00:12:29.71
I'm alsoso extremely thankful
to be able to share theospel,
00:12:29.74\00:12:32.85
as thankful as I've ever been.
00:12:32.88\00:12:35.15
I've expienced the blessing
00:12:35.18\00:12:36.42
of seeing people
turnn their lives around,
00:12:36.45\00:12:38.35
to begin living
with hope and purpose,
00:12:38.39\00:12:40.66
to leave behind an old
life that was leading them
00:12:40.72\00:12:43.22
down a dead-end
street, and to step in a life
00:12:43.26\00:12:46.19
filled with hope and with the
promomise of an eternal future.
00:12:46.23\00:12:49.33
I've had tt
experience around the world.
00:12:49.36\00:12:51.83
I've seen witch docts
come to faith in Jesus--
00:12:51.87\00:12:54.50
and medical
doctorss and teachers
00:12:54.54\00:12:56.71
and moths and fathers and young
people and elderly people,e,
00:12:56.74\00:13:00.21
many of whom have gone
on to impact still others
00:13:00.24\00:13:02.91
for Christ and the gosospel.
00:13:02.94\00:13:04.91
And I'm ankful to be able
to do what I do right here,
00:13:04.95\00:13:07.78
to join with you week after week
00:13:07.82\00:13:09.55
to look at the
inciples of the Bible.
00:13:09.58\00:13:12.05
I love heang from
people whose lives are impacted
00:13:12.09\00:13:14.52
through these e programs,
00:13:14.56\00:13:15.96
people who finhope in
Jesus or grow in their faith
00:13:15.99\00:13:19.39
or invite Jesus into
theirlife for the first time.
00:13:19.43\00:13:22.30
It's why we do what  do.
00:13:22.33\00:13:24.33
And I want to say
I'm thankful for ouream
00:13:24.37\00:13:26.90
here at It Is Written.
00:13:26.94\00:13:28.54
God still has us on ththe
frontlines of ministry together.
00:13:28.57\00:13:32.37
I'm thankful my team c
continues to get me home alive.
00:13:32.44\00:13:36.11
They've had me walking
with lions, ha gliding,
00:13:36.14\00:13:39.75
ice skating--heywhich for me
could have ended very badly--
00:13:39.78\00:13:43.22
standing in the
shadow of a smoking volcano.
00:13:43.25\00:13:46.45
We've been in Sarajevo,
00:13:46.49\00:13:48.19
Manila, Berlin,
00:13:48.99\00:13:49.92
Melbourne,
00:13:49.96\00:13:50.59
Brussels,
00:13:50.63\00:13:51.66
Rome,
00:13:51.69\00:13:52.69
Ulaanbaatar,
00:13:52.73\00:13:54.30
Jerusalem,
00:13:54.30\00:13:55.56
Auschwitz.
00:13:55.60\00:13:57.13
WeWe've preached the
Word of God in Africa andsia
00:13:57.17\00:13:59.70
and NoNorth America,
South America, and the Caribbe,
00:13:59.73\00:14:02.87
d other places besides.
And I'm thankful for thahat.
00:14:02.90\00:14:06.57
I'm thankful f a team that quite
literally, to bring a saving
knowlededge of Jesus has gone
00:14:09.34\00:14:12.91
the extra mile, to people that
they'll neverknow this side of
00:14:12.95\00:14:16.35
heaven. I'm
thankful f our mission teams,
00:14:16.38\00:14:17.89
who'veone around the
world so that others can hear
00:14:17.92\00:14:20.26
the good news d be
touched by the love of God.
00:14:20.29\00:14:23.39
I have a lot to
be thankfuful for.
00:14:23.43\00:14:25.53
I have a wonderful
family, a wonderful family.
00:14:25.56\00:14:29.23
I lilive in a free country.
00:14:29.26\00:14:30.50
And God has been good to me.
00:14:30.53\00:14:32.40
You know, , it's
biblical to be thankful,
00:14:32.43\00:14:34.20
and it's literally good for you.
00:14:34.24\00:14:38.04
According to the Mayo Clinic,
daily gratitude practice...
00:14:38.07\00:14:42.24
"has been shown to
significantly incrcrease
00:14:42.28\00:14:44.95
yourur happiness--and
your physical health."
