Greetings all and happy Sabbath!  I pray this note finds you all doing well and adjusting to the cooler fall weather.  The last 24 hours have certainly brought a change!  

Please note that there will be no Friday evening letter next week.  Because of that, please work on finishing our current booklet for our Booklet Discussion series, "The United States and Britain in Bible Prophecy."  The last two chapters are entitled, "Britain and the United States Inherit Joseph's Birthright" and "From Punishment to Destiny."

A predicament

I was discussing with a friend this week the story of Daniel in the lion's den.  You know it well, I'm sure.  Some people in Daniel's time didn't like him, so they created a law they knew he'd break - that you could only worship the king of the Medes and Persians for 30 days.

Sure enough, Daniel violated this man-made law and found himself in the lion's den, even though the king -his friend- didn't want him there.  I have to wonder if I would have had the faith to carry through as Daniel did, making it very clear to all he was disobeying this law, by praying to the one true God, in a manner everyone could see.

An interesting prayer

I'd like to know what exactly Daniel prayed about on the fateful day when he was taken away for his disobedience to this new law.  We're not told exactly, only "Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days" (Daniel 6:10 NKJV).

Here we read the details of how he didn't try to hide his prayer, but did you notice what it is he actually prayed about?  He gave thanks to God!  At a moment in time that he knew full well he would be killed for what he was doing, he was giving thanks to our great God!

Something to be thankful for

In this mini series of things to be thankful for, let's not forget the actual freedom to give thanks.  We take it for granted and even have a national holiday that supports the act of giving thanks.  Daniel was willing to risk his life for that freedom.  Would we do the same?

I hope as you gather together with friends and family this week for Thanksgiving, you enjoy your time, share many laughs (and great food!), and remember to truly give thanks for all God has blessed you with personally, as well as the many blessings He has bestowed on us in the United States and Great Britain.