5 HABITS OF HIGHLY THANKFUL PEOPLE

Psalm 100:1-5

Things Women Are Thankful For

"For automatic dishwashers because they make it possible for us to get out of the kitchen before the family comes back in for their after-dinner snacks."

"For husbands who attack small repair jobs around the house because they usually make them big enough to call in the professionals."

"For children who put away their things & clean up after themselves. They’re such a joy you hate to see them go home to their own parents."

"For teenagers because they give parents an opportunity to learn a second language."

"For smoke alarms because they let you know when the turkey’s done."

ILLUSTRATION: In regions of Mexico hot springs and cold springs are found side by side, and because of the convenience of this natural phenomenon the women often bring their laundry, boil their clothes in the hot springs, and then rinse them in the cold springs. A tourist watching this procedure commented to his Mexican guide: "They must think Mother nature is generous to freely supply such ample, clean hot and cold water." The guide replied, "No senor, there is much grumbling because she supplies no soap."

Illustrate: Church in Detroit - cited by police for exceeding the legal decibel levels in worship service.

- Maybe too much joyful shouting - singing - maybe too much energy and too much volume - too much thankful praise bouncing off the walls of the church and into the neighbourhood.

- Often seems PBC just a little hesitant about getting too excited. Afraid of being too emotional.

* Ps. 100 Calls For Exuberance. PEDAL TO THE METAL WORSHIP

- This hymn commands us to worship God with high intensity - full throttle.

- Noisy Sheep

Titled: "Psalm of Thanksgiving" - only one with that title

Ps 100 last of Cluster that began with Ps 94

- Ps 94 - "O Lord, to whom vengeance belongs"

- Ps 95 - "O come, let us sing unto the Lord, Let us make a joyful noise"

- Ps 96 - "O sing unto the Lord, all the earth"

- Ps 97 - "The Lord reigns; let the earth rejoice"

- Ps 98 - "O sing unto the Lord a new song; for he has done marvellous things"

- Ps 99 - "The Lord reigns; let the people tremble"

* Ps 100 is the great Doxology - Hallelujah chorus.

-When we think of our God and what He has done, we need to be highly thankful

"Shout For Joy" = "Glad Shout" - "Shout with force of trumpet blast"

- Often with Trumpet Blast (loudest instrument they could find)

- SHOUT THAT COMES FROM DEPTH OF YOUR BEING.

* Like Cheer When Your Favourite Team Comes On to the Field

(Talk about cheering at games – getting excited – Proud of your team)

* Ps. Addresses the issue of Inhibition — don’t be inhibited

- we’re pretty cerebral – let loose.

** FOLKS, WHEN WE DO CHURCH WE NEED TO BE EXCITED.

- can you get excited about God

"Yeah God" YEAH GOD!

- We are reserved – Scripture Calls For Excited Praise

(there is time for reflection and meditation)

** EXPRESSION OF JOY NOT JUST FOR WHAT GOD HAS DONE BUT FOR WHO HE IS

* Celebrate God’s Kingship - rule and reign in our lives.

- The one who reigns in your life and in your World is God.

- none like Him - He hung the stars in the heavens - He created - He is Omnipotent - Omnipresent - Omniscient - Holy - Just - Majestic - Pure

- when you were spent and He picked you up

- when you were lost and He found you - restored you and made you His own

(Testimony)

- You didn’t think you could go on and He gave you strength.

- In your loss He was your shepherd

- When your heart was broken - He was the heart-mender

* So often we come with our complaints and desires. Count Your Blessings.

Allen said they never said, "Thank You". The phrase was not in their dialect. Instead, they spoke a word that meant "I will tell your name." – Wherever they went, they would tell the name of the missionary that had cured them. They were eager to proclaim the wonderful thing that had happened to them.

* Every Sunday When You Come To Church You Are To Live Ps 100 This is what Ps 100 is saying

You realize God has been so good to you

– YOU CAN’T KEEP IT INSIDE. FROM THE DEPTH OF YOUR BEING, YOU SHOUT TO THE LORD!

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. Rom. 12:1

- Glad - overflow with thanksgiving

Even in Midst of Difficulties –

** Joy and Gladness are Paramount in Worship

* Here’s what worship looks like in many churches (Show facial expression)

– Hebrew = our physical activity when we’re gathered to worship – Get into it.

– there is another word for worship with our lives – this word means singing - rejoicing even using our body language to express gratitude and appreciation.

** Rejoicing with incredible enthusiasm for the greatness of our God and what He has done.

* Sometimes our attitude:

"Well I praise you, Lord, but times have been tough and they're going to get worse. But here I am, Lord, to praise You, not because I really want to, or because I’m particularly thankful for what’s happening in my life but because I’m supposed to."

- like server at the restaurant who you just know doesn’t want to be there.

– Serve the King of Kings.

- Saved me - called me amazing.

- Nothing about having joy because wallets are full - prosperity etc.

- Nothing about pension, cars etc.

SING FOR JOY BECAUSE OF HIM

– In spite of everything else – You are God’s Child - He is Your Father