00:14:44.95\00:14:48.62
Practicing gratitude improves
sleep, booststs immunity,
00:14:48.65\00:14:53.15
and decreases the risk ofisease.
00:14:53.19\00:14:55.96
The Bible says, "A merry heart
does good, like memedicine."
00:14:55.99\00:14:59.89
That's Pverbs 17:22.
00:14:59.93\00:15:02.33
And it's hard to be
joyful if you're not thankfkful.
00:15:02.36\00:15:06.33
Thankfulness is
a Christian duty.
00:15:06.37\00:15:08.87
What does  say
about your faith in God
00:15:08.90\00:15:10.67
if you canan't be thankful?
00:15:10.71\00:15:12.31
NoNot long after Israel
had been liberated froslavery
00:15:12.34\00:15:15.01
in E Egypt, the people began
complaining in the wderness.
00:15:15.04\00:15:19.41
Let's take a look at Numbersrs,
chapter 21 and verse 5:
00:15:19.45\00:15:25.32
"And the people oke
against God and against Moses:
00:15:25.35\00:15:29.16
"'Why have you
brought u us up out of Egypt
00:15:29.19\00:15:32.26
"'to die in the wilderness?
For there iso food and no water,
00:15:32.29\00:15:37.03
and r soul loathes
this worthless bread.'"
00:15:37.07\00:15:41.47
That's true; they
were wandering in a dert.
00:15:41.50\00:15:44.61
BuGod had just
freed them from servitude.
00:15:44.64\00:15:47.84
He sent 10 maculous plagues,
00:15:47.88\00:15:49.58
a pillar of cloud,
and a pillar of fire.
00:15:49.61\00:15:51.68
He opened up theed Sea.
00:15:51.71\00:15:52.91
He got them safely
across the ocean flooror,
00:15:52.95\00:15:55.98
saved them from
advancing Egyptian army.
00:15:56.02\00:15:58.92
And now, instead of
thankingod for all that
00:15:58.95\00:16:01.89
and for r water out of
a rock and for the bread
00:16:01.92\00:16:04.86
that was literally saving
theieir lives, they pipe up
00:16:04.89\00:16:08.80
and y that they actually
hate the bread from heaven..
00:16:08.83\00:16:13.27
Another translatn says,
00:16:13.30\00:16:14.67
"We are disgusted
with this miserable food."
00:16:14.70\00:16:18.47
Unbelievable.
00:16:19.51\00:16:20.74
It was then that God
allod venomous snakes
00:16:20.78\00:16:22.78
to m move among
the people in the hope
00:16:22.81\00:16:24.15
that they would turn
their attention back to Him.
00:16:24.18\00:16:28.65
In Jesus' day prosy
was a dreaded disease.
00:16:28.68\00:16:32.99
When Jesus
healed 10 leprous men,
00:16:33.02\00:16:36.02
only one returneto thank
Jesus, and he was a Samaritan,
00:16:36.06\00:16:40.53
hated by the Jews.
00:16:40.56\00:16:42.20
The nine Jews
dididn't thank Jesus.
00:16:42.23\00:16:45.47
Just that Samamaritan.
00:16:45.50\00:16:47.90
And so Jesus saidd
in Luke, chapter 17,
00:16:47.94\00:16:51.71
"'Were there not tenleansed?
But where are the nine?
00:16:51.71\00:16:56.28
"'Were there not any found w who
returned to give glory to God
00:16:56.31\00:17:00.05
"except thisoreigner?'
00:17:00.08\00:17:02.15
"And He said to
him, 'Arise, go your way.
00:17:02.18\00:17:06.19
Your f faith
has made you well.'"
00:17:06.22\00:17:09.12
to be healed of leprosy How
hahard a heart and not be
thankful?l? do you have to have
00:17:12.66\00:17:16.87
Now, do you thank God daily
for Hiblessing in your life?
00:17:16.90\00:17:21.27
Try this. Make a list of
thingngs that you're thankful
00:17:21.30\00:17:25.14
for. t some time into it.
00:17:25.17\00:17:27.11
And then when you
pray in the morning,,
00:17:27.14\00:17:29.11
pray your way
through thatat list.
