Deserving Our Thanks

DESERVING OF OUR THANKS

Psalms 100:1-5

1. Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.

2. Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing.

3. Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

4. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

5. For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

As we gather together this holiday season, let us recall to whom we owe thanks. It is to Our Lord, whom all thanks should be first given. Our Lord is worthy of thanks in everything. A short time ago, my wife had asked of me to make out a Christmas list so she could possibly show Santa. Well, I made a little small list out of a few things she could suggest to him… Just as I am made to do every year by her.. Now during the Christmas holidays, making a list is a common thing. Our Children will write down many things that they would like to have. Such as a new bike, the latest X-Box games, ect. But as Thanksgiving started approaching this year, I began to think; “Why not make out a list of what I’m thankful for.” I thought; “Why not write down some of the many things that I owe thanks for.” I then came across such a list from some housewives. A list that shows what they were thankful for. Let me share a few of them with you. Let me read part of that list that several housewives compiled. They wrote that they were especially thankful: For automatic dishwashers because they make it possible for us to get out of the kitchen before the family comes back in for their after-dinner snacks. For husbands who attack small repair jobs around the house because they usually make them big enough to call in the professionals.

For children who put away their things & clean up after themselves. They’re such a joy, you hate to see them go home to their own parents. For teenagers because they give parents an opportunity to learn a second language. For Smoke alarms because they let you know when the turkey’s done. Now our list may differ from theirs, but we could certainly make one out. Surely there are things we could pen down that we too are thankful for. Things like; Life, Health, Family, Our Nation we live in, despite all it’s flaws, Church, Salvation and God’s Mercy which he gives to me daily. Through Jesus, we have so much for which to celebrate on Thanksgiving! But now, have you ever thought about the first thanksgiving and where it all started? Have you ever thought of just how it all began and who started it?

WHERE THANKSGIVING STARTED

No Americans, were more underprivileged than that small handful from the Mayflower. The Mayflower was a ship that brought our founding forefathers to this country. It was those from that old ship that first started the custom of our giving thanksgiving to Almighty God. They had No homes & no government agency to help them build homes. They had no means of transportation but their legs. Their only food came from the sea & the forest, & they had to get it for themselves. They had no money & no place to spend it if they’d had any. They had no amusements except what they made for themselves. No means of communication with their relatives in England. No social security or medicare. But I will tell you what they did have.., 4 of the Greatest-Human-Assets one can own: Initiative, Courage, A willingness to work, and most importantly, a Boundless Faith in God! Faith in God…, Faith in God…, Almost sounds strange today in this time we are living in. (Trying to now take “one nation, under God” out of our Pledge of Allegiance.) Our Forefathers would be sick of the way, our nation is living… Our hallowed "Declaration of Independence" proclaims, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights . . ." And it ends with these words, ". . .with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes & our sacred Honor." Thanksgiving Day is a distinctive holiday. It doesn’t commemorate a battle or anyone’s birthday or anniversary. Thanksgiving was a day set aside to express our nation’s thanks to our nation’s God. In 1789, George Washington made this public proclamation. I want you to notice what he said and notice how he admitted the fact of our nations dependence upon God from this excerpt. "By the President of the United States of America. A proclamation: Whereas, it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, & humbly to implore His protection & favor, - and Whereas, Both Houses of Congress have by their joint committee requested me `to recommend to the people of the United States a day of Public Thanksgiving & Prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God. . .’ "Now, Therefore I do recommend & assign Thursday, the 26th day of November next, to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great & glorious Being who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be. . ." So read the very first Thanksgiving Proclamation. Shortly, our nation will give thanks in some manner to our God. And we should do so, in part, because we have so much. I think that the 100th Psalm serves as a reminder of how we are to be so thankful at all times. And I want to share with you through this manuscript a little closer view at this Psalm.