The 165-Degree Life Series

LAYERS OF THANKSGIVING 2024: THE 165-DEGREE LIFE

1 CHRONICLES 16:1-36

#layersofthanksgiving

INTRODUCTION… How Pop-Up Turkey Timers Work home.howstuffworks.com/pop-up-timer.htm [adapted]

This morning we are going to talk turkey. Millions of people throughout the United States sit down to a big meal that typically includes turkey because dining on a big roasted or fried bird has been a staple for centuries because turkey is one of the foods believed to have been shared at the first Thanksgiving celebrated in 1621. Please pay no attention to the historians who say that it is more likely that duck, geese, along with some venison was the meal. Don’t let actual factual history get in the way of the truth!

One of the helpful features of turkeys that they are born with right out of the egg is that every turkey has a pop-up timer. If that is not a signal from the Almighty God that this animal should be food, I don’t know what is!

For many people, roasting a turkey is a little bit easier thanks to a simple little gadget known as the pop-up timer. This smart piece of technology lets you know when your turkey is done so you don't have to stress over it. All you have to do is wait until the red indicator stick pops up and you know the bird is done and it's time to eat.

A pop-up timer found in a turkey normally has four parts:

#1 The red stick that pops up

#2 The white or light blue outer case

#3 A spring

#4 Piece of soft metal similar to solder

The soft metal is solid at room temperature but turns to a liquid when it melts at about 165 degrees. When the metal melts, it releases the red stick and the spring pops up the red stick so you know the turkey is done. Turkey is done when it reaches 165 degrees.

One little-known fact is that these timers are reusable. If you dip the tip in hot water it will re-melt the metal and you can push the pop-up piece back into place. Then let it cool, and the pop-up piece will be back in its original position — ready to use again.

TRANSITION

This morning we are not going to just talk about how to tell a turkey is done, but as I thought about that word… “done”… I realized that it could be used by people to express their emotional state or even a particular relationship. When we say “I am done” or “we are done” or “I am done with this day,” we are expressing frustration, stress, and at times emotional emptiness.

Feeling "done" can be overwhelming and draining. It often means you're at a point where you’ve given all you can to a situation, person, or even a part of yourself, and there's just no more energy or patience left to give. It can happen after long periods of stress, disappointment, or emotional exhaustion. “Being done” is absolutely an enemy of thankfulness. We are focusing on thankfulness for a few weeks before thanksgiving because thankfulness is an integral part of a heart dedicated to God. Why? Why focus on thanks? Why focus on being thankful?

CONTENT… Giving Thanks Statistics [google search]

* A 2014 study published in Psychotherapy Research found that participants who kept a gratitude journal reported significantly fewer symptoms of depression compared to those who focused on daily hassles.

* The phrase “give thanks” is mentioned 73x in the Old Testament and New Testament.

* A study published in Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being (2011) found that writing down things you’re grateful for before bed can significantly improve sleep quality. Grateful individuals tend to experience fewer sleep disturbances, likely due to the calming effects of thankfulness.

* Jesus often prayed and gave thanks (Matthew 11:25, 15:36, 26:27; Luke 10:21, 22:17; John 11:41). If Jesus did it, we should as well.

* A study in Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin (2012) showed that people who practiced gratitude were more likely to accomplish their goals, as they felt more motivated and focused.

* The Apostle Paul was constantly giving thanks in the various letters he wrote to the churches (Romans 1; 1 Corinthians 1, 11; 2 Corinthians 1; Ephesians 1; Philippians 1; Colossians 1; 1 Thessalonians 1, 2; Thessalonians 1, 2; 2 Timothy 1; Philemon).

TRANSITION

Having a heart of thankfulness allows us to abide well in Christ and follow after the pattern of proven believers in Jesus. Christians ought to be thankful. If any group of people on the planet have a reason to be thankful, it is a believer in Jesus! Yet, life is often not fair. Life beats us up. Other people are stressful and can drain us mentally. Demands on our time drain us physically, emotionally, and spiritually. We may end up in an emotional or mental place after a hard season of life and “just be done.” As I said before, “being done” is absolutely an enemy of thankfulness.