Who Is Your Squanto? : A Thanksgiving Celebration!

I am currently in Wilmington, North Carolina with Zach Gross, helping him out with some seminars this week. And we have a busy, busy day. So I had the most beautiful, comprehensive inductive Bible study prep for this morning. And then I called Riley last night. I said, riley, I need you to take the reins because I gotta do these appointments first thing in the morning.

So get a call Tuesday nights from Christian. Like, I knew it. I knew it. Like, all right.

And I knew Riley wouldn't say no, so that kind of made me not want to ask him because I knew.

He wouldn't say no.

He's down in Florida with Javi. Their families are down there just enjoying time together, spending Thanksgiving together. So thank you, Riley, for doing this, Raj. Thank you for always making sure this. I don't fumble this tech technology.

Somehow you make it easy. It's. It's fine.

Awesome.

Troy is new to the, uh, this group. He said, uh, he got an email about this. He thinks his wife signed him up for something and he had no idea what it was, but he hopped on, uh, to prayer. So welcome again, Troy. And with that said, I gotta hit the road. I gotta flight the catch later tonight and it's gonna be a busy day, but pray for Zach and I just abundant favor, Riley.

Love you. I appreciate you.

Good to see you guys.

Love you all.

Love, man. Go get him.

God speak, man.

Thank you.

All right, well, guys, welcome, welcome. You guys got the email just like I did about what we were going to talk about today. And I was like, squanto? Who in the world is Squanto? And I actually remembered, I think Trump made a video about Squanto, like last year, thanking him. And so I was like, all right, let me dive into this. So thankfully I took a couple hours last night and got up at 5 Eastern time this morning and was really diving into this. And. And I think this is going to be a fun conversation. We're going to do just a quick little history of Thanksgiving. Some of you may be more well versed than I am even about this. But then we're going to dive into a few scriptures and just my take on really what I feel God's moved in my life in the last four or five years of just like, what it means to be thankful and to have gratitude. And then we're going to open it up and kind of share a little bit. I know in the email that Christian had sent, it was like, who is your Squanto? And so we want to hear some of those stories. So even as I'm chatting Today, obviously. I know. Was it last week that I did this? Was that two weeks ago? The last week? Goodness gracious. Hard to keep track of time, but I know lots of great discussion last week as well. So feel free to throw your hand up if you got any. You want to know, interrupt and have a. Something that just can't wait because this is just going to be more conversational than anything else. But I do have Javier with me, too. You guys didn't. Didn't see that. So he might chime in every now and then as well. So if I get a kick under the table. So. So if you got. If you did see the email, is everybody familiar with who Squanto is or was. Couple of his people. Okay, all right, cool. Because I'd heard about him. But, you know, I shamefully say this now I don't remember any of history in high school or grade school for that matter. And I don't even know if this has ever even taught to us because who knows Nowadays, when I think back of like, everything we've been taught in the indoctrination that has taken place or is taking place. So shout out to homeschool if you guys homeschool. But I spent some time diving into this. Bill Federer has, like, some great content on this, too. If you guys. He's like a computer when it comes to just the history of America and, you know, just the foundational, you know, what America was founded upon. So I dove into a little bit of that Roger through the notes in there as well. Truthfully, I don't know. I didn't even look at those because Christian prepared those. So hopefully these. These will. I'm sure they'll. There'll be some ties to it as well. But if you guys, if you know about who Squanto is or was. Squanto was an. An Indian. And he obviously with the name Squanto, that kind of makes sense. But he was born in, like, 1585. So long, long time ago. But this is obviously prior to the United States. This is prior to the first Thanksgiving. The first Thanksgiving history will tell us was in 1621. And it didn't actually become, like, mainstream until Abe Lincoln, actually. So. But the original, like, first Thanksgiving was back in 1621. And this all led up to. And you'll understand kind of the theme of what we're going to talk about here, of just like, how oftentimes we can go through a bunch of junk, a bunch of crap, if we can be blunt, where it's like we're sitting in there, sitting in our junk, wondering, where's God? How can this possibly be good? How can I take joy in any of this? How can I be thankful for any of this? And I think you're going to see out of this. And my hope is that this will be a remembrance for us just to look back at God's sovereignty, his presence, providence of, you know, what he's done and is continuing to do until he ultimately returns. But quick history on, on, on Squanto. So he was. His real name was Tisquantum, a member of the Patuxent people. Not that anybody really cares, but like I said, born in 1585 originally, he was, as a young man, he was actually kidnapped essentially. So prior to like the ultimate settlement here in America, there were a lot of Englanders or Europeans that were exploring, coming back and forth. And he was actually enslaved and taken back to Europe. He ended up spending about a decade there through Spain and other parts of Europe. So he got to learn the English language, he got to learn the culture of everything that was taking place in Europe. And about a decade or so later, he was actually, he was on a ship back to America. So he was ultimately saved from his enslavement by. This is considered. I mean, I don't know if this is actually factual, but I found a few sources that said that he was saved by some Christian monks that was given, like, his freedom. Ed's given me the heads up, so. And so ultimately he regained his, you know, just freedom and then he found himself back on a ship to America. And when he came back or he returned to America, his tribe, his community was completely wiped out. It was actually a lot of. Because of all the Europeans that were traveling back and forth, they brought a lot of disease, which is ultimately how he ended up passing away. But his tribe was completely wiped out. And so he's obviously was probably completely devastated. You know, if you can think, you put yourself into those situations and, you know, had gone through everything, he comes back to America and finds like, you know, his friends, family, all his loved ones are most likely dead. And in 1620, by complete chance, remember, the first Thanksgiving was 1621. And 1620 is when the Mayflower, we've all heard of the Mayflower to, you know, to some extent, hopefully, unless you completely skipped history class. But they left England in search of religious freedom. Right. Which is one thing I think, that we just, we have to remind ourselves of just the. How amazing and how incredible it is that we live in this great country here in America that we you know, have the ability to worship and, you know, are not commanded on what we can believe, what we can't believe. And we just take that for granted so often. And so these people were fleeing from the Church of England, which was extremely corrupt at the time. And that was actually. I went on history.com and there was about 35 or so. It said Christians. We'll call it that. And then they called the others just entrepreneurs, which I thought was kind of cool. It was like 70 entrepreneurs. So I think there was like 100 or 102 actual people on the Mayflower when they, by chance, they were actually heading to Virginia. That was their intent. But because of bad weather and just unforeseen circumstances, by chance they landed in Massachusetts. Provincetown, I think, is where they technically originally landed and then found themselves to Plymouth and were enduring a horrific winter, right, because they landed in the fall of 1620. And through that winter, half of their. Of the hundred or so people that arrived with them actually had died. So they lost half their people. And if you think about just the, you know, completely new land, they don't know the territory, they don't know the soil. You know, we got to put ourselves. It's not as easy as just going to Publix and grabbing some, you know, dinner as we like. And so this just brand new area. And as they got through that winter, in walks Squanto, well, technically one of his messengers was sent, who spoke very broken English, to kind of check out who these people were. And he went back and brought in Squanto. And Squanto arrives here to these, you know, 50 or so pilgrims, if we want to call them that, who spoke perfect English, right? He. He knew the European culture, and he obviously understood farming, he understood fishing, he understood how to survive in the actual elements. And I think what's interesting or cool as I was just thinking about this with Squanto, it's like at this point in time, he had. I would imagine there's. There's got to be some. A little bit of a grudge maybe of, like, what he all went through? I don't know this, I'm just speculating, but I would think it's like, man, do I want to help these people or. Or do I want to, like, get revenge? You know, I mean, personally, this is. I don't know about all you super Christians, but personally, this would be something that I might be actually struggling with. But he chose to help them, right? And I think through this he found an actual purpose or finding, you know, the positive and all. Everything that he actually went through to actually fulfill what I believe was, you know, part of God's original intent and purpose for him here. And William Bradford, who was on the Mayflower, he was like the. A governor, I guess we would call it that, who was in the original, like, Plymouth Settlement there. His quote was that Squanto was a special instrument sent of God for their good. Beyond their expectation. Right. He said. The reason he said beyond their expectation, I think, is because when the Pilgrims, if you think about that, like, what they were praying for at the time, sometimes you don't even know what we're supposed to pray for, right? It's like there's chaos going on in our world. And, you know, I don't think any of them were sent. Were praying a specific prayer of, lord, send us a Native American who speaks perfect English and understands everything about the land that could just teach us everything, right? Their prayer was like, God, help us or we gonna die. Right? It's like, we need your help. And sometimes that's just our prayer. And God, as he always does, just goes above and beyond what any of us can usually imagine in that situation. And so out of this story, I want us to just really understand, because I don't think it's just historical, but there's actually just a spiritual meaning that we can glean from this. Right? Is again, Squanto's life was completely. You could look at it as, you know, enslavement. Traveled across the Atlantic, back, got freed, traveled back to the Atlantic, only to find his family completely died. Very tragic. A painful life that he had actually experienced. But even in Squanto's life, like, he was preparing him, right? And a lot of us have gone through tragic and, you know, death of loved ones, things like that. And it's like God's preparing us. And ultimately, this is an entire process of just sanctification that we get to go through because, you know, the moment we give our life to Christ or we receive Christ as Savior, it's like now he is daily perfecting us into his image, right? And this is a mindset, I think, that we need to take on as believers, that things aren't happening to us, but they are happening for us. For us, right?

