Thus Far: Reflecting on God's Faithfulness in 2025

Hello, and welcome back to Nations 4 Jesus. As we come to the end of 2025, I want to take a different approach today. Instead of looking at a specific missionary story or a particular nation, I want us to look back together at this year—at how God has led us, provided for us, sustained us through everything we've faced.

There's a beautiful phrase in 1 Samuel 7:12 that captures what I want us to reflect on today: "Thus far the Lord has helped us." The prophet Samuel set up a stone monument and called it Ebenezer—which means "stone of help"—to commemorate how God had delivered Israel from their enemies. And he declared: "Thus far the Lord has helped us."

As I think about this phrase and about 2025, I'm reminded of some powerful reflections from Charles Spurgeon and L.B. Cowman that help us understand what "thus far" really means. Let me share them with you today.

[Looking backward - the avenue of God's faithfulness]

Spurgeon wrote that the words "thus far" are like a hand pointing backward toward the past. Whether you've walked with God for twenty years or seventy, you can say: "Thus far the Lord has helped us!" Through poverty and through wealth, through sickness and through health, at home and abroad, in honor and in dishonor, in difficulties and in joy, in trial and in triumph—"thus far the Lord has helped us!"

Think about your own year. Think about 2025. What did you face? For our family, this year has been filled with transitions and preparations. Jeff and I have been developing content for Homeschool to Launch, helping families prepare their teens for life after graduation. I’ve been creating podcast episodes for Nations 4 Jesus, learning about persecuted Christians around the world and growing in our passion for missions. Our youngest daughter has been preparing to go to South Korea for YWAM training in March. Our second oldest daughter moved home after two years in Colorado. Each member of our family had their joys and some sorrows. Through all of it—the busy seasons and the quiet ones, the challenges and the victories—thus far the Lord has helped us.

[The avenue of trees - counting mercies]

Spurgeon gives us this beautiful image: "We delight to look down a long avenue of trees. It is delightful to gaze from one end of the long vista, a sort of verdant temple, with its branching pillars and its arches of leaves." He invites us to look down the long avenue of our years, seeing the green boughs of mercy overhead and the strong pillars of God's lovingkindness and faithfulness that have supported our joys.

Take a moment right now and do that. Look back over 2025 as if you're looking down an avenue of trees. What are the "green boughs of mercy" you see overhead? What provisions did God make that you didn't even realize you needed? What prayers did He answer? What dangers did He protect you from? What strength did He give when you thought you couldn't go on?

Spurgeon asks: "Are there any birds in the branches singing?" And he answers: "Surely, there must be many, and they all sing of mercy received 'thus far.'" What songs of mercy can you hear as you look back? Maybe it's healing received, provision given, relationships restored, faith strengthened, clarity provided, peace experienced.

[This year's specific mercies - our Nations 4 Jesus journey]

For me, as I look back on this year through the podcast episodes we've created, I see God's faithfulness in specific ways. We've studied the persecuted church—believers in Nigeria facing violence, North Korean Christians in labor camps, the hidden church in Afghanistan. And through learning about their suffering, God has deepened our own faith and expanded our vision for His global purposes.

We've learned about the Great Awakenings and how God has moved powerfully throughout American history. We've seen the campus revivals happening right now in 2025, with thousands of college students encountering Jesus. We've explored women in missions—from Mary Slessor to Amy Carmichael to modern-day female missionaries. We've learned about Squanto's story and how God used his suffering to save the Pilgrims. We've studied Saint Lucia and Swedish Christianity. Each episode, each story, each testimony has been a "green bough of mercy"—God teaching us, challenging us, growing us.

[Looking forward - the journey continues]

But Spurgeon reminds us that "thus far" doesn't just point backward—it also points forward. "For when a man gets up to a certain point, and writes 'thus far,' he is not yet at the end; there are still distances to be travelled."

As we stand at the end of 2025 looking toward 2026, we're not at the finish line yet. There are more trials ahead, and more joys. More temptations, and more triumphs. More prayers, and more answers. More toils, and more strength. More fights, and more victories. And eventually, for each of us, sickness, old age, and death will come.

But even that's not the end! Spurgeon continues: "Is it over now? No! there is more yet—awakening in Jesus' likeness, thrones, harps, songs, seeing the face of Jesus, the fellowship of other believers, the glory of God, the fullness of eternity, the infinite joy."

[The Lord who helped us will continue - the promise]

So as we look toward the unknown future of 2026, we can "be strong and take heart" as Psalm 27:14 encourages us, lifting our voices in praise and thanksgiving. Because as Spurgeon beautifully puts it: "The Lord who thus far has helped you, will help you all your journey through."

That's the promise we stand on! The same God who helped us through 2025 will help us through 2026. The same God who provided, protected, guided, and strengthened us this year will do the same next year. His character doesn't change. His faithfulness doesn't waver. His love doesn't diminish.

