Happy Thanksgiving!
Eastford Baptist Church
November 23, 2006
“Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits” (Psalm 103:2)
“Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits” (Psalm 103:2)
OK, here’s the big question for today; Are you going to be as thankful tomorrow as you are today? Today we will all sit around tables with friends and family and count our blessings. Today we will focus our concentration on the many good things we have in our lives. Today we will remind family and friends how precious they are to us and how our lives are richer because of them. Today our stomachs and our hearts will be filled to overflowing. At some point today, regardless of our economic position, we will all sit back and realize how wealthy we already are. Today each of us will be thankful.
But what about tomorrow? Perhaps the biggest Thanksgiving Killer, is the day after Thanksgiving (appropriately called Black Friday!) when Christmas shopping often begins in earnest. We immediately stop thinking about all the blessings we enjoy and start thinking about all the things “we’ve got to have.” Precisely at the stroke of midnight, many people will miraculously change from a thankful person to a covetous person.
And whose fault is this? I blame it on J.C. Penney. Let me explain. I read a story about a preacher who decided to visit one of the members of his congregation rather unexpectedly. Not being adequately prepared for a visit from the pastor (with the Big Bible on the coffee table), the lady of the house instructed her little daughter, “Please run and get that good book we all love so much and bring it here.” The daughter tottered off and returned in a minute with triumph on her face and the J.C. Penney catalog in her hands! See what I mean? How can you compete with a catalog filled with everything a person could possibly want? From jewelry to furniture, J. C. Penney promises to deliver it all. Their catch phrase this year is, “It’s All Inside.” And we open up the book and go searching for it! Of course it’s not just Pennies - it’s all the businesses and hucksters that will carpet-bomb us with their flyers and advertising for the next four weeks. How do you maintain an attitude of gratitude with all the stores and the malls and all the slick advertising that ramps up this time of year?
And it’s all designed to create a desire for “more.” Most of the time, we are very content with the things we have in our life - until we start looking through the Christmas catalogues. Then we start to think about all the things we lack. That leads to thinking about all the things we need. And that turns into thinking about all the things we’ve-got-to-have-or-we’re-going-to-die. Is there is some sort of subliminal device encoded in the print that causes this? Perhaps we should start a ban-the-catalogs campaign?
Of course the issue is not what’s inside the catalog. The issue is what’s inside us, that causes us to want what’s inside the catalog. The catalog isn’t creating the desire for more – Pennies just learned how to capitalize on a weakness we all possess. What’s the weakness? We are forgetful people. We tend to forget all the many blessings God has provided us with. We’re all too easily distracted from the blessings God provides. We’re all too easily lured into coveting something we don’t have. What’s the cure? The Psalmist above gives the simple solution. Just remember to remember. When we fail to remember all of His benefits, we’ll listen to the first person that comes along and says – “We’ve got what you need inside – just come on in.” (And bring your checkbook!). If you want to maintain an attitude of gratitude this year – just remember the stuff inside Pennies or any other store will never bring true satisfaction. But the benefits of the Lord are eternal.
Actually, when I think about it, “It’s All Inside” may be a good catch phrase to remember. It’s is a good phrase – it’s just referring to the wrong book. If you want to be thankful beyond today – look inside the book that contains a catalog of God’s promises and blessings. Remember the Bible and remember “It’s All Inside.” It will keep your heart filled with gratitude and your mind filled with His thoughts. The next time you hear the phrase, “It’s All Inside” be reminded that it is God’s message to you concerning His Word.
Last thought for today: It’s far better to keep a small bible in your hands than a big bible on your coffee table.
Have a Blessed Thanksgiving, PT
And it’s all designed to create a desire for “more.” Most of the time, we are very content with the things we have in our life - until we start looking through the Christmas catalogues. Then we start to think about all the things we lack. That leads to thinking about all the things we need. And that turns into thinking about all the things we’ve-got-to-have-or-we’re-going-to-die. Is there is some sort of subliminal device encoded in the print that causes this? Perhaps we should start a ban-the-catalogs campaign?
Of course the issue is not what’s inside the catalog. The issue is what’s inside us, that causes us to want what’s inside the catalog. The catalog isn’t creating the desire for more – Pennies just learned how to capitalize on a weakness we all possess. What’s the weakness? We are forgetful people. We tend to forget all the many blessings God has provided us with. We’re all too easily distracted from the blessings God provides. We’re all too easily lured into coveting something we don’t have. What’s the cure? The Psalmist above gives the simple solution. Just remember to remember. When we fail to remember all of His benefits, we’ll listen to the first person that comes along and says – “We’ve got what you need inside – just come on in.” (And bring your checkbook!). If you want to maintain an attitude of gratitude this year – just remember the stuff inside Pennies or any other store will never bring true satisfaction. But the benefits of the Lord are eternal.
Actually, when I think about it, “It’s All Inside” may be a good catch phrase to remember. It’s is a good phrase – it’s just referring to the wrong book. If you want to be thankful beyond today – look inside the book that contains a catalog of God’s promises and blessings. Remember the Bible and remember “It’s All Inside.” It will keep your heart filled with gratitude and your mind filled with His thoughts. The next time you hear the phrase, “It’s All Inside” be reminded that it is God’s message to you concerning His Word.
Last thought for today: It’s far better to keep a small bible in your hands than a big bible on your coffee table.
Have a Blessed Thanksgiving, PT
posted by Larry | 10:33 AM
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