Thanksgiving is not just a holiday.

It is a way of life.

As we study the scriptures with Scott Pauley today,

we pray that God will help us learn how to develop grateful hearts and hopes.

It was the favorite psalm of a man by the name of John Vassar, and also the favorite

psalm of a man named Billy Bray. Now you can look up John Vassar and Billy Bray in history and read their stories,

and you will find that those two men were two of the happiest Christians that ever lived.

Both of them were known as people of praise and joy.

It was just evident on their countenance in their communication, in every part of their

conduct. They were happy Christians, and their favorite Psalm was Psalm 103. May I read just a little of

Psalm 103 to you? The Bible says, bless the Lord, oh, my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name, bless the Lord, oh, my soul,

and forget not all his benefits, who forgiveth all thineiquities, who healeth all thy diseases,

who redeemeth thy life from destruction, who crowneth thee with loving kindness and tender mercies, who satisfieth

thy mouth with good things, so that thy youth is renewed like the Eagles. You can read the rest

of this Psalm for yourself. As a matter of fact, when you get to the end of the Psalm, verse 20,

the angels bless the Lord. Verse 21, all the ministers of the Lord bless the Lord. Verse 21, all the ministers of the Lord bless the Lord.

Verse 22, all the works of the Lord on earth, bless the Lord.

And he ends with these words, bless the Lord, oh my soul.

Psalm 103, a Psalm of David, indeed is a Psalm of blessing, a Psalm of counting your blessings and giving thanks

to God. We've been talking about this theme for several days because it's so important that we

learn what it means to give God thanks. There's a work to it, but it's happy work. It's wonderful work.

As a matter of fact, let me describe this work of giving thanks, if I may.

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