What if.

What if we just took that mindset on? It's like. It's not like this is happening to me. It's like, God, why are all these things going on, this chaos in my life? But how can I see. How can I take on a perspective of how this is happening for Me. Right? And so God often, like, reveals these people to us, and ultimately we'll open it up. We're going to dive into a little bit of scripture here. But I want to know, like, as we start to even think through this, of some possible squantos in your life, or maybe you even were a squanto to somebody, or you are currently a squanto to somebody. It's like showing up at the exact perfect time. You know, given the words to speak, you have the skill set that somebody else needs, Right. And, like, that's part of the King's Council. For me, it was just like, I didn't. I had no discipleship in my life. And I realized, man, had. I had. I had a mentor or somebody that could speak into my life, not only on business, but the spiritual component as well. Man, how much further could I have been be right now? Right? And that's my heart behind the original. Like, the start of the King's Council is like, we want to be able to disciple people, not just to go make money and build business and things, but ultimately to steward all of that appropriately. Right. And to focus on what's most important, which is our relationship with Christ. Sean, what you got, brother?

Yeah, I was just thinking about how vitally important it is to speak when God puts something on our heart. We were in our Wednesday night Bible study at church a few weeks ago. We were going through Exodus, and, like, God brought the Israelites to a specific place where there was no water. And sometimes we come to that place. We don't know how God's going to act, how he's going to intervene on our behalf. And just having that knowledge that God always comes through for us should give us the expectation of, like you were saying, like, not so much God, why am I here? Why am I struggling with this? Why is there no water? But, Lord, what are you going to do? I know who you are, so I know you're going to come through for me.