[The Alpine shepherds - encouraging one another]

L.B. Cowman shares a beautiful custom of Alpine shepherds that illustrates how we should end this year. These shepherds have a tradition of ending each day by singing to one another an evening farewell. As dusk falls and they gather their flocks to lead them down the mountain paths, they sing: "Thus far the Lord has helped us. Let us praise His name!"

The crystalline mountain air carries their song long distances. And then, with sweet courtesy, they sing to one another a friendly farewell: "Goodnight! Goodnight!" The words are taken up by the echoes, bouncing from mountainside to mountainside, reverberating sweetly and softly until the music dies away in the distance.

[Calling to one another through darkness]

Cowman writes: "So let us call out to one another through the darkness, till the gloom becomes vocal with many voices, encouraging God's weary travelers."

That's what I want to do today. To all of you listening—whether 2025 was a year of triumph or trial, joy or sorrow, growth or struggle—I want to call out: "Thus far the Lord has helped us! Let us praise His name!"

Maybe 2025 was the hardest year of your life. Maybe you lost someone you loved. Maybe you faced health challenges, financial difficulties, relationship breakdowns. Maybe your faith was tested in ways it never had been before. If that's you, hear me calling to you across whatever darkness you're in: "Thus far the Lord has helped you! He will help you all your journey through!"

Or maybe 2025 was a year of blessing and breakthrough. Maybe you saw prayers answered, dreams fulfilled, relationships restored. If that's you, join me in calling out to others who are still in the darkness: "Thus far the Lord has helped us! Let us praise His name!"

[The gathering echoes - a storm of hallelujahs]

Cowman continues: "Let the echoes gather till a very storm of Hallelujahs breaks in thundering waves around the sapphire throne." Can you imagine it? Believers all over the world, in every nation, every tongue, every tribe—all declaring together: "Thus far the Lord has helped us!"

The persecuted Christians in North Korea, singing quietly in their hearts where no one can hear. The Nigerian believers who lost loved ones to Boko Haram, still praising God. The Afghan Christians practicing faith in absolute secrecy, declaring in whispered prayers: "Thus far You have helped us!" The campus revival students in America, lifting their voices: "Thus far You have helped us!" The Korean missionaries serving in Central Asia, the Brazilian missionaries in North Africa, the Nigerian missionaries across West Africa—all joining the chorus: "Thus far the Lord has helped us!"

And that chorus—those echoes gathering from every corner of the earth—becomes a storm of hallelujahs that breaks in thundering waves around God's throne.

[The morning breaks - our ultimate hope]

And here's where this reflection ultimately leads us. Cowman writes: "And then as the morning breaks we shall find ourselves at the shore of the sea of glass, crying, with the redeemed host, 'Blessing and honor and glory be unto Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb forever and ever!'"

She's pointing us to Revelation 4:6 and 5:13—to that moment when our journey through this world is complete, when the morning of eternity breaks, when we stand before God's throne with the redeemed from every nation. And then our song of "thus far the Lord has helped us" will become an eternal song: "Blessing and honor and glory be unto Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb forever and ever!"

Revelation 19:3 tells us: "And again they shouted: 'Hallelujah!'" That will be our eternal refrain—praising God not just for helping us "thus far," but for bringing us all the way home.

[Personal application - three ways to respond]

So how should we respond as we stand at the end of 2025? Let me suggest three things. First, set up your own "Ebenezer"—your own stone of remembrance. Write down the specific ways God helped you in 2025. Don't let them be forgotten! Create a record you can look back on when 2026 gets hard and you need to remember: "Thus far the Lord has helped me."

Second, encourage someone else who's still in darkness. Be like those Alpine shepherds calling out through the crystalline mountain air: "Thus far the Lord has helped us! Let us praise His name!" Who in your life needs to hear that right now? Who's discouraged, struggling, wondering if God has abandoned them? Call out to them! Share your testimony of God's faithfulness. Sing your "Goodnight!" of encouragement until the echoes carry hope to weary travelers.

Third, face 2026 with confident faith. You don't know what next year holds. None of us do. You may be facing job changes, health challenges, relationship difficulties, or opportunities you can't yet see. But here's what we do know: "The Lord who thus far has helped you, will help you all your journey through."

[The ultimate "thus far" - salvation in Christ]

But I need to say something crucial: All of this—every reflection on God's faithfulness, every testimony of His help "thus far"—assumes that you are His child through faith in Jesus Christ. The greatest "thus far" isn't about the circumstances of life. It's about salvation.

If you've placed your faith in Jesus—if you've confessed your sins, trusted in His death and resurrection for your salvation, and committed your life to following Him—then you can say with absolute confidence: "Thus far the Lord has saved me, kept me, and is leading me to eternal life." That's the ultimate Ebenezer—the ultimate stone of help—because Jesus Himself is our helper, our Savior, our Lord.

But if you've never done that, if you're not sure you're God's child, then let me invite you to make 2026 the year when you can begin saying "thus far the Lord has helped me." Confess your sins to God. Believe that Jesus died on the cross to pay for your sins and rose from the dead. Ask Him to be your Lord and Savior. And then you can begin your own journey of testifying to God's faithfulness.

