A Season of Thanksgiving

Now that we are in the fall we are enjoying the "thanksgiving season".  It is tempting to welcome all the warm and cozy bits.  Afterall, who doesn’t warm up to a pumpkin spice latte?  But are we really thankful?  Is there any tangible evidence in our lives as followers of Jesus that we are grateful and appreciative?  As Christians, we must be careful not to have a “blessing-based-thankfulness".  As the old hymn encourages us, “count your many blessings, name them one by one.”  Not that this is ever a bad activity.  But just focusing on the gifts that God gives does fall short of deep gratitude for Him.  Over two Sundays we are going to consider the “Genius of Gratitude” which is to have a God-centered thankfulness.  We are going to explore two occasions of profound gratitude in the life of ancient Israel.  The first will be from the vantage point of King David, in regards to the Tabernacle.  The second is Solomon's hymn of thanksgiving at the dedication of the Temple.  As we survey these hymns, we will discover what it means to have our benevolent Heavenly Father front and center in our thanksgiving.