Yes, very good. Absolutely. Because also, even though those moments, too, where, you know, we oftentimes miss those chances, I forget I was talking to somebody yesterday that had said this. Maybe it was you. It's like, no, it was. I forget who it was. It was like they missed the chance of what they felt like God was leading them to do. And, you know, it's not like a. Oh, we. We completely messed that up. But I think there's just the. The Thanksgiving that we can. We can give to the Lord for realizing that. Right. Because all these little tests that he gives Us are, you know, if it is like to, to speak up, as you mentioned, Shaun, of just like, you know, to give a word of encouragement to somebody. Sometimes our pride, our fear, what are they going to say gets in the way and it prevents us from taking those steps where you know my prayer and I hope it's all of your prayers. Is that man, what? I could just be so humble before the Lord, but bold before man, right? Like, if we took that daily Persona on, like, man, I'm going to be humble before God if He gives me a word of encouragement, if he gives me a task and he's a reach out to this person, are we going to be faithful with that? Because if we're faithful with the little he'll. He'll continue to pour out his blessing upon us and be used. Like at the end of the day, I want to be an instrument of God here on this earth, which I want to dive into. So that's what I got on Squanto. If anybody has anything on Squanto, feel free to share it. But I want to dive into scripture because this is Bible study and I've got you guys all see my screen. Okay, perfect. So we're just going to read through Psalm 100 and then we'll talk about this a little bit. This is obviously a psalm of thanksgiving, so I'll just read it and then we'll also do the stop share. I'll probably pull up some other scripture here as well. But Psalm 100, verse 1 says, Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth. Serve the Lord with gladness. Come into his presence with singing. Know that the Lord, he is God. It is he who made us, and we are His. We are his people and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise. Give thanks to him, Bless his name, for the Lord is good. His steadfast love endures forever and his faithfulness to all generations. Man, that's just such a good, a good psalm. Psalms are things that I've kind of neglected in my, my walk that I'm. I'm really trying to get into more of just being disciplined at reading them because they're so stinking good, man. I mean, this is like David just crying out like, the Lord is good. Right? And just if we can develop this, this thankfulness, this attitude of gratitude, if we want to call it that, it's like it's impossible for us to be thankful and experience worry and anxiety at the same time. Right? Because it's two different pathways of our brain and how we're actually designed. And so I think that's why it's such an important. There's many, many scriptures throughout Old and New Testament about just thanksgiving to God. And what I love about this psalm in particularly is that this gives us an explanation of how to enter into God's presence, right? And it starts with Thanksgiving, right? This is like how we enter into his courts, right? So anytime that I open in prayer, you guys may have noticed this or I do this. In my personal life, it's like I'm always starting with just Thanksgiving, right? I'm just like, lord, thank you. Thank you for everything. And it's not about the circumstances, but at the very least, thank you for the cross, man.

Thank you.

Thank you that I get to spend eternity with you and have relationship with you, right? So we don't. And one thing I want to be clear is, like, when we pray, like, God knows. God already knows all of our thoughts. He knows every intention that we have. And so just the ability just to be real with him is, I think, so important, right? Because sometimes we complain to him. Oftentimes it's like, this is what's going on. This is what's going on. But if we can position this or change this mindset to not come into his presence with Thanksgiving or with fear, frustration, or anxiety, but with Thanksgiving, this is how we enter into his presence, right? I mean, it's a simple, you know, think about your kiddos, right? When they come to you and they come in complaining, they come in frustrated, it's like, here we go again, right? But when they come in thankful, first off, usually it's like, okay, what do you want? Right? So this is like, know your intentions, right? But there's always something to be thankful for. And this is how we can actually draw close to God. Because what we're focused on here in the 70, 80 years, however many years God has us, it's like, we're selfish little brats. We're so selfish. And at the very least, even if we're broke, we're broken. We're homeless, we're living on the street. We've experienced every sort of. Sort of turmoil that you can imagine here on this earth. Like, we still have an eternity with our creator, right? At the very least, like, there is always something that we can be thankful for. And when I look back at just like the Thanksgiving time, the original Thanksgiving, so 1620 is when the Mayflower landed. Half their tribe's wiped out. I don't know if it's tribe at that community is wiped out. They aren't celebrating, like, comfort, and they're not celebrating that. You know, this was. Has been such a great trip. They went on the worst cruise ship possible, and it's like, it's been chaos for them. But when they're celebrating in the fall of 1621, then it's like they're celebrating God's faithfulness, right? And just his providence of the entire thing. Like, God caused them to get off course and land 500 miles away from where they originally were intending, Right. And Squanto was there. And, like, through this, it's like there's a bigger picture to everything that's actually going on in our life. Even though we take on this very selfish mindset, oftentimes I'm preaching to myself on any of this. It's like there's a much bigger picture that we need to consider in God's sovereignty. Right? And again, back to the things aren't happening to us, but they're happening for us, right? And ultimately how God can use us. And one thing, too. I'm not gonna actually pull this up, but I was reminded of Thanksgiving just being a complete choice. And I was reminded back in Acts, chapter 16, when Paul and Silas are actually in prison. And I'll read it to you, I'll pull it up. But it says at about midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God. Right. First off, they're in prison. They don't have a lot to be thankful for, do they? They're literally imprisoned for preaching the gospel. So they could be out of any people. They'd be like, God, I did this for you, and this is how you repay me, right? How many of us have said that out loud or at least thought that thought before? It's like, I'm doing all these things, right, God, and this is how you repay me. Yet they still. Again, back to reading this here at midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly, there was such a violent earthquake and the foundations of the prison were shaken. And all at once, the prison doors flew open and everyone's chains came loose, right? So I think Paul and Silas had a. I mean, clearly they had a choice, right? And Paul talks about being content in all circumstances. He's had much and he's had little. And you have a choice in every circumstance that you're in of what's the attitude that I'm going to show up with? Because the reality is we can't fully control our Circumstances. But we can always control the attitude in which we respond to them. This is the choice that we get to make. And that heart of Thanksgiving or gratitude. What's cool about this is it wasn't just affecting them. It wasn't just affecting Paul and Silas, but it said that the other prisoners were listening to them. And then it goes on and says that the chains loosened and everyone else's did as well. Right. So our attitude of Thanksgiving are the gratitude that we have not only affects us, it affects our family, our spouse, it affects our kiddos, it affects our workplace, it affects literally every environment that we enter into. And this is why I oftentimes say it's like, you know, I think evangelism is. We're all called to do it. And sometimes we could use words, right? Sometimes we could actually share the gospel. But our life should be. People should be looking upon going, man, what is different? There's just something. How can that guy be grateful? How can be thankful in that circumstance or situation? Go ahead, Sean.

Yeah. Nika just mentioned how funny it is that we were just talking about this in her own Bible study in numbers, how the Israelites are just constantly complaining and, you know, having the bad attitude. And we've got a friend from church who called me up a couple days ago just talking about some church hurt that he's going through. And I could relate to it. I was like, I went through some of the very same things. And we left that church for like a year, went to a different church, and then God put it on. My heart is like, why are you. Why, why do you live here in this community and you're driving to another community to go to another church just because you're.

You.

