Thanksgiving

INTRO.- ILL.- One man wrote, “The day before Christmas became a thanksgiving day for my family. The station wagon was packed with kids and travel stuff for the 400-mile trip to Grandma’s. As is our custom, before leaving we asked God to protect us on the road. He did, but in an unusual way.

“As we were cruising down I-75 in Ohio, we ran over some debris in the road. It made a lot of noise, but did no damage--or so we thought. With every passing mile we figured that the crisis had passed. When we pulled off the expressway for gas a few miles later, though, we were in for a deflating surprise. I felt a sickening, sloppy feeling in the front of the car. Both front tires had gone flat.

“We weren’t happy with having to replace the tires, but we were thankful for God’s care. Thankful that we didn’t have an accident. Thankful that the tires stayed inflated until we got off the expressway. Thankful for the tow truck sitting at the gas station. Thankful that a repair shop was open. We were thankful for God’s answer to our prayer.”

I Thess. 5:18 “Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

Sometimes the circumstances of our lives are not always the best. In fact, they may be downright bad, but still, we are to look for something to be thankful for! And there is ALWAYS something positive for which we can be thankful!

ILL.- One morning after a terrible snowstorm, Susan was outside shoveling her driveway. She stopped to wave hello to her neighbor, and he asked her why her husband wasn’t out there helping her with the chore.

She explained that one of them had to stay inside to take care of the children, so they drew straws to see who would go out and shovel. "Sorry about your bad luck," he said. Susan replied, "Don’t be sorry. I won!"

I Thess. 5:18 “Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

Giving thanks is God’s will for our lives. Giving thanks to God and others is what pleases the Lord.

PROP.- I have three simple thoughts about thanksgiving.

1- We have it so good

2- We enjoy it so much

3- We express it so little

I. WE HAVE IT SO GOOD

ILL.- Your mama is so poor, I walked into her house, asked to use the bathroom, and she said "3rd tree to your right."

Where did you come from? How poor were you when you were a child? What do you now have that didn’t you have? Many of you grew up with a whole less than you have now.

I Tim. 6:17 “Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.”

WE ARE THE RICH OF THIS WORLD and we should not be arrogant about it.

ILL.- Every week I send my sermons to an internet site called, “sermon central.com.” Occasionally, I receive e-mail notes from preachers who read my sermons. Some of the best notes I receive are from people in other parts of the world. For example, Packs Padillia preaches in the Philippines.

Do you know how much the average Filipino lives on yearly? $1040. Can you imagine? We have it so very good here in America!

ILL.- Brother Ruben Casas is a Hispanic preacher in East LA, California. He preaches for the American Baptist Church. We got acquainted some years ago through sermon central as well. Ruben, of course, was born and raised in Mexico. Here is a part of a letter that he wrote me.

“I remember the time in my homeland when I was working for less than one dollar a day. I came to this country looking for a better future and I found it. I went to school for a few years while I was working, sometimes part-time, sometimes full-time. When the Lord called me to ministry, He opened many doors. I was able to go to college than to seminary to get my Masters in Divinity.

“For many years I served the Lord in the barrio, in the heart of Northeast Los Angeles where gang activity, drive-by shootings, drug trafficking and other criminal activities were rampant. We preached on the streets, in the parks, in parking lots and everywhere we could, besides the church. We were trying to make an impact in the community.

“During those years I received a very small salary from the church. I used to get $800 dollars a month. It was not very much, but it was a whole lot better than what I had ever earned back in my country. I went through a lot of financial struggles. I had to drive a 1971 Ford Pinto, but where I grew up, I had to ride on a donkey.