Thanksgiving Is A Way Of Life Not A Holiday
Ps. 26, 2 Cor. 9

INTRO: Every good holiday or observance has been subjected to a lot of commercialization. Why should thanksgiving be any different? Or should I say "Turkey Day." Let us not get carried away with all the fixings and trimmings and ignore the need for thanksgiving in our lives. Let us not forget the One who we should give thanks.

Psalm 26 Judge me, O LORD; for I have walked in mine integrity: I have trusted also in the LORD; therefore I shall not slide.

² Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins [mind] and my heart.

³ For thy lovingkindness is before mine eyes: and I have walked in thy truth.

⁴ I have not sat with vain persons, neither will I go in with dissemblers.

⁵ I have hated the congregation of evil doers; and will not sit with the wicked.

⁶ I will wash mine hands in innocency: so will I compass thine altar, O LORD:

⁷ That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all thy wondrous works.

⁸ LORD, I have loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine honour dwelleth.

⁹ Gather not my soul with sinners, nor my life with bloody men:

¹⁰ In whose hands is mischief, and their right hand is full of bribes.

¹¹ But as for me, I will walk in mine integrity: redeem me, and be merciful unto me.

¹² My foot standeth in an even place: in the congregations will I bless the LORD.

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God sees into our very depths of our soul - Ps. 26

Knows our intents

Knows our deeds

Knows our wants

Knows our desires

Knows where we stand - vs. 12

Knows our thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is more than all that comes with the fourth Thursday of November.

It is more than just reflection on our blessings, more than just a small (or large) prayer, more than wishing people a good time, more than just being with our families…It is…

Living right for the Lord - (26:1b) …I shall not slide.

Being found "worthy" (only in Christ) - 2

Letting others know of His goodness - vs. 7

Bragging on His wondrous works

Loving His House - vs. 8

Being true to Him and true to family (in the process)

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One of the greatest signs of real thanksgiving, is our actions especially…
Caring for the Lord's work and His servants - 2 Cor. 9

2 Corinthians 9 For as touching the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous [needless] for me to write to you: ²For I know the forwardness of your mind, for which I boast of you to them of Macedonia, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal hath provoked very many. ³Yet have I sent the brethren, lest our boasting of you should be in vain in this behalf; that, as I said, ye may be ready: ⁴Lest haply if they of Macedonia come with me, and find you unprepared, we (that we say not, ye) should be ashamed in this same confident boasting. ⁵Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your bounty, whereof ye had notice before, that the same might be ready, as a matter of bounty, and not as of covetousness.

⁶But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. ⁷Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. ⁸And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: ⁹(As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever. ¹⁰Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;) ¹¹Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God. ¹²For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God; ¹³Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men; ¹⁴And by their prayer for you, which long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you. ¹⁵Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.

Consistently giving to help others from the heart

Continually planning for the successes of His work vs. 5

Expectantly giving (not for self-glory but expecting God to bless our efforts and gifts.

Giving for all time. (understand, like some of the Corinthian's gifts that have grown through the ages - OUR GIFTS WILL GO BEFORE US???)

Col. 3:17 ¹⁷And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

Gary Marcum - New Beginnings Church - 112402am