Your bruised ego. And so I was like, man, the way that I got over it was by looking at how I can serve. Like, if I see a problem in the church, how do I make this, this better? And that was honestly, like a big part of what birthed in our hearts. The idea of hosting this, this, like, couples focused Bible study that we're going to be doing on Monday nights is like pouring out into other marriages, other couples, couples. So that we can be serving the church as a whole.

Yeah, yeah.

I'm even interjecting here because, like, as you've gone through this, one thing that's been really highlighted is it's really our mindset. And even more than that, it's how we view God.

Right.

It actually reminded me of the parable of the talents that when you look through that, right? When he Got to the third, the, the one that got one talent and hit it. One thing that he said is he knew to be, got to be a, a hard man.

Right?

So like even, just like you're saying, as we're going through these tough times, do we truly view God as a good God?

Right?

Because if we do, then we can see these things and still even be grateful for what we're going for, knowing that he is preparing us for that next thing.

Yeah.

Right.

So as to not just gratefulness to be grateful, but knowing that ultimately he's a good God and he's working on our behalf for our good, even if the circumstance may not be what we want, he's still good.

Yes.

Yes, he is. Amen. Amen for that. And that kind of just brings me even into the next psalm that I could pull it up for you guys. Learning how to do my screen share here. Psalm 100 or excuse me, 103, Which it is just oftentimes remembering, right? And it's many times throughout scripture we're told to, to remember, right? Sean, you mentioned the, the Israelites. It's like the, those cats were literally rescued from slavery, were going on a 12 day journey, like that's all it was supposed to take. And they've ended up wandering the desert for 40 years. It's like how quickly they forgot what they were rescued from. Right? Because eventually they started grumbling and complaining and it's like it would have been better because at least we had meat to eat back with those guys. And now all we get is this manna and just, I mean, how quickly they forget that that manna literally shows up every morning miraculously like God provides. And it's just again, just this selfish mindset of like the, the little things that we think the day to day garbage or junk that we have to go through. It's just that change of mindset again of just like we get, we get to do this, right? And because of their grumbling, because of their complaining, they wandered and wandered for 40 years and never actually saw the promised land. And so I think it's important for us to remember. And the beautiful thing about the Bible too, it's like these aren't just stories of what happened, but I think it's a view of what always happens, right? And if we can actually learn from those mistakes, it's like this is our playbook, baby. This is the handbook of life. If we can actually learn from those experiences. Leslie, what you got?

Oh, I was just thinking about how kind of taking it back to your first question of how can I be a squanto to somebody else to go through all of my own hardship and yet be there for someone else in a time of suffering? Because in a way, maybe you understand it. And so all our pain has a purpose. And though I know that it's very hard to go through that pain, I feel like in my life, God has shown me so many times that while you're going through it, you may not understand why he's doing it, and yet because of your unique lesson in there, and yet you can still give glory to him. When someone else is going through the same thing, you can continue to glorify them and be that role model of, yes, I know what you're going through, and you can still glorify God. So always taking it back and kind of taking back to the original question. So. And all of us have that story, you know, whether it's, why do I have cancer? You know, why did that person die? Why did this disaster happen? You know, I'm sure we all have something that we've gone through, and yet here we are continuing to praise God to be that role model.

Yes. So good, Leslie. So good. Absolutely. All right. Psalm 103. This is again, David. Bless the Lord, O my soul, all that is within me, Bless his holy name. This is a song, too, isn't it? Worship song. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits. Who forgives all your iniquity, right? Like, that alone is incredible. Who heals all your diseases? Who redeems your life from the pit? Who crowns you with steadfastness, love and mercy? Who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagles. Such a great psalm again, to just remember, right? Like, remember what God has actually brought us through. And even just relating it back, like how if you think of the first Thanksgiving, 1621, again, they were remembering, like, how God preserved them, how God ultimately provided for them, how God provided Squanto. Squanto had to go all through the crap to learn English, right? To understand the European culture, how to communicate appropriately to or ultimately provide the wisdom on how to plant, how to fish, how to do all these things that, you know, these cats didn't know. It's wild to me. Like, just imagine hopping on that ship and coming over like, dude, yeah, so crazy. Yes. Yeah, so, so crazy. And I often, when I remember, man, probably 20 some years ago, somebody kind of put this visual in my life of, like, a tapestry, if you want.

To call it that.

I never thought I would actually use that word in my life, but, like, a canvas of. That's being woven, right? And this is just a visual that has been helpful for me. And I'll actually ask ChatGPT to pull this up for me. I got to keep my screen share, because oftentimes when we're, you know, going through the junk of life, we are only seeing something that looks like this, right? And this is just the back of a canvas or tapestry that's. That's being woven together. And this is what our life oftentimes looks like, where it's just like. What is it? A bunch of loose threads. And this one got cut off short, and this one's, you know, just goes on forever, wandering through the wilderness or whatever it is, only to find out what God was. Was truly doing in our life. And I gotta get that screen back up. Is this it? Sorry, it's blocking my view. How do I get to that? All right, let me stop share real quick, and then I'll pull it back up.

There we go.

Thanks for bearing with me the back of that canvas here. I could have did this the whole time. Yeah. This is what that. That. That. The back of that canvas looks like. And then when we flip it over, that's fine. This is what God's putting together, right? We don't know what this thing looks like until one day we actually. I mean, maybe there'll be glimpses of it here on this earth, but when we, you know, meet our Savior face to face and we're held accountable for all the things that we did do or didn't do, we get to view, like, what God's in, His providence and his sovereignty of just, like, what he was doing. Man. I want to be creating a beautiful canvas like this. And I think, again, it's just a time of remembrance this time of year of, like, what God is actually doing in our life. Because so oftentimes we just get focused on what we're trying to create, the canvas we're trying to make. But there is a master weaver, right? A master canvasser that's putting this thing together. One last scripture, and then I want to open it up to hear from each of you, if possible, about just, like, the idea of who that squanto is in your life. I won't bring this scripture up just because I'm sure a lot of you are familiar with this. This is my daughter's favorite scripture. It's in Philippians 4. Starting in verse 4, it says, Rejoice in the Lord. Always I will say it again. Rejoice. Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything. But in every situation, by prayer, in petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. So verse 4 says, Rejoice in the Lord always. And again I say rejoice. Rejoice.

