• Introduction:
    • I Thessalonians 5:18
    • I Corinthians 15:57
  • Three ways I can improve in my giving of thanks:
    • I need to realize that I enjoy blessings today.
      • Hebrews 13:5-6
      • We have God in our lives. How can we possibly complain?
      • Longing for the good old days can rob us of current gratitude.
      • Exodus 16:2-3; Numbers 11:4-6; Exodus 2:23; 3:7, 9 – Sometimes nostalgia has a selective memory. The good old days may not have been as good as we remember.
      • Longing for the future can also cause us to forget our current blessings.
    • I need to overcome our negative culture by gaining perspective.
      • Romans 12:2 – Don’t be conformed to the world.
      • James 4:4 – Friendship with the world is hostility with God.
      • Genesis 37:28; 39:20; 40:23-41:1; 50:18-21 – Joseph saw the bigger picture.
      • If we are short on gratitude, we probably need to gain perspective.
    • I need to remember what I really deserve!
      • Romans 3:23; 6:23 – We deserve spiritual death!
      • Matthew 8:19