| Thankful Hearts Psalms 100 11-23-08 With all my heart I believe that we are a people and a nation that has truly been blessed by God. We, as a nation and as individuals, truly have the most to give thanks for. May God forgive us for complaining. There is something special about families being together at Thanksgiving. The story is told of a mother who was depressed because her two grown children weren’t going to make it home the next day for Thanksgiving. Her husband said, "Don’t worry dear, I will take care of it." He went into the other room, called his son, and said, "Son, I hate to break the bad news to you, but your mother and I are getting a divorce. 47 years of being miserable is ENOUGH. We are sick of one another. You call your sister and tell her the news." Confused, he calls his sister who went to pieces and said, "Over my dead body. They are not getting a divorce. I will take care of this." She called her father and said, "Dad, don’t do another single thing until I get there. I’m calling my brother back and we will both be there tomorrow. Until then, don’t you do a thing. DO YOU HEAR ME!" The father hung up the phone, went into the other room and said to his wife, "Everything is all right honey. The kids will be here tomorrow for Thanksgiving and the best part is that they will be paying their own way." It is not uncommon for people to make a wish list for Christmas and some will even make a list of New Year’s resolutions that they don’t intend to keep. But there is another list that we need to make that is often over-looked. A Thanksgiving List --- a list of all the things we have to be thankful for. Here are some of the things that some housewives listed that they were especially thankful for. (1) For automatic dishwashers because it makes it possible for me to get out of the kitchen before the family comes back for a snack. (2) For husbands who do small repair jobs around the house because they usually make them big enough to call in the professionals. (3) For children who put away their things and clean up after themselves. They are such a joy that you hate to see them go home to their own parents. (4) For teenagers because they give parents the opportunity to learn a second language. (5) For smoke alarms because they let you know when the turkey is done. Hopefully, as Christians, our list would be different. I’m convinced that if we started a list, we would find that we have much more for which to be thankful for than just material possessions. Most likely we would write down such things as life, health, family, friends, and at the top of our list perhaps we would write down the hope of eternal life and the mercy that God reveals to us time and time again. Our forefathers had such an amazing faith in God. You see, this nation was built upon the conviction that we are “one nation, under God.” I pray that this will never change. Thanksgiving Day is different from all the rest of the holidays. It doesn’t commemorate a battle, or anyone’s birthday or anniversary. It is simply a day set aside to express our thanks to the one True God. In 1789, George Washington made the first Thanksgiving proclamation. I would like to share just a portion of that with you this morning. "Whereas, it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection, and favor, whereas, both houses of Congress have by their joint committee requested me to recommend to the people of the United States a day of public Thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many favors of Almighty God. I do recommend and assign Thursday, the 26th day of November, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of the great and glorious Being who is the author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be. This Thursday our nation once again is given a day to give thanks. One would assume that because of the example of our forefathers and because today we have so much more, that we would be more grateful and thankful. However, I’m afraid that the more we get as Americans, the less thankful we become; the less mindful of God and have the desire to obtain more. The 100th Psalm was written perhaps to deal with such an attitude; to remind us of our need to be thankful and to maintain an attitude of gratitude. The people of Israel living at the time the 100th Psalm was written needed a reminder and I’m sure that most Americans need one as well. The message is so deep and wide and the last verse says that it is for all generations. It is sad that we are the only country in the world outside of Canada and the Philippines that has a Thanksgiving Day. I wonder how the world might be changed if suddenly all nations would begin to give thanks to the Almighty God. There is something about giving thanks to God that breaks down barriers between people, and is able to bring about a unity. There is a real danger in allowing material possessions to determine our thankfulness. You see, all of these things may change at any time. The one thing that we have for sure is our relationship with the Lord. In the 100th Psalm we find reference to the Lord in all of the verses, and as we look more carefully at this Psalm, we find that there is a series of commands given. The first command is for us to make a joyful noise unto the Lord. It is to be a shout of joy that comes from the very depths of our being. Oh friends, God has been so good to us, that we ought not be able to keep it inside. The second command is, "Serve the Lord with gladness.” It doesn’t say serve the church, it doesn’t say serve the preacher, or serve some organization but serve the Lord. The Bible teaches that if we witness on behalf of the Lord; if we feed the hungry, if we clothe the naked; whatever we might do in the name of our Lord, we are serving Him. Jesus said, "Inasmuch as you have done it unto the least of these, you have done it unto me." I’m not sure that we understand that. At times, perhaps we serve out of obligation, or because of feeling guilty. The Lord desire for us to serve Him with gladness. The next command is “Come before Him with joyful songs." Another verse says, "Make a joyful noise unto the Lord." I can do that. We all can do that. In the first three commands, God is saying, "I want you to be happy." Shout with joy, serve with gladness, and come with joyful songs. When I look out on the congregation on Sunday morning so often I don’t see many happy faces. And you know what? The Lord is seeing the same faces. Know ye that the Lord is God. It is He who has us, and not we ourselves. We are His people, the sheep of His pasture. God made every part of us, inside and out. He made each of us, the way He wanted us to be. There is no two a like. You won’t get another Buddy Dowd for a preacher, and for that you can give thanks. And the wonder is, God is still making us. He’s not finish with us yet. God is the maker, and we were created in His image and we were created to bring glory to Him. Give thanks for who you are. He says we are His people, the sheep of His pasture. Most people want to be shepherds, not sheep. But we are called to be sheep. We don’t know where the still waters, and green pastures are located and every time we go out searching we end up losing our way. God is saying, "You be the sheep, let me be the shepherd and I will lead you beside the still waters and green pastures." Command number 5 is “Enter His gates with Thanksgiving and His courts with praise. Give HIM thanks and praise HIS name. We know of course that God is everywhere, but there is something very sacred about giving Him praise and thanks when we come to worship Him. I trust that this will indeed be a very meaningful Thanksgiving week for each one of you. Take time to read the 100th Psalm again. Our Lord has truly given to us so much! How I pray that we, with thankful hearts we will give Him the honor, the praise, and the thanks that is due to Him, and Him alone. |
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