Rejoice.

Again I say rejoice. You guys know that song, what, what I think is, is cool here is that what Paul says. It's, it's to rejoice in the Lord always, not rejoice in your circumstances.

Okay?

Because it's, it's, it's. It's what our joy actually comes from or who our joy actually comes from. And it, this doesn't mean that like, because, you know, and James gives us oftentimes, you know, consider it pure joy when we face trials of many kinds, right? And we have to understand where our joy or who our joy actually comes from. Because I know some of us on here have experienced, you know, death of loved ones, job loss, right? Financial ruin, and we're still called. This is a, I would say a command that Paul is actually giving us here to rejoice in the Lord, right? And that should be enough for us to actually have joy, right? That the living presence of Jesus in our lives is the joy that we have. And no circumstance can actually take that away from us. Can I get an amen with that? Come on. Right. And rejoicing. So for the believer, again, I think most everybody on here is. Call themselves a born again believer. Jesus is not just savior, but he's Lord of our lives. Rejoicing is not optional, right? It is a requirement. This is a command. It's actually an empathetic command. And it's, it's what I mean by that is like it's at the beginning of the verse and it's at the end, right? So I think there's a reason Paul was wanting to, he wanted to get this through to us. It's like there's something that, that to this thing, rejoice in the Lord. And again I say rejoice. And if you look into like the actual, the, the tense of this verb, it's a present continual, right? So it's, it, it means that it's not just like random sporadic moments of joy, but it's a consistent discipline that we have to have in our life, right? And to be clear on this, in the Lord means that Jesus isn't Just the source of our rejoicing, but he's the actual object of our rejoicing. That's good stuff, right guys? Come on. He's not just the source because we're thankful that he did die on the cross for us. And he's given us this ability to have eternal life with him, but he's the object of it. Like God created all things. This building that we're in, we're surrounded by. Just like it's so mind boggling when we actually think about this. Like God who is love is the object of our rejoicing. And when we start our days with that or times of turmoil and chaos, it's like if we just come back and like recenter ourselves on who were created to worship, right? Who we are created in the image of, it gives us a. Just like a relief or a sense that it's like, man, no matter the circumstances, I can rejoice in this because the Lord has given me breath today. There must be a reason, there must be a purpose that he still has for me here on this earth, right? So Biblical Thanksgiving just. And we'll open it up for you guys. Biblical Thanksgiving, when we think about just this time or season that we're going into, it means in this time, it means acknowledging the giver, not just the gift. Okay? So it takes it from being God focused rather than self focused, right? Which it's easy to be thankful for things that are going well for us and those things. But it's no, I'm going to rejoice in the Lord always. And again I say rejoice, no matter the circumstances, because I'm acknowledging the gift giver, not just the gift that I have here. Keep it God focused versus actually focused on ourself. So that being said, we have about 15 minutes or so left. I want to open it up. Appreciate those that have chimed in so far. But think about like, who is that? That's maybe that squanto in your life. Maybe you are the squanto for somebody. Because in revelation it tells us that we. We overcome by the blood of the.

Lamb.

And the word of our testimony. Sorry, I had like a brain fart there. The blood of the lamb we overcome, right? By the blood of lamb and the word of our testimony. And I think this is what I love getting on with you guys. I love to hear what God's doing in your lives. Like this is. That's the word of our testimony. Because it can be. It's not bragging, if anything is bragging on God. Like, look How God used me in this. Right? Or look at how God's using this person in this. And, like, this is how we overcome. We can come together collectively as the church to equip each other, to encourage each other in the Lord to go out and actually be his witnesses here on this earth. So, Jonathan, talk to us, brother.

Yeah, Riley, this is so good. I have to jump and get to work here in a second. But, I mean, I was just thinking when you were talking about the squantos in our life. So many of the squantos in my life are because of this room and are in this room, you know, from. From you and Roger and the people Christian. I'm just thinking even one of the hard, hardest times, just internally working through some things in my relationship with God and a growth season was when I was in Texas, but I had a roof over my head and a roommate, Jace, because of, like, you. And, you know, I have been introduced to, like, people like Brent Farmer and Zach Jones. I spend, like eight hours a day on zoom with Zach Jones now working. And those people, like, I would be so far behind the eight ball in life without those type people in my life. And so I think being able to, like, you could always trace. I feel like you can always trace your Thanksgiving, your thankfulness back to a person, ultimately to Jesus. But Jesus will put people in our lives here on earth to help us. And I think, like, that's just so cool.

Yes, it is so cool. So cool. Love you, brother. You got to run. Thanks for hopping on Leslie.

Yeah, this is awesome. I love this stuff. For me, lately, the Lord put, I love everything you said. And then it lines up with something that God's put on my heart recently, like, very strongly. And it was the joy of the Lord is my strength. And it can feel that way when you are going through, you know, not just it feels like a season, but like four seasons, you know, like you're doing a marathon of suffering. And in that, with the suffering, it's so often, like, and I'm guilty of this, going through it on my own strength. And so just digging in daily with, you know, not only just rejoice in the Lord always, but if you rejoice in him, his joy gives you strength. So then on your own, you know, tapping into other people's joy through the Lord to give you strength through that hard trial, but then also with your. With myself, like, just trying to, like, you know, as I meditate, like, what is the joy of the Lord? And feeling into that, like, there's a Knowledge there, but then feeling into it through suffering. I think it's another just, you know, trick to get through it. So, like you were saying, how to overcome this, you know, the blood of the lamb, the word of your testimony, and then relying on his strength, not our own, because I don't. I'm sure many of you guys know what I'm talking about with that marathon of suffering. And it gets hard. So appreciate all those spontos. And, you know, like Jonathan was saying, everybody here has been so amazing. Just a little, like, I love the chat. People say things like, sunny, you know, what seems like adversity sometimes is actually a better alternative. You know, God knows that tapestry. And he's like, no, no, no, this is hard, but the other road would have been harder. And you don't know it because you don't see it. But that's why we just have to trust.

