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Sermons:
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The Attitude Of Gratitude,
Joel 2:21-27, Psalm 126,
by Rev. Frank Schaefer
(see below)
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Being Thankful, Luke 17:11-19, by Florida Ron
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Don't Worry--Be Happy! all lessons,
by Rev. Frank Schaefer
- God is Enough! Matthew 6:26-33,
by The Iowa Starr
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I Want To Be The One,
Luke 17:11-19,
by Rev. Frank Schaefer
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A
Cure for Spoiledness, dialog
sermon based on Deut. 8:7-18,
by Jim from B.C
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Remember the Goodness of God and Be Thankful! Deuteronomy 8:7-18
by Rev. Frank Schaefer
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The Attitude Of Gratitude
a sermon based
on Joel 2:21-27, Psalm 126
by Rev. Frank Schaefer
 Our
scripture readings on this Thanksgiving Day offer a tremendous promise. Psalm
126 acknowledges the reality of suffering and loss in this life. In fact, the
Psalm recalls one of the biggest joys of Israel following one of the biggest
periods of destruction and suffering: the Babylonian captivity. At one point,
Israel was finished; the temple was destroyed, the people were scattered. And
yet, the people were reunited and they began to rebuild their nation once
again. And they knew, according to the promise of God, that even though they
may be sowing in tears, they were going to “reap with shouts of joy.”
Likewise, the prophet Joel envisions the restoration of God's people. He is
focusing our attention on a bountiful future God has in store for us
and encourages us to have no fear, but be hopeful and thankful instead.
Joel evokes images of a bountiful harvest. On Thanksgiving Day we can very
well relate to this word, indeed this is what Thanksgiving is all about. In a
day and age of plenty for most of us, how can we really appreciate the metaphor
of the plentiful harvest as expressed in Joel?
Given the size of our modern-day harvester machinery, the fact that we end
up with so much produce that we have to dump the excess, and the fact that we
have such a variety readily available may make it difficult for us to appreciate
food for the blessing it is. In fact, the excesses and varieties of foods have
become a temptation, even a curse, to our society in which many struggle with
overweight and obesity.
The fact is that we have plenty to eat, plenty to wear, plenty to get around
with.
The thing about thankfulness is that it should be
more than a fleeting expression--it should be a life-style and an attitude. You
may call it the attitude of gratitude. It is an attitude with life-changing
power.
When we say "thank you" to God--even in the midst
of a crisis-- it almost seems as if our worries subside. Perhaps this is so
because we may remember how God has helped us in times past. [continue]
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