Thanksgiving’s Top Ten

THANKSGIVING’S TOP TEN

Psalms 103:1-5, 22

INTRODUCTION

A. THANKSGIVING HUMOR

1. Did you hear about the Redneck who called Butterball’s Thanksgiving Turkey Talk-Line to tell the operator he’d cut his turkey in half with a chain saw and wanted to know if the oil from the chain would adversely affect the turkey.

2. A disappointed woman called Butterball’s Thanksgiving Turkey Talk-Line wondering why her turkey had no breast meat. After a conversation with an operator, it became apparent that the woman’s turkey was lying on the table upside down.

3. A toll booth operator answered the phone one Thanksgiving Day. The woman on the line wanted to know the road conditions on the turnpike. After the operator said everything was A-okay, she told him that a friend was coming for dinner. Then came the stumper. “If my friend just left from exit twelve,” she asked, “what time should I put the turkey in?” (Turkey Timer!)

4. “Vegetables are a must on a diet. I suggest carrot cake, zucchini bread, and pumpkin pie.”—Jim Davis.

B. TEXT

1 Bless the LORD, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name! 2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: 3 Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, 4 Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, 5 Who satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s! 22 Bless the LORD, all His works, in all places of His dominion. Bless the LORD, O my soul!

C. THESIS

1. Why are we commanded not to forget all his benefits? Because we are prone to do just that – we often forget all His benefits that He has bestowed upon us!

2. I spent some time this week thinking about some of those benefits that God has given us – and I want to share my “top ten” list with you.

X. GOD’S MERCIES ARE NEW EVERY MORNING

A. SCRIPTURE

Lam. 3:22-25 22 Through the LORD’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. 23 They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. 24 “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I hope in Him!” 25 The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him.

B. GLORY OF A NEW DAY

1. Haven’t you ever had the experience of going to bed at the end of a long, difficult, day – just glad to have it over. And then to wake up the next day and realize that the past is gone and you have a new day to start!

2. His faithfulness is great! It is never failing! His mercy toward those who seek Him is without end!

IX. I DON’T NEED TO EARN GOD’S LOVE

A. SCRIPTURE

7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Rom. 5:7-8.

B. “JUST AS I AM”

1. Many people are “people pleasers”. They worry about what people think of them and whether other people really like them. They try to earn people’s love and acceptance by trying to “perform” for them.

2. But it never works – when we approach relationships like this, they’re built on a faulty foundation and lack the genuine candidness and freedom necessary for deep relationships.

3. I’m so glad that when I come before God I can come just as I am. He created me and loves me. He knows my weaknesses and my failures as well as my strengths and my victories.

4. But he does not despise me for my weaknesses or love me because of my strengths. He just loves me, and I can go to him to find rest.

5. “Come to Me, all you who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matt. 11:28-30.

VIII. I LIVE IN A FREE PROSPEROUS COUNTRY

A. OUR GREAT OPPORTUNITIES

1. All over the world right now, millions of people are wondering where their next meal will come from.

2. Millions have never had the opportunity to travel more than a few miles from their home.

3. Millions have never had running water, or access to health care, or the ability to go out to dinner at a restaurant.

4. Millions have only the clothes on their back – and have never owned a pair of shoes. I could go on and on.