Giving Thanks! Anthems From Miriam and Deborah

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Hey friends, welcome to the Thanksgiving episode of Her God's Story, where you will always

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hear a good story to encourage and inspire you in your walk with the Lord.

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I'm your host, Jodie Chiricosta, ministry leader at Somebody Cares America International, author

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and traveler on this journey of faith.

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I am so grateful that our forefathers set aside a day to offer gratitude to the Lord

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for all He's done in our lives, in our nation, in our world.

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At times, situations look bleak, and without God, we would certainly despair.

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But God, who is rich in mercy, abounding in love and kindness, and mighty to save, does

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bring His people through those times into better ones.

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And in doing that, He draws those who don't know Him yet into His family as well.

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You know, the first Thanksgiving proclamation was made by our very first president, George

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Washington, in 1789.

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I found it on the MountVernon.org website.

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It's so powerful, I want to read it to you.

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Hopefully I won't get tongue-tied because it is in Older English.

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This is it.

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By the President of the United States of America, a proclamation.

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Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His

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will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection in favor,

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and whereby both Houses of Congress have by their Joint Committee requested me to proclaim

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to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed

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by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God, especially

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by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their

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safety and happiness.

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Now therefore, I do recommend and assign Thursday, the 26th day of November, next, to be devoted

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by the people of these states to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the

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beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be, that we may then

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all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection

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of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation, for the signal and

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manifold mercies and the favorable interpositions of His providence which we experienced in

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the course and conclusion of the late war, for the great degree of tranquility, union,

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and plenty which we have since enjoyed, for the peaceable and rational manner in which

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we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness,

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and particularly the national one now lately instituted, for the civil and religious liberty

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with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge,

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and in general for all the great and various favors which He hath been pleased to confer

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upon us, and also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications

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to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations, and beseech Him to pardon our national and other

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transgressions, to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform

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our several and relative duties properly and punctually, to render our national government

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a blessing to all the people by constantly being a government of wise, just, and constitutional

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laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed, to protect and guide all sovereigns

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and nations, especially such as has shown goodness unto us, kindness unto us, and to

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bless them with good government, peace, and concord, to promote the knowledge and practice

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of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us, and generally

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to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as He alone knows to be

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best.

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Wow.

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I've had to read it to myself several times to grasp all that's contained in that powerful

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statement.

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It is a thanksgiving to God for His intervention in bringing about the independence of these

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United States.

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We would all do well during this thanksgiving season to ponder His words and join our hearts

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with them in both prayer and thanksgiving.

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As I read that amazing proclamation, it reminds me of several stories in the Bible where God

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brought about other unlikely victories for His people, and they also made declarations,

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actually anthems, of thanksgiving and praise to Him.

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But I'm just going to share from two of them here today.

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When the Israelites were led out of Egypt, Miriam was well over 80 years old.

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She had spent her entire life in slavery.

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She had witnessed the extreme cruelty of the Egyptians when she was a girl as they decreed

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the killing of all male babies born to the Israelites.

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When her younger brother Moses was born, she helped hide him and watch over him while he

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was placed in a basket on the Nile.

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And she was courageous enough to approach an Egyptian princess who found Moses, offering

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to find a nursemaid for him.

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Her actions allowed Moses to be cared for by his mother, probably for several more years.

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But then she fades from view for almost 80 years.

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We find out later that Miriam was a prophetess to her people.

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Maybe she encouraged them in the final years of their slavery to hold on to God's promise

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of a deliverer.

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We don't know the details, but we do know that she saw the miraculous signs and wonders

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God used to defeat the mighty Egyptians and set her people free from four centuries of

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slavery.

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Freedom.

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Independence.

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It must have been both exhilarating and a little scary walking out of Egypt as a free

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woman.

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She'd never lived anywhere else.

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She was walking into the unknown, much like her forefathers, much like our forefathers

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when they founded a new nation.

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But like them, Miriam was surrounded by her loved ones and others who had prayed for this

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day all their lives.

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When they camped at the Red Sea, I imagine they were breathing a huge sigh of relief,

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resting maybe for the first time in their lives.

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I'm wondering what was next.

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Then the feared Egyptian army is seen charging at them from a distance.

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Fear gripped the whole camp as they imagined being dragged back into slavery or slaughtered

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where they stood.

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They thought God had won a victory for them.

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They thought he was the one who sent the plagues that decimated the land, but could they have

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been wrong?

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Doubt seized them as their oppressors closed in with drawn swords.

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Imagine being Miriam for a moment.

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Did her faith waver too?

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Then God supernaturally placed a wall of fire behind them, separating the Israelites from

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the coming attackers.

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God told Moses to get the people moving.

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He stretched his staff over the water and the Red Sea in front of them parted.

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Moses probably relied on Miriam and her brother Aaron to pass the word, pack up, we're going

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across.

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Think about what that was like.

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Walking through walls of water on either side, it must have been surreal.

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Miriam got to the other side and looked back to see the Egyptian army racing through the

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sea after them and then watched as the water crashed on top of them, wiping out Pharaoh's

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entire army.

