2. Theme The offering of thanks – CONTINUOUSLY – builds faith and confidence in God and His mission through us.

3. The Story of Thanksgiving Day

9. 2. The Providence of God (1620- 1621)

15. 4. The Persistence of Sarah Josepha Hale (1846-1863)

17. 5. The Proclamation of Lincoln (1863)

20. 1. Thanksgiving Is To Be Proclaimed 100:1 A psalm. For giving thanks. Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. Everyone and everything is exhorted to verbally offer thanksgiving to God. What is “Thanks” from God’s Perspective?

21. Key words: TODAH and YADAH. In its simplest form, YADAH means “to throw” or “to cast,” and common forms of this verb mean to “acknowledge,” “confess,” or “praise.” Thus TODAH is an “acknowledgment” or “confession,” either of one’s own shortcomings (Josh. 7:19–21) or of God’s goodness (100:4; 107:22).

22. In Hebrew, there is no verb that means “to thank” in the way the English word “thank” is used as a common expression of gratitude between people. The meaning of the Hebrew word is “to make public acknowledgment,” and its association with the Hebrew noun YAD, meaning “hand,” suggests hands outstretched towards God.

23. Speaking Out About God… The word is used regularly in the Bible to depict public commendation of God’s person and attributes, and the public testimony to what He has done for His people; this is the core meaning of praise.

24. 2. Thanksgiving Is To Be Wholehearted 100:2 Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. What makes for sincere, wholehearted Thanksgiving?

26. Frankly, nothing makes us more vulnerable to the sin of self-sufficiency than the subtle shift of focus from the glory of God to the plight of Man. Once we take our eyes off His majesty, life’s problems rush into view, clouding our perspective with ominous portent. Thanksgiving re-orients our thinking and our behavior.” Dr. Skip Moen, 2010

27. Listen Up! What You Hear Next will elevate God in our mind until He is as big & important & good as He actually is!

29. 3 Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.5 For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.

30. Knowledge, v3

31. Knowing that the Lord, He is God

32. Knowing that we are His creation.

33. Knowing that we are His people.

34. Prayer, v4

35. Joy We must not only enjoy the salvation of the Lord, But we must let Him have the praise of that which we have pleasure in.

36. Thanksgiving we must take it as a favor to be admitted into His kingdom/family.

37. Praise we must mix praise and thanksgiving with all our service.

38. Name, v5

39. God’s Goodness is sure.

40. God’s Mercy is inexhaustible.

41. God’s Word is for all mankind, of all the ages.