[Closing challenge and prayer]

As we close 2025 and prepare for 2026, I want to encourage you with one final thought from Cowman: "This my song through endless ages, Jesus led me all the way." That's our testimony now, and that will be our testimony forever. Jesus led me all the way—through 2025, through 2026, through every year until I see His face. And then, standing before His throne, the song continues through endless ages: "Jesus led me all the way."

Let me pray: 

Thank you for joining me in 2025 for these Nations 4 Jesus episodes. It's been a journey of learning and growing together. Please join my in the new year…there’s so much more God has to show us! 

Until next time, remember—keep your eyes on the nations, and declare with confidence: "Thus far the Lord has helped us, and He will help us all our journey through!"

Spotify podcast

Squanto's Story: Thanksgiving, Persecution, and God's Sovereign Purpose

Hello, and welcome back to Nations 4 Jesus. As we gather around tables this Thanksgiving to celebrate with family and friends, eating turkey and pumpkin pie, I want to share a story with you that connects three powerful themes: the true story of the first Thanksgiving, the reality of persecution and suffering, and the sovereignty of God in using even our darkest moments for His purposes.

Most of us know the basic story of the Pilgrims and the first Thanksgiving. But what we often don't know is the remarkable story of Squanto—the Native American who saved the Pilgrims from starvation. His story is one of kidnapping, slavery, loss, and heartbreak. Yet through it all, God was orchestrating something beautiful. And his story has profound lessons for us today, especially as we think about our persecuted brothers and sisters around the world.

Let me take you back to around 1608, more than a decade before the Pilgrims arrived in America. A group of English traders sailed to what is today Plymouth, Massachusetts. When the trusting Wampanoag native Americans came out to trade with them, the traders betrayed that trust. They took them prisoner, transported them across the ocean to Spain, and sold them into slavery. It was an unimaginable horror.

Can you imagine? One moment you're living peacefully with your family and tribe. The next moment, you're chained in the hold of a ship, being transported thousands of miles away to be sold as property. Everything you've ever known—your family, your home, your freedom—stolen in an instant. Among those captured was a boy named Squanto.

Now, as we hear this story, we might be tempted to ask the same question that people throughout history have asked when faced with suffering: "Where is God in this? How could a good God allow such evil?" But as we'll see, God had an amazing plan for this young man—a plan that would unfold over more than a decade of exile and suffering.

Squanto was bought by a Spanish monk—a well-meaning man who treated him well and taught him the Christian faith. Think about that! In the midst of the injustice and horror of slavery, God placed Squanto in the hands of someone who would introduce him to Jesus Christ. In his darkest hour, Squanto encountered the Light of the World.

This reminds me of what we see with persecuted Christians around the world today. Quite often believers are kidnapped, imprisoned, and sold into slavery for their faith. Yet even in those dark places, God meets them. Even in prison cells and labor camps, His presence sustains them. And often, their testimony in the midst of suffering becomes the very thing that brings others to Christ.

Squanto learned about Jesus not in freedom, but in captivity. He discovered hope not in comfort, but in the depths of despair. And that faith would sustain him through the long years ahead.

Eventually, Squanto made his way to England, where he worked in the stables of a man named John Slaney. Slaney sympathized with Squanto's desire to return home, and he promised to put him on the first vessel bound for America. But finding passage wasn't easy. It wasn't until 1619—ten years after Squanto was first kidnapped—that a ship was found.

Ten years! Think about what Squanto endured during that decade. The grief of being torn from his family. The humiliation of slavery. The loneliness of being the only one of his people in a foreign land. The seemingly endless wait to return home. Yet God was using those years to prepare Squanto for something he couldn't yet see.

During those years, Squanto learned English fluently. He learned about European culture, customs, and agricultural practices. He learned skills that would have seemed completely irrelevant to his old life as a Wampanoag. But God was equipping him for a specific purpose—one that wouldn't become clear until much later.

Finally, after a decade of exile and heartbreak, Squanto was on his way home. Can you imagine his excitement? After ten years of captivity and longing, he was finally returning to his village, his tribe, his family. He would see his mother and father again. He would embrace his brothers and sisters. He would be home.

But when he arrived in Massachusetts, more heartbreak awaited him. An epidemic—likely brought by European traders—had wiped out Squanto's entire village. Everyone he had known and loved was dead. The home he had dreamed about for ten years no longer existed.

We can only imagine what must have gone through Squanto's mind. Why had God allowed him to survive slavery? Why had God preserved his life through a decade of exile? Why had God brought him home against all odds, only to find his loved ones dead and his village empty? Where was God's purpose in all this suffering?

A year later, the answer came. A shipload of English families arrived and settled on the very land once occupied by Squanto's people. These were the Pilgrims—religious refugees who had fled persecution in England, seeking freedom to worship God according to their conscience. They arrived in November 1620, completely unprepared for the harsh New England winter.

That first winter was devastating. Nearly half the Pilgrims died from cold, disease, and starvation. They had no idea how to survive in this new land. They didn't know what crops to plant, where to fish, how to hunt. They were dying, and without help, the entire colony might have perished.

