SF373 - TURNING THANKSGIVING INTO THANKSLIVING (Psalm 103 1-2)

Psalm 103:1-5

INTRODUCTION

Are We Missing The Point?

One day the parents of a young man killed in military service came to their pastor and told him the wanted to give a monetary gift as a memory to our son who died in battle.  The pastor said, "That's a wonderful gesture on your part.  He asked if it was ok to tell the congregation and they said that it was.  So the next Sunday he told the congregation of the gift given in memory of the dead son.  On the way home from church, another couple were driving down the highway when the father said to his wife, "Why don't we give a gift because of our son?"  And his wife said, "But our son didn't die in any conflict!  Our son is still alive!"  Her husband replied, "That's exactly my point!  That's all the more reason we ought to give in thanks to God."  Isn't it interesting that we most often give gifts to God in memorial rather than in appreciation!  It ought to be the exact oppose!  But it's the same way in our pray lives.  We pray the best and the most when troubles come our way, not when we are being blessed.

Mark 7:6 “He answered and said to them, Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: This people honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me.”

God wants us to live what we say we believe

You really only believe what you live!

We Can Turn Our Thanksgiving Into Thanks Living by...

1A.      OUR WITNESSING

2 Corinthians 2:14; 4:15

Colossians 4:2-3)

2A.      OUR WALKING (Philippians 4:5‑6)

We are to walk patiently

We are to walk prayerfully

We are to walk confidently

1 Thessalonians 5:18 “In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

APPLICATION

We have much for which to be thankful...

Ø      God's love

Ø      Salvation

Ø      The Work of the Holy Spirit

Ø      Our Church

Ø      Our Families

Ø      Material Blessings

Ø      Friends

Ø      Health

Ø      Peace

Ø      Nature

Ø      The Bible

Ø      Talents, Hobbies, Gifts, and Abilities

Ø      Our Nation and it's Leaders

Ø      Holidays and Days of Rest

Grains of Corn

Each kernel should represent a reason to be thankful.  Carry them with until Thanksgiving as a reminder of the need for gratitude.