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Any doubt that it was the Lord who rescued them vanished.

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Exodus 1431 in the New Living Translation reads, and when the Israelites saw the mighty

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hand of the Lord displayed against the Egyptians, the people feared the Lord and put their trust

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in him and in Moses, his servant.

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And then celebration broke out.

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Moses, we think, wrote an anthem and the Israelites all sang it together like the proclamation

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that George Washington wrote.

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This song talked about the mighty works of God and how he had delivered them from the

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hand of their oppressors.

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And in Exodus 15, 20 and 21, it says Miriam, now remember Miriam is over 80 years old,

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took a timbrel and started leading the women in dancing while she sang to them, sing to

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the Lord for he is highly exalted, both horse and rider he has thrown into the sea.

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What a joyful time of celebration and Thanksgiving, singing and dancing and laughing.

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Their deliverance from Egypt was final.

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Never again would they need to fear Pharaoh.

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After 80 plus years, Miriam knew the Lord her God had set them free from bondage and

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she could not contain her joy.

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If you have declared Jesus to be your Lord and believe that God raised him from the dead,

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then God has certainly set you free from bondage as well, bondage to sin and death.

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As you consider what you're grateful for this season, be sure to include that.

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Deborah was another woman in the Bible that memorialized her Thanksgiving to God in an

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anthem.

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By her time, the Israelites had settled in the promised land.

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Many of the people did evil in the eyes of the Lord doing what was right in their own

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eyes.

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So the Lord allowed the Canaanite King Jabin and his army to terrorize them.

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You know, it reminds me a bit of our day, people doing what's right in their own eyes

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and forsaking the Lord who gave us our freedom.

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The Israelites endured severe oppression for probably about 20 years.

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And then they finally cried out to the Lord for help.

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Deborah was a prophetess in Israel and people from all over the land would come to her with

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questions and conflict for her judgment.

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The Lord spoke to Deborah and told her that Israel should go to war against the Canaanite

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army.

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The commander of the Israelite army was so scared when Deborah told him that he would

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not go to war unless Deborah went along.

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So she did.

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And God won the Israelites a mighty victory over their oppressors, giving the enemy commander

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into the hands of another woman, J.L.

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Of course, there's a whole lot more to this story.

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So if you're not familiar with it, I encourage you to read Judges chapters four and five.

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But when the victory was complete and Jabin, king of Canaan, was destroyed, Deborah penned

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a song or declaration of thanksgiving to God for what he'd done.

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And God was so blessed by it that he put it in the Bible for everyone to see through all

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future generations.

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It tells the story of how God defeated their enemy.

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The Lord had spoken to Deborah and promised deliverance.

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And then he led the army into victory.

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It was very clear that the Lord won the battle and it was not their own strength.

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The whole song Deborah wrote is 30 verses long, which I will not read in full.

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But Judges five, two through five and verse 31 give you the flavor of what she said.

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The New Living Translation reads, Israel's leaders took charge and the people gladly

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followed.

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Praise the Lord.

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Listen, you kings, pay attention, you mighty rulers, for I will sing to the Lord.

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I will make music to the Lord, the God of Israel.

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Lord, when you set out from Sare and marched across the fields of Edom, the earth trembled.

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The mighty clouds poured down rain, the mountains quaked in the presence of the Lord, the God

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of Mount Sinai, in the presence of the Lord, the God of Israel.

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See how she gave honor and praise to God.

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Verse 31 ends the song with, Lord, may all your enemies die like Cicera and may those

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who love you rise like the sun in all its power.

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Has the Lord seen you through some battles in your life?

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Or maybe even this year?

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Maybe a health scare, a relationship issue, challenges at work, financial problems.

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Maybe you're still in the battle.

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Whatever the situation, thank the Lord for his intervention.

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Praise him for his victory.

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Spiritual power is released when we declare the victory of the Lord in each situation

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and thank him for seeing us through.

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It seals the victory in our hearts and mind and in the spiritual realm as well.

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Years ago, I wrote an anthem of sorts myself.

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It was not about huge deliverance like Miriam's or Deborah's are, but because my real deliverance

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happened when I was six years old, that is when Jesus saved me from my sin and I committed

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my life to following him.

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So my anthem is about God's goodness in my life.

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I'll read it to you in a minute, but first I want to encourage you to write one of your own.

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Maybe it will be short like Miriam's declaration in Exodus 15-21, or maybe it will be longer

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with more detail like Deborah's in Judges 5, or maybe it will be something like mine.

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Whatever the case, the Lord will be blessed by your declaration of praise to him.

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And I may just do another one myself.

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Here's the one I composed.

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It's called So That Thanksgiving.

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New shelter, plenty to eat, a choice of clothes, shoes on my feet, a loving family, a comfortable

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bed, friends to laugh with, pillows for my head.

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They're simple things that I'm thankful for, and each year I appreciate them more.

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I cite to see books I can read, doctors close by, a staff to lead, the ability to smile,

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the freedom to choose who to vote for, win or lose, strength for any task, money to give,

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a savior who died so that I can live.

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The blessings go on too numerous to mention.

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God is so good, he deserves my attention.