Yes, absolutely. Absolutely. I'm sure there's been. There's got to be times where all of us have experienced what seems to be just like the worst of the worst taking place. Place only to find out, like, how God did spare us from something else. As Sonny just put in the chat there, it's like, what's the story of the. Is there a story of, like, a farmer that, you know, guy lost his leg and then. Does anybody know that story? And the guy. Guy always just had this attitude of, like, you know, we'll see, we'll see, we'll see. It was just like, he didn't necessarily, you know, look at things as the way that. What the world would call successful or unsuccessful or, you know, and it was just. Nobody knows the story. Okay, I'll have to look it up. I'll. I'll figure it out.

His.

Son fell off the horse and broke his leg.

People were like, oh, that's horrible.

That's horrible.

He said, we'll see.

Next day, the draft comes in because the cutter was going to war, but some leg was broken, so he couldn't go. People were like, that's great. That's great. He's like, we'll see. And then it just goes on and on.

Yeah, so it's a great little. Right? Yeah, yeah, yeah. That's great. So any of our stories, it's like, well, we'll see. We'll see what God's doing here. I don't know, right. I look at my life, heck, three, four years ago, I didn't expect another baby in my life, let alone two babies. We got another one coming in March, and it's like, we'll see, right? Our job is obedience, no matter what. What, like chaos or what we feel is. Is just like a struggle or even unsuccessful in this life. It's like God's writing the story. And at the end of the day, we're not the main character. We are. And. And this is just, again, we're selfish in this mindset. It's like, why is this happening to me? Why is this. And it's me, me, me, me, me. And when we take ourselves out of that picture of. It's like, this is God's story. I just want to be a part of it, man. Whatever he wants. Whatever he wants. If it's living in a van down by the river, if it's running a quadrillion company, dollar company, whatever it is, right? And oftentimes God wants to get our attention. God wants our attention all the time. But sometimes we only give it to him when he takes it, right? And then usually the only time that happens is when we hit our rock bottom, right? When it's like he allows us to go through crap to wake him up to him. And thank God for that, right? Thank God for. For me, personally, six years ago was like my rock bottom financially. Everything was amazing, right? The world would call successful, but I was spiritually bankrupt. And the last six years, a lot of you don't know this, but, like, man, I was two years behind on my mortgage payment. I went from having millions of dollars to flat freaking broke in the last six years because God was pruning me. And. And he's. He was taking all the junk in my life. And throughout that process, it was just like, whatever. Whatever you have, whatever you have. I just want to be used for your purposes here. And it's completely reshaped my mindset and my heart's disposition towards what I really think success is. And it's just amazing. It's just amazing what God will do if we allow ourselves to be put in that position to be used by Him.

Amen.

Go ahead, Sean.

Oh, Sonny first, please.

Okay, go ahead, Sonny.

Well, what I was going to say is that sometimes God answers our prayers, even in adversity. I think everyone here knows that I lost my precious dog Murph earlier this year. And that was just really, really hard. But when I look back on it, he was answering my prayers because I didn't have to come to the terrible decision of putting him to sleep or doing something that I really didn't want to do. He passed away at home peacefully and quietly. A few hours earlier. He had danced for his meal. He loved the farmer's dog. He had that meal, and he loved it and was happy. And so losing him was very difficult and an adversity. But I see the blessing in how God made certain that I would not have to go through any of the things I had prayed about and asked him to please, please not lead me down that terrible path where I'd have to make a decision I didn't want to make. So I thank him for that and give him thanks because all of us belong to him, including our pets. And so I believe I will see my dog again. In the meantime, I have another beautiful puppy, and I am very, very blessed, not to mention my kitties that I love dearly. I just say thank you, Lord. Thank you for everything, the good and bad.

Absolutely. Absolutely. Thank you, Sonny. Should we go Gita first and then you, Sean, and then Raj?

Yeah, go ahead, Gita.

Oh, yeah. Thank you so much. This is really great, Riley. I really love it. And it's funny because that story of Paul and Silas, who were talking about, they actually mentioned that at church on Sunday. And then last week in my Bible, I was reading about it. So it's like the third time this came up. And gratitude is so important. And one of the key takeaways from that story, too, is that the other prisoners got free. So if you actually think about it, right? So it was a good day to be in jail, I guess. But what it was, it's saying, is that our gratitude does have a spillover effect. Our praising does have that effect on our family and loved ones because those other prisoners broke free and then the warden and his whole household got saved. So that's how we get people to salvation of Christ. And I just love everything you're saying, even Revelation 12:11, you know, we overcome with the blood of the Lamb the word of our testimony. One thing I learned over the last few years is that God is good throughout it all. And, you know, I've been dealing with, you know, certain struggles, as we all do, and some stuff which is recurring. But one thing I really learned is that God is still sovereign, even though we might be victims of sin or injustice. Like God really redeems it. And when you obey Him, He. He brings you out so much better. And he's so creative. I just want to use that word because God is a creative God. The way he uses all things for good and brings you out double portion is just incredible. But our role is to just continue to stay in there and obey him and stand on His Word and really stand like Paul said. So thank you for this refreshing word. I just love it.

Yes, yes, yes, yes. So good. Geeta. It just reminds me too of like think about all of your friends or who you guys like to spend time with. Nobody likes to be with complainers. Like it's like cancer to me. It's just like that. It's just such a poison. I can't stand being around people like that. I love my dad to death, but he's a complainer, right? He's just like when we moved into our house now he literally lives with us and he, I remember one of the first things he said was like, I think we're on the sand. So we live on a lake in Minnesota. We're literally sanding like in our toes. And his thought process was, man, what are taxes here? I'm just like, bro, first off, you don't pay him. You live here for free. And that's still, you can't even enjoy the blessing that God's given you. So yeah, it's just like be grateful, be thankful and you will attract other people into your life. So Sean, and then we'll finish up with Raj unless anybody else has anything.

