- We start with the origins of our Thanksgiving Day,
- work through the kind of things Jesus gave thanks for,
- and look briefly at modern discoveries of how thanksgiving changes your brain.
- Then we do it!
Play Audio:
Video cover image by Louie Schwartzberg —Creative Commons
Useful Links:
- The Happiness Advantage by Shawn Achor
- Benefits of Gratitude happierhuman.com/…of-gratitude
- Louie Schwartzberg’s beautiful time-lapse photography TED talk
- Does anyone know where & when the first Canadian Thanksgiving was held?
Martin Frobisher’s ship stuck in ice
- One of the stories is from 1578 more than 40 years before the first American thanksgiving
- An English sailor called Martin Frobisher was trying to find a trade route to China across the top of Canada called the “North West Passage”
- But the origins of an annual thanksgiving festival go back much farther to the Israelite Feast of Tabernacles or Festival of Booths
- Now called Sukkot (pronounced soo-kow) Oct 2–9 this year
- Psalms 113–118 are called the Hallel – “Praise of God”
Psalm 118
- Give thanks to the LORD, for he is goodand his loyal love endures forever!
- Let Israel say,“Yes, his loyal love endures forever!”
- Let the family of Aaron say,“Yes, his loyal love endures forever!”
- Let the loyal followers of the LORD say,“Yes, his loyal love endures forever!”
- In my distress I cried out to the LORD.The LORD answered me and put me in a wide open place.
- The LORD is on my side, I am not afraid!What can people do to me?
- The LORD is on my side as my helper.I look in triumph on those who hate me.
- It is better to take shelter in the LORDthan to trust in people.
- It is better to take shelter in the LORDthan to trust in princes.…
- The LORD gives me strength and protects me;he has become my deliverer.”
- They celebrate deliverance in the tents of the godly.The LORD‘s right hand conquers,…
- I will give you thanks, for you answered me,and have become my deliverer.
- The stone which the builders rejectedhas become the cornerstone.
- This is the LORD‘s work.We consider it amazing!
- This is the day the LORD has brought about.We will be happy and rejoice in it.
- Please LORD, deliver!Please LORD, grant us success!…
- You are my God and I will give you thanks!You are my God and I will praise you!
- Give thanks to the LORD, for he is goodand his loyal love endures forever!
2. Gratitude is Good for you (very good)
- People sometimes have questions about how the Bible relates to science.
- If it is good science, it is simply investigating the world that God has created
- And what it discovers will fit in perfectly with God’s revelation in the Bible
- So we should not be surprised by discoveries about the amazing power of Thankfulness
- Thankfulness makes us happier
- One of the single most effective ways of being happy is to increase your level of thankfulness
- Here are some of the advantages that science has discovered:
Image source: Shawn Achor
3. What to give thanks for?
What did Jesus give thanks for?
- There are 12 prayers of thanks recorded from Jesus
Jesus’s Thankfullness
| Matt 14:19 | Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass, and taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and gave thanks. Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. |
|---|---|
| Matt 15:36 | he took the seven loaves and the fish, and having given thanks he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. |
| Matt 26:26 & 27 | Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing (God) broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, |
| Mark 6:41 | He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. |
| Mark 8:7 | And they had a few small fish. And having blessed (God), he said that these also should be set before them. |
| Mark 14:22 & 23 | And as they were eating, he took bread, and after blessing (God) broke it and gave it to them, and said, “Take; this is my body.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, and they all drank of it. |
| Luke 22:17 & 19 | And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he said, “Take this, and divide it among yourselves. For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” |
| Luke 24:30 | When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed (God) and broke it and gave it to them. |
| John 6:11 | Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated. So also the fish, as much as they wanted. |
| John 6:23 | Other boats from Tiberias came near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. |
Why do you think Jesus modelled it so strongly?
- In the tiny town of Bovey, Minnesota, four years into World War I, Eric Enstrom, a Swedish immigrant had bought land and opened a photography studio
- One day an old man selling foot scrapers knocked on Eric’s door.
- The story...
- In 2002, an act of the Minnesota State Legislature established it as the state photograph
4. Practical Suggestions for growing in Thankfulness
- Here is a suggestion from Shawn Achor:
Image source: Shawn Achor
Image source: Shawn Achor
- Studies have shown that three months or more can give you 10% across the board increase.
- Same as doubling your salary
- One study showed 26% increase!
- It’s great to get these studies, but I am mentioning them as supplementary motivation, not our authority.
- I want to show you a short video designed to inspire gratitude
- Video taken from Louie Schwartzberg’s TED talk Creative Commons License
What are you thankful for?…
- Can you think of three things in the last 24 hours to be thankful for.
- Lets conclude with the pinnacle of thankfulness:
- Let’s Give thanks