11-23-14 Children, give thanks!

1 John 3:1-2

         How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 2 Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.

Who here was ever a child?

Who here ever had or currently has a child or children?

Who here has grandchildren?

Who here has great grandchildren?

Proverbs 17:6  Children's children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children.

Actual prayers of Children

Dear God, if you watch in church on Sunday I'll show you my new shoes.

God, please take care of my family and take care of yourself. If anything happens to you, we're gonna be in a big mess.

Dear God, in Bible times, did they really talk that fancy?

God, maybe Cain and Abel would not kill each other so much if they each had their own rooms. It works out OK with me and my brother.

God, I went to this wedding and they were kissing right there in the church. Is that OK?

Dear Jesus, It must be super hard to love all the people in the world, especially my brother.

Dear God, are you invisible or is that just a trick?

God, I want to be just like my daddy when I grow up but not so hairy.

God, did you mean for giraffes to look like that or was it an accident?

Dearest God, we read Thomas Edison made light but in Sunday school they said You did it. I bet he stole your idea.

Dear God, I didn’t think orange went with purple until I saw the sunset you made on Tuesday night. That was really cool.

Dear Lord, I don't think anybody could be a better God, and I am not just saying that because You are God already.

How awesome it is to be a child. How awesome it is to be a child and have great parents.  How awesome it is to be a child whose Father is the King – a loving caring generous King. Children of the King have much to be thankful for.

John 1:10-13

 The word/Jesus was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to

become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.

7 verses of thanksgiving

Ephesians 5:20              Giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18         Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Psalm 100:4                            Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!

Philippians 4:6              do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

Psalm 116:17                 I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the LORD.

1 Corinthians 1:4           I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ.

Psalm 95:2                     Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!

CONCLUSION

Psalm 8

     O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!  You have set your glory above the heavens.  From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise because of your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger. When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?  You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. You made him ruler over the works of your hands; you put everything under his feet: all flocks and herds, and the beasts of the field, 8 the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas.  O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!