Let me begin by acknowledging today is Veterans day. I am grateful for those in my family that have served our country. Two of my grandfathers, my father in law, two uncles and others have served. My son in law continues to serve. Our nation would not have the freedom we experience without the giving of so many people.
I also want to remind us to be thankful for the people God has placed in our lived. Over the last few weeks I have been able to spend time with so many people. Each holds a special place in my heart.
In yesterday’s sermon at The Community Fellowship we began talking about having a thankful heart. In this message I gave some thoughts on our hearts. Check out these notes…
Thanksgiving is a matter of the heart. Think for a few minutes about the part of us that often gets us in trouble. What might the root of our struggle or even the place that might be overlooked? That would be our heart. It is something God wants us to address and even prepare
Proverbs 4:23 NLT
Guard you heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life,
Guarding your heart has little to do with the thing inside your chest and mine that pumps blood. But it is about the place where true worship, choices, strength and desire rest in our lives. Our spiritual heart has to be guarded.
Why is that? It is because hearts can be a problem. Let’s dig in some more.
Jeremiah 17:9-10 NLT
The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is? But I the Lord search all hearts and examine secret motives. I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve.
Did you catch all that? Deceitful. Desperately wicked. Often hidden or forgotten. Troubled spot. Sought after by God and others.
That is where God meets us with His ability to change our hearts, to mold us and make us in to who He created us to be. Yet we continue to struggle in this part of life. Why do we struggle?
Mark 7:15 NLT
It is not what goes into your body that defiles you; you are defiled by what comes from your heart.
There you have a theology of the heart of mankind. Everyone of us have turned away from God to our own way. Sin crept in from the start, and God offers us life and salvation. It is a heart issue and thus why we need thankful hearts or hearts full of thanks.
It is time to choose to be thankful. What are the things today that you will choose to be thankful for? And remember to guard your heart.
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