"Three Tips For A More Biblical Thanksgiving"

"... he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed."

(Proverbs 11: 25)

Happy Thanksgiving!

In my personal studies I came across this article that I just had to pass on to you just the way it was written. I trust that it will speak to you as it spoke to me as it is very well written.

No U.S. holiday is as distinctive as Thanksgiving. In our busy, deadline-fixated age, expressing gratitude to our heavenly Father is too easily squeezed out of our lives, but it is important. First, I think human beings are "hardwired" to do this. Even atheists seem to have unsettling moments when they feel an irresistible urge to thank someone "up there." One of the problems with atheism occurs when pain is avoided or pleasure gained—having no one to give thanks to leaves you with an itch you cannot scratch.

But there is more than a primeval urge to justify thanking God. On almost every page of the Bible, we see this as a theme. The Old Testament reverberates with the sound of people praising God; Israel’s history is full of thanksgiving to God for showing them mercy and delivering them from disaster.



The New Testament is no less full of thanksgiving. Jesus himself offers up thanks to God the Father, most importantly at the Last Supper (Matthew 26:26-27), where the word used for thanksgiving is Eucharist, still used in many churches for communion. Paul not only regularly gives thanks; he actually commands it of others.



This gives us some guidelines for "biblical" thanksgiving:

First, biblical thanksgiving is innocent.

In giving thanks to God, there should be no motive other than pure gratitude. Thanksgiving is giving thanks and that alone. Of all the different types of prayer, this is least likely to be contaminated by our own conscious or subconscious desire to manipulate God.

Second, biblical thanksgiving is intelligent.

It involves looking back over the past—whether the last week or an entire life—and identifying things for which we are grateful. Thanksgiving is neglected today partly because modern Western culture is so obsessed with the future. But to give thanks to God is to look backward, not forward, and to express gratitude for the good things that have come our way.

Third, thanksgiving should be inclusive.

It's easy just to say, "Thank you, God" for the health and wealth we have. But do we also give God thanks for friends, family, housing, holidays, or a hundred other lesser things? Let's give him thanks for all the little things in life, too.

Giving God thanks should be a theme running through our lives. At least five blessings result from this:

The first is that thankfulness forces us to focus on what we have had rather than what we want. In our materialistic culture, we can succumb to a consumerism of the soul that reduces our prayers to shopping lists. Thankfulness looks outward, not inward. It realigns our lives so that they revolve around God instead of trying to make God revolve around us.

The second is that thankfulness highlights grace. To give thanks is to admit that you are dependent, to say, "I couldn't have done this on my own, but you helped me." Thanksgiving removes the temptation to boast and strengthens the only basis on which we can relate to God: that of accepting our own unworthiness and God’s free grace in Jesus Christ.

The third is that thankfulness encourages a positive attitude. It forces us to think about what is right with our lives rather than what is wrong. This is important in an age when many feel depressed. Thanking God is a proven way of piercing the gloomiest of clouds.

A fourth is that thankfulness develops hope for the future. Looking backward to the past with thanksgiving actually helps us to look toward the future with anticipation

A fifth is that to practice thankfulness regularly ensures that gratitude will spill over into every area of our lives. We cannot thank God for difficult colleagues, relatives, or neighbors for long before finding that we express a positive attitude toward them. Grumpiness and irritability do not grow well in a climate of gratitude. Those who regularly give thanks to God find they are ready to give to others. Gratitude and generosity go hand in hand.

Whether or not we celebrate Thanksgiving, we all need to be reminded to practice thanksgiving on a daily basis. That "attitude of gratitude" is not just a duty to be fulfilled but something that will bless us and others. It's typical of God’s graciousness that the best gift we can give ourselves and others is to say thanks for what we have already received.

by J. John, Philo Trust.com

Reflection Questions 

• Why is Thanksgiving so special to you?
• What part of Thanksgiving do you look most forward to?
• Honestly, what, if anything, are you dreading about Thanksgiving? Stop and ask God to help you with this.
• Would you take a moment Thanksgiving day and get away by yourself for just a few moments to reflect on what are you are thankful for? Write these down as a reminder to you for the future.
• What have you taken for granted and even treated with an entitlement attitude? Would you confess it to God? How will you change that attitude in the future?
• Make it a point to share how blessed you are with someone other than family this week.

“BEING THANKFUL FOR WHAT WE ALREADY HAVE”

Continuing our series “Getting Ready For The Holidays”, this week’s title is “Being Thankful For What We Already Have.” On Thursday, we will gather together as family and friends to celebrate Thanksgiving and offer thanks to the Lord for what we already have.

I find it curious that too often we focus on what we don’t have instead of focusing on what we do have. Do you realize that compared to other countries of the world, we are a rich nation who is inhabited by rich people? So, be intentional to truly thank God from the bottom of your heart.

Take a moment out of your busy schedule and read 1 Chronicles 29:1-20.

