Grant County church of Christ

 

November 17, 2007

THANKSGIVING

Failure to give thanks causes us to appear to be ungrateful to God. We don't like it when someone seems ungrateful Jerry W. Carmichael

The giving of thanks to God for the various blessings that He gives, is repeated by command, and example throughout the Bible. The words, thank, thanks, thanksgiving , gratitude: occur 136 times in the Bible, 40 in the Psalms alone. Notice some familiar verses about giving thanks to God. "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:6-7). "And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him" (Colossians 3:17).

For a wicked and sinful nation such as ours to set aside a special day to recognize that there is a God who provides for us and to whom we should show our gratitude, is testimony to the far-reaching effects of Christianity! However, this should not be the only time during the year that we thank God for all that He has done for us.

Daily, if not hourly, we could think of a host of things for which we should be thanking God. Our health, prosperity; home, bed, clothes, food, jobs, family, modern conveniences, friends, salvation through Jesus, eternal life, Bible, the ability to read and to understand, time we had to spend with loved ones who have gone on, memories (like a snapshot in the mind); adversity (that which does not kill us makes us stronger), modern medicine, young Christians who will keep the church going after we are gone; older Christians from whom we learn; and delivery from danger are but a few of the things for which to be thankful. to us. We certainly don't want to appear as if we

The Psalms are especially full of Thanksgiving: Let us notice some lessons today from Psalms 100, sometimes called the "Thanksgiving Psalm"

"Make a joyful shout to the LORD, all you lands. Serve the LORD with gladness; come before His presence with singing. Know that the LORD, He is God; it is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generation" (Psalms 100:1-5).

In verse 13a we are told how we are to react toward God. We are to "Make a joyful shout to the Lord all the earth!" James. 5:13 tells us, "Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing Psalms". Colossians 3:16 speaks of "singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord" This means from a pleasurable attitude. When we thank God for all that He has done for us it ought to bring pleasant thoughts to our minds and a song of praise to our hearts!

The next thing the Psalmist tells us is to "serve the Lord with gladness"! The familiar refrain of Psalms 122:1 rings true for the one who is thankful. "I was glad when they said to me, come and let us go into the house of the Lord."

Let us also notice the admonition from James 1:2. "Count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience". The words "rejoice, and joy" appear about 16 times in the Philippian letter which was written while the Apostle Paul was in prison! Serving God should be a joyful experience for which we are ever thankful.

The Psalmist also tells us in verse 2 that we are to "Come before His presence with singing"! "But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God and the other prisoners were listening to them" (Acts 16:25). Ephesians 5:18-20 tells us: "And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ". Joy and singing and thanksgiving are all related!

Verse 4 tells us that we are to approach our God with an attitude of gratitude! We are to "enter into His gates with thanksgiving". At least seven of the Psalms tell us in the first verse to give thanks (See Psalms 75:1; 92:1; 105:1; 106:1; 107:1; 118:1; 136:1).

Why should I be in a continual mode of thanksgiving to God? The question is answered in verse 5.  Because "the Lord is good and His steadfast love is everlasting and His faithfulness endures to all generations."

We should live lives of thanksgiving toward God because He is the epitome of goodness. His mercy, grace, and steadfast love is always there for us to reach out and hold on to. He will not leave us, nor forsake, and we can always depend on Him. Who will you be thanking for all the blessings of your life today? Your boss, your own strength, your parents, or your children? All of these are sources of blessings but the overall source is the God who made it all, keeps it all in His hand, and will come and destroy it all when He is ready.

THE FIRST PROCLAMATION OF THANKSGIVING

Inasmuch as the great Father has given us this year an abundant harvest of Indian corn, wheat, beans, squashes, and garden vegetables, and has made the forests to abound with game and the sea with fish and clams, and inasmuch as He has protected us from the ravages of the savages, has spared us from pestilence and disease, has granted us freedom to worship God according to the dictates of our own conscience; now, I, your magistrate, do proclaim that all ye Pilgrims, with your wives and little ones, do gather at ye meeting house, on ye hill, between the hours of 9 and 12 in the day time, on Thursday, November 29th of the year of our Lord, one thousand six hundred and twenty-three, and the third year since ye pilgrims landed on ye Pilgrim Rock, there to listen to ye pastor, and render thanksgiving to ye Almighty God for all His blessings.

--William Bradford, Governor of Plymouth Colony, 1623

 

Visitors

You are our honored guest and we welcome you back anytime you are in the area.   Please fill out a visitor card located in the rack on the back of the pew. 

 

Prayer List

 

Bill Mollett is recovering at home from his recent surgery.  Please continue to pray for him.

Sandy Mills is still suffering from kidney stones.

 

FELLOWSHIP MEAL

 

Thanksgiving Fellowship Meal – immediately following Sunday school this morning.  If you are visiting please feel free to join us.

 

Reminder

If you need a ride to church services please let Jerry know as soon as possible.

 

 

Statistics           

                                Attendance           Contribution        

November 11, 2007            44                            $637.00
 

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MEET WITH US

            205 Hopperton Lane

            Dry Ridge, KY 41035

            (859) 824-6200

Sunday AM Worship……..... .9:30AM

Sunday Bible Study………...10:40AM

Sunday PM Service……….. .6:00 PM

Wednesday Bible Study…... 7:00 PM

 

Minister: Jerry Carmichael: jerrywc@juno.net

Website: www.grantcountycc.org