00:17:29.14\00:17:31.58
You'u'll start to realize
just how much God does r you,
00:17:31.61\00:17:36.32
and it'll l give you
plenty to pray about.
00:17:36.35\00:17:39.55
When you see how
muc God is blessing you,
00:17:39.59\00:17:41.36
how much He's doing for yo
00:17:41.39\00:17:43.02
it'll strengthen yr
faith; it'll open your heart.
00:17:43.06\00:17:46.13
It'll help you to alize
just how good and how powerful
00:17:46.16\00:17:49.56
God is in your life.
00:17:49.60\00:17:52.53
Now, how can you be
thkful in all things?
00:17:52.57\00:17:56.81
In a moment, I'll tell
you about a mawho was grateful
00:17:56.81\00:18:00.21
when most people
would not have been.
00:18:00.21\00:18:03.58
I'll be right back.
00:18:03.61\00:18:05.11
¤[music swells and ends]¤¤
00:18:05.15\00:18:12.12
>>Announcer 1: The
gift of t the Holy Spirit.
00:18:14.72\00:18:17.03
But how do we take holof it?
00:18:17.06\00:18:19.09
To learn more,
request your freree copy
00:18:19.13\00:18:21.23
of the booklklet
"The Gift of the Spirit."
00:18:21.26\00:18:24.20
Simply call 800-253-3000.
00:18:24.23\00:18:28.54
at's 800-253-3000.
00:18:28.57\00:18:32.34
You may also
write to It Is Written,
00:18:32.37\00:18:34.44
PO Box 6, Chattanooga, TN 37401
00:18:34.48\00:18:39.81
oror visit our
website at iiwoffer.com.
00:18:39.85\00:18:43.65
>>John: You know that at
It Is Writteten we are serious
00:18:45.85\00:18:48.12
about t
studying the Word of God,
00:18:48.16\00:18:49.72
and we encourageou
to be serious as well.
00:18:49.76\00:18:52.46
Well, here's what you
00:18:52.49\00:18:53.46
if you w want to dig
deeper into God's Word.
00:18:53.50\00:18:55.53
Go to itiswritten.study
00:18:55.56\00:18:57.60
for the It Is Writtenn
Bible Study Guides online,
00:18:57.63\00:19:00.60
25 in-depth Bible
studies that will takeou
00:19:00.64\00:19:03.24
through the major
teteachings of the Bible.
00:19:03.27\00:19:05.61
You'll be blsed,
and it's something
00:19:05.64\00:19:07.28
you'll want to tell
others about as well.
00:19:07.31\00:19:09.21
Itiswritten.study.
00:19:09.24\00:19:10.91
Go fururther: itiswritten.study.
00:19:10.95\00:19:13.95
>>John: Miracles--events
that can only be explained
00:19:15.92\00:19:19.25
as thehe actions of
an all-powerful God.
00:19:19.29\00:19:22.62
If y you look at the Bible,
00:19:22.66\00:19:23.86
yoyou'll find
it's full of miracles:
00:19:23.89\00:19:27.00
¤[soft music]¤
00:19:27.03\00:19:28.00
parting the Red
Sea, healing the blinind,
00:19:28.03\00:19:31.17
walking on
water, raisg the dead.
00:19:31.20\00:19:35.17
Many have claimed these events
ner happened. But did they?
00:19:35.20\00:19:40.18
Is it important for
Christians to believe imiracles?
00:19:40.21\00:19:44.15
And do they still happen today?
00:19:44.18\00:19:46.31
Join me fofor "Do
You Believe in Miracles?"
00:19:46.35\00:19:49.18
We'll meet some remarkableeople
00:19:49.22\00:19:50.89
and hearar some
incredible stories.
00:19:50.92\00:19:53.05
We'll l learn what
miracles are and what they're n.
00:19:53.09\00:19:56.86
And we'll discuss the
greatest miracle of all time,
00:19:56.89\00:20:00.56
one that has significance
for every human beining on earth
00:20:00.60\00:20:04.30
and the potential to
changnge your life entirely.
00:20:04.33\00:20:07.97
"Do You Believe in Miracles?"
