By Catherine Ulrich Brakefield
Thanksgiving Day is just around the corner. China gleams beneath bright chandeliers, and crystal glassware clink amiably of toasts to a prosperous future. Tables ladened with turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, gravy, corn, and cranberry sauce, will spice the air with their bounty, bringing smiles to the participants and distress the day next—when belts will need another hole.
America’s much-loved holiday
stems back to that first Thanksgiving meal the Pilgrims had with their American
Indian friends. The Pilgrims embarked upon a pilgrimage to a far-off continent with
which they knew not the outcome for the sole intent of seeking a safe haven for
religious freedoms—not heard the likes of before.
Proposed to honor those brave Pilgrims and the Judeo-Christian principles America was founded upon, many of our forefathers established in 1816, The American Bible Society.
But little do
Americans know that the week of Thanksgiving, November 17 to 23 of this year,
is National Bible Week.
Former President
Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1941 began the week tradition. Since then, every
president has continued this tradition. Christians throughout the United States
during this week will recite hymns, prayers, proverbs, and prophecies from the
Bible. The procedure will start the Sunday preceding Thanksgiving, and most
churches will hold this event. This is a great way to get the community
together to share their faith in the name of Christ Jesus.
And only an infinite
God could plan it so that when Japan bombed Pearl Harbor on that fateful
December 7, 1941, the nation was deep in prayer that week. NBC was the leading
radio station at that time and had begun the day with the head of the National
Bible Association. Suddenly the news of the attack at Pearl Harbor broke across
the airwaves. NBC requested the National Bible Association to continue their
Bible reading throughout the day, in an effort to keep up the morale of the
listening Americans.
Tragically, it had been on that day when the National Bible Association was to go to the White House and lay down the foundation for the first National Bible Week. Of course, the founders canceled their plans and instead, wrote a telegram to President Roosevelt stating, “May God bless and guide you in this emergency.”
To every serviceman entering the armed forces,
each was given a small pocket New Testament Bible with these words written upon
the inside flap:
“As Commander-in-Chief I take pleasure in
commanding the reading of the Bible to all who serve in the armed forces of the
United States. Throughout the centuries men of many faiths and diverse origins
have found in the Sacred Book words of wisdom, counsel and inspiration. It is a
fountain of strength and now, as always, an aid in attaining the highest
aspirations of the human soul.” Franklin D. Roosevelt
In the back of this
small book were Psalms, Prayers, and Hymns. A couple of the hymns were: “Lead
On O King Eternal,” “Faith of our Fathers”, “America the Beautiful”, “My
Country ‘Tis of Thee”, and the “National Anthem.”
President Roosevelt throughout the bloody World War II never failed to uphold the idea of the Bible uniting Americans with the heroic stories of our Creator and the reconciliation of man through his Son, Christ Jesus.
This Christian spirit
was embodied throughout the centuries, beginning with that first Pilgrim
placing his foot upon America’s virgin soil. However, some historians now say
that there were among the founding fathers a few who were rationalists who
rejected the Bible’s divine inspiration and Christ’s virgin birth, and
miracles. These men were Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin.
A larger number of our
Founding Fathers felt otherwise. They regularly quoted The Scriptures and
planted their Biblical affections into The Constitution of the United States,
The Bill of Rights, and our currency. They glorified Jesus Christ as Lord and
Savior as did the patriots of the Revolution who loved to shout to their
red-coated adversaries, “No king but Jesus!” There is no doubt that The United
States of America was powerfully influenced by the Bible, much more than any
nation in history, that is, apart from Israel.
To this day, America’s most beloved book is the Bible and consistently topped the best seller list. Noah Webster, author of The American Dictionary of the English Language (1828) said, “Our liberty, growth and prosperity was the result of a Biblical philosophy of life. Our continued freedom and success is dependent on our educating the youth of America in the principles of Christianity.” (Leon Stevens, One Nation Under God, pg. 102)
Abraham Lincoln,
quoted Matthew 12:22 during his famous Illinois speech, “A house divided
against itself cannot stand.”
This Thanksgiving
remember to participate in National Bible Week and enjoy praying with family, and
friends. Take time to sing hymns, share your faith with the members of your family,
meditate, and read the Holy Scriptures to one another.
“In regard to this Great Book, I have but to say, it is the best gift God has given to man. All the good the Savior gave to the world was communicated through this book.” Abraham Lincoln April 4, 1864
Swept into Destiny: Ben is a proud Irish immigrant who is determined not to give up despite hunger and deprivation. He clings to his mustard-seed faith believing—nothing is impossible.
Maggie is a rebel
disguised as a Southern belle. Ben and Maggie’s journeys delve deeply into the
truth about faith and devotion.
As the battle
between North and South rages, Maggie is torn. Was Ben right? Had this Irish
immigrant perceived the truth of what God had predestined for America?
“… Brakefield’s flowing
descriptions pull you into Swept into Destiny and keep immersed in the world of
the Antebellum south…This isn’t just
a world of beaus, belles, and balls, but of moral ambiguity and searches for
truth…” L.H. Reader
An award-winning author, Catherine’s inspirational historical romances include Wilted Dandelions, her Destiny series Swept into Destiny, Destiny’s Whirlwind, Destiny of Heart, and Waltz with Destiny. Her newest book is Love's Final Sunrise. She has two pictorial history books: The Lapeer Area, and Eastern Lapeer Area. Her short stories have been published in Guideposts Books, CrossRiver Media, Revell Books, and Bethany House Publishers. See catherineulrichbrakefield.com
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Thank you for posting today. In my whole life I have never heard of National Bible Week...and I've been a Christian for about 40 years!
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