11/22/12- Give Thanks to the Lord

Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.
²     Worship the Lord with gladness;
    come before him with joyful songs.
³ Know that the Lord is God.
    It is he who made us, and we are his;
    we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

⁴ Enter his gates with thanksgiving
    and his courts with praise;
    give thanks to him and praise his name.
⁵ For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;
    his faithfulness continues through all generations. (Psalm 100)

(The pilgrims give thanks)

Thoughts: Thanksgiving is important and encouraged here.  In fact, this is almost a cheerleader Psalm revving us up to praise God.  Here we see a main purpose in worship- it is because we are thankful and that God is worthy of our praise and thanks.  This Psalm gives us a few main reasons why we should worship and be thankful:

1) He made us- 

2) We are His own children. 

3) God is good

4) God's love doesn't fade but lasts. 

5) God is faithful in each time to each generation. 

We are not alone- He is the shepherd whose eye is on the sheep.  God is the faithful shepherd who will not fail us, but provides for us, leads us, guides us, heals us, protects us.  He is worthy of our thanks and praise.
We do not speak only to ourselves.  We give thanks not simply to each other- but ultimately to the One who made all we see, and cares for us. 

Prayer: This thanksgiving- this day- I praise you, O Lord.  You are worthy of my thanks- not just for health, family, and food, but because of who you are.  Thanks be to you, O Lord!

11/21/12- Giving Thanks Before the Turkey

¹¹ Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.( John 6:11)

³⁰ If I take part in the meal with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of something I thank God for?  ³¹ So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. (1 Corinthians 10:30-31)

Thoughts: So this Thanksgiving 40 million people will travel over 50 miles to see a relative.  Many, even secular people, will stop and say a prayer of thanksgiving over their turkey.  For many it will be a leftover habit from a previous generation.  But for Christians, it is an opportunity to give thanks for blessings.  We see an example of Jesus blessing the food before he multiplied it for the 5,000.  We also see Paul blessing food (Acts 27:35) in the midst of a terrible storm believing he needed God's strength to survive.  In the passage above- the question was about eating certain kinds of food (meat that had been offered to pagan idols).  Paul's response was basically "if you thank God for it (bless it) it will not displease God if you eat it." 

     Saying "grace" is thanking God for the grace or gifts we have received.  It is also a "blessing" in that we are asking God to bless us with good food and strength that we might serve Him.  It is not a bad thing to remember the needy when we say grace.  

(Norman Rockwell, boy saying grace)

     Below are some blessings: 

[Short ones could be written out and said together]:
1. We praise you, my Lord God, King of the universe, for bringing forth bread from the earth.  (Jewish)

2. Lord, make us thankful for these and all your many blessings, in Christ's name.  

3. Come Lord Jesus, be our guest, and let these gifts to us be blest.  

4. Lord, make us thankful for these and all your many blessings. Bless this food to our use and us to your service.  Help us to be mindful of the needs of others, and forgive us of our sins. In Christ's name, Amen. 

5. Some have meat and cannot eat; some no meat at all.  We have meat and we can eat so the Lord be thanked. (Scottish)

6. All good gifts around us are sent from heaven above.  So thank the Lord, yes thank the Lord for all His love.  

7. Another option is to go around the table and have each person say one thing they are thankful to God for.  Then pray, "We remember, Lord Christ, that everything we have is a gift from you.  Help us to remember those who do not have enough and be both grateful and generous in your name."  

11-20-12 Thanksgiving for deliverance

But as for me, afflicted and in pain—    may your salvation, God, protect me. 30 I will praise God’s name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving.31 This will please the Lord more than an ox,    more than a bull with its horns and hooves.32 The poor will see and be glad—  you who seek God, may your hearts live! 33 The Lord hears the needy  and does not despise his captive people.  34 Let heaven and earth praise him, the seas and all that move in them, 35  for God will save Zion and rebuild the cities of Judah. Then people will settle there and possess it; 36  the children of his servants will inherit it, and those who love his name will dwell there. (Psalm 69:29-35)

Thoughts: The rest of this week, we will look at some reasons scripture says to be thankful.  Psalm 69 is about a person in pain trusting God, and how his pain turned him to God, and how he reacts.  He was trusting in God to deliver Him- that the kingdom of God would be rebuilt, that the children of another generation would keep the faith, and that the poor would also be blessed through him.  He was not talking about giving money (or ox or bull) in response to God's deliverance, but giving praise, song, and thanksgiving- which is even more important than money.  If you are afflicted, focus on God and His help for you.  If you can, give praise, thanks, and sing to Him. 