00:20:08.00\00:20:10.01
Brought to you
by It Is itten TV.
00:20:10.04\00:20:13.01
¤[musicnds]¤¤
00:20:13.04\00:20:14.54
>>John Bradshaw: It's
easy to be ankful to God
00:20:16.88\00:20:18.61
when things are going well.
00:20:18.65\00:20:20.22
You get that raise;
you find that bargrgain;
00:20:20.25\00:20:22.32
you get into that
college you want to attendnd;
00:20:22.35\00:20:24.52
the weather is good
fofor the outdoor wedding;
00:20:24.55\00:20:26.86
you got the job;
00:20:26.89\00:20:28.06
the report came back
from the doctor all clearar.
00:20:28.09\00:20:30.69
You're thankful.
00:20:30.73\00:20:32.26
At Thanksgiving, w
when you get with family,
00:20:32.29\00:20:33.93
if you do the thing
wherere you go around the table
00:20:33.96\00:20:36.10
and ask people what
they're thankful for,
00:20:36.16\00:20:38.00
it's the same kind
of thing year aer year:
00:20:38.03\00:20:39.63
happy for the new baby,
00:20:39.67\00:20:41.10
happy Grandma
could be wi us this year,
00:20:41.17\00:20:43.17
thankful the job is going well.
00:20:43.20\00:20:44.97
thankful that we wked
away from that accident--
00:20:45.01\00:20:47.14
all veryeal, very
legitimate, no doubt about that.
00:20:47.18\00:20:51.31
Now, let's rememberr
that while Paul wrote,
00:20:51.35\00:20:54.18
"In every thing give thanks,
00:20:54.22\00:20:55.92
he didn'n't say, for
everything give thanks.
00:20:55.95\00:20:59.42
You'rere probably not going to
be that thankful thatrandma died
00:20:59.45\00:21:03.02
unexpectedly at the age of
73 in appently good health.
00:21:03.06\00:21:07.30
But you're gonnae thankful
that you had your mother
00:21:07.36\00:21:09.20
until you were in your 5 50s
00:21:09.23\00:21:10.40
or that Granandma was
such a big part of your life.
00:21:10.43\00:21:13.30
It's really hard to be
thankful when n you lose a job,
00:21:13.34\00:21:15.90
but you can ank God for
the way He has provided for you
00:21:15.94\00:21:18.87
and for ththe experience
that you gained in that job
00:21:18.91\00:21:20.98
and for the friends you made..
00:21:21.01\00:21:23.01
You u can be
thankful in all things.
00:21:23.04\00:21:26.41
Romans 8:28 says,
00:21:26.45\00:21:28.22
"And we know that all
thin work together for good
00:21:28.25\00:21:32.05
"to those who love G,
to those who are the called
00:21:32.09\00:21:35.56
according to His purpose."
00:21:35.59\00:21:38.03
You can be thankful that
God d has a way through this--
00:21:38.06\00:21:41.93
or around this oout of this.
00:21:41.96\00:21:44.87
Life isn't all about getting
our own way all l the time.
00:21:44.90\00:21:48.34
It's about allowin
God to have His way
00:21:48.37\00:21:51.37
and trustingim in
every circumstance.
00:21:51.41\00:21:54.48
There was a power outage,
00:21:54.51\00:21:55.91
and you lost
everything in your freeze
00:21:55.94\00:21:58.45
You trusust God.
00:21:58.48\00:21:59.65
The r broke down, and you're
not sure how in the worlrld
00:21:59.68\00:22:01.58
you're going to be able
to affd the repair bill?
00:22:01.62\00:22:04.05
You trust God.
00:22:04.09\00:22:05.32
Thank Him in all things,
00:22:05.35\00:22:07.29
because He is still
on the throne in heaven.
00:22:07.32\00:22:10.99
"[His mercies] are
new everery morning;
00:22:11.03\00:22:14.46
great isis [His] faithfulness!"
00:22:14.46\00:22:16.46
That's Lamentations 3, verse 23.
00:22:16.50\00:22:19.33
But you u don't
often hear people say,
00:22:20.37\00:22:22.17
"I'm thankful for this illness.
I'm thankful I I got sick."
00:22:22.20\00:22:26.34
But let me tell you
abouout a friend of mine.
00:22:26.37\00:22:28.41
Mike called me one day
and tolde that he had cancer.
00:22:28.44\00:22:31.38
As he was
plaining the situation,
00:22:31.41\00:22:32.98
the reception faded out.
00:22:33.01\00:22:35.22
I didn't catch
all of what he said.
00:22:35.25\00:22:37.19
Wh I heard him say
sounded like things
00:22:37.22\00:22:39.82
really weren't too serious,
as farar as cancer goes.
00:22:39.85\00:22:43.26
At least, it
sounded like situation
00:22:43.29\00:22:45.53
where he might
have ha a lot of hope.
00:22:45.56\00:22:47.76
But when the reception
sort of drififted back in,
00:22:47.83\00:22:51.33
I heard him say that medicine
offered him  hope at all.
00:22:51.37\00:22:56.50
I asked him how he t
thought he was going to be.
00:22:56.54\00:22:59.44
He was upbeat--upbeat
tohe point that I had to wonder
00:22:59.47\00:23:03.75
whether or not he acally got it.
00:23:03.78\00:23:06.48
Now, whenever you'd
ask Mike how he was doing,
00:23:06.51\00:23:08.45
he'd answer by saying, "Graful."
00:23:08.48\00:23:11.49
"Mike, greato hear
from you! How you doing?"
00:23:11.52\00:23:13.82
"I'm grateful."
00:23:13.86\00:23:14.89
"Mike, good to see
you. How are things?"?"
00:23:14.92\00:23:16.86
"I'm grateful." Every time
00:23:16.89\00:23:20.20
Of cours his reply was just an
invitation for you to ask h him
00:23:20.23\00:23:23.30
what he s grateful for,
and he was always grateful
00:23:23.33\00:23:26.60
for the goodness of d,
grateful for God's blessings.
00:23:26.63\00:23:30.51
Even as the cancer gotorse
and worse, Mike was grateful,
00:23:30.54\00:23:36.44
always grateful.
00:23:36.48\00:23:38.11
"You wouldn't believe how
many ors this has opened up
00:23:38.15\00:23:39.98
for me to share my
faith," heould say.
00:23:40.02\00:23:42.15
He said to his mothe
00:23:42.18\00:23:43.52
"This cancer is the greatest
witnessing t tool I've ever
00:23:43.55\00:23:48.26
had." He said, "If I mention
t this"-- meaning his cancer--
00:23:48.29\00:23:50.93
"even the hardest
heart is going to have
00:23:50.96\00:23:52.73
"a moment of symympathy
for me, and that's long enough
00:23:52.76\00:23:55.83
for the e Holy
Spirit to get through."
00:23:55.86\00:23:58.07
Anyone who called hihim on the
phone or saw him on the street
00:23:58.10\00:24:00.67
couldn't possibly
have heard a ppier voice
00:24:00.70\00:24:02.57
or seen a more genuine smile
ththan the one on Mike's face.
00:24:02.60\00:24:05.74
Even though, even thouough
he knew that his time was short,
00:24:05.77\00:24:10.08
he'd'd say, "Why
wouldn't I be grateful?
00:24:10.11\00:24:13.58
"After I die, the xt
thing I'm going to know
00:24:13.62\00:24:17.55
is the presence of the Lord."
00:24:17.59\00:24:19.79
Grateful.
00:24:19.82\00:24:21.46
As time went by, it
became increangly obvious
00:24:21.49\00:24:23.83
that Mike really did get it.
00:24:23.86\00:24:26.39
Maybe it was the rest of us
who were the onenes who didn't.
00:24:26.46\00:24:30.23
He was dying of a disease
00:24:30.27\00:24:31.60
that he ew was
going to take his life,
00:24:31.63\00:24:34.27
and he was grateful.
00:24:34.30\00:24:36.27
I spoke at his funereral.
It was a happy occasion.
00:24:36.30\00:24:40.14
¤[soft music]¤
00:24:40.18\00:24:42.24
Don't wait for certain
day to be thankful to God.