Well, I got to celebrate Thanksgiving last night with my 91 year old grandmother and she is probably my first squanto because she's her answered prayers of the reason, big part of the reason why I'm a believer today. I ran away from the Lord for the better part of 30 years and didn't even realize it because I was in a cult for a long time and thought I was worshiping God. And you know, so long story short, ran away from God for a long time and didn't realize that she'd been praying for me the entire time. So you know, I'm, I'm so in the world and you know, I'm with my live in girlfriend at the gym and like she's, she just says, hey, we should try, we should try out this other gym here. You know, it's, it's in town, it's a little closer. I'm like, all right, whatever. So we go there and it's, it's rock, strength and fitness and they got like, you know, scriptures on the wall and they have worship music playing. I'm like, I can't stand this place. What is this plug in my headphones, you know. And we like to go to the gym early. So at 6 o' clock in the morning and this complete stranger, this total rando walks up to me, he's like, hey, we're going to have some prayer over here. You want to join us? Like, what is this place? So, so I go over there and Rick Mullins is my probably second Squanto because he had been leading this prayer group with a group of men and whoever else was there for a couple of years. And you know, it was just God pulling me towards him with whoever happened to be, you know, faithful. And so, you know, it's awesome. She just mentioned, my grandmother just mentioned last night how cool it was to see where I was a couple years ago compared to where I am today. How, you know, it's been just, just over two years ago that I got saved. I wanted nothing to do with God, you know, in July of 2023 and like, just telling her some of the stories, some of the things that God has me in the middle of today. She's like, this is just, this is just awesome. I love, I love seeing where, where God is taking you.

Yes.

So awesome, man. Man, how many. You just can't help but have Thanksgiving in your heart just by hearing a testimony like that. It's like God allowed you to, to go through those things that brought you right where you're at right now, Sean. And now leading small group and meeting. I mean, many people on this call are on here because of you. So, so cool, brother. So good. Roger, finish this, man.

It's been a, it's been a real pleasure, man, having a front row seat to, to see you grow as much as you have in the last couple years, man.

It's awesome.

I got a couple things. So first of all, Riley, you've told that story so many times. Have you, have you talked to your dad about that? Does he actually remember that conversation? Have you ever, have you ever had that conversation with him?

I don't know. I don't, I can't think of like a particular time other than in the moment. I'm just like, dude, what, what are you doing?

Highly asked. Because there, because there are defining moments in our lives. You know, we talk to somebody that's, you know, a parent or somebody in our life and, and you know, it has a major effect with us. And like, I recently had a discussion with my father in law about something that happened like 37 years ago and he's like, I don't remember that ever happening. And I'm like, so I got a couple things. So first, back to Sean when he was talking about like obedience and, and, and, and just listening to the voice of God. Obedience has rewards, guys. And if we, if we don't do what God said, asks us to do. That reward. Scott always says. Scott always says opportunities aren't, are never lost. They're just given to somebody else. I would argue that rewards are the same way. There's a reward that God's giving somebody for the obedience. And I live, literally watched it happen where God has told me and inspired me to do something in a group of people that I didn't do. And he was like, okay, next. And immediately somebody else went and did what I was called to do. And I was like, man, that's so convicting. Because they just got, because they just got a reward that, like, was meant for me. And I, and I, I didn't get it because it was my fault. I shrugged it off. So the other thing we talked about.

That'S good and not cut you off, Roger. But one thing in that, too, it's when you, when you realize that, it's like we can feel condemnation, shame, guilt, like a grudge, maybe even. And it's like that's what the enemy wants to do to you. Or you can thank God for, thank you for letting me realize that I'm going to be faithful now. Right. So now it's, it's the choice that we make from there.

Yeah. Good, good. That's, that's, that's a really good add on. Yep. So. And then we started talking about, like, things that happened to us. And over the last couple years, Amy and I have just decided to call those things detours. Like, I'm stuck in traffic and I should. I'm late. I need to be somewhere. It's like God's got a detour for me. That's like, so it's like when things are happening that aren't going to plan, we've started to actually look for the blessing and the opportunity in there. It's like, like where, like, why, why, why am I being detoured? Is there something that I'm supposed to see? Is there someone that I'm supposed to minister to? Is there someone that's supposed to minister to me? Is there some quiet time or something that I'm just supposed to have? So kind of a cool thing? And then the last, the last time, the last thing, you know, talking about, like, the worst experiences of your lives and things that you, that you go through, and when you're in the middle of them, you don't realize that you have a squanto or, you know, you, you wonder and you shake your fist to the sky going, God, where are, where are you? And I would just submit that you have to be careful what you pray for. And we've talked about this a lot, you know, before, because, um, I am. One of my goals when I got married was to break a generous generational curse of divorce in my family. And you know, when I told my wife when we got, when we were engaged, you know, we had a conversation and I'm like, hey, I just want you to know that, like, this is, this is absolutely forever. We fix things. Divorce is not even a word that is going to be in our vocabulary. And she's looking at me like I got a third head, because in her family there's, there's never been any divorce. But it was rampant in, in my, on my side of the family, like multiple divorces. Things were completely and totally disposable. And so when I became a Christian in July of 1996, so I've been married, I've been married for six years and one of my first prayers was like, God, help me with this. I want, I want to have. I want to have an incredible, incredible marriage. And over the next six years, um, it was like I felt like God was trying to destroy my marriage. Like there we were on the verge of divorce, like, so, so many times and things like that. People literally my Squanto, you know, a guy, one of my ride or dies. A guy that I could call, you know, the guy that you call at 3 o' clock in the morning and you say, I need help. And he's like, who's driving? Where are we burying the bodies? That guy, I just called him. And he was a part of my life really, really presently for a very intense, about a year of my life. And even he was like, man, I don't, I don't see way out of this. I mean, you should really prepare for the worst. And I just, you know, I just, I just prayed and it was just like the worst thing ever. And, and we made it through it and we came through it and, and looking back now, that was, that was the process. That was the detour that God had me go through to make sure that our marriage is completely as rock solid as. As it is. Like, I mean, I talk about this all the time. We would not change. We would not change 2000 and 2003 ever, ever. Because it, it's made us, it's made us who we are and, and come through. So that's all I got. That's what I'm, that's. I'm sure I'm gonna leave it there.