In this passage of scripture, we see David’s great prayer of praise and supplication which marks the climax of his reign. Israel’s king praises God for his universal kingdom and recognizes him as the source of all his wealth and strength (see vv. 10-13). Indeed, even the generosity of David and the people for providing for the temple comes from God himself (see vv. 14-16). They depend entirely on God for their security and well - being, and even in the Promised Land, they are strangers and sojourners before God (see v. 15). David then reflects on the fact that God examines the human heart for integrity or uprighteousness (see v. 17), a further indication that the Chronicler cares above all for the inner reality of faith. He then concludes by praying that God will keep the people in the same purpose and mind as they have shown this day, and will give to Solomon a whole heart in obedience to God’s commandments (see vv. 18-19).

Now read 1 Chronicles 29:1-9. David is a shining example of devotion to God. No wonder God called him a “man after his own heart”. David wanted to build a temple to God more than anything, but God said no, but chose Solomon to build it instead. And rather than sulk or express anger, David threw all his support behind Solomon. He not only commissioned Solomon before the whole assembly, but he gave an enormous amount of money and precious commodities toward the building of the temple, as well. When he challenged others to do the same, they followed his example, ensuring the project’s success. David never lost sight of why he wanted to build the temple - for the glory and honor of God!

• What do you find most inspiring about this account?
• Have you ever wanted to do something that God said no to? What was your response? How should you have responded?
• What do you think is the key to not caring who gets the credit for something?
• David gave an enormous amount of commodities to the temple. What would be an equivalent for us to give today?
• Have you ever been inspired to generosity by someone else’s example, just as David inspired the tribes of Israel? Is so, share with us about it.

Read vv.10-15. David realizes that nothing he has is because of his own ability or cleverness, but that everything comes from God. This attitude allowed him to have a loose grip on the things of this world or as we now refer to as “materialism”. But, as we see, we don’t have to be wealthy to give of ourselves.

• Name all the reasons that David found to praise and thank God in this passage.
• If you were to compose a similar prayer, what kinds of things would you praise God for?
• How can such a prayer affect our entire lives? What kind of perspective does it give us?

Now finish reading vv.16-20. David delights in God. He felt so blessed and charges the people to remain faithful to such a good God. He would have agreed with William Carey, the great missionary pioneer to India. When Carey was on his deathbed, a young man named Alexander Duff visited him. He greatly admired the famous missionary. After a long visit, Carey asked Duff to pray with him. Following the prayer, when Duff turned to leave, he heard Carey’s feeble voice calling back.

“Mr. Duff,” said Carey, “you have been speaking about ‘Dr. Carey, Dr. Carey, Dr. Carey’. When I am gone, say nothing about Dr. Carey. Speak only about Dr. Cary’s Savior.” (F. W. Boreham, “William Carey’s Life Text,” Wholesomewords.org)

• What kind of attitude should we have when God says no to our desire to do something, even something that seems as though it would honor him?
• What should be our attitude toward the thing(s) God does allow us to do?
• How does thankful praise to God change our attitude about who gets the credit for things?
• What was David’s overriding concern in  v. 18? What should be our overriding concern?

Excerpted from Christian Bible Studies.com & smallgroups.com

“How To Survive Seasonal Stress”

This week I am starting a new series that I have titled, “Getting Ready For The Holidays”. I am starting the series with a message titled, “How To Survive Seasonal Stress”.

I don’t know about you, but when Gayla and I begin to talk about the holidays, my blood pressure begins to rise and I begin to sweat! I totally dislike going to Walmart in normal circumstances. Now I have to start thinking about going shopping there during the busiest time of the year!

What is it about the holidays that cause us so much stress? Is it the fact that we feel we have to spend money on gifts people don’t need with money we don’t have? Or is it pretending that our family is just fine so that our relatives don’t begin to talk about us?  Maybe it’s the yearly get together with our relatives who don’t talk to us any other time of the year while we now have to endure sitting across the table from them engaging in meaningless conversation. Regardless of the reason, the stress we all face is real.

“In 1967, psychiatrists Thomas Holmes and Richard Rahe examined the medical records of over 5,000 medical patients as a way to determine whether stressful events might cause illnesses. Patients were asked to tally a list of 43 life events based on a relative score. A positive correlation of 0.118 was found between their life events and their illnesses.

Their results were published as the Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS), known more commonly as the Holmes and Rahe Stress Scale. Subsequent validation has supported the links between stress and illness.” (Excerpted from Wikipedia)

Dr. Walter Calvert continued his study and discovered that forty percent of your worries never happen. Thirty percent of your worries concern the past. Basically this tells us worry cannot change the past and worry cannot control the future. All worry does is mess up today! The past is the past and it’s not going to control the future no matter how much you worry about it. Worry just messes you up right now!

Twelve percent of your worries are needless health concerns which reminds me of the hypochondriac who had written on his tombstone, “I told you I was sick!”

