Having A Heart Of Thanksgiving

A heart of Thanksgiving

Psalm 103

Introduction

Psalm 103

Here David reflects on his life. He reflects on God’s goodness. God’s forgiveness. On all of God’s benefits of being a child of God. How God has restored him. How God has had compassion for him. The mercies of God. David gives God a cheerful praise for what He has done and what He is doing in his life. He reflects back and he cannot be anything less than grateful and have a heart that is full of Thanksgiving.

This Thursday is Thanksgiving, but really everyday should be Thanksgiving. Truth is, most people think of being thankful only when we have good things happening or when material blessings are given to us.

Illustration-(Sermoncentral)

Proclamation made by Governor Bradford in 1623- 3 years after the pilgrims settled at Plymouth.

“Inasmuch as the great Father has given us this year an abundant harvest of Indian corn, wheat, peas, squashes and garden vegetables, and has made the forest to abound with game and the sea with fish and clams, and inasmuch as he has protected us from the raids of the savages, has spared us from pestilence and disease, has granted us freedom to worship God according to the dictates of our own conscience, now I, your magistrate, do proclaim all ye pilgrims, with your wifes and ye little ones, do gather at ye meeting house, on ye hill, between the hours of 9 and 12 in the day time, on Thursday November ye 29th of the year of our Lord one Thousand six hundred and twenty three, and the third year since ye pilgrims landed on ye Plymouth rock, there to listen to ye pastor and render thanksgiving to ye almighty God for all His blessings.”

Christ and His disciples taught us to always give thanks. Our forefathers gave thanks for all the blessing God has done for us. “Speak to one another with Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, always giving thanks to God the Father.” In fact, this Psalm I know of at least 2 chorus that we sing to give thanks.

(V2)- Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all we sing to give thanks.

(V11)- For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His love for those who fear Him. For three weeks, Jess has put out a signboard with I’m Thankful for... and we have put things that we are thankful for. Some great things. Some have put their pastor and Miss Becky on there. That is a blessing to me In fact, this week I went with some ladies to Prime-timers Christmas banquet and sat with several people. One pastor asked me what I was preaching this Sunday, and before I could even give him an answer, asked a second question- will you be long winded. Without hesitation Shirley spoke up and said- He has never been boring and he has never put me to sleep. That I am also thankful for Blessings and thankfulness are not only things that you receive. Things that you can touch. Pilgrims in 1620 landed in Plymouth not to all the blessings we enjoy today. 102 people on the Mayflower set out to enhance their relationship with God. The Mayflower was no cruise ship. That Carnival ship this week that was towed from the sea of Mexico, where over 4000 people had their luxuries taken away because a motor burned up, where the Coast Guard had to fly rations of food to them was nothing compared to what the pilgrims had to endure. They struggled to get to the new land and when they got here, they were not embraced with all the comforts of home. Truth is - we celebrate Thanksgivng with turkey, mashed potatoes, and cranberry sauce. That was probably not even on the menu. The main meat was probably Venison(deer meat) and duck. Mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce was not even invented yet. If it was not for Wampanoa Indians and chef Massasoit, they would have starved and died. We have this one day celebration of food and plenty. They were actually near starving. Their celebration went nearly a week. (V1) “Praise the Lord, O my Soul, all my inmost being praise His Holy name” Thanksgiving should be turned into Thanks-living.

Poem that I found:

May your stuffing be tasty

may your turkey plump

May your potatoes and gravy

have nary a lump.

May your yams be delicious

and your pies take the prize.

And may your thanksgiving dinner

stay off your thighs.

That’s cute- but it is not a prayer of thanksgiving.

George Washington

“It is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor.” The first Thanksgiving brought several more graves than homes to be lived in. The ship that was suppose to bring more food brought 35 more mouths to feed and no more provisions. The pilgrims did not have much by our standards, but they possessed gratitude, thankfulness, and a love for God. That is what America was founded on. America has lost all three. Gratitude for each other and God. Thankfulness for others and God. The love of God, that they were willing to risk everything for. They lost those three things and gained three other things.