Then, in the spring of 1621, a Native American walked into their settlement. And he greeted them in English. The startled Pilgrims could hardly believe it. Here, in the wilderness of the New World, was a Native American who spoke their language!

According to the diary of Pilgrim Governor William Bradford, Squanto "became a special instrument sent of God for [our] good." Bradford wrote that Squanto "showed [us] how to plant [our] corn, where to take fish and to procure other commodities . . . and was also [our] pilot to bring [us] to unknown places for [our] profit, and never left [us] till he died."

Squanto taught them to plant corn using fish as fertilizer. He showed them where to hunt and fish. He served as interpreter and diplomat with other tribes. He guided them to profitable trading locations. Without Squanto, the Pilgrim colony would have failed. Every American who traces their ancestry to those Pilgrims owes their existence to this one Native American man.

But here's what moves me most: Squanto didn't help the Pilgrims out of obligation or for personal gain. He helped them because he had encountered Jesus Christ during his years of suffering, and his faith compelled him to serve these strangers with love. The Gospel he learned in captivity bore fruit in freedom.

When Squanto lay dying of fever in 1622, Bradford wrote that their friend "desir[ed] the Governor to pray for him, that he might go to the Englishmen's God in heaven." Even in death, Squanto's faith in Christ was evident. He bequeathed his possessions to the Pilgrims "as remembrances of his love."

Think about what Squanto gave up. He could have been bitter toward all Europeans after being kidnapped and enslaved. He could have refused to help the Pilgrims, letting them die as his own people had died. He could have seen them as enemies. Instead, he saw them as people God had brought to him so he could serve them—so he could be God's instrument for their good.

This story is remarkably similar to the biblical story of Joseph. Joseph was sold into slavery by his own brothers. He was falsely accused and imprisoned. He spent years in an Egyptian dungeon, seemingly forgotten. But God was preparing him to save not just his family, but entire nations from starvation.

When Joseph finally revealed himself to his brothers, he told them, "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives" (Genesis 50:20). Squanto could have said the same thing. English traders intended to harm him, but God intended it for good—to save the lives of the Pilgrims and establish a colony that would become a haven for religious freedom.

Now, how does this connect to the persecuted church today? In profound ways! Right now, millions of Christians around the world are suffering for their faith. They're being kidnapped, imprisoned, enslaved, tortured, and killed. Like Squanto, they're experiencing unimaginable horrors. Like Squanto, they might be asking, "Where is God in this suffering?"

But here's what we've learned from studying persecution: God is sovereignly using the suffering of His people for purposes we can't always see in the moment. The blood of the martyrs has always been the seed of the Church. Persecution doesn't stop the Gospel—it spreads it!

Today, there are modern-day Squantos all over the world. North Korean refugees who escaped brutal persecution and now minister to other refugees, sharing the Gospel they learned in suffering. Chinese believers who were imprisoned for their faith and now lead underground church networks. Iranian converts who faced rejection and danger for leaving Islam and now boldly evangelize other Muslims.

God is taking people who've experienced the darkest persecution and using them as "special instruments sent of God" to reach others. Their suffering isn't wasted. Their pain has purpose. And often, they're able to reach people that comfortable Western Christians never could.

And here's what's remarkable: Many persecuted Christians express profound thankfulness even in the midst of suffering. They thank God for the privilege of suffering for Christ. They thank Him for the opportunity to witness through their persecution. They thank Him that they were counted worthy to suffer for His name.

In our episode about Afghanistan, we talked about believers there who risk everything to follow Jesus. Despite persecution, despite danger, despite loss—they're thankful for knowing Christ. They echo Paul's words in Philippians 3:8: "I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord."

This Thanksgiving, while we're sitting around comfortable tables with abundant food, there are believers around the world sitting in prison cells, thanking God for His presence with them. There are families who've lost everything for Christ, yet thanking God for the treasure they have in Jesus. Their thankfulness in suffering should challenge our complaining in comfort.

So what should we be thankful for this Thanksgiving? Yes, we can be grateful for food, family, freedom, and all the material blessings we enjoy. But the story of Squanto reminds us to be thankful for deeper things.

Be thankful that God is sovereign over even the worst suffering and can use it for His purposes. Be thankful that no persecution, no kidnapping, no loss can separate us from God's love and His plan. Be thankful for the privilege of knowing Christ—a privilege Squanto discovered in slavery and that millions of persecuted believers cling to today.

Be thankful for the persecuted church, whose suffering is advancing the Gospel in the hardest places. Be thankful that God is using their witness to bring people to Christ who might never hear otherwise. And be thankful that we live in a country where we can worship freely—a freedom that began with those Pilgrims who were saved by Squanto who had encountered Jesus in his darkest hour.

Let me give you five practical ways to respond to Squanto's story and connect it to the persecuted church this Thanksgiving. First, at your Thanksgiving meal, share Squanto's story with your family. Help your children understand that the first Thanksgiving was made possible by a Native American who came to faith through suffering and slavery. Teach them that God uses even the worst evil for His good purposes.

