What Are We Thankful For?

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. "Like heck

they’re 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 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 flights."

1. Attention

I met Janet at Bible College in TN. Before we ever dated I knew her because she was in charge of the Wed. night Jr. Girls Club (about 75 girls) at church and I was on church staff and in charge of the Boys-- I knew she was (first step in our relationship ) a good Christian girl. I also knew that she had a real heart for ministry and was a servant of the Lord (second thing). Janet was in one or two of the school dramas and it was there that she met and began to date my room mate. I never thought about dating her because she was Russell’s girl friend and I got to know her better (third). I guess that’s what made me notice her! She really began to look different to me - so I asked her out and stole her from my room mate. Our first date was on July first and we have been seeing fireworks ever since. We began to spend a lot of time together (4th). We talked on the phone all the time and we became close (5th). She graduated and we home. When she was gone I knew I couldn’t live without her so I proposed6th. We were married 7th the next July and then I really began to get acquainted with Janet. You don’t really know a person until you have lived with them. Now it has been over 20 years 8th and I think I am beginning to get to know Janet. I love and appreciate her more and more. She means a lot to me.

UNDERSTANDING AND APPRECIATING THE LORD JESUS CHRIST IS THE VERY SAME THING. He means more and more to us the longer we know Him.

BUT YOU HAVE TO GET TO KNOW HIM!!! -- WHO IS HE? >>> WHAT IS THE PROCESS OF GETTING TO KNOW HIM?

>>>>Listen to HOW John Westly GOT TO KNOW PEOPLE - AND THE LORD.

John Wesley was about 21 years of age when he went to Oxford University. He came from a Christian home, and he was gifted with a keen mind and good looks. Yet in those days he was a bit snobbish and sarcastic. One night, however, something happened that set in motion a change in Wesley’s heart. While speaking with a porter, he discovered that the poor fellow had only one coat and lived in such impoverished conditions that he didn’t even have a bed. Yet he was an unusually happy person, filled with gratitude to God. Wesley, being immature, thoughtlessly joked about the man’s misfortunes. "And what else do you thank God for?" he said with a touch of sarcasm. The porter smiled, and in the spirit of meekness replied with joy, "I thank Him that He has given me my life and being, a heart to love Him, and above all a constant desire to serve Him!" Deeply moved, Wesley recognized that this man knew the meaning of true thankfulness. Many years later, in 1791, John Wesley lay on his deathbed at the age of 88. Those who gathered around him realized how well he had learned the lesson of praising God in every circumstance. Despite Wesley’s extreme weakness, he began singing the hymn, "I’ll Praise My Maker While I’ve Breath."

2. Need

What made Wesley so rude and thoughtless? It was the absence of true THANKFULNESS!

What makes a sinner revel in his sin? What makes a lazy person relish and enjoy inactivity? What makes a Christian apathetic toward the Word of God and the things of God?

I believe most people are the way they are because of the lack of the proper appreciation for JESUS.

ILL>>>The story is told of a poor man who was given a loaf of bread. He thanked the baker, but the baker said, “Don’t thank me. Thank the miller who made the flour.” So he thanked the miller, but the miller said, “Don’t thank me. Thank the farmer who planted the wheat.”