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When I think of all he's done and how he first loved me, I want to bless him back with

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a life lived generously.

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If you do write your own, I'd love to read it and maybe even share it on a future podcast.

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So if you're brave enough, email it to me at hergodstory at somebodycares.org.

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As we close, I want to leave you with a few final thoughts about Thanksgiving from Psalm

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100.

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It's a short but powerful passage to read, ponder, and yes, even sing.

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We used to sing the King James Version in worship services when I was younger, but I'll

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read it to you in the New American Standard.

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I believe it is a prescription for spiritual health in the midst of whatever challenges

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you face.

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Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth.

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Serve the Lord with gladness.

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Come before him with joyful singing.

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Know that the Lord himself is God, it is he who has made us and not we ourselves.

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We are his people and the sheep of his pasture.

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Enter into his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise.

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Give thanks to him.

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Bless his name, for the Lord is good.

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His loving kindness is everlasting and his faithfulness to all generations.

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This Psalm tells us to be bold when we go before the Lord joyfully, knowing that he

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loves you and delights in answering your prayers.

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I have to confess, I do not always approach him joyfully.

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Sometimes I'm timid or even gloomy about a situation, but I'm committed to doing better

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because he is worthy of praise.

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It also commends us to serve the Lord gladly.

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How often do we, me included, do something for the Lord half-heartedly, even begrudgingly,

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especially when it does not meet our expectations?

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I'm convicted again, but I am reminded of what an amazing honor we have in serving the

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King of Kings as his children.

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Thinking of it that way always gladdens my heart.

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We're also reminded that our Lord is indeed God, the only God, our Creator.

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We are not God, he is.

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Isn't that a relief?

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I am so thankful that he is willing to carry my burdens, that he provides for me, that

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I don't have to worry because he is God and he loves me.

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And then we're encouraged that we are his people.

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He is our shepherd.

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We can rely on him, as it says in Psalm 23, to lead us, provide for us, protect us, and

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bless us.

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The psalmist tells us the sure way to enter his presence is with thanksgiving and praise,

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thanking God for all he's done for us and praising him for who he is, knowing he's

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able to do exceedingly, abundantly above all we could ask or imagine, as it says in Ephesians

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320.

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We are reminded again to give thanks to God, which blesses him.

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When we acknowledge all good things come from him, it thrills him.

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And the psalmist reminds us that God is good, his loving kindness is eternal, and he is

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always, always, always, always, always, always faithful.

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That is truly something to be thankful for.

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Let me pray for you.

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Oh Father, I come before you boldly and joyfully today.

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How majestic and awesome you are.

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You are the creator of all things.

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You hold all things together.

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We thank you for holding us together.

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Our every cell is held together by your command.

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We thank you that we are fearfully and wonderfully made.

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Father, I could go on and on and on about your wondrous deeds, your power, your love,

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your faithfulness.

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No words can fully capture the essence of who you are.

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You are altogether glorious.

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And now Father, I lift up each of my dear listening friends.

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Thank you for drawing each one to yourself.

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Thank you for the work you're doing in their lives so that their faith is growing more

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and more.

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You love them and want only good for them.

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So I ask today that you would intervene in their lives as only you can.

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I speak healing over them.

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I speak joy.

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I speak breakthrough for every challenge they are facing.

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And most of all, I thank you, dear Lord, for hearing me and moving even now on their behalf.

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I thank you for the breakthroughs.

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I thank you for the miracles these dear ones will see this year in their lives and situations.

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Your hand, oh Lord, is not too short.

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You can reach every one of them no matter where they are in the world.

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And so I praise you for your goodness and faithfulness.

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I declare that everything you do is good.

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And say, Heavenly Father, that we delight in you.

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We glorify your name.

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That the words of our mouths, let the meditations of our heart be acceptable to you and bless

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you as we move forward today, this week and beyond.

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And it is in Jesus' mighty name I pray.

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Amen.

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You know, dear friends, there are widows as well as orphans all over the world who need

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to experience the tangible love of God right now.

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Many have special needs that we as a company of women can meet together.

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And as we do their Thanksgiving, we'll join us as praise to God too.

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Will you consider joining us with a special gift to help?

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Just go to hergodstory.org and click on the widow and orphan tab at the top of the page.

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Thank you for tuning in.

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In our show notes at hergodstory.org, you will find scriptures and other information

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we talked about.

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You can also get a six-week devotional book on women of the Bible to download for free.

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Or you might want to purchase a 12-week devotional for just $12, knowing that all the proceeds

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will go to our Widow and Orphan Fund.

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Dear ones, we'd love to pray for you on our 24-7 prayer and text line.

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So give us a call anytime at 855-459-CARE or email us at prayer at somebodycares.org.

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And now, dear friends, I bless you from Psalm 68 verse 3 and Psalm 90 verse 14.

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May you be satisfied in the morning with God's unfeeling love so you can sing for joy and

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be glad all your days.

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May you be glad and rejoice before God.

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May you be happy and joyful.

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Happy Thanksgiving.

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Her God Story is a ministry of Somebody Cares America and international.

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To find out more about or support the ministry, go to somebodycares.org.