Philippians 1:3-11 John 17:6-11

You probably won't believe this but the dog ate my sermon notes. I know, you may have tried to use that excuse in high school but it is true. What is dog spelled backwards? God. So I think it is a message from God that my sermon is supposed to be short today. The congregation has much to be thankful for!

I can read a little bit of it. There was a group of housewives who compiled a list of things they were especially thankful for: § &for automatic dishwashers because they make it possible for us to get out of the kitchen before the family comes back in for their after-dinner snacks § &for husbands who attack small repair jobs around the house because they usually make them big enough to call in professionals. And we've met some really nice professionals. § &for children who put away their things and clean up after themselves. They are such a joy, you hate see them go home to their parents. § &for teenagers because they give parents an opportunity to learn a second language. § &And for smoke alarms because they let you know when the turkey is done.

This is our Thanksgiving Sunday celebration. It is also the last sermon in the sermon series I am doing on what happened to me in the hospital and the lessons that I had while I was there. One of the greatest lessons of all that I had is as the Bible says, “In all things we are to give thanks.” And I certainly am one who wants to give thanks to God that I lived. Thanks to God that I am now walking. Thanks to God that I am in a whole lot less pain than I was a month ago. Thanks to God for the love and care of my wife who interceded with doctors, got me help when I needed it and took care of me 24/7. Thank God for all of you for your cards, your well-wishes, your prayers. I am sure it was prayers that carried me through in those hours when I wasn't supposed to make it. I am filled with thanks. I hope you are filled with thanks, too.

We have a great example of one who gives thanks and lived an attitude of gratitude all of his life. That is Jesus Christ. Jesus gave thanks continually. He gave thanks when He broke bread and blessed it and gave it to His disciples. He gave thanks before He raised Lazarus from the dead. He gave thanks when He fed the 5,000. In all these examples He was giving thanks for the abundance of God, the care of God, and the response of God. One of the most interesting examples of thanks that Jesus gave was in the Lazarus story. You remember, Lazarus died and was in the tomb for four days so that people said his body already began to stink. They didn't have embalming like we have. When Jesus came, the very first thing He did before He raised Lazarus was say to His Father, “I thank you, Father, for always listening to me.” What a wonderful prayer. “Thank you, Father, for always listening to me.” That could be any one of our prayers at any time and any place. I know that our Father listened to you when you prayed for me in the hospital. I know that our Father listened to me when I prayed in the hospital. I know that our Father listens all the time when I pray. One of the traits of a Christian according to Rev. John McArthur, a Biblical scholar, is that prayers are answered and Christians recognize when their prayers are answered. I've been praying for church growth and sure enough, we are having some. That is a really good sign. So I hope you rejoice with me as we bring two babies into the church this morning and as we baptize two adults as well and give thanks to the Lord for He is good!

The psalmist was right when he said, “It is good to give thanks to the Lord.” I want you to consider this. If you are in a troubling circumstance, give thanks to the Lord because He will help you through it. In the I Thessalonians 5:16 passage, Paul says, “Give thanks to the Lord in all circumstances.” He doesn't say, “Give thanks to the Lord FOR all circumstances.” He says, “Give thanks to the Lord IN all circumstances.” That is the secret of having an attitude of gratitude. That is the secret to getting through troubled times and troubled experiences. So this Thanksgiving, our congregation, I believe, has much to be thankful for. I know I do. So I urge you, in difficult times and in good times - in all times, as the Bible says, “Always and continually give thanks to the Lord.”