“IN EVERYTHING GIVE THANKS”
Psalm 100, Colossians 3:14-17
Dr. Dennis Ginoza November 18, 2012 2:00 p.m.
Rancho Monserate

     Sometime ago at a church where I had served, I sent a thank you note to one of the members. Later she said to me, “Dennis, you’re the first pastor who ever sent me a thank you note.” Wow! How interesting I thought. ( As children we learn there are two important words: Please! and Thank You!

     The apostle Paul said, “In everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Jesus Christ.” (Col. 3:14-17)

     Once there was a elderly man who went to the post office. He asked the clerk, “Sir, will you write this address on my postcard?” “Gladly,” said the clerk. “Is there anything I can do for you?” The old man thought for a moment. “Yes,” he said, add this to the end: ‘P.S. Please excuse the handwriting.’”  Dale Carnegie would say, “That’s not the way to make friends."

      How many of you have been to Maine? …… We were just there. It is full of trees. 90% of the state is made up of trees. Our son Jeremy has a fellowship and he is studying … it’s a technical study…”neuromuscloskeletal medicine. He, Melanie, and Kenan are well settled. Did you know Maine is the second highest producer of maple syrup, second to Vermont. With all those trees, I’d say, Maine has the healthiest air in America. We thank God for trees.

A POEM
I think that I shall never see
A poem as lovely as a tree.
A tree whose hungry mouth is pressed
Against the earth’s sweet flowing breast;
A tree that looks at God all day,
And lifts her leafy arms to pray;
A tree that may in summer wear
A nest of robins in her hair;
Upon whose bosom snow has lain;
Who intimately lives with rain.
Poems are made by fools like me,
But only God can make a tree. -- Joyce KIlmer (1886-1918)

 HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

     Remember Helen Keller, she was born blind, deaf, and mute. She once said, “I have often thought it would be a blessing if each human being were stricken blind and deaf for a few days at some time during the early adult life. It would make him more appreciative of sight and and the joys of sound.”

     Will you close your eyes for a moment and just listen? (Ringing of bells.) Genesis teaches us that everything begins with God. Revelation teaches us that everything ends with God.

 Let us never forget the goodness of God. 
     For each new morning with its light,
     For rest and shelter of the night,
     For health and food, For love and friends,
     For everything Thy goodness sends. --Ralph Waldo Emerson

     In America we have so much, we have garbage disposals, we have so much, we pay rental for storage, we have so much, we want more, we have so much, we complain about waiting in line at the bank and the grocery store. We just need to be more grateful!

      Jesus healed ten lepers. Only one came back to thank him. He fell at Jesus feet and thanked him. Jesus asked, “What happened to the other nine?” (Luke 17:11-19) Jesus came to change this world. And he taught us, for the world to change, it comes down to changing the human heart.

     When I was in college I was an optimist. I decided I wanted to change the world so I joined the Peace Corps. As Peace Corps volunteers we were successful in planning two leadership seminars and got the vice president of Costa Rica to bring a message. I was successful 3 in helping three communities to get the government to help them with building an airstrip. When I met with the people, they said, “We have the land and we will clear the land with our machetes. We got it done. I was proud of it and I was humbled by it. But, I have come to this conclusion that unless we change the hearts of people, the world will not change. The politics of change is in the human heart. Jesus said, “Where your treasure is, there is your heart also.” (Matt. 6:21)

      In 1620 some one hundred twenty passengers from England sailed to America for religious freedom. They settled in Plymouth, Massachusetts. They faced a severe winter and only 53 people survived. But that autumn the harvest was so plentiful, with 90 Wampanoag Indians, they had the first Thanksgiving, thanking God for a bountiful harvest. Chief Massasoit sent out his hunters and they brought five deer. So what else did they have to eat? Ducks, geese, turkey, corn bread, clams, leeks, watercress and eels. They gave thanks for three full days. (I guess pumpkin pies came later).

     When gratitude comes from the heart people change; when gratitude comes from heart, we can build nations.

      Robert Emmons is a psychology professor at the University of California, Davis and he has done research on the topic of Gratitude. He has written books entitled: “The Psychology of Gratitude,” and “Thanks! How Practicing Gratitude Can Make you Happier.” He says, grateful people “feel more alert, alive, interested, enthusiastic. They feel more connected with others.” He goes on to say, “Grateful people are less likely to experience envy, anger, resentment, regret, and other unpleasantness that produce stress.” When the heart is filled with gratitude, we have health, we have joy, and we have hope.

     In the book of Matthew, chapter six, Jesus says, “Be not anxious 4 about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall wear.” Look at the birds of the air, they do not sow nor reap, they don’t store in barns yet God feeds them. Look at the lilies of the field, how God takes care of them. Let todays trouble be enough to today.

      This is what I believe: work hard, do everything you possibly can, then put your whole trust in God. As Emerson reminds us, let us never forget the goodness of God. Once upon a time,

     St. Cuthbert of Lindesfarneleft his monastery to preach to the poor. (In Scotland) He took with him a young lad. The day was hot and they were tried. He said to the young lad, “Do you anyone on this road who from we may ask for food and rest?” The lad didn’t know anyone. St. Cuthbert said, “Son, learn to have trust in God.” Those who believe in him will not perish from hunger.

     As they were walking along the road, an eagle was soaring hight above. Cuthbert said, “It is possible for God to feeds us by the means of the bird.” They came to the river and the eagle stood on the bank. “Son,” said Cuthbert, “run and see what provision God made for us by his handmaid the bird.” The lad and found that the eagle had caught a huge fish. The boy bought it to St. Cuthbert. “Why didn’t you give a part to God’s handmaid, the eagle?” Cut it into two pieces give her one. When the lad took half the fish to the eagle, it took it in its beak and flew away. St. Cuthbert gave half the fish to the village cook and the lad and villagers had a feast and St. Cuthbert went on to preach God’s Word.

     Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth, Worship the Lord with gladness; come into his presence with singing. --Psalm 100    (Music by Pam Artibey, soloist, guitarist)