In the middle of war in 1863, Abraham Lincoln penned these words giving thanks to God for the blessings on America in spite of the conflict that divided the land.
"The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God. In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union. Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defence, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle or the ship; the axe has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consiousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom. No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity and Union."
Daniel: Faithful Living in an Unfaithful Culture - The King's Personal Crisis
Daniel: Faithful Living in an Unfaithful Culture - The Melodic Line
Daniel: Faithful Living in and Unfaithful Culture - Idols and Accusations
Daniel: Faithful Living in an Unfaithful Culture - A Statute and a Stone
Daniel: Faithful Living in an Unfaithful Culture - Contrasting Characters
Daniel - Faithful Living in an Unfaithful Culture - Conflict in the Court
Daniel: Faithful Living in an Unfaithful Culture - Kings and Kingdoms
Daniel: Faithful Living in an Unfaithful Culture - The Gospel According to Daniel
You've Got Mail - To The Church at Laodicea
You've Got Mail - To The Church at Philadelphia
You've Got Mail - To The Church at Sardis
You've Got Mail - To The Church at Thyatira
You've Got Mail - To The Church at Pergamum
You've Got Mail - To The Church at Smyrna
You've Got Mail - To The Church At Ephesus
The Apostles Creed - Amen!
The Apostles Creed - Resurrection of the Body and Life Everlasting
The Apostles Creed - The Forgiveness of Sins
The Apostles Creed - The Holy Catholic Church the communion of saints
The Apostles Creed - I Believe in the Holy Spirit
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