"The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added... No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People. How Shall We Then ?

- President Abraham Lincoln: Proclamation of Thanksgiving 1863 I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility and Union." - President Abraham Lincoln: Proclamation of Thanksgiving 1863 How Shall We Then ?

How Shall We Then Pastor Bob Baker – 11.26.17 ?

Seven facts about giving thanks as found in the Bible: 1. Giving Thanks is commanded in the Scriptures! How Shall We Then ?

26 Give thanks to the God of heaven. His love endures forever. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever. 2 Give thanks to the God of gods. His love endures forever. 3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords: His love endures forever. 26 Give thanks to the God of heaven. His love endures forever. Psalm 136:1-3;26 How Shall We Then ?

Enter his gates with thanksgiving     and his courts with praise;     give thanks to him and praise his name. Psalm 100:4 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 How Shall We Then ?

15 Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, 16 making the most of your time, because the days are evil. 17 So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; 20 always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father; Ephesians 5:15-20(NASB) How Shall We Then ?

Seven facts about giving thanks as found in the Bible: 1. Giving Thanks is commanded in the Scriptures! 2. Giving Thanks relieves anxiousness and gets our focus on God! How Shall We Then ?

6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7 How Shall We Then ?

15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. Colossians 3:15-16 How Shall We Then ?

Seven facts about giving thanks as found in the Bible: 1. Giving Thanks is commanded in the Scriptures! 2. Giving Thanks relieves anxiousness and gets our focus on God! 3. Giving Thanks can lead to an attitude of generosity, which can lead others to giving thanks to God! How Shall We Then ?

11 You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. 2 Corinthians 9:11 15 All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God. 16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 2 Corinthians 4:15-16 How Shall We Then ?

Seven facts about giving thanks as found in the Bible: 4. We are to give thanks with a sincere heart! How Shall We Then ?

1 I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart;     I will tell of all your wonderful deeds. Psalm 9:1 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:17 How Shall We Then ?

Seven facts about giving thanks as found in the Bible: 4. We are to give thanks with a sincere heart! 5. We are to thank God because He is worthy of our thanksgiving! How Shall We Then ?

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. 1 Praise the Lord. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;     his love endures forever. Psalm 106:1 How Shall We Then ?

Seven facts about giving thanks as found in the Bible: 4. We are to give thanks with a sincere heart! 5. We are to thank God because He is worthy of our thanksgiving! 6. There are consequences for not being thankful! How Shall We Then ?

21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Romans 1:21 How Shall We Then ?

26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness 26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. Romans 8:26-27 How Shall We Then ?

Seven facts about giving thanks as found in the Bible: 4. We are to give thanks with a sincere heart! 5. We are to thank God because He is worthy of our thanksgiving! 6. There are consequences for not being thankful! 7. Some reasons to be thankful! How Shall We Then ?

Take Home Thought: Giving thanks should be a part of our everyday lives. When tempted to complain about something, what is there to be thankful for regarding that something? Then do it and lift it upward! How Shall We Then ?

How Shall We Then ?