11.24.11 "Thanks"

"Thanks"

Ezekiel 47:1-48:35
1 Peter 2:11-3:9
Psalm 119:53-70
Proverbs 28:12-13

Thanksgiving is upon us! This year as we are celebrating Thanksgiving, let's make sure we don't only view the events that are to come in terms of "days off", or feasting, or even getting together with family. Let's really truly, from our hearts make this a season of giving thanks. 

What is it about "Thank You"? Why do we say it? Because it's polite? It's more than that. The words "thank you" when spoken from the heart do an incredible work in us. 

A "Thank You" puts us in a place of humility. When you give me something and I say "thank you", what I'm really saying is, "you didn't have to do this, and yet you did. I didn't deserve this, and yet you went out of your way to do this for me." In essence it places the one being "thanked" in a "higher place" or place of honor. It takes humility for one to truly be thankful. 

The Friday after Thanksgiving is traditionally the biggest shopping day of the year. Everyone's rushing to "get" stuff to "give". With that on the radar, it can be so easy to rush over the day of Thanksgiving. We should not forget in the busyness to remember to celebrate the Christmas season with a heart of Thanksgiving. What does that really mean? It means, "you didn't have to do this, and yet you did. I didn't deserve this, and yet you went out of your way to do this for me." In essence it places the One being thanked in a Higher place. A place of honor.

"He never sinned, never told a lie, never answered back when insulted; when he suffered he did not threaten to get even; he left his case in the hands of God who always judges fairly. He personally carried the load of our sins in his own body when he died on the cross, so that we can be finished with sin and live a good life from now on. For his wounds have healed ours!" I Peter 2:22-24

The words of the song "Once Again":

Jesus Christ, I look upon your sacrifice
You became nothing poured out to death
Many times I've wondered at Your gift of life
And I'm in that place once again
I'm in that place once again.
Once again I look upon the cross where You died
I'm humbled by Your mercy and I'm broken inside
Once again I thank You 
Once again I pour out my life
Thank you for the cross
Thank You for the cross
Thank You for the Cross, my friend

Dear Lord Jesus, We pause to day in the midst of the lives that can be so busy & distracting, just to say, "Thank You!"



Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!

Pastor Greg Lathe

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