Sundays With Joyce

THANKSGIVING

 

Psalm 9:1...

I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart;
I will recount all of your wonderful deeds.

 

Psalm 50:23...

The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me;
to one who orders his way rightly
I will show the salvation of God!"

 

Psalm 92:1...

It is good to give thanks to the Lord,
to sing praises to your name, O Most High

 

Psalm 100:4...

Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
and his courts with praise!
Give thanks to him; bless his name!

 

Psalm 105:1-2...

Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name;
make known his deeds among the peoples!
Sing to him, sing praises to him;
tell of all his wondrous works!

 

Philippians 4:6...

do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God

 

 

 

 

In recent years, people have begun to call Thanksgiving by another name, Turkey Day. I have always found this name a bit peculiar. On other holidays like Columbus Day, George Washington's Birthday, and Memorial Day, we pay our respects to those we are remembering, but on Turkey Day we kill and eat them, rather like cannibals having a People Day.

There's a reason—a disturbing reason—for the name change. When people sit down before the great feast on Thanksgiving Day, they still sense that they ought to bow their heads and give thanks. Yet people today would rather forget God. They would like to suppress the feeling on Thanksgiving that God deserves their gratitude. So, they are trying to discard the name Thanksgiving and to forsake the traditions on this holiday which kept God at the center.

Why are so many ungrateful to God for His blessings? The fundamental reason is that we are too prosperous. After the exodus from Egypt, God told the nation of Israel that He was leading them to a desirable land already prepared for their habitation. It would be a land overflowing with milk and honey, a land filled with strong cities that others had built and with vineyards and with olive groves that others had planted. So, after occupying the land, they could expect a life of prosperity. But God warned them that with prosperity would come the danger of forgetting God. They would be tempted to look around at their wealth and say to themselves, "By our hands, by our labor, we have achieved this, we have built a good life for ourselves." They would take credit for what God had given them.

The same mentality exists in America today. We enjoy unprecedented prosperity, and yet we fail to recognize that its source is God. Why? We take our wealth for granted. We feel we deserve it. We imagine that we created it. It is a funny thing about human beings that they are more thankful when they are suffering poverty than when they are enjoying plenty.

 

 

'Thanksgiving is right around the corner, and I know each of us can think of things we don't have, but the challenge today, is to thank God for what we 'do' have.

Everyone who is able to read this this morning has something to be grateful for. Have you thanked God lately? The blessings we receive throughout the year, like our families, our health, good friends, old and new. Sunlight each day, the rain, the moon, tress, and the beauty all around us, that we take for granted. Consider our eyes, our arms, legs, and the ability to walk back and forth to work, and to play. To be able to hug our children, and talk to them. Ears to hear their cries, and laughter. The list goes on and on...

Let us take a moment in this season of Thanks and Giving, who makes it all possible.'

 

 

 

I’m Thankful for You

Thanksgiving is the appointed time
for focusing on the good in our lives.
In each of our days,
we can find small blessings,
but too often we overlook them,
choosing instead to spend our time
paying attention to problems.
We give our energy
to those who cause us trouble
instead of those who bring peace.
Starting now,
let’s be on the lookout
for the bits of pleasure in each hour,
and appreciate the people who
bring love and light to everyone
who is blessed to know them.
You are one of those people.
On Thanksgiving,
I’m thankful for you.
Happy Thanksgiving!

By Joanna Fuchs