Prayer:  When you deliver me, the poor, the church, the next generation is helped because I will praise you, O Lord.  

Deborah Norville in her book, "Thank you Power" speaks of a study by Robert Emmons (UC-Davis) who found that people who focused on being grateful had less colds, less headaches, more energy (and exercise), were less anxious and were seen as more compassionate and kind.  

11-19-12- Thanking God for each other

⁴ I always thank my God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. ⁵ For in him you have been enriched in every way—with all kinds of speech and with all knowledge—

Thoughts:  Paul often begins his letter with thanksgiving.  He says that he can always thank God for them.  Thanksgiving does not depend on merit or circumstance.  Rather, it depends on God's grace, and that God is working in us.  God works in us in bad circumstances and good circumstances.  But that God is at work is always cause for thanksgiving. He enriches us- which is cause for thanks.  This thanksgiving thank God for those around you- what He has done, what He is doing, and what He may do in the future. 

Prayer:  Help me, Lord, to be thankful for what you are doing both in me and in others.  

11/18/12- God the Supplier

¹⁹ And my God will supply all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19)

(Quartermaster dropping supplies)

Thoughts:  Does God supply our needs? Or is it all up to us? Or is it some combination where we do our part and God does His?  God is the one who gives us life in the first place.  God is the one who gives us the health and ability for wealth (Dt. 8).  Without the minds, hands, feet that God has given us, it would be difficult to go forward.  But more than that, God also is concerned about those without hands, feet and minds- and asks the Church to be concerned too.  When we are looking for jobs, we no doubt pray as if God is the one who supplies our needs.  But when God blesses us- do we forget His power and help?  One wise theologian said, "Work as if it is all up to you; Pray as if it is all up to God."  Practical advice- for God works through our work, and God listens to our prayers.  Our work, our supplication are gifts from Him that we are meant to reflect back to Him.  God is the Creator AND the Quartermaster.

Prayer: Supply my needs, O Lord. Help my thanksgiving and generosity reflect my belief that you do this.  

11/16/12- Philippians 4- Basis for Stewardship

² I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. ³ Yes, and I ask you, my true companion, help these women since they have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life.

⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! ⁵ Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. ⁶ Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

⁸ Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. ⁹ Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Thoughts: The church of Philippi was in a dangerous spot.  There were divisions in the church, the people were looked down on by their neighbors and anxious, and they were brought down by the burdens of life.  This is not too far from the church today in the West.
But Paul's solution is to focus on God.  The divided were urged to be "like-minded"- putting their minds on Christ, their mission/work, and that in heaven-their goal- they will be together (Names in the heaven-book).  

   The whole church was told again and again to "rejoice in the Lord."  Not that all was going well (Paul was writing this from prison).  But the joy of God does not depend on our circumstances. So celebrating Thanksgiving does not depend on how much we have.  We all can be grateful if we wish to  be. 

    They were urged to replace their anxiety with prayers and supplications with thanksgiving.  It is only when we are thankful that we can obtain the peace of Christ. 

    They were also called to focus their thoughts- not on the black dots on the white board- but on the white board.
    The rest of chapter 4 is about stewardship- God makes us content (4:10), gives us strength (4:13), and supplies our need (4:19).  But we cannot have stewardship without- 1) agreement in serving God together; 2) replacing anxiety with thanksgiving; 3) changing our thought life to focus on what God has done. 

Prayer: Today help me to agree, to be thankful to you- Lord, and to focus on the good you are doing. 

11/15/12- Removing Anxiety

<sup>6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6,7 NIV)

6-7</sup> Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life. (Phil. 4:6,7 Message)

(Eric Enstrom- old man praying)

Thoughts: In anxious times, what do you do?  When your future is uncertain, where do you turn?  All times, every second has the potential to be an uncertain anxious time.  Paul, writing from prison, tells the secret of overcoming anxiety.  It is with thankful prayer.  Paul would pray- and pray with thanksgiving.  This is a great thanksgiving verse.  Part of the blessing of having faith is seeing God's purpose and plan.  When we are grateful for what we have in Christ, then we can have a sense of peace- shalom- wholeness.  

Prayer: Dear Father, thank you for your great blessings.  Help me to understand my life is in your loving hands.  Grant me your peace that I might honor you well.