Inconceivable - Phil 2:14
November 12, 2023
believe this is the most wonderful time of the year… seriously, science agrees…
Research of over 20,000 people… happier than usual during Holidays. Christmas is the happiest day of the year… with Thanksgiving not far behind. —Matt Killingsworth - Johnson Health Society
Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas… three major holidays in two months… all have ties to Christianity… but over time things have changed drastically…
Luke 10:19… “I have given you all authority over the ability of the enemy…”
2Cor 4:15… “as grace extends… it increases thanksgiving… to the glory of God…”
Gal 4:4-5… “God sent His Son, born of a woman… to redeem those under law…”
in order for us to truly experience the most wonderful time of the year… must return to the real reason for the season… Jesus Christ… pray…
Isa 9:6-7… “Child born… He will reign with justice and righteousness forever…”
Micah 5:2… “Bethlehem… One will come from you to be ruler… origin from everlasting…”
Matt 2:10-12… “overwhelmed with joy… saw child, knelt and worshipped Him…”
Luke 2… “don’t be afraid… good news of great joy… Savior is born for you…”
for several years… Black Friday started Christmas shopping season… hundreds have been injured and even killed during the rush for gifts… most Black Friday sales today start as much as a month in advance of Thanksgiving…
Phil 2:14-15 MSG… “do everything cheerfully… no bickering allowed… go into the world uncorrupted… a breath of fresh air in this polluted society… provide people with a glimpse of good living and of the living God…”
Comparing Yourself
starting with Thanksgiving… here’s some tips on how to have your best holiday season ever… begin by comparing yourself to others… look at what others have that you don’t… or what you have that others don’t… always make you thankful…
Prov 28:22… “the stingy are eager to get rich…”
Eccl 5:10… “whoever loves money never has enough… never satisfied…”
let’s be honest… compared to people in bible… our lives are extremely difficult… they had it easy… no cell phones, no social media, no Black Friday, no problems… Apostle Paul can tell us to be thankful because his life was so good… after all, he didn’t miss that 75” TV deal at Walmart… comparing leads to thanksgiving…
2Cor 11:16-28… “worked harder… been in prison more… whipped times without number… faced death again and again… five times I got 39 lashes… three times beaten with rods… once stoned… three times I was shipwrecked… spent a whole night at sea… under danger from rivers, robbers and my own people… danger in cities, deserts, on sea… have been tired, hungry, thirsty, and cold… and go thru the daily burden for all of my churches…”
2Cor 10:12… “we dare not compare… comparing to others is not wise…”
Phil 2:14-18… “do everything without complaining… rejoice…”
Keep a Journal
no matter how small… keep track of everything that bugs you… write 3-4 things daily that irritate you… set aside time to think about what others do that annoys you… if you find yourself getting happy and thankful… review your frustrations…
Gen 41:9… “today, I remember my faults…”
Deut 25:17… “remember what the enemy did to you…”
Job 7:7… “remember my life is a breath… I will never see any good…”
Use Negative Words
this one is so good… use negative words to speak death… thankful people don’t understand reality… words matter… more you complain and use negative words… more you can tear others down… will be extremely thankful when that happens…
Prov 18:21… “words kill, words give life… either poison or fruit… you choose…”
Eph 4:29… “don’t use abusive language… let your words be an encouragement…”
thanksgiving is so much easier when you focus on problems (how lousy past was, present is, future will be)… focus on yourself (always feels good to be selfish and not help others)… eat more junk food, get less sleep, don’t exercise will also help…
don’t you feel more thankful already… possible I misunderstood thanksgiving…
1Chron 16:34… “give thanks to the Lord for He is good…”
Psa 136:1… “give thanks to the Lord… He is good… His love endures forever…”
Practice Giving Thanks
let’s try again… moaning and complaining is easy… giving thanks is harder, but much more rewarding… thanksgiving needs to be a habit… must teach and train yourself to be thankful… rewire brain… doesn’t come naturally, its supernatural…
Col 3:15-17… “always be thankful… in whatever you do… word or deed…”
Col 4:2… “devote yourselves to prayer… stay alert with thanksgiving…”
1Thess 5:18… “be thankful in all circumstances… this is God’s will in Christ…”
Heb 12:28… “since we are receiving a kingdom… let’s be thankful…”
Give Thanks When Times are Good
easy to forget God when things are going well… easy to take personal credit when good things happen… don’t forget, everything good you have came from God…
Deut 6:11… “houses full of every good thing… be careful not to forget the Lord…”
1Chron 29… “riches, honor… everything we have comes from You…”
Psa 16:5-11… “how wonderful are Your gifts… and so I am thankful and glad…”
Prov 30:9… “otherwise, I might have too much and deny you… who is the Lord…”
1Cor 4:7… “what do you have you didn’t receive… have everything you need…”
James 1:17… “every good gift comes from the Father above…”
Give Thanks Regardless
don’t focus on facts (circumstances)… focus on truth (promises)… thankfulness is inconceivable when you don’t know God’s word… being thankful is a choice… faith overflows with thanksgiving… helps us understand what to do… pray…
Rom 1:18-32… “not give thanks… minds confused, utter fools, every kind of sin…”
Rom 5:3-5… “suffering produces endurance, character, hope… because God’s love…”
Rom 8:28… “all things work together for the good of those who love God…”
2Cor 1:20… “all God’s promises are yes in Christ… that’s why we say amen…”
Eph 5:20-17… “give thanks… understand what God wants you to do…”
Phil 4:4-9… “don’t worry about anything… pray with thanks… peace comes…”
Col 2:7… “faith overflows with thanksgiving…”