LeRoy Centennial Service

Gratitude

This morning, I’m grateful to be a part of LeRoy’s Centennial Celebration. 100 years is a huge achievement for a community. LeRoy is not just hanging on but is growing and thriving.

When Leona and I started to talk about this morning, I asked her what she felt would be a theme for today. She said, “Gratefulness. Being grateful to be together.”

We need to incorporate gratitude into our lives each and every day. Yes, we have hardship. Yes, many of us deal with health issues. Yes, our budgets can seem to get tight, but

1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 NLT

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

We can and need to be thankful for others. We mustn’t take each other or the time that we get to spend together for granted.

I’m reminded of the chorus that the Gaither Vocal Band sings, “We have this moment today.”

Here’s the words:

We have this moment to hold in our hands And to touch as it slips Through our fingers like sand Yesterday's gone And tomorrow may never come But we have this moment today

We don’t know what tomorrow looks like so let’s each day with thankful hearts. Let’s be thankful for moments like this weekend, but in all this let’s remember that properly directed gratitude always points to God.”

I want to share 3 quick points from our Scripture passage today.

1. Always be joyful

Joy doesn’t equal happiness. There’s a huge difference between joy and happiness. Happiness is based on our circumstances. Maybe a letter came in the mail or somebody brought us a nice gift and it made us happy.

You can have joy even in difficult circumstances because joy comes from trusting that God has good plans for us whether we are in a trial or when we are experiencing good times.

James 1:17 NLT

Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.

We can have joy because we can trust that God is faithful and He doesn’t change.

2. Never stop praying

Over the last couple of years, many people that we love became riddled with anxiety and fear of our mortality.

Two things happen when we become anxious and fearful. We lose our joy and we become focused on our circumstances rather than our God who has control of the circumstances of our lives.

The same God who spoke the worlds into existence is the same God that walked on water. The same God who walked on water cares about you and everything that goes on in your life.

Psalm 121:1–8 NLT

I look up to the mountains— does my help come from there? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth! He will not let you stumble; the one who watches over you will not slumber. Indeed, he who watches over Israel never slumbers or sleeps. The Lord himself watches over you! The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade. The sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon at night. The Lord keeps you from all harm and watches over your life. The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever.

We can pray to the God who made heaven and earth. We can pray to Him because He is our helper and He watches over us. We can also pray to Him because He cares.

Hebrews 4:16 NLT

So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.

So instead of carrying our own worries and troubles, let’s bring them to God.

Philippians 4:6–7 NLT

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

3. Be thankful in all circumstances

In September of 2017, I was one of a small group that went to Paynesville, Liberia, West Africa.

In Liberia, there is 85% unemployment. Many of the people make very little money. They live in conditions that most of us have never experiencecd. Their houses are quite primitive.

They don’t have to endure the cold winters that we do, but a shower consists of water from a bucket, no running water, and just a lower standard of living than we are used to.

I saw people that were content with what they had. They were joyful. For most, they had God and they had each other.

Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations (4620 Expressing Gratitude in Africa)

4620 Expressing Gratitude

In another African country, the Karre, their expression for thankfulness is “to sit down on the ground in front of ” another person. A thankful Karre will go to the home of his benefactor and sit on the ground before his hut. No word needs to be spoken; his silent vigil signifies his gratitude.

For us, how do we show our gratitude to God? Do we take time and sit down and enjoy God’s presence. We must never satisfied merely to tip our hat to God in passing; gratitude demands that we seek God’s presence and fellowship.

—Roger William Thomas (altered)

God would like us to sit down and stay in His presence. Many of us don’t have any problem spending time with our friends or watching a Rider game, but to spend time in God’s presence, we find it awkward.

Let’s take time and get to know Him.

Revelation 3:20 NLT

“Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.

Why should we give thanks?

1 Thessalonians 5:18 NLT

Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

It’s God’s will for us.

As parents, none of us like it when our kids grumble and complain. We often get tired of just being asked for things, but it makes our day when we hear thanks!

In closing I want to leave you with this Scripture found in

Psalm 57:9–11 NLT

I will thank you, Lord, among all the people. I will sing your praises among the nations. For your unfailing love is as high as the heavens. Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds. Be exalted, O God, above the highest heavens. May your glory shine over all the earth.

Let’s pray!