THANKFUL ON BOTH HANDS

Romans 8:27-28 Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because

He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. (28) And we know that all

things work together for good to those who love God, to those

who are the called according to His purpose.

ON THE ONE HAND…A.Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof, “On the one

hand,” “But on the other hand.”B.There is good and there is bad.C.The Farmer and the HorseD.What is bad leads to good leads to bad

leads to good, etc. E. The farmer, who neither celebrates nor

decries these events, is wise enough to know it all comes out in the wash.

F. Who knows what's good or bad?

I. ABUNDANCE AND HARDSHIPA. I'm thankful for those times when I've had

abundance because God is the source of all my blessings.

B. I'm thankful for those times when I suffered hardship and need because they taught me to rely on God instead of myself.

C. Philippians 4:11-13 Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: (12) I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. (13) I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

II. LOVE AND HATEA. I'm thankful for love because it is the invisible

tie that binds us together and as we show it we demonstrate the love that God have for His children.

B. I'm thankful for hate because without it I could not hope to remove the things in my life that are contrary to God’s will.

C. Ecclesiastes 3:8 A time to love, And a time to hate; A time of war, And a time of peace.

D. Psalm 119:104 Through Your precepts I get understanding; Therefore I hate every false way.

III. JOY AND SORROWA. I'm thankful for joy and laughter because if it

were not for the gladness God and those He has put into my life bring, then this world would be a difficult place to bear.

B. I'm thankful for sorrow because it is through tears and mourning that I show those whom I love that when they are suffering that I share in it as well.

C. Ecclesiastes 3:4 A time to weep, And a time to laugh; A time to mourn, And a time to dance;

D. Romans 12:15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.

IV. YOUTH AND OLD AGEA. I'm thankful for the naive innocence of youth

because it represents life free from the stain of sin.

B. I'm thankful for the wisdom of age because it prevents me from making the same foolish mistakes of my youth.

C. Matthew 18:3 and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.

D. Ecclesiastes 9:18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war; But one sinner destroys much good."

V. JUSTICE AND MERCYA. I'm thankful for justice because it is that perfect

plumb line used to judge us all fairly. B. I'm thankful for mercy because with only justice

I would have no hope of salvation.C. Matthew 23:23 Woe to you, scribes and

Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone.

D. Matthew 5:7 Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy.

VI. SELF-ESTEEM AND HUMILITYA. I'm thankful for self-esteem because God esteemed me

highly enough to send His Son and that gives my life purpose.

B. I'm thankful for humility because without it to keep my esteem in check, I would be overtaken by pride.

C. Romans 8:31-32 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? (32) He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?

D. Romans 12:3 For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.

VII. FRIENDS AND ENEMIESA. I'm thankful for my friends along this journey of life and

the confidence we share always encouraging one another to greater heights.

B. I'm thankful for my enemies because they give me the opportunity to make peace and show the love God had for me when I was also lost.

C. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 Two are better than one, Because they have a good reward for their labor. (10) For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, For he has no one to help him up. (11) Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; But how can one be warm alone? (12) Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

VII. FRIENDS AND ENEMIESD. Matthew 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers, For they

shall be called sons of God. E. Matthew 5:43-46 "You have heard that it was said,

'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' (44) But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, (45) that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. (46) For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?

VIII. COURAGE AND FEARA. I'm thankful for courage because it gives me

the boldness to face life's challenges with the confidence that God is by my side.

B. I'm thankful for fear because it prevents me from walking in sin and bringing God’s righteous judgement down upon me.

C. Psalm 31:24 Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart, All you who hope in the LORD.

D. Ecclesiastes 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man's all.

IX. MEMORY AND FORGETFULNESSA. I'm thankful for memory because it allows me to

bring to mind all the great and positive influences in my life.

B. I'm thankful for forgetfulness because it allows me to put aside wrongs suffered rebuild trust that has been broken.

C. Ecclesiastes 3:6 A time to gain, And a time to lose; A time to keep, And a time to throw away;

D. Hebrews 13:7 Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct.

E. Matthew 6:12 And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors.

X. LIFE AND FOR DEATHA. I'm thankful for life because, through a life

well lived, I can bring glory to God.B. I'm thankful for death because this mortal

body was never intended for the eternal glory of heaven.

C.Ecclesiastes 3:1-2 To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven: (2) A time to be born, And a time to die; A time to plant, And a time to pluck what is planted;

BOTH HANDSA.On the one hand there is good but on the

other hand there is bad.

B.We must accept the good and the bad as beneficial to us.

C.THE KING AND HIS FRIEND

D.Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.