HAPPY THANKSGIVING BIRTHDAY TO DANIEL WHYTE III’S DAUGHTER DANIELLA (DANNI) WHYTE WHO WAS BORN ON THANKSGIVING DAY 33 YEARS AGO TODAY NOVEMBER 23, 2023! HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE! GET READY FOR DANIEL WHYTE III’S ANNUAL THANKSGIVING MESSAGE TITLED HOW TO BE GENUINELY THANKFUL FOR “BAD THINGS.” LETTER #50 of “LETTERS TO MY YOUNG ADULT CHILDREN AND TO A WOKE, DECEIVED AND UNLOVED GENERATION” (Letter 50) by Daniel Whyte III, Author of the National Bestselling Books: “Letters to Young Black Men” and “Letters to Young Black Women” First written over 30 years ago.
LETTER 50
Dear Danni, Daniel, Danita, Danae, Daniqua Grace, Danyel Ezekiel, Danyelle Elizabeth, Danielle Tekeela, Duran, and Kywaizia:
I am praying throughout the day, every day, for each of you to love God back, to fear God, to obey God, and to be faithful to God and His Son Jesus Christ so that you can live the God-Blessed Life. If you are not living the God-blessed obedient life, you are having a hard time not doing so.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO DANIELLA (DANNI), WHO WAS BORN ON THANKSGIVING DAY 33 YEARS AGO! AND HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO EVERYONE! THIS YEAR’S THEME IS “HOW TO BE GENUINELY THANKFUL AND GRATEFUL FOR ‘BAD THINGS,’” SUCH AS DISTRESSES, AFFLICTIONS, PERSECUTIONS,” (WHICH INCLUDES ATTEMPTED CANCELLATIONS), INFIRMITIES (WHICH INCLUDES WEAKNESSES AND SICKNESSES), GOING WITHOUT NECESSITIES, TRIBULATIONS, TROUBLES, TRIALS, TEMPTATIONS, TESTS, TENSIONS, JUDAS BETRAYAL, ENDURING JOB’S WIFE, FORSAKEN BY FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND EVEN CHURCH BRETHREN AND SISTREN, WHICH INCLUDES THE FALSE BRETHREN AND SISTREN, MESSENGERS OF SATAN, AND THORNS IN THE FLESH AND TO ENDURE IT AND GO THROUGH IT WITH CHEERFULNESS, JOYFULNESS, PLEASURE, AND GLORYING IN IT, BEING TRULY HAPPY IN IT BECAUSE AS I HAVE TAUGHT YOU ALL, MONEY AND MATERIAL THINGS CAN NOT MAKE YOU HAPPY. ONLY GOD, JESUS CHRIST, BEING OBEDIENT TO THE LORD AND SERVING THE LORD CAN MAKE YOU HAPPY. BELIEVE IT OR NOT, IT IS ALL GOOD, AND IT IS ALL GOD. GLORY BE TO GOD!
Children, remember these verses because you will need them throughout your life:
7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
-2 Corinthians 12:7-10
4 Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.
5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
10 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity.
11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
14 Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction.
15 Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only.
16 For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity.
17 Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.
18 But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.
19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
20 Now unto God and our Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
-Philippians 4:4-20
-John 16:32-33
Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.
-Acts 14:22
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
-Romans 8:28
By the way, I shall never forget the text that Daniqua Grace sent me on Holy-Ween night, October 31st, 2023, while I was preaching and talking to people, she texted me and reported to me how you all passed out over 100 Gospel tracts on Holy-Ween night, which is a longstanding tradition in our ministry and family. I made a Podcast about it: “The Greatest Holy-Ween Night in the History of Our Ministry and Family.” Glory be to God! I am still rejoicing and talking about that because it is one thing when a father is leading the children out to do it, but it is a greater thing when his grown children do it on their own without his knowledge, without him telling them to do it, and without him leading the pack. Glory be to God!
Again, I thank the Lord for all the wonderful Thanksgivings we have had down through the years. Thank you, Danni and Danita for making sure we had many wonderful Thanksgivings by getting up early on Thanksgiving morning to prepare the turkey and the food, and thank you, Daniqua, Danyelle, and Danae, for preparing the Thanksgiving dinners in the Motorhome. Thank you, Danni, Daniel, Danita, Danae, Daniqua Grace, Danyel Ezekiel, Danyelle Elizabeth, Danielle Tekeela, Duran, and Kywaizia for the Precious Memories.
Thanksgiving: A Story of Persistence
by Kelly McFadden
Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:12-14)
Here is a part of the Thanksgiving story you may not know. While the first Thanksgiving was celebrated in October of 1621, it was not until October of 1777 that all 13 colonies celebrated Thanksgiving, for the first time. At one point, our first president, George Washington, proclaimed a National Day of Thanksgiving, but conflict and difficulties among the colonies put an end to its observance.
It was a magazine editor, Sarah Josepha Hale, whose work led to the celebration of the Thanksgiving holiday we observe today. Hale wrote letters to governors and presidents, and editorials in magazines, books and newspapers, promoting the observance of Thanksgiving. In 1863, after 40 years of letter writing and campaigning (that’s not a typo, she really wrote letters for 40 years), Hale’s persistence paid off and President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a National Day of Thanksgiving. Since then, every president has supported Thanksgiving. Forty years of dedication, persistence and passion, all to make sure that this country would celebrate a National Day of Thanksgiving each year. Impressive.
We can learn from Hale’s perseverance. It took her 40 years to accomplish what she set out to do. Just like her story, the Christian faith is often described as a marathon, not a sprint. Each day of our life is another day to choose between right and wrong, to help someone in need, to read our Bible and pray. As Paul reminds us in Philippians 3:12-14, Christians are called to persevere, to press on. Sometimes it can feel like an unrewarding task. It is hard, but important, to look to God for the BIGGER plan. What if Hale had chosen to give up after one year or ten years? Her goal would have been left unfinished. Press on towards the call of Christ! Endure! But be forewarned, just like Sara Josepha Hale, it may take 40 years to see the fruit of your labor!
Danni, Daniel, Danita, Danae, Daniqua Grace, Danyel Ezekiel, Danyelle Elizabeth, Danielle Tekeela, Duran, and Kywaizia, I love you all very much, and I am praying for you “Without Ceasing.” Please pray for me.
Love God and Jesus Christ First.
Love Papa, Second.
Love,
Papa
