Give Thanks Part 2 11-11-2007

Give Thanks Part 2 Nov. 11, 2007

Jesus said, stop worrying. See the good. Focus on it. Find the kingdom. The rest will come. Stop worrying, stop complaining, find something to be thankful for.
Use your energy to focus on the good.

This was supposed to be a sermon on a process of how the power of gratitude can push the negative from our life. I am just stuck today on the grateful part....
Maybe that tells us something about the process...maybe there is no formula, just a matter of choosing what to focus on and it just happens from there.

Gratefulness is a very powerful thing
Staff meeting. What are you thankful for. No people. Can't repeat.
Have to hold the biscuit.
Then pick a name, two nice things about the person

I can't get my mind off of things that I am grateful for. So, I am going to talk about some of this for a moment.

I am thankful for good things that I see around here
Missed bell ringing yesterday.........came up to the church....
Upwards volunteers
Children in preschool
Secret sisters
Food collected and distributed to needy families

Bulletin insert....invite your friends.........

I am thankful for our men and women who serve
I am against war.

Raytown = 6500 acres
Feb - Mar. 1945 random Pacific island 5200 acres
population 1000
6821 US Marines killed
Battle of Iwo Jima
US flag raised over Mt. Suribachi

I thank God for the resolve of our soldiers
For their willingness to sacrifice For the sacrifice of their families
For their understanding of what greatness is and their willingness to sustain it.

From the movie, we were soldiers
Lt. Colonel Hal Moore: [Hal Moore speaks to his men before going into battle} Look around you. In the 7th cavalry, we've got a captain from the Ukraine; another from Puerto Rico. We've got Japanese, Chinese, Blacks, Hispanics, Cherokee Indians. Jews and Gentiles. All American. Now here in the states, some of you in this unit may have experienced discrimination because of race or creed. But for you and me now, all that is gone. We're moving into the valley of the shadow of death, where you will watch the back of the man next to you, as he will watch yours. And you won't care what color he is, or by what name he calls God. They say we're leaving home. We're going to what home was always supposed to be. Now let us understand the situation. We are going into battle against a tough and determined enemy.

Lt. Colonel Hal Moore: I can't promise you that I will bring you all home alive. But this I swear, before you and before Almighty God, that when we go into battle, I will be the first to set foot on the field, and I will be the last to step off, and I will leave no one behind. Dead or alive, we will all come home together. So help me, God.

Thankful for people. For friends, That love me thru and thru
I don't have any biological brothers. But the other day, I was thinking about some of you. I was thinking about how I feel like God has given you to me. That we are more than little b brothers. Somehow we are big B brothers. Can I adopt you, will you adopt me? Can we be blood brothers? What if from now on, we introduce each other as this is my brother......I would be good with that. That is how I feel about you.

Lyrics to the Jana Stanfield song - That's the Way I feel About You.

There are souls that you connect with so strong
A bond that is so rich and so true
There's a sense that the piece that was missing has finally come into view
That's the way, I feel about you

I believe in this world that happens by chance
There's a reason that at just this particular moment you came into my hands
Like a gift that you never expected by you'll treasure your whole life thru
That's the way I feel about you. --Jana Standield

Sets of cards....you can give them to 5-10 people in the next week.

Gratitude pushes the negative stuff out of our hearts

"lately I have been aware of a thankfulness beyond my own "stuff" and beyond what directly affects me. For example, I am thankful for the kind hearts and compassion of people that reach out to others in need on a daily basis as well as in times of major crisis (Len Bennett come to mind) and not just when something is making major news headlands, but for those that serve in the soup kitchens every week, those that serve without fanfare but with true joy from the heart. I'm thankful for the forgiving heart and forgiving nature of so many people - not just forgiving of me but forgiving of the failures of our society and world and the fact that they keep on giving and trying. I'm thankful for people who are really trying not to sit in judgement of others, people who try to see the good in everyone and everything. It is so easy to be negative. I rejoice in positive people!! Lately I've been telling myself and even saying aloud, "I will not let you steal my joy!!"

Jesus said, Hey stop worrying about everything. See the good. Seek first the kingdom

Majoring in the minors

Gratitude pushes out the negative

Signed up to ring the bell for the Salvation Army. Wrote about it in the blog. No one shows up. No kettle. My time. My effort. I wanted to do something. Now part of me wants to be mad at the salvation army. Some of you came up to see me and I wasn't there. Are you mad? Don't be. that's not the point. See the good. Find something to be grateful for.

Gratitude pushes out the negative
Where is the kingdom? Where is the joy? Where is the good?

I am thankful for the touch of God

Seek ye first the kingdom

Revival
Just tell them what happened
People bow in the presence of God

There are moments when we meet God

Write prayers seeking God
It took me a long time to become a human being......
When I finally became comfortable with myself, I stopped playing games
God this is who I am, this is what I got, I know nothing without you.
Take me, use, me, fill me

The favor of God lands on us when we honor him
Set his priorities

Conclusion

Staff meeting. What are you thankful for, No people. Can't repeat.
Have to hold the biscuit.
Say two nice things about someone......Thankful for someone who always stops by, every time. Thankful for someone who saw my pain and loved me

Next Sunday night...... open mic Thanksgiving.....
What if 200 people showed up......
How long would you stay for......

What if you became so grateful that you started to weep. Had to pull your car over and praise God.

Traffic report........cars stopped on every highway in the KC metro today. Jonny Roland
I am just so thankful, so blessed.

Don't worry, don't complain, see the good. Find the kingdom.