Second, pray for persecuted Christians by name this Thanksgiving. Go to persecution.com or opendoorsusa.org and get specific names of imprisoned believers. Pray for them at your Thanksgiving table. Remember them as Hebrews 13:3 commands: "as if you yourselves were suffering." Third, give financially to support the persecuted church. Instead of buying more things you don't need this holiday season, give to Voice of the Martyrs, Open Doors or a ministry I know personally, Remember Those, or other organizations serving persecuted believers.

Fourth, teach your children to be thankful for their freedom to worship—and to use that freedom to pray for those who don't have it. Help them understand that freedom isn't guaranteed and should never be taken for granted. And fifth, ask God to show you if He wants to use your past suffering—whatever it may be—as preparation for future purpose. Maybe, like Squanto and Joseph, you've experienced things that seemed meaningless or cruel. Ask God to reveal how He might use those experiences to help others.

Here's the bigger picture: God is always working—even when we can't see it, even when it doesn't make sense, even when we're in the darkest valley. Squanto couldn't see God's purpose during his decade of slavery. Joseph couldn't see it during his years in prison. Persecuted believers today might not see it as they suffer for Christ.

But God sees. God knows. And God is sovereignly orchestrating every event—even the evil ones—toward His ultimate purpose: the salvation of people from every tribe, tongue, and nation. Romans 8:28 promises that "in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."

That doesn't mean all things are good—slavery isn't good, persecution isn't good, kidnapping isn't good. But it means God can take even the worst evil and weave it into His redemptive purposes. That's exactly what He did with Squanto. That's what He did with Joseph. That's what He's doing with persecuted Christians today. And that's what He can do with your suffering too.

Let me pray: Lord, thank You for Squanto's story and what it teaches us about Your sovereignty. Thank You that no suffering is wasted in Your economy. Thank You for using even kidnapping and slavery to prepare Squanto to save the Pilgrims and spread the Gospel. We pray for persecuted Christians today who are experiencing similar suffering. Use their trials for Your purposes. Give them faith to trust You when they can't see Your plan. Use their witness to bring many to salvation. And help us to be truly thankful—not just for comfort and abundance, but for knowing You, for the privilege of prayer, and for the honor of being part of Your global Church. May we never take our freedom for granted, and may we always remember those who don't have it. In Jesus's name, amen.

Thank you for joining me today. Until next time, remember—keep your eyes on the nations and give thanks for God's sovereignty, even in suffering!

Hear this in podcast form at Spotify podcast

Squanto - A Special Instrument of the Lord

 As we celebrate Thanksgiving day I'd like to share the true story of Squanto...the Native American who helped the Pilgrims survive that first year. 

Historical accounts of Squanto's life vary, but historians believe that around 1608, more than a decade before the Pilgrims arrived, a group of English traders sailed to what is today Plymouth, Massachusetts. When the trusting Wampanoag Indians came out to trade, the traders took them prisoner, transported them to Spain, and sold them into slavery. It was an unimaginable horror.

But God had an amazing plan for one of the captured Indians, a boy named Squanto.

Squanto was bought by a well-meaning Spanish monk, who treated him well and taught him the Christian faith. Squanto eventually made his way to England and worked in the stables of a man named John Slaney. Slaney sympathized with Squanto's desire to return home, and he promised to put the Indian on the first vessel bound for America.

It wasn't until 1619, ten years after Squanto was first kidnapped, that a ship was found. Finally, after a decade of exile and heartbreak, Squanto was on his way home.

But when he arrived in Massachusetts, more heartbreak awaited him. An epidemic had wiped out Squanto's entire village.

We can only imagine what must have gone through Squanto's mind. Why had God allowed him to return home, against all odds, only to find his loved ones dead?

A year later, the answer came. A shipload of English families arrived and settled on the very land once occupied by Squanto's people. Squanto went to meet them, greeting the startled Pilgrims in English.

According to the diary of Pilgrim Governor William Bradford, Squanto "became a special instrument sent of God for [our] good . . . He showed [us] how to plant [our] corn, where to take fish and to procure other commodities . . . and was also [our] pilot to bring [us] to unknown places for [our] profit, and never left [us] till he died."

When Squanto lay dying of fever, Bradford wrote that their Indian friend "desir[ed] the Governor to pray for him, that he might go to the Englishmen's God in heaven." Squanto bequeathed his possessions to the Pilgrims "as remembrances of his love."

Who but God could so miraculously convert a lonely Indian and then use him to save a struggling band of Englishmen? It is reminiscent of the biblical story of Joseph, who was also sold into slavery, and whom God likewise used as a special instrument for good. 

Squanto - A Special Instrument of God

  

As we celebrate Thanksgiving day I'd like to share the true story of Squanto...the Native American who helped the Pilgrims survive that first year. 

Historical accounts of Squanto's life vary, but historians believe that around 1608, more than a decade before the Pilgrims arrived, a group of English traders sailed to what is today Plymouth, Massachusetts. When the trusting Wampanoag Indians came out to trade, the traders took them prisoner, transported them to Spain, and sold them into slavery. It was an unimaginable horror.

