11/27/14- Thanksgiving

Give thanks to the Lord for He is good.
His love endures forever.
Give thanks to the God of gods.
His love endures forever.
Give thanks to the Lord of lords.
His love endures forever.  (Psalm 136:1-3)

Amen!  Praise and glory and wisdom and THANKS and honor and power and strength
be to our God forever and ever Amen! (Rev, 7:12- the song of the angels to God).

Thoughts:  Thanksgiving does mean taking stock.  But it is more than just counting our money in the counting house- like Scrooge.  Thanksgiving implies that there is a giver to whom we should give thanks.  Otherwise, the blessings we get are not blessings at all- only an accumulation from random chances from the universe- that really don't mean much in the face of infinity.  Our talents- our brains and our abilities and being born in a place of blessing mean little and are nothing if we do not have one who has actually created us with a purpose and a call- then blessing us with what we have.
     Thanksgiving also implies contentment.  If we are not able to appreciate what we have, how can we find peace with what we have and stop the never- ending temptation to greed and simple accumulation of stuff?  John Calvin spoke a lot of the need to be satisfied with what we have as a part of the Christian life.  The balance of this is that we should try to do the best we can with the talents and gifts God has given us as a good steward.  Calvin said, "All desire peace of mind,, but because they rob God of the praise due to His power, their own ingratitude keeps them from realizing the blessing of His peace...it remains to us that we should offer to God our thanksgiving through Christ who sanctifies us by His own immaculate offering.  Giving thanks helps to not miss the promises and the hope of receiving sure and immediate assistance from His hand."   (Calvin Commentary on Ps. 118).
     God is the giver.  In gratitude to God we give thanks and seek to pass the blessing on.  God gives blessing through us, His people.  It is the blessing of a positive attitude, a helping hand, simply living a life of gratitude, helping someone in need with time- or ability- or a donation.  God is the giver- He gives us gifts and watches how we respond to the gifts he gives.  We praise Him when we live a life of generosity, contentment, and thanksgiving.

Prayer: May my life be one of gratitude to you this day, O lord.

Sermon on Thanksgiving with quotes of studies on the secondary benefits of gratitude:

http://www.lmpchurch.org/112314-handling-anxious-times/

11-21-13- Thanks for Saving Us From Ourselves

32 David said to Abigail, “Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, who has sent you today to meet me. 33 May you be blessed for your good judgment and for keeping me from bloodshed this day and from avenging myself with my own hands. 34 Otherwise, as surely as the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, who has kept me from harming you, if you had not come quickly to meet me, not one male belonging to Nabal would have been left alive by daybreak.” (1 Samuel 25:32-34) 

Thoughts: Sometimes thanksgiving should be given for what we didn't do.  If you were spared from messing up- doing something wrong- then thanks be to God.   Abigail tried to make up for her husband's stinginess in not giving David's men provision even though they had saved her husband much money by guarding his flock. David watched over Nabal's flock like God watches over us- guarding us and protecting us.  Abigail's husband, Nabal, was not even aware what kind of danger he was in.  Abigail saved her husband from danger and saved David from exacting revenge.   Sometimes God saves us from ourselves by another person's kindness.  When that happens, let us not forget to give thanks to the One who watches over us.  

Prayer: Thank you Lord, for the many times and the many ways you save me from myself.  Your love often goes unseen because of my own blindness.  But thank you for your great care and protection.