This word is submitted by Teresa Seputis (TS@godspeak.org)

------

                   A Thanksgiving Day Word

This may seem like an unusual prophetic word to release on the American
Thanksgiving Day holiday.  This word is not just for the Americans, it 
is for all of God's children, no matter what part of the world they live 
in.  

Before God gave me this word, I began to think about Thanksgiving and how 
people have corrupted so many of the days that were originally set aside 
to honor God.  Thanksgiving was originally instituted by the pilgrims to 
acknowledge and honor God.  But the original meaning has been obscured.
Many now believe that Thanksgiving was founded as the day when the Pilgrims 
thanked the Indians for helping them survive their first year in the 
States.  They don't realize that this day was intended as a harvest feast,
and that it was patterned after the Bible's Harvest Feast, to thank God 
for all He did to allow them to harvest their first crop.  Thanksgiving 
was originally intended as a day to thank God and also to seek God's favor 
and blessings and prosperity on their future.

Likewise, the meaning of Christmas and Easter has also been obscured. 
Christmas, the celebration of our Lord's birth, has become about giving 
gifts to our loved ones.  Many have forgotten about the great gift that 
God gave us on the first Christmas.  And the resurrection power has been 
taken out of Easter -- to many, it is about bunnies and egg hunts and 
candy.

As I pondered this, I asked the Lord how He felt about it.  "Lord, how 
do you feel about the way man has perverted days originally set aside to 
honor You?"  

His answer surprised me.  Let me share it with you:

  "I don't like it and I want to take those days back for Myself!  My 
  church advocated days that were once set aside for Me.  Then the enemy 
  moved in and took them over and corrupted them for his evil purposes.  
  
  I want to take those days back as days where I am honored.  But I don't 
  want to stop there.
  
  There are many other things that My people have advocated that the 
  enemy has moved and taken possession of.  He has corrupted them for his
  evil purposes. Now I want them back, and I want to transform and restore 
  them once again for My purposes. 
  
  I want to take the school system back for My glory, that children will 
  be taught of Me and My ways from an early age.  I want to take back the 
  economies of the nations, that young children do not have to go to bed 
  hungry because there was not enough food for them.  I want to take back 
  the world's political systems, to restore integrity and godly character 
  in those who would provide leadership in their governments.  I also want 
  to take the business and banking and financial systems back for My glory 
  as well, that businesses be run by godly principles and practices, and 
  that the financial world would begin to tithe from their profits into My 
  work.  For as they are faithful to Me in their finances and practices, I 
  will begin to prosper them.  But should those businesses and financial 
  institutions violate My principles and standards of conduct, then I will 
  oppose them and cause them to fail.
  
  I don't want My people to hide in the corner and to let the enemy take
  more and more of My things to make them his own.  Rather I want to send
  My people out to once again possess that which was lost, to take back 
  that which the enemy has stolen and transform it for My kingdom and to 
  My glory.  I want the nations to once again honor Me and My principles 
  that I might once again bless them and restore peace and prosperity.
  
  In short, it is My desire that My people bring My glory into every area
  of their existence. It is My desire that they possess and transform the
  things that the enemy has stolen and corrupted.  I am the God of
  restoration, and I have not abdicated this world to the devil.  I want
  it back for My glory.  I have promised in My word to give back the 
  things the enemy has stolen from My people. And I have promised in My 
  word to restore the things that the canker worm has eaten.  Likewise, 
  I will restore for Myself the things that have been stolen from Me and 
  I will cause My glory to once again be manifest in them.  Yes, I want 
  back that which is Mine that the devil has stolen.  I am taking the 
  world systems back for My glory in these present days and times.  And I 
  want My Body, those called by My name, to take an active part in that 
  process."