But God had an amazing plan for one of the captured Indians, a boy named Squanto.

Squanto was bought by a well-meaning Spanish monk, who treated him well and taught him the Christian faith. Squanto eventually made his way to England and worked in the stables of a man named John Slaney. Slaney sympathized with Squanto's desire to return home, and he promised to put the Indian on the first vessel bound for America.

It wasn't until 1619, ten years after Squanto was first kidnapped, that a ship was found. Finally, after a decade of exile and heartbreak, Squanto was on his way home.

But when he arrived in Massachusetts, more heartbreak awaited him. An epidemic had wiped out Squanto's entire village.

We can only imagine what must have gone through Squanto's mind. Why had God allowed him to return home, against all odds, only to find his loved ones dead?

A year later, the answer came. A shipload of English families arrived and settled on the very land once occupied by Squanto's people. Squanto went to meet them, greeting the startled Pilgrims in English.

According to the diary of Pilgrim Governor William Bradford, Squanto "became a special instrument sent of God for [our] good . . . He showed [us] how to plant [our] corn, where to take fish and to procure other commodities . . . and was also [our] pilot to bring [us] to unknown places for [our] profit, and never left [us] till he died."

When Squanto lay dying of fever, Bradford wrote that their Indian friend "desir[ed] the Governor to pray for him, that he might go to the Englishmen's God in heaven." Squanto bequeathed his possessions to the Pilgrims "as remembrances of his love."

Who but God could so miraculously convert a lonely Indian and then use him to save a struggling band of Englishmen? It is reminiscent of the biblical story of Joseph, who was also sold into slavery, and whom God likewise used as a special instrument for good. 

Easter Devotion (Day 21) - Give Thanks!

Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!” 

When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed.
One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan.
Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”
Luke 17:11-19

What do you have to be grateful for? So often, we live our lives taking simple but profound blessings for granted. We can become blind to the ordinary miracles in our lives. 

Luke 17:15 says that when the leper in this story saw that he had been healed, he returned to Jesus to praise God. There are three important elements to this one verse. First, the leper recognized the miracle of his healing and transformed life. Second, he recognized that this miracle was because of God's undeserved and extravagant grace, and he was grateful. Third, he recognized that God had acted through Jesus and understood Him to be God's ambassador. These realizations were what ultimately saved this man from something much more profound than leprosy. His faith was how Jesus Christ saved him from sin and death. 

Even as we struggle through life, we experience ordinary miracles. In order to live as disciples, we must open our eyes to the ways that God blesses us. Understanding those blessings causes us to be grateful for God's constant grace. When we truly are aware of the ways that we are touched daily by the grace of God, our faith compels us to praise God and thank His Son, Jesus Christ.

A book that does a wonderful job of showing the importance of thanksgiving in a believers' life is One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp. In it she recommends keeping a thanksgiving journal in which you write down daily at least ten things you are thankful for. You can then use those items to remind you to thank God daily for all He has done and is doing in your life.  

Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. 
1 Thessalonians 5:18


Prayer: Lord, open my eyes to Your blessings and open my mouth in praise! May I never let a day go by without offering up thanks to You for all You have done for me. I am so undeserving. Thank you Lord for loving me! In Your Son's precious name, Amen

* This devotion taken from The Sanctuary for Lent 2016 by Sue Mink

Squanto - A Special Instrument of God

As we celebrate Thanksgiving day I'd like to share the true story of Squanto...the Native American who helped the Pilgrims survive that first year. 

Historical accounts of Squanto's life vary, but historians believe that around 1608, more than a decade before the Pilgrims arrived, a group of English traders sailed to what is today Plymouth, Massachusetts. When the trusting Wampanoag Indians came out to trade, the traders took them prisoner, transported them to Spain, and sold them into slavery. It was an unimaginable horror.

But God had an amazing plan for one of the captured Indians, a boy named Squanto.

Squanto was bought by a well-meaning Spanish monk, who treated him well and taught him the Christian faith. Squanto eventually made his way to England and worked in the stables of a man named John Slaney. Slaney sympathized with Squanto's desire to return home, and he promised to put the Indian on the first vessel bound for America.

It wasn't until 1619, ten years after Squanto was first kidnapped, that a ship was found. Finally, after a decade of exile and heartbreak, Squanto was on his way home.

But when he arrived in Massachusetts, more heartbreak awaited him. An epidemic had wiped out Squanto's entire village.

We can only imagine what must have gone through Squanto's mind. Why had God allowed him to return home, against all odds, only to find his loved ones dead?

A year later, the answer came. A shipload of English families arrived and settled on the very land once occupied by Squanto's people. Squanto went to meet them, greeting the startled Pilgrims in English.

According to the diary of Pilgrim Governor William Bradford, Squanto "became a special instrument sent of God for [our] good . . . He showed [us] how to plant [our] corn, where to take fish and to procure other commodities . . . and was also [our] pilot to bring [us] to unknown places for [our] profit, and never left [us] till he died."

