Tonight was our turn to host FHE. It was my turn to make dinner and Randy's to do the lesson. So for dinner we had Gyro's, which is something I make about once a month because we like it. But this was the first time most of my family had, had them. Mom and Dad brought Frog eye salad, Amanda and Steve pita bread, Our friend Jim and Leah brought Veggie salad, Unfortunately there kids were sick so she came by her self. My Niece Leea brought dessert. I was all fantastic food. Then Randy gave the lesson. On thanksgiving and how we should be thankful. I'm going to post the whole lesson because i thought it was really good. So have fun reading it.
Jesus Heals Ten Lepers
To Remember: We all have a lot to be thankful for.
Vocabulary
leper: a person with an incurable, contagious disease that attacks the whole body
Lesson
Luke 17:11-19 On the way to Jerusalem Jesus was going through the region between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered a village, ten lepers approached him. Keeping their distance, they called out, saying, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!" When he saw them he said to them, "Go and show yourselves to the priests." And as they went, they were made clean. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. He prostrated himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him. And he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus asked, "Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they? Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?" Then he said to him, "Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you well."
Leprosy was a feared and horrible disease, and still is. To this day, it is still predominately incurable. Because it was easy to catch, lepers were not allowed in the city, and were not allowed to approach others. That is why these ten lepers kept their distance and called out to Jesus. These lepers were, in all, a good bunch. They were obeying the laws: they stayed out of the city and did not approach Jesus or his followers. They believed in Jesus' ability to heal. They obeyed Jesus without question when he told them to go to the priests, even before they were healed.*
*Leviticus 13 explains how leprosy was handled under Moses' law. The priests were the men who decided whether leprosy was contagious or not. The priests had the power to declare these men healed and clean.
So these men were respectful, obedient, and trusting. What they weren't was thankful. Only one of the men, when they learned they were healed, was grateful enough to return and praise Jesus. Do you think he was the only one that was happy? I doubt it. Do you think it was easy for him to be the only one to return to Jesus? Probably not. He wanted to be declared clean by the priests so he could return to his family, his job and his friends. But he was thankful enough to stop right then and thank Jesus and praise God for this wonderful gift.
Discussion: What excuses could the other nine have given for not returning and thanking Jesus?
But he told us to go to the priests - we're only doing what he said!
He's God, he knows I'm grateful.
I have so many things to do now that I can be a normal person again! I'll thank Him later.
Do we often make excuses for not thanking God? What excuses do men make today for not thanking God?
I'm obeying God - so he owes me these blessings.
God knows my prayers before I offer them. Why should I have to tell him?
I'm very busy right now, I'll thank him later.
I hurting so much because of ________. Why is he not helping me?
God didn't do that for me, it was: my hard work, nature, my friend, luck.
Then he reag the Thanksgiving Proclamation
Thanksgiving Proclamation State of New-Hampshire. In Committee of Safety, Exeter, November 1, 1782 : Ordered, that the following proclamation for a general thanksgiving on the twenty-eighth day of November instant, received from the honorable Continental Congress, be forthwith printed ...
STATE OF NEW-HAMPSHIRE.
IN COMMITTEE of SAFETY,
EXETER, November 1, 1782.
ORDERED,
THAT the following Proclamation for a general THANKSGIVING on the twenty-eighth day of November [instant?], received from the honorable Continental Congress, be forthwith printed, and sent to the several worshipping Assemblies in this State, to whom it is recommended religiously to observe said day, and to abstain from all servile labour thereon.
M. WEARE, President.
By the United States in Congress assembled.
PROCLAMATION.
IT being the indispensable duty of all Nations, not only to offer up their supplications to ALMIGHTY GOD, the giver of all good, for his gracious assistance in a time of distress, but also in a solemn and public manner to give him praise for his goodness in general, and especially for great and signal interpositions of his providence in their behalf: Therefore the United States in Congress assembled, taking into their consideration the many instances of divine goodness to these States, in the course of the important conflict in which they have been so long engaged; the present happy and promising state of public affairs; and the events of the war, in the course of the year now drawing to a close; particularly the harmony of the public Councils, which is so necessary to the success of the public cause; the perfect union and good understanding which has hitherto subsisted between them and their Allies, notwithstanding the artful and unwearied attempts of the common enemy to divide them; the success of the arms of the United States, and those of their Allies, and the acknowledgment of their independence by another European power, whose friendship and commerce must be of great and lasting advantage to these States:----- Do hereby recommend to the inhabitants of these States in general, to observe, and request the several States to interpose their authority in appointing and commanding the observation of THURSDAY the twenty-eight day of NOVEMBER next, as a day of solemn THANKSGIVING to GOD for all his mercies: and they do further recommend to all ranks, to testify to their gratitude to GOD for his goodness, by a cheerful obedience of his laws, and by promoting, each in his station, and by his influence, the practice of true and undefiled religion, which is the great foundation of public prosperity and national happiness.
We all really like the last line. It seams if we would try and have the country follow this Proclamation it wouldn't be possible and everyone would want to have it changed. Their are so many people now who don't want God and Country mixed, but isn't it why the Pilgrims came from England. So they could have the right to worship how they want. Now it seams that there are people who are fighting are very right to choose how and where and what we can worship. I hope that with the Faith that I have that no matter what happens I will always know that there is a God and the Jesus Christ Atoned for my sins and I will be able to worship the way I choose.
Then Randy had us all write thank you notes to our Heavenly Father and thank him for whatever we are thankful for. Clay let me read his and Tyler to. It is nice to see that they are thankful for the Savior and the sacrifice he went through for us. I know that at least they are learning something.