Ten percent of your worries are about insignificant and petty issues. Only eight percent of your worries are actual legitimate concerns.

In (Philippians 4:4-9) we find some great counsel on worrying and handling stress.

“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say rejoice ... The Lord is at hand, do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made know to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me - practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.” [ESV]

Paul’s letter to the church at Philippi is flavored by the context in which it was written– from a lonely jail cell! Even so, Paul’s message is inspiring and filled with hope. In this passage, he summarizes his life goal and passion: living for Christ!  In fact, he writes that neither death nor life means anything other than an opportunity to be with and live for Christ so why should he be consumed with worry!

• Here’s some questions to help stimulate your spiritual growth:
• What do you think the key to successful living is?
• From where does Paul write the book of Philippians? (1:7)
• What was Paul’s attitude toward living? (1:20-25)
• What was Paul’s attitude toward the threat of death? (1:20-25)5
• What admonition did Paul give to the Philippians concerning their own attitude toward living? (1:27)
• How does your attitude affect your ability to succeed in struggles?
• How would you summarize Paul’s life motto in your own words?
• What would you say is your own life’s motto?
• In what ways can your life bring honor to God in day-to-day circumstances?
• In what area of life could you pray for an attitude improvement?

"Understanding God’s Vanguard"

I am so fortunate because I get to do for living what I love doing! I am a vocational pastor by calling, so what I am about to share will probably come across to you as bias and it may be, because I believe in the local church. After all Christ died for the church, which is made up of people who have given their life to Christ.

This week, I will conclude the series we have been in for the past eight weeks with a sermon I’ve entitled, “Keeping First Things First”. (Thanks for the idea, Ariel!)

So, what are God’s “first things”? I have discovered that there are four MAIN things that are God’s “first things”: Jesus Christ, the Bible, the lost (the last and the least) and of course, the church.

Given that I don’t have much space to elaborate on all four things, I will focus on the church.

In today’s culture, it seems that this one is the one that is most neglected, most avoided and most often considered an option. I pray that as you read this your mind will be open and your heart changed!

One of the areas where we demonstrate our commitment to God is through the local church and our active participation there. As Christ left this earth, He left behind three primary institutions to guide all of mankind into a relationship with the Father: His Word (John1:1), His Spirit (John 14:15-17), and His Church (Matthew 16:18).

Throughout the mission trips of Paul and the other apostles recorded throughout the book of Acts, we see them establishing the local church as the structured place for the Christians to gather, proclaim the Word, and develop relationships for support and accountability: (Acts 14:23) “And when they (Paul and Barnabas) had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.”
As we see consistently throughout the New Testament, the church became the basic unit of all Christianity (Matthew 16:18; Acts 8:1-3; Acts 9:31; Acts 11:22).

We also see an admonition by the writer of Hebrews that we should never stop meeting together as believers”. This was the place, the mechanism, for God’s people to constantly and consistently come together to encourage one another: (Hebrews 10:25) “24And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”

The practical question, however, is what should we do with respect to the church as busy individuals with far too many priorities in our respective lives? First, Hebrews 10:25 establishes the requirement of ALL believers to participate regularly in a local church. I find no basis for “Easter and Christmas only Christians”. I also find no basis for substituting one’s individual worship for “wherever you find God.” The church is a gathering place for: teaching; proclaiming the Word; publicly declaring God’s praise; mutual accountability; and corporate worship.

Based on this and many other references throughout the New Testament, I see our relationship with God being demonstrated through active participation in His church. This could be in the form of teaching and preaching, missions work, leadership, serving as a deacon, as a prayer warrior, caring for our elderly and home bound, maintenance of our church grounds and facility, shepherding a LIFE Group & more.

On the other spectrum, church work alone can become nothing but another set of overwhelming and endless activities and busyness! We can easily loose sight of our relationship with the Father as we zealously pursue them, just like the religious leaders of Jesus’ day, trying to “earn” His favor! This focus brought a startling strong rebuke from Christ: (Matthew 23:5) “The scribes and the Pharisees … They do all their deeds to be seen by others. For they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long …”

Our church work can literally consume all the time we have for intimacy with God. Just as Martha did in her time with Jesus, we too have to exercise caution not to lose sight of the Savior (Luke 10:38-42). Church activities cannot replace a relationship with Christ, but they can displace it!

On that note, see you Sunday as we gather as a church!

Some excerpts from Balancing Your Family, Faith & Work by Pat Gelsinger

1. How would you define the church to someone and what would you say to someone who is not involved in a church to help them consider being involved?
2. God is faithfully committed to the local church, are you? If no, why not?
3. Most people go to a church subconsciously asking, “What can this church offer me?” Is this something you’ve asked before? Why?
4. How would the church be different if Christians went to church asking, “What can I offer this church instead of asking what can this church offer me?
5. How would you define your commitment to the church? How would you describe your attendance to your church?
6. What has God brought to your attention during this study and what needs to change? Make it a matter of prayer, confession and commitment.