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WORSHIP: THE ESSENTIAL THANKSGIVING INGREDIENT …

If you were to ask just about anyone (including me) who their favorite songwriter of the last decade is, lots of folks would say Chris Tomlin. And with Thanksgiving upon us, this song always comes to mind;

Chris has such a heart for worship that is perfectly in tune with the Scriptures that encourage us to …

GIVE THANKS TO THE LORD, CALL ON HIS NAME; MAKE KNOWN AMONG THE NATIONS WHAT HE HAS DONE. SING TO HIM, SING PRAISE TO HIM; TELL OF HIS WONDERFUL ACTS. (1CHRONICLES 16:8-9)

I WILL GIVE YOU THANKS IN THE GREAT ASSEMBLY; AMONG THRONGS OF PEOPLE I WILL PRAISE YOU. (PSALM 35:18)

GIVE THANKS TO THE LORD, FOR HE IS GOOD. HIS LOVE ENDURES FOREVER. (PSALM 136:1)

Remember this Thanksgiving all the blessings and benefits of the Lord in your life. Really there aren’t any conditions that would justify us not having a heart of Thanksgiving, yet many times instead of remaining thankful, we forget the goodness of the Lord that is constantly being poured into our lives.

Many times unfortunately we forget to be thankful. In so doing, we fall short in giving God the recognition He deserves, for His faithfulness endures forever. What are some things that diminish a heart of thanksgiving? Here are some things to watch out for …

1) Settling for something less than God’s best (follow Abraham’s example, not Lot’s)

2) Letting our fears outgrow our faith (thanksgiving is trusting Him for things we can’t control)

3) Focusing on temporal instead of eternal (don’t lose sight of your heavenly destination)

4) Remaining self serving vs. serving others (as the Turkey needs to die to be a blessing, so do we)

You see, Chris Tomlin hasn’t provided the church a bunch of cool songs we enjoy singing as much as a picture of the life we are to be living; a loving, grateful, thankful life-song that daily brings God praise.

Paul begs us by the mercies of God to present our bodies a living sacrifice holy and acceptable to God, which is our reasonable worship (Romans 12:1). As families gather together let’s remember the blessings of the Lord and let our praise rise to heaven from truly grateful and thankful hearts.

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!