Thankfully Blessed
Selected verses
Introduction-
Good morning…We are so glad that you have joined us this morning. We do not believe you are here by accident and that the Lord has something to say to us as we dig into His Word.
we are a few days from Thanksgiving and most will sit down at a table with a group of people and set out to devour more food than most people should eat in a week. Thanksgiving, the time it is okay to overindulge. We know the vague meaning behind it as our forefathers gathered together for a feast of celebration after accomplishing a long hard journey from oppression to come to a new place where they could worship God freely as they wanted.
So does what we call Thanksgiving line up with the definition of what God calls being thankful?
Let’s Pray-
Does getting together to eat show Thanksgiving?
Does coming together to celebrate make it Thankful?
Some will get together and there will not be one word of thankfulness to God or anyone else.
Some will go out to eat and someone else will prepare the meal and bring it to them-is that being thankful?
Some will pray over their food before they eat and some will not even give that a thought-which if any is thankful?
What I like about holidays is taking a break from busy life to get together with people that you care and love and express that love by food and gifts.
You stop what you are doing and give thanks that they are in your life.
Yes even a busy pastor in December can accomplish that if he/she stays focused.
Illustration-
Two men were walking through a field one day when they spotted an enraged bull. Instantly they darted toward the nearest fence. The storming bull followed in hot pursuit, and it was soon apparent they wouldn’t make it. Terrified, the one shouted to the other, "Put up a prayer, John. We’re in for it!" John answered, "I can’t. I’ve never made a public prayer in my life." "But you must!" implored his friend. "The bull is catching up to us." "All right," panted John, "I’ll say the only prayer I know, the one my father used to repeat at the table: ’O Lord, for what we are about to receive, make us truly thankful.’"
Illustration-The day before Thanksgiving an elderly man in Phoenix called his son in New York and said to him, "I hate to ruin your day, but I have to tell you that your mother and I are divorcing; 45 years of misery is enough. We’re sick of each other, and so you call your sister in Chicago and tell her."
Frantic, the son called his sister, who exploded on the phone. "They are not getting divorced," she shouted. "I’ll take care of this."
She called Phoenix immediately, and said to her father. "You are NOT getting divorced. Don’t you do a single thing until I get there. I’m calling my brother back, and we’ll both be there tomorrow. Until then, don’t do a thing, DO YOU HEAR ME?"
The man hung up his phone and turned to his wife. "Okay, honey. The kids are coming for Thanksgiving and paying for their own flights."
Thanksgiving is more than a desperate prayer offered at tough moments in our life.
Thanksgiving is more than a gathering of people with personal agendas.
Godly Thanksgiving has to be offered up to God. (Repeat)
Thanksgiving is right attitude and Gratitude toward God
Zig Ziglar, a Christian motivational speaker in his book, “See you at the top” called bad attitude “Stinking Thinking.”
Our attitude determines wither we’ll be thankful or filled with stinking thinking and focused on the wrong things. One draws us near to God and one draws us away.
Psalm 107:1-3, 10-16 Read from bible
Lord forgive us that sometimes we think Thankfulness is all about what I am getting. That I have stinking thinking!
Rather I would be thankful for your steadfast love and faithfulness to me even though at times my heart was far from you.
That you have taught my heart to be thankful for what you have already done for me and that really if you do nothing else for me, I must live a life of thankfulness.
1 THESSALONIANS 5:16-18
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
COLOSSIANS 2:6-7
“So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.”
Thankfulness is recognizing the goodness of God
JAMES 1:17
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
What’s that word? EVERYTHING!
GOOD THINGS COME FROM THE FATHER
1 CHRONICLES 16:34
Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His love endures forever!
PHILIPPIANS 4:4-7
“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
EPHESIANS 5:18-20
“DO NOT GET DRUNK ON WINE, WHICH LEADS TO DEBAUCHERY. INSTEAD, BE FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT, SPEAKING TO ONE ANOTHER WITH PSALMS, HYMNS AND SONGS FROM THE SPIRIT. SING AND MAKE MUSIC FROM YOUR HEARTTO THE LORD, ALWAYS GIVING THANKS TO GOD THE FATHERFOR EVERYTHING, IN THE NAME OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.”
Words off our lips mean something!
“As we express our gratitude, we must not forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them”- John Kennedy
“When I pray I always thank Mother Nature for the beauty in the world. It’s about having an attitude of gratitude- Miranda Kerr- Australian model
Let me comment on both- one I agree with and one I do not. Both were given with gratitude-
President Kennedy said that not only do we utter words but if we are to be thankful and grateful, it is not only uttering words, it is living them out-I agree.
The other said that she is grateful for Mother Nature and she prays and thanks her for the beauty of nature- I disagree whole-heartedly.
My earthly mothers name was Sharon and I have no Mother Nature. I have a heavenly Father to thank for what He has created.
I do not thank the creation, I thank the creator for what He has done for me.
Understanding the goodness of God also allows you to see the provisions of God and you see in His word encouragement and presence
Being thankful brings you Godly encouragement
John 16:33
"In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world."
Isaiah 41:10
"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."
Philippians 4:6–7
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Romans 8:28
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose.
Proverbs 3:5–6
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not learn on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths.”
Thankfulness is a call to worship God
Being thankful
A thankful person feels more contentment and joy and doesn't dwell on negative things. This is what seeing the good is all about; gratitude, thankfulness and appreciation. It is an attitude, a perspective and a way of life.
Being born in the USA is still the best place in the world- Thank God I was born here- if it wasn’t good, the world would not be trying to get in here.
TODAY I WILL BREATH DEEP AND BE THANKFUL-
Lord help us to see your blessings and have it be a call to worship!
Atmosphere of praise brings the presence of God.
The Lord inhabits our praise- when we are not focusing on self, we lift up the name of Jesus, He has something to say to us! Amen.
Praise gets us thinking right! (Repeat)
John Taylor
When we pray, productivity is maximized, fulfillment is realized, and frustration is neutralized.
When we are thankful we will want to spend time with the Lord who provides. We will want to communicate with him.
Praise chases away despair- I don’t care where your at on your journey or what your going through, praise chases away the blues.
Praise is a tool to fight the enemy. Just because it is dark doesn’t mean He is not working!
When you have done all that you know to do…Stand firm!
Come get your praise on! Express yourself to the lord and let Him know what you think of Him.
Remember when the light of God shows up darkness has to flee.
Darkness cannot stay where light is!
A grateful mature person realizes that life is a gift from God, and any blessings we receive come from him.
One says thank me-And pats himself on the back.
The other says that everything I have, everything that I am, belongs to God.
Everything He has done, everything He has given to me is a reason to praise God for His Goodness.
I do not know how much more time I have, neither do you.
Listen,
When is the last time you just said thank you Jesus?
When is the last time you reflected on His Goodness to you?
When is the last time you came to Him without an agenda? You just came because you wanted to be with Him?
Society today would do almost anything to get an autograph, to be with a celebrity. They camp out days for just a ticket to a concert, willing to spend money they don’t have to see someone they put on a pedestal. Putting our approval on bad behavior and bad moral values.
There is only one who goes on our pedestal! Jesus!
“In His hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to him. The sea is His, for He made it, and His hands formed the dry land. Come let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our maker, for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care,”
A bent knee is not enough= we are to be people praising Him!
Anyone beside me see this as a wake up call to lean into Jesus!
Close,
I am blessed to call you my redeemer.
I get excited when darkness has to go because light has shown up!
The God that desires our praise is the God of our salvation.
He knew you and he has a plan for your life!
Let’s pray