When Squanto lay dying of fever, Bradford wrote that their Indian friend "desir[ed] the Governor to pray for him, that he might go to the Englishmen's God in heaven." Squanto bequeathed his possessions to the Pilgrims "as remembrances of his love."

Who but God could so miraculously convert a lonely Indian and then use him to save a struggling band of Englishmen? It is reminiscent of the biblical story of Joseph, who was also sold into slavery, and whom God likewise used as a special instrument for good.

Thanksgiving Things To Do With Your Family

Seven Things to Do With Your Family This Thanksgiving

Many of my happiest memories...come from Thanksgiving. Traditionally, Thanksgiving has been a day where our dearest loved ones gather around the table and feast, followed by a time of poetry reading, Scripture recitations, song, more feasting, and family story-telling. But more than anything, Thanksgiving has come to be a time when we focus as a family on gratitude. It is a time to humble ourselves in the face of God’s great mercy and to chronicle the providences and blessings of God in our life...So this year, I want to begin our Thanksgiving Celebration by sharing seven simple recommendations for your own day of thanksgiving.

1. Stop and Thank God from the Bottom of Your Heart and the Depths of Your Soul

O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms. For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods. In his hand are the deep places of the earth: the strength of the hills is his also. The sea is his, and he made it: and his hands formed the dry land. O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker. —Psalm 95:1-6

If you were to spend every waking moment of every day for the rest of your life noting God’s goodness, you would never begin to chronicle all the things for which you should thank the Lord. His blessings are innumerable. But on this day, take time to chronicle much. Get very specific. Thank the Lord for all things: Thank him for your provision, and the protection He has given to you all year. Thank Him for the pains and sorrows that are driving you closer to Him. Thank Him for the problems you have, and thank Him for all the horrors from which you have been spared. Thank Him for your parents, your children, and your loved ones. Thank Him for the Earth, the Moon, and the Sun. Thank Him for those friends who love you and whom you love. Thank Him for the opportunities He has given to you. Thank Him for the mentors in your life. Thank Him for the sweet seasons and the beautiful memories He has given to you. Thank Him for His Church and His Word. But, most of all, thank Him for Jesus Christ. Because of Christ, you can be forgiven of sins, reconciled to the Father, and have the promise of eternal life.

2. Share the Greatest Stories of the Pilgrim Fathers and God's Providence

Remember the days of old, consider the years of many generations: ask thy father, and he will shew thee; thy elders, and they will tell thee.—Deuteronomy 32:7

Thanksgiving Day is a time for quizzes and story-telling. A great place to begin is by dedicating time to recount the rich historical evidence of the providence of God in the life of this nation through the story of the Mayflower Pilgrims. From their humble beginnings as a cadre of faithful friends and devoted Christians meeting in Scrooby, England, to their visionary leadership and perseverance in the New World at Plymouth Plantation, these faithful Separatists left one of the greatest legacies in the history of the New Testament Church. Yet most American Christians know little to nothing of the true story of these indefatigable men and women of God. This Thanksgiving, remedy the problem by telling their story. Visit the website of Pilgrim Hall Museum, for example. Share the stories of the friendship of William Bradford and William Brewster; of the persecution of the Scrooby Congregation; of the hardship and perseverance of the families on board the Mayflower; of the first Sabbath at Pulpit Rock; of the importance of the Church covenant; and of the long first winter in America. Tell how God used a young Indian boy named Squanto to save the colonists, and share the story of the peace treaty between the Pilgrims and Chief Massasoit which lasted fifty years. Make sure to read the farewell letter of pastor John Robinson to his congregation. Have your children join in the story-telling. Make sure to emphasize the faithfulness and providence of the Lord.

3. Read the Fourth Chapter from Of Plymouth Plantation Aloud to Your Family

Last and not least, they cherished a great hope and inward zeal of laying good foundations, or at least making some ways toward it, for the propagation and advance of the gospel of the kingdom of Christ in the remote parts of the world, even though they should be but stepping stones to others in the performance of so great a work.—William Bradford

If you only read from one book outside the Bible this Thanksgiving, make it Of Plymouth Plantation by William Bradford. And if you only have time for one chapter, make sure it is the fourth. It is in this chapter that we learn about the true reasons why these home-schooling pilgrims debated over whether or not they should risk their lives to go to America, the ultimate reasons for their departure (including concern over bad peer influences with their children), and their tremendous confidence in God. Most importantly, it is here that you read of Bradford’s multi-generational vision of victory. Note: From the approximately fifty survivors of the first winter, more than 30 million descendants have come.

