“Thanksgiving, Looking Beyond the Coke”
November 16, 2015
“Thanksgiving, Looking Beyond the Coke”
I. Looking Beyond the Coke
A. Jesus Gave Thanks Seeing His Mission
“Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, and when he had given thanks, he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and
they in turn to the people.” (Matthew 15:36)
“Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never
be thirsty.” (John 6:35)
“Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the
benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.””
(John 11:41–42)
“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its
shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:2)
B. With Jesus, We Can Live Thankfully
“So, what do you think? With God on our side like this, how can we lose? If God didn’t hesitate to put everything on the line for
us, embracing our condition and exposing himself to the worst by sending his own Son, is there anything else he wouldn’t gladly
and freely do for us?” (Romans 8:31–32 Message)
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
(Romans 8:28)
C. Pause to list A Thousand Gifts
1. Morning shadows across the old floors.
2. Jam piled high on toast
3. Cry of blue jay from high in the spruce.
54. Moonlight on the pillow
56. Kisses in the dark
118. Crackle in fireplace
119. Still warm cookies
243. Clean sheets smelling like wind
244. Hot oatmeal tasting like home
250. Bandages and Pain Relief
II. Our Struggle To Live Thankfully
A. Always Reasons To Be Thankful
“Your clothes did not wear out and your feet did not swell during these forty years.” (Deuteronomy 8:4)
B. Abundance Can Lead to Forgetfulness
“Be careful that you do not forget the LORD your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving
you this day. Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, and when your herds and
flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, then your heart will become proud and you
will forget the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.” (Deuteronomy 8:11–14)
III. True Thanksgiving: Look Past the Gift To the Giver
362. Suds …. All color in sun
783. Earthy aroma of the woods
904. First Frost’s crunch
924. Scooping out squash, all steaming
943. Stepping over a dog when coming in through the dark
971. Kettle whistling for tea on a cold afternoon.
“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like
shifting shadows.” (James 1:17)