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Every Thanksgiving we give little devotionals at church about what we are thankful for. Unfortunately I have to work this year so I won't be there. But here is what I was gonna do, so enjoy.

Great Speech!

  Exodus 15:1 -21 Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the LORD, and spake, saying, I will sing unto the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea. The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father's God, and I will exalt him. The LORD is a man of war: the LORD is his name. Pharaoh's chariots and his host hath he cast into the sea: his chosen captains also are drowned in the Red sea. The depths have covered them: they sank into the bottom as a stone. Thy right hand, O LORD, is become glorious in power: thy right hand, O LORD, hath dashed in pieces the enemy. And in the greatness of thine excellency thou hast overthrown them that rose up against thee: thou sentest forth thy wrath, which consumed them as stubble. And with the blast of thy nostrils the waters were gathered together, the floods stood upright as an heap, and the depths were congealed in the heart of the sea. The enemy said, I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil; my lust shall be satisfied upon them; I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them. Thou didst blow with thy wind, the sea covered them: they sank as lead in the mighty waters. Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders? Thou stretchedst out thy right hand, the earth swallowed them. Thou in thy mercy hast led forth the people which thou hast redeemed: thou hast guided them in thy strength unto thy holy habitation. The people shall hear, and be afraid: sorrow shall take hold on the inhabitants of Palestina. Then the dukes of Edom shall be amazed; the mighty men of Moab, trembling shall take hold upon them; all the inhabitants of Canaan shall melt away. Fear and dread shall fall upon them; by the greatness of thine arm they shall be as still as a stone; till thy people pass over, O LORD, till the people pass over, which thou hast purchased. Thou shalt bring them in, and plant them in the mountain of thine inheritance, in the place, O LORD, which thou hast made for thee to dwell in, in the Sanctuary, O LORD, which thy hands have established. The LORD shall reign for ever and ever. For the horse of Pharaoh went in with his chariots and with his horsemen into the sea, and the LORD brought again the waters of the sea upon them; but the children of Israel went on dry land in the midst of the sea. And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances. And Miriam answered them, Sing ye to the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.

The other day, I was watching TV and there were people giving speeches at a war memorial. All the speeches were good; the guys must spend hours working on them. In all honesty I doubt very seriously I will ever write anything half as eloquent as these speeches usually are. Finally they got to this Captain, I didn’t even bother looking at his name. He was some kind of logistics officer, or something equally unglamorous. I remember thinking "What could this guy possibly have to say?" and "They’ll let anyone talk at these things.". This was quite possibly the best speech I have ever heard, and I can remember it perfectly.

"I am an American.
I have never had to fight for
either my life or my freedom.
I have never suffered persecution.
I have never had to live in fear.
I have never been too hungry.
I have never been too cold.
I thank God, and the men and women
who gave their lives for those things that
I have never had to do."

I, like Israel in the passage above, am thankful for the Lord’s deliverance. I often need reminding of the pampered state in which I live. I am thankful for those who have served and died so that I can live this way. I can’t even imagine what it is like to be really persecuted. To live in fear that my faith might get me tortured or killed. And while I would like to think that I would fight for my country in a heartbeat, I can’t fathom what war is like. I am thankful for all those things that I have never had to do.

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I'm off to the in-laws so everyone, have a safe and Happy Thanksgiving!