4. Take a Pilgrimage to the Homes of the Pilgrims — From Your Living Room

Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set.—Proverbs 22:28

We are losing our landmarks to liberty in our nation. As I documented in my article, “Plymouth Crock”, we are even desecrating the landmarks to our Pilgrim fathers. This is one reason why I believe it is so important that we physically bring our children to the great Ebenezers of our freedom while they yet remain. Finally, after more than a decade leading families to Plymouth, home of the Pilgrim fathers, I was able to take 100 Americans this year on a journey to Scrooby, England, and the little manor house where the Pilgrim congregation was birthed. What a journey! Please let me share it with you by watching the video which I have posted on my blog. Then learn about the little eight-hundred-year-old manor house that changed the world in my article, “A Pilgrimage to Scrooby”.

5. Read George Washington's Thanksgiving Proclamation at the Dinner Table

Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor; and Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me to “recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness. Now, therefore, I do recommend and assign Thursday, the 26th day of November next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be.—George Washington

The practice of setting aside days of prayer, days of fasting and humiliation before the Lord, and days of thanksgiving for the mercies of Jesus Christ was practiced by our Pilgrim and Puritan fathers, promoted by our legislatures and Congress, and honored by our presidents. On this national day of Thanksgiving, let’s remember that we do not honor a “turkey day,” but the God of Heaven who George Washington described in his Thanksgiving Proclamation of 1789, as “the great Lord and Ruler of Nations.” I recommend that you print off the proclamation and read it before your dinner meal.

6. Tell the Story of the Providence of God in the Life of Your Family

I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old: Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done. —Psalm 78:2-4

The Lord has not only blessed this nation with a rich providential history, but you too have a story that needs to be told. Your children need to hear it and understand the mercies of God in the life of your family. So, this Thanksgiving, chronicle all that God has done in the history of your family. How many generations has your family been in America? How did they get here? When, if ever, did your fathers embrace the Gospel?

7. Purpose to Fight Hard and Hold Fast

History is not made by majorities, but by dedicated minorities of like-minded friends who have joined together in common cause. This was the Pilgrim legacy, and it must be ours as well. To change the world, courageous men and women must “fight hard and hold fast” to the things they know to be true. Most people will not fight hard and hold fast (which is why most people are spectators instead of world-changers). If you are grateful, purpose to be engaged. Purpose to be part of an important work for the Lord. Purpose to stand with those who are fighting hard and holding fast. Purpose to be a twenty-first-century pilgrim for Jesus Christ.

Happy Thanksgiving!

This comes from an article by Doug Phillips at Vision Forum

Psalm 95 - Why Give Thanks?

Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord;
    let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.
Let us come before Him with thanksgiving
    and extol Him with music and song.
For the Lord is the great God,
    the great King above all gods.
In His hand are the depths of the earth,
    and the mountain peaks belong to Him.
The sea is His, for He made it,
    and His hands formed the dry land.
Psalm 95:1-5

The psalmist is giving the basic reasons everyone should give thanksgiving and praise to God. They apply not only to believers but also to all people. Each person has a responsibility to praise God, for all are creatures of His hands. In Romans 1, the apostle Paul points out that one of the charges God brings against people is that "although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him" (Romans 1:21). They did not recognize their relationship to Him.

It is a constant source of amazement to me that people can be so blind to the fact that they are not, as they often imagine themselves to be, independent creatures making their own way through life. We take for granted all the forces that keep us alive and boastfully talk about being self-made people. We strut through life as if there were no one else we need to recognize as the source of our strength and power.

Dr. H. A. Ironside used to tell of an experience he once had at a restaurant. He ordered his meal, and just as he was about to eat, a man walked up to his table and said, "Do you mind if I sit down with you?" Dr. Ironside said that it was quite all right, so the man sat down. As was his custom, Dr. Ironside bowed his head and said a silent word of thanksgiving to the Lord before he ate. When he lifted up his head, the man said to him, "Do you have a headache?"

Ironside said, "No, I don't."

The man said, "Well, is there anything wrong with your food?"

Ironside said, "No, why?"

"Well," the man said, "I saw you sitting there with your head down, and I thought you must be sick, or there was something wrong with your food."

Ironside replied, "No, I was simply returning thanks to God as I always do before I eat."

The man said, "Oh, you're one of those, are you? Well, I never give thanks. I earn my money by the sweat of my brow, and I don't have to give thanks to anybody when I eat. I just start right in!"

Dr. Ironside said, "Yes, you're just like my dog. That's what he does, too!"

That little story suggests that when people will not give thanks to God, they are acting like irrational animals. Such is the basis of this appeal by the psalmist: no matter how we may feel or what our attitude toward God may be, we are bound, as creatures dependent upon His love and grace, at least to give thanks to Him as our Creator.

Psalm 96:8 says, "Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name." God is always worthy of our thanksgiving, not just when we feel like giving it. We should do it for His name's sake. Doubtless it would make a great difference in our worship if we would remember that praise is not something that merely reflects our transient feelings but is something we ought to do simply because God made us, and we cannot live a moment without Him.

Prayer: Lord, I give thanks to You because You are so worthy of glory. Forgive me for taking You and all that You do for granted. I love you Jesus! It's in Your name I pray, Amen.

Life Application: Does our thankfulness move beyond TGIF - Thank God It's Friday? Does God's character and goodness stir us to deep gratitude for His mercy and love toward us?

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