00:24:42.28\00:24:46.68
Don't wait f for
your fortunes to improve
00:24:46.72\00:24:48.55
or your health to turn ound.
00:24:48.58\00:24:50.85
Remember tt 2,000 years ago,
00:24:50.89\00:24:52.72
a Man who'd been
born and raised in a town
00:24:52.75\00:24:55.29
you otherwisise
would never have heard of,
00:24:55.32\00:24:58.23
died on cross for
you, the divine Son of God,
00:24:58.26\00:25:02.13
bearing your sins upon H heart.
00:25:02.16\00:25:05.37
He died so that
you could live forever,
00:25:05.40\00:25:07.30
so tt whatever
happens, you can have hope.
00:25:07.34\00:25:11.11
I'm grateful today
because my life wiwill extend on
00:25:11.14\00:25:13.98
beyond this s
world and into eternity
00:25:14.01\00:25:16.61
because of what Jesus has done,
00:25:16.64\00:25:18.71
because of the love that God
hasin His heart for you and me.
00:25:18.75\00:25:23.18
How can you be
anytything but grateful
00:25:23.22\00:25:25.82
for what God has done for you,
00:25:25.85\00:25:27.52
for what He'll do in
you, what He is doing in you,
00:25:27.56\00:25:31.36
and for what He offers
you as eternity draws nearer?
00:25:31.39\00:25:36.10
What are you grateful for today?
00:25:36.13\00:25:39.33
>>John: Thank you for
reremembering that It Is Written
00:25:40.37\00:25:42.30
existsecause of the kindness
of people just like you.
00:25:42.34\00:25:45.74
To support this international
life-chahanging ministry,
00:25:45.77\00:25:48.98
please call us
now at 800-253-3-3000.
00:25:49.01\00:25:53.18
You can send your
tatax-deductible gift
00:25:53.21\00:25:54.65
to the address on your screen,
00:25:54.68\00:25:56.08
or you can visit us
online at itiswritten.m.
00:25:56.12\00:26:00.09
Thank you for r your prayers
and for your financial support
00:26:00.12\00:26:02.86
Our number again is 80253-3000,
00:26:02.89\00:26:07.03
or y you can visit us
online at itiswritten.com.
00:26:07.10\00:26:10.07
>>John: You know that at
Its Written we are serious
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about
studyiying the Word of God,
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and we encourageou
to be serious as well.
00:26:15.17\00:26:17.87
Well, here's what you do
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if you wanant to dig
deeper into God's Word.
00:26:18.91\00:26:20.98
Go to itiswritten.study
00:26:21.01\00:26:23.08
for the It Is Written
Bible Study Guides online,
00:26:23.11\00:26:26.08
25 in-depth Bible
studies that will takeou
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through the majorr
teachings of the Bible.
00:26:28.78\00:26:31.12
You'lle blessed,
and it's something
00:26:31.15\00:26:32.72
you'll want to t
tell others about as well.
00:26:32.75\00:26:34.72
Itiswritten.study.
00:26:34.76\00:26:36.36
Go further: itiswritten.study.
00:26:36.39\00:26:39.19
>>John: Let's pray together now.
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Our Father in heaven,
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today we thank
You in all things.
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No matter our
circumstances, You are God.
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You offer hope and life
00:26:52.04\00:26:54.31
and eterl life.
00:26:54.34\00:26:56.08
You are forgiving and
gracacious, and Your mercies
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endure forever. You'rere always
with us. You only want the best
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fors. While we live in a
world of sin and s sadness
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anand far-too-frequent tragedy,
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grow in us such trust,
suchfaith, such love for You
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that we'll turn to You
in n faith, no matter our
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circumstances, anthat our hearts
will be full of thanks for the O
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One who has s given everything
so that we might live.
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Friend, I encourage
you toy to trust God,
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to lean on the hope in His Word,
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and to continunue
looking in faith to Him.
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Keep us now, ar Lord, we pray,
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in Jesus' name,
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amen.
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Thanks so much f joining me.
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I'm looking forward to
seng you again next time.
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Untitil then, remember:
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"It is writt, 'Man
shall not live by bread alone,
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but by every word that proceeds
from the mouth of God.'"
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¤ramatic theme music]¤
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