Introduction

Good morning, dear friends and family. It's a bright and sunny day. A day filled with hope. A day to gather and share. We're here to lift our hearts and voices to the Lord. To praise Him. To thank Him. To seek His guidance.

The Scripture we're going to focus on today is Psalm 100:4. It reads,

"Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name."

These words, simple yet powerful, remind us of our duty and joy. The joy of giving thanks. The joy of remembering. The joy of gratitude. And not just in November, but every day. In every thought. In every breath.

G.K. Chesterton once said, "When it comes to life the critical thing is whether you take things for granted or take them with gratitude." So true. So simple. So profound.

Today, we're not just going to talk about thanksgiving. We're going to feel it. We're going special places in our hearts. Places filled with memories. Places filled with gratitude.

Before we start, let's bow our heads in prayer.

Dear Lord, we come to you with open hearts. We thank you for this day. For the sun that shines. For the air we breathe. For the love we share. Fill us with your Holy Spirit. Guide our thoughts. Guide our words. Help us to see your truth. Help us to feel your love. Help us to live in gratitude. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Are you ready? Let's begin.

Times of Thanksgiving

In the heart of the Psalmist's words, we find a call to gratitude. A call that echoes through the ages, reaching us here and now. It's a call to remember, to reflect, and to rejoice. It's a call to step into the presence of the Lord with a heart full of thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving: We often think of a specific holiday, a specific day marked on the calendar. But the Psalmist's words remind us that thanksgiving is not confined to a single day. It's not a date on the calendar. It's a state of the heart. It's a way of life.

Every moment: In every circumstance we're invited to enter His gates with thanksgiving. In the midst of joy and in the midst of sorrow. In times of plenty and in times of need. In times of certainty and in times of doubt. In every season of life, we're invited to approach the Lord with a grateful heart.

Not always easy: Life can be hard. Trials can be heavy. Burdens can be overwhelming. But even in the hardest times, even in the darkest nights, we can find reasons to be thankful. We can find traces of God's goodness. We can find glimpses of His grace.

We can see it in…

The beauty of creation: In the warmth of the sun. In the coolness of the rain. In the changing of the seasons. In the blooming of the flowers. In the singing of the birds. In the majesty of the mountains. In the vastness of the sea. In the twinkling of the stars. In every detail of creation, we see the hand of the Creator. And we're reminded to be thankful.

The love of people: In the kindness of a stranger. In the care of a friend. In the support of a family. In the laughter of a child. In the wisdom of the elderly. In the sacrifice of the selfless. In the courage of the brave. In every act of love, we see the heart of the Lover. And we're reminded to be thankful.

The gift of life: In the miracle of birth. In the journey of growth. In the adventure of learning. In the challenge of change. In the mystery of death. In every stage of life, we see the Giver of life. And we're reminded to be thankful.

The story of salvation: In the promise of a Savior. In the birth of Jesus. In the teachings of the Master. In the miracles of the Messiah. In the death on the cross. In the resurrection from the grave. In the ascension to heaven. In the coming of the Spirit. In every chapter of the story, we see the Author of salvation. And we're reminded to be thankful.

Remembering in November

As we continue to reflect on the words of Psalm 100:4, we find ourselves in the month of November ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO