Thanksgiving (4)

Introduction

Who (al of us(

What ( Life, family, community, country, Jesus)

Where/When evrywhere and in public. aways in a place where others may see.

Now its how. This is our last sermon in this series and we ask How can we be thankful.

This country is moving more and more towards evil every day. How Can I be thankful?

I am battling anxiety and depression in a way that cripples me to my core. How can I be thankful?

I was diagnosed with a life ending illness. How Can I be thankful?

My spouse or child has tragically died. How Can I be thankful?

I dont feel good, my children arent listening, I cant pay my bills, my spouse cheated on me, Im buried in addiction

DiD I cover it all?

How Can I be thankful?

Let me start by saying this today. And this is not easy. This is not something that i pretend to be great at but I am indeed trying.

IT IS A CHOICE TO BE GRATEFUL.

Prone to wander Lord i feel it....

We are like the Israelites in the desert that we give such a hard time to over and over again. God does and performs miracles for us time and time again and it is only a few moments later in which we are ungrateful and complaining.

Life is hard, Things dont go our way, we get bad news and life is hard. How can we choose to be grateful, not just in those situations but for those situations.

Let’s start in a familiar area that may have already popped in your mind or maybe not.

The New International Version Chapter 1

2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5

Let me say that one of the worst solutions you can give without context to someone without joy and in pain, is to just simply “Choose joy” or to “consider it joy”

That does not mean it is not true. It doesnt mean that you cant chose joy or consider it joy. But we so often say these things over and over without providing the how

The New International Version Psalm 77

1 I cried out to God for help;

I cried out to God to hear me.

2 When I was in distress, I sought the Lord;

at night I stretched out untiring hands,

and I would not be comforted.

3 I remembered you, God, and I groaned;

I meditated, and my spirit grew faint. g

4 You kept my eyes from closing;

I was too troubled to speak.

5 I thought about the former days,

the years of long ago;

6 I remembered my songs in the night.

My heart meditated and my spirit asked:

7 “Will the Lord reject forever?

Will he never show his favor again?

8 Has his unfailing love vanished forever?

Has his promise failed for all time?

9 Has God forgotten to be merciful?

Has he in anger withheld his compassion?”

10 Then I thought, “To this I will appeal:

the years when the Most High stretched out his right hand.

11 I will remember the deeds of the LORD;

yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.

12 I will consider all your works

and meditate on all your mighty deeds.”

13 Your ways, God, are holy.

What god is as great as our God?

14 You are the God who performs miracles;

you display your power among the peoples.

15 With your mighty arm you redeemed your people,

the descendants of Jacob and Joseph.

16 The waters saw you, God,

the waters saw you and writhed;

the very depths were convulsed.

17 The clouds poured down water,

the heavens resounded with thunder;

your arrows flashed back and forth.

18 Your thunder was heard in the whirlwind,

your lightning lit up the world;

the earth trembled and quaked.

19 Your path led through the sea,

your way through the mighty waters,

though your footprints were not seen.

20 You led your people like a flock

by the hand of Moses and Aaron.

The New International Version Chapter 3

10 Like a bear lying in wait,

like a lion in hiding,

11 he dragged me from the path and mangled me

and left me without help.

12 He drew his bow

and made me the target for his arrows.

13 He pierced my heart

with arrows from his quiver.

14 I became the laughingstock of all my people;

they mock me in song all day long.

15 He has filled me with bitter herbs

and given me gall to drink.

16 He has broken my teeth with gravel;

he has trampled me in the dust.

17 I have been deprived of peace;

I have forgotten what prosperity is.

18 So I say, “My splendor is gone

and all that I had hoped from the LORD.”

19 I remember my affliction and my wandering,

the bitterness and the gall.

20 I well remember them,

and my soul is downcast within me.

21 Yet this I call to mind

and therefore I have hope:

22 Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed,

for his compassions never fail.

23 They are new every morning;

great is your faithfulness.

24 I say to myself, “The LORD is my portion;

therefore I will wait for him.”

The New International Version Chapter 3

25 The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him,

to the one who seeks him;

26 it is good to wait quietly

for the salvation of the LORD.

27 It is good for a man to bear the yoke

while he is young.

28 Let him sit alone in silence,

for the LORD has laid it on him.

29 Let him bury his face in the dust—

there may yet be hope.