That's Good. Made you who you are and come through. But also, how many times have you been a squanto in another person's life that's going through similar situations?

Yeah, absolutely.

Yes.

Yep. 100. Yeah. And. And the actual details of that story and stuff, like, our kids have zero idea about it. And, you know, we've talked and it's like, yeah, there's no reason for them to know or there's no reason for anybody to know the details of that unless it is edifying and it can help them through a situation that's. That they're going through something similar. And that's what.

That's a.

That's a. That's something that we have. That we have for somebody else if something like that ever comes up.

Yes. So good. Just reminded of Psalm 23 in this of, like, you know, though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, it's. It says that we walk. Right. It doesn't say that we sit down and throw a pity party. We don't turn around and go the other way. We continue to walk through the valley of the shadow of death. Right, right. And knowing where our focus should be. But it's just that the intent of persevering, of continuing through the end, like, those who endure to the end will be saved. That's scripture. Right. And so we have to endure. And again, a lot of it comes back to this mindset of, it's not happening to me, but it's happening for me, and I know God's going to use it for his greater purposes, whether my rewards are going to be here now, on this earth, or in heaven. As Raj said, there are actual legit rewards that we will experience by going through those challenges and tribulations.

You know, it really reminds me of Jeremiah 17. We all know Jeremiah 17:7 when it says, like, blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. But even if you guys went and took a step back and look at the first part of that verse, it actually says that curse is the man whose strength is in him, whose strength is in flesh. And there's actually some promises to that. One is on the caution side. It says you actually be like a bush planted in the desert. Yet those whose confidence is in the Lord, not in our circumstance, not in any of that we've been talking about, but heard a lot of people say, you know, we're talking about strength in who is it? Who's it in? It does say, you are a tree planted by the strength, by a stream whose Fruit will never cease. And who's not anxious in the day of drought because he will never cease to bear fruits? So, yeah, it really reminds me of that. Of just like, it goes back to a lot of what you just said.

Right.

It's not in us. It's not about the selfish story, but it's in. Can we truly have confidence in the Lord if we have a view that he is good, ultimately? And we can be thankful for all that stuff, like Roger said in 2003.

Right.

You can come back and go, man, I'm so thankful that the Lord gave me that time, because now you have a new light of what that looks like. And I think we're all going to go through that. We're going to go through a time where we may not understand it. We may. But if we can just kind of take a step back and just kind of lay at his feet and go, we may not understand it, but we know because you are good and you've always shown to be good, that you will show me one day may not be in this earth, maybe in eternity, but that ultimately we trust wholeheartedly that he is for our good.

Yeah, it's great. It's good. Alan, we'll end with you, bro. What you got, man?

Awesome, man.

Yeah.

I was just thinking through this about the Squantos and, And. And how God's always building his kingdom through testimonies. And, you know, ultimately, you know, sometimes we're, you know, we are the Squanto, and sometimes we need a Squato.

And.

And God's always working on both sides of that spectrum as far as, okay, sometimes we're going through that hard season, you know, and we need somebody to show up. Right. Ultimately, God. And then he's preparing us to be that same person, to share our testimony, to build the kingdom on the other side. So it just kind of points me back to just knowing that, knowing the scripture and making that a rock. Because when we know that God's working all things together for our good, then we can give thanks in all circumstances because we know that it's going to end, you know, ultimately for his glory. And it's just for me, like, going in business and, you know, in partnerships and especially I've made the mistake of sometimes you wind up, or I have maybe put my trust in people too much. Right. And ultimately God will sometimes rip band aids off in partnerships and expose people ultimately to kind of refocus us back on him. And knowing that he is the one that we're trusting, that we're that we can always trust. And, you know, and when we, when he brings us back that point, it's kind of painful sometimes at the same time, you know, then we can stand with open hands to receive the relationships, partnerships that he has for us. So he gets the glory, you know, and at the end, it's. It's all about his glory, not ours. And so, you know, I'm just thinking about that. It's a wonderful message, wonderful reminder today and really appreciate it. Just great job.

Thank you, brother.

Yes.

Yes. Let me pray us out here and let's have an awesome Thanksgiving with our family and friends. So, Father God, Lord, we just come to you just with hearts of thanksgiving. Just thank you, Jesus, for all the blessings in our life of even what. What may seem like. What may seem like difficulties and chaos and turmoil and hardship that we're going through, Lord. Just reveal to us, God, just how we can still be thankful, how we can still have that heart of gratitude ultimately in you, Lord Jesus, not for our circumstances or all the things going on in the world, but our joy should. Should be complete in you, Father. So just thank you for that revelation, God, that understanding. I pray for just a charge of encouragement and excitement for everybody on this call as we just head into Thanksgiving weekend. Lord, may you be the root of our Thanksgiving. May this time just be a remembrance of all you've done, Lord, ultimately the finality of you dying on the cross and only to resurrect again, Father. And as we just await your final return, God, may that just be just instill in us a boldness again to be so humble before you, God, but bold before man. We just pray again for divine assignments, divine connections to just appointments that we're meeting with family and friends over this weekend, Lord, that you would just tee it up, God. And that when we hear that we have that little prompting, that little Holy Spirit discernment within us, God, that we would take action and we would be bold. Bold with man, but humble before you, God. So here we are, Lord. Use us. Use us to advance your kingdom here on this earth as we go into this weekend, each and every day, God, but in particular this weekend, may we just have a sensitivity to you, Holy Spirit, to love well, to truly be examples of who you are, to be your ambassadors here on this earth and to represent you well. We want to be used by you, God. So use us, Lord Hanini. Here we are, God, in Jesus name. Amen. Amen.

Amen.

Here we are.

Yes. All right, guys. Always love getting on with you. You guys have an amazing weekend. Would love to hear of any opportunities that God lays up for you so you guys can hit it out the park this weekend with family and loved ones. So represent.

Well, tell Anna and Ashley I said hi.

Will do. We'll do.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Happy Thanksgiving, everybody.

See you. Happy Thanksgiving.

Bless.