Hateful or Grateful

Frantic, the son called his sister, who exploded on the phone. "They are not getting divorced," she shouted. "I’ll take care of this."

ILL.- The day before Thanksgiving an elderly man in Phoenix called his son in New York and said to him, "I hate to ruin your day, but I have to tell you that your mother and I are divorcing; 45 years of misery is enough. We’re sick of each other, and so you call your sister in Chicago and tell her."

She called Phoenix immediately, and said to her father. "You are NOT getting divorced. Don’t you do a single thing until I get there. I’m calling my brother back, and we’ll both be there tomorrow. Until then, don’t do a thing, DO YOU HEAR ME?"

Frantic, the son called his sister, who exploded on the phone. "They are not getting divorced," she shouted. "I’ll take care of this."

She called Phoenix immediately, and said to her father. "You are NOT getting divorced. Don’t you do a single thing until I get there. I’m calling my brother back, and we’ll both be there tomorrow. Until then, don’t do a thing, DO YOU HEAR ME?"

The man hung up his phone and turned to his wife. "Okay, honey. The kids are coming for Thanksgiving and

The man hung up his phone and turned to his wife. "Okay, honey. The kids are coming for Thanksgiving and paying for their own flights."

She called Phoenix immediately, and said to her father. "You are NOT getting divorced. Don’t you do a single thing until I get there. I’m calling my brother back, and we’ll both be there tomorrow. Until then, don’t do a thing, DO YOU HEAR ME?"

The man hung up his phone and turned to his wife. "Okay, honey. The kids are coming for Thanksgiving and paying for their own flights."

Thanksgiving was observed many years before this years thanksgiving day. The Pilgrims observed this day hundreds of years ago and as far as we know it has yearly been observed since that first thanksgiving day. Thanksgiving day was set aside as a day when the God of heaven was praised, and given thanks for His mercies, His grace, His protection for His dear children. It was also a day when the early settlers thanked their neighbors for their help throughout the past year.

A day of sweet fellowship together in celebration of the good that had come their way. But Thanksgiving has and is changing each year. It is not the same today as it was even when I was a child. I have seen many events that have turned us from the original meaning of Thanksgiving, and yet we still have so much in which to be thankful for today.

I understand that all the good shopping deals are held that night and the next day, I am not saying that getting a good deal is not important, I am saying that giving thanks to our God that has blessed you with the abilities to go get those good deal should be priority one.

Abraham Lincoln made Thanksgiving a national observance in 1863, he asked his “fellow citizens in every part of the United States” to set aside “a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens.”

1. Be sure to take time for gratitude and thanksgiving more than once per year

Americans work 137 more hours per year than Japanese workers, 260 more hours per year than British workers, and 499 more hours per year than French workers.

Giving thanks is mentioned in the Bible at least 140 times.

2. Thankful means being in recovery and discovery at the same time

A study done by UCLA Neuroscience dept found out that the #1 choice that allowed people to live happy was to have a grateful / thankful attitude. As we are continually thanking it releases 2 'happy chemicals' (Serotonin & Dopamine) into our brains.

Always be joyful. 17 Never stop praying. 18 Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. NLT

Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe,

Don’t get hung up on the fact that there is only one way, get excited and thankful that there is a way.

3. Thankful also means, being willing to give the credit to God at the feet of Jesus

Tells the story of 10 Lepers …

Luke 17: 11-19 Tells the story of 10 Lepers …

*Leprosy is a contagious skin disease. Leviticus (13:45,46) says, 'the the leprous person who has the disease shall wear torn clothes and let the hair of his head hang loose, and he shall cover his upper lip and cry out, ‘Unclean, unclean.’ He shall remain unclean as long as he has the disease. He shall live alone. His dwelling shall be outside the camp. Many believed that Leprosy was a punishment from God as it was incurable at that time.

11 Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. 12 As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance 13 and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!”

14 When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed.15 One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. 16 He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan.

15 One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. 16 He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan.

This rendered Jesus’s conduct more remarkable and striking in the sight of the Jews. "They" considered the Samaritans as especially wicked, and "themselves" as especially holy. This example showed them, like the parable of the good Samaritan, that in this they were mistaken.

17 Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? 18 Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” 19 Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”

I think Jesus was also pointing out here, a lack of what allows someone to be thankful, humility. Not thinking less of myself but thinking of myself less.

As soon as these other 9 were healed they separated themselves from the Samaritan and returned to their selfish way of thinking instead of practicing the same grace they were just given.

If you think back over the last year, what’s the greatest things God has done in your life?

On this Thanksgiving Day, “be thankful to Him” who saved you, delivered you, translated you, redeemed you and forgave you….what more do you need?

Hateful or Grateful

Choice