Sermon Central
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Thanks-Giving
Contributed by Samuel Fulkerson on Dec 3, 2013 (message contributor)
Summary: Everyone has something to be thankful for and as Christians we should be Thanks-Givers!
Quotes:
"The thankful receiver bears a plentiful harvest." ~ William Blake
"We ought to give thanks for all fortune: if it is good, because it is good; if bad, because it works in us patience, humility." ~C. S. Lewis
"Be true to yourself, help others, make each day your masterpiece, make friendship a fine art, drink deeply from good books—especially the Bible, build a shelter against a rainy day, give thanks for your blessings and pray for guidance every day." ~ John Wooden
"It is not how much we have, but how much we enjoy, that makes happiness." ~ Charles Spurgeon
I Thessalonians 5: 16–22 “16- Rejoice evermore. 17- Pray without ceasing. 18- In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 19- Quench not the Spirit. 20- Despise not prophesying’s. 21- Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. 22- Abstain from all appearance of evil.”
1 Tesalonicenses 5:16-22 “16 Estad siempre gozosos; 17 orad sin cesar; 18 dad gracias en todo, porque esta es la voluntad de Dios para vosotros en Cristo Jesús. 19 No apaguéis el Espíritu; 20 no menospreciéis las profecías. 21 Antes bien, examinadlo todo cuidadosamente, retened lo bueno; 22 absteneos de toda forma de mal.”
In everything give thanks. Good, Bad or Otherwise.
In all things give thanks.
In all situations give thanks to God.
A few years ago, the Peanuts cartoon pictured Charlie Brown bringing out Snoopy’s dinner on Thanksgiving Day. But it was just his usual dog food in a bowl. Snoopy took one look at the dog food and said, "This isn’t fair. The rest of the world is eating turkey with all the trimmings, and all I get is dog food. Because I’m a dog, all I get is dog food." He stood there and stared at his dog food for a moment, and said, "I guess it could be worse. I could be a turkey."
Every one of us here today something to be thankful for.
The son of a small immigrant business owner had just come home after graduating from college as a C.P.A. The son said after looking at the finical books, “Dad, you don’t even know how much profit you’ve made.” The father answered, “Son, when I came to this country the only thing I owned was a pair of pants. Now, your brother is a doctor, your sister is an art teacher, and you are a C.P.A. Your mother and I own our home. We have a car and we own this little business. Now add that up, subtract the pants and all the rest is profit.”
This is the week of Thanksgiving and we should each take some time to add it all up and as they say, count our blessings.
Take some time to recognize what is truly important, and give God thanks for them.
Ephesians 5:20 “Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;”
Efesios 5:20 “dando siempre gracias por todo, en el nombre de nuestro Señor Jesucristo, a Dios, el Padre;”
Psalm 105:1-5 “1- O give thanks unto the LORD; call upon his name: make known his deeds among the people. 2- Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him: talk ye of all his wondrous works. 3- Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD. 4- Seek the LORD, and his strength: seek his face evermore. 5- Remember his marvellous works that he hath done; his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth;”
Salmos 105:1-5 “1 Dad gracias al Señor, invocad su nombre; dad a conocer sus obras entre los pueblos. 2 Cantadle, cantadle alabanzas;
hablad de todas sus maravillas. 3 Gloriaos en su santo nombre; alégrese el corazón de los que buscan al Señor. 4 Buscad al Señor y su fortaleza;
buscad su rostro continuamente. 5 Recordad las maravillas que El ha hecho, sus prodigios y los juicios de su boca,”
In times past a man made a list of what he was thankful for; and it read thusly:
I am Thankful for.........
....the taxes I pay because it means I’m employed.
....the clothes that fit a little too snug because it means I have enough to eat.
....a lawn that needs mowing, windows that need cleaning and gutters that need fixing because it means I have a home.
....the spot I find at the far end of the parking lot because it means I am capable of walking.
....my huge heating bill because it means I am warm.
....all the complaining I hear about our government because it means we have freedom of speech.
....the lady behind me in church who sings off key because it means that I can hear.
....the piles of laundry and ironing because it means my loved ones are nearby.
