Power Point - November 25, 2005

November 25, 2005

Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom, thanksgiving and honor and power and might, be to our God forever and ever. Amen.

--Revelation 7:12

There are several reasons why we should give thanks with grateful and cheerful hearts:

1. God is great! The psalmist said, "For the Lord is great and greatly to be praised…" (Psalm 96:4). As high as the heavens, so is the greatness of our God. Whether you're looking through a microscope or a telescope, you can see the greatness of God, because all creation sings praises unto Him.
2. God is good! Exodus 34:6 tells us the Lord is "merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth…" He always seeks the best for His children. Whether things are good or bad in your life, you can know that "all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28). God's goodness is powerful, present, and compassionate!
3. God is merciful! It is his mercy that causes us to praise Him. We don't deserve His grace and mercy. As a matter of fact, if we got what we deserved, we'd all spend eternity in hell. But because of Christ's sacrificial death on the cross and resurrection three days later, God gives us His unconditional love and grace.

Christ pulled us from the pits. With His love and grace, His strong arms lifted us out and put us on higher ground. That's why we should be thankful every single day! We were once estranged and alienated from God and because of His greatness, goodness, and mercy, He forgave us of our sins and gave us life everlasting. How vast and immeasurable is the love and grace of God!

If you want to give thanksgiving to God in your life: celebrate each day as a gift to God, set a time daily for thanksgiving and gratitude to God, express gratitude to the people in your life, share the grace of God with others, faithfully serve with joyful obedience, and surrender your life unconditionally to Him.

YOU'LL HAVE A HEART OF GRATITUDE WHEN YOU'VE EXPEIRENCED THE GRACE OF GOD IN JESUS CHRIST.