Quotes:
"The thankful receiver bears a plentiful harvest." ~ William Blake
"We ought to give thanks for all fortune: if it is good, because it is good; if bad, because it works in us patience, humility." ~C. S. Lewis
"Be true to yourself, help others, make each day your masterpiece, make friendship a fine art, drink deeply from good books—especially the Bible, build a shelter against a rainy day, give thanks for your blessings and pray for guidance every day." ~ John Wooden
"It is not how much we have, but how much we enjoy, that makes happiness." ~ Charles Spurgeon
I Thessalonians 5: 16–22 “16- Rejoice evermore. 17- Pray without ceasing. 18- In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 19- Quench not the Spirit. 20- Despise not prophesying’s. 21- Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. 22- Abstain from all appearance of evil.”
1 Tesalonicenses 5:16-22 “16 Estad siempre gozosos; 17 orad sin cesar; 18 dad gracias en todo, porque esta es la voluntad de Dios para vosotros en Cristo Jesús. 19 No apaguéis el Espíritu; 20 no menospreciéis las profecías. 21 Antes bien, examinadlo todo cuidadosamente, retened lo bueno; 22 absteneos de toda forma de mal.”
In everything give thanks. Good, Bad or Otherwise.
In all things give thanks.
In all situations give thanks to God.
A few years ago, the Peanuts cartoon pictured Charlie Brown bringing out Snoopy’s dinner on Thanksgiving Day. But it was just his usual dog food in a bowl. Snoopy took one look at the dog food and said, "This isn’t fair. The rest of the world is eating turkey with all the trimmings, and all I get is dog food. Because I’m a dog, all I get is dog food." He stood there and stared at his dog food for a moment, and said, "I guess it could be worse. I could be a turkey."
Every one of us here today something to be thankful for.
The son of a small immigrant business owner had just come home after graduating from college as a C.P.A. The son said after looking at the finical books, “Dad, you don’t even know how much profit you’ve made.” The father answered, “Son, when I came to this country the only thing I owned was a pair of pants. Now, your brother is a doctor, your sister is an art teacher, and you are a C.P.A. Your mother and I own our home. We have a car and we own this little business. Now add that up, subtract the pants and all the rest is profit.”
This is the week of Thanksgiving and we should each take some time to add it all up and as they say, count our blessings.
Take some time to recognize what is truly important, and give God thanks for them.
Ephesians 5:20 “Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;”
Efesios 5:20 “dando siempre gracias por todo, en el nombre de nuestro Señor Jesucristo, a Dios, el Padre;”
Psalm 105:1-5 “1- O give thanks unto the LORD; call upon his name: make known his deeds among the people. 2- Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him: talk ye of all his wondrous works. 3- Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD. 4- Seek the LORD, and his strength: seek his face evermore. 5- Remember his marvellous works that he hath done; his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth;”
Salmos 105:1-5 “1 Dad gracias al Señor, invocad su nombre; dad a conocer sus obras entre los pueblos. 2 Cantadle, cantadle alabanzas;
hablad de todas sus maravillas. 3 Gloriaos en su santo nombre; alégrese el corazón de los que buscan al Señor. 4 Buscad al Señor y su fortaleza;
buscad su rostro continuamente. 5 Recordad las maravillas que El ha hecho, sus prodigios y los juicios de su boca,”
In times past a man made a list of what he was thankful for; and it read thusly:
I am Thankful for.........
....the taxes I pay because it means I’m employed.
....the clothes that fit a little too snug because it means I have enough to eat.
....a lawn that needs mowing, windows that need cleaning and gutters that need fixing because it means I have a home.
....the spot I find at the far end of the parking lot because it means I am capable of walking.
....my huge heating bill because it means I am warm.
....all the complaining I hear about our government because it means we have freedom of speech.
....the lady behind me in church who sings off key because it means that I can hear.
....the piles of laundry and ironing because it means my loved ones are nearby.
....the alarm that goes off in the early morning hours because it means that I’m alive.
....the weariness and aching muscles at the end of the day because it means I have been productive. lives.
We should be very thankful for all the blessings God has bestowed upon us.
We truly are a blessed people here today.
Acts 16:19-25 “19- And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers, 20- And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city, 21- And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans. 22- And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them. 23- And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely: 24- Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks. 25- And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.”
Hechos 16:19-25 “19 Pero cuando sus amos vieron que se les había ido la esperanza de su ganancia, prendieron a Pablo y a Silas, y los arrastraron hasta la plaza, ante las autoridades; 20 y después de haberlos presentado a los magistrados superiores, dijeron: Estos hombres, siendo judíos, alborotan nuestra ciudad, 21 y proclaman costumbres que no nos es lícito aceptar ni observar, puesto que somos romanos. 22 La multitud se levantó a una contra ellos, y los magistrados superiores, rasgándoles sus ropas, ordenaron que los azotaran con varas. 23 Y después de darles muchos azotes, los echaron en la cárcel, ordenando al carcelero que los guardara con seguridad; 24 el cual, habiendo recibido esa orden, los echó en el calabozo interior y les aseguró los pies en el cepo. 25 Como a medianoche, Pablo y Silas oraban y cantaban himnos a Dios, y los presos los escuchaban.”
Be a thanks giver today. Count your blessing, name them everyone.
Acknowledge unto God your sincere appreciation for all His love, grace and mercy; for all His blessings.
Let’s take a quick moment for each today to say something you are thankful for.
*Sermon Sources: Thanksgiving – Add it All Up! By Melvin Newland.
