Participants:
Series Code: TDYFW
Program Code: TDYFW200024S
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00:01 I want to spend my life
00:07 Mending broken people 00:12 I want to spend my life 00:19 Removing pain 00:24 Lord, let my words 00:30 Heal a heart that hurts 00:34 I want to spend my life 00:40 Mending broken people 00:46 I want to spend my life 00:51 Mending broken people. 01:09 Hello, and welcome to 3ABN Family Worship. 01:13 You're going to have to forgive me 01:15 for a squeaky voice, but I'm Shelley Quinn. 01:17 I'm JD Quinn. 01:18 And we're so glad that you are joining us. 01:20 Amen. 01:22 Honey, why don't you introduce 01:23 who's at the table with us tonight? 01:24 We have some of our good friends 01:26 at the table tonight. 01:28 We have my good friend, Ryan Day. 01:30 That's right. 01:31 You are my good friend. 01:33 Amen. 01:34 Family are friends. 01:35 Amen. So amen. 01:37 And then we have Ricky Carter. 01:38 Now, Ricky Carter, 01:40 I don't know if y'all can appreciate 01:41 being the newbie. 01:43 I don't even know 01:44 that's a modern-day terminology. 01:46 Ricky is our newbie. 01:47 He's the new guy on the block. 01:49 And tell us a little bit what you do, Ricky? 01:52 Well, I am a designer animator. 01:55 I'm here with 3ABN 01:56 and Dare to Dream more specifically, 01:58 working as a video editor. 02:00 And so I love creating things 02:03 I feel the Lord has blessed me with the ability 02:05 to create a lot of fascinating things. 02:08 And most recently, 02:09 I've been doing some animated scripture songs. 02:13 So I love the mighty God Word. That's just your ministry. 02:15 Yeah, has been my ministry. 02:16 I just, I love memorizing God's words 02:18 and I find that 02:20 music really helps me to do that. 02:21 And I can use art to do that as well. 02:23 Amen. Praise God. 02:25 We are so thankful that you're here 02:26 because this is your first time on 3ABN 02:30 and Ricky's been with us since 2012. 02:32 You've been a contractor, we've been outsourcing to you, 02:36 but he and his wife, Jasmine, 02:39 just are in the process of moving here. 02:42 And so you'll get to see some more of Ricky's, 02:44 a very spiritual man, very thankful. 02:49 Well, tonight we are going to talk 02:53 about the power of gratitude, 02:57 and I can't think of a better way 02:59 to start off the Sabbath 03:03 than to get our hearts 03:05 into that rhythm with heaven, that gratefulness, 03:10 that thankfulness to God. 03:12 So, Honey, 03:13 why don't you help him in prayer? 03:15 Amen. Amen. 03:17 Father, as we come to you on this Sabbath day, 03:19 just we want to thank You so much, Lord, 03:21 for being in our hearts and our minds, we do. 03:23 Thank You, Lord 03:25 for the many, many thousands of things 03:26 that you do. 03:28 Father, someday they say 03:30 that perhaps we will be able to have 03:32 a better understanding of what we've gone through 03:34 and have a better glimpse 03:37 of how You've continually been in our life. 03:41 And, Father, we just hoped in the middle of everything 03:43 is thanksgiving. 03:44 We want to continue to give You thanksgiving for all, 03:46 we want to thank You for our friends, 03:48 we want to thank You, of course, for 3ABN. 03:50 We want to thank You, Lord, 03:52 for all those who watch us on 3ABN, Lord, 03:55 and, Father, especially the Sabbath day 03:56 as we're bringing it in 03:58 that we will continue to be a loving family. 04:01 We love You and we thank You, Lord, 04:03 and, Father, the things that we bring out 04:05 the Sabbath on gratitude. 04:07 We just ask, Lord, that everyone can identify with 04:10 and, Father, maybe someone out there, 04:12 they really didn't know how much they were giving, 04:15 and they'll have a better understanding. 04:16 So we love You and we thank You. 04:18 We ask this in the name of Jesus, amen. 04:20 Amen and amen. 04:22 You know, I just want to take a moment 04:24 to express my gratitude. 04:27 I've been recuperating from two surgeries, 04:31 and I had a lot of complications 04:34 with those surgeries. 04:35 One of those is kind of a damaged vocal folds. 04:39 So my voice goes in and out. 04:41 But I just want to thank all of you 04:43 who have been praying for me, interceding on my behalf. 04:46 I want to thank you for your cards 04:48 and the emails and the text messages, 04:51 because it has been a real source of cheer 04:57 and joy to me to know so many people cared. 05:00 So thank you so much. 05:02 And that's kind of one of the reasons 05:05 that I chose this topic for tonight 05:09 is that more than ever before, 05:12 I understand the power of gratitude, 05:16 I've always had a grateful heart. 05:18 But more than ever before, 05:20 after going through eight months 05:21 of this journey, 05:24 I understand the power of gratitude. 05:26 So let's start by, 05:28 let's just describe or define what is gratitude? 05:33 Well to me, the simplicity is that it's, thanksgiving 05:36 is giving thanks. 05:37 There's so many different avenues 05:39 that you can go from there. 05:40 I don't know if you're born with a grateful heart, 05:44 a heart of thanksgiving 05:46 or an attitude of thanksgiving or gratitude, 05:48 or if that's something that's learned. 05:50 But anyway, we're going to be talking about the things 05:54 that we're thankful for 05:55 and how the Lord fits into our lives 05:58 and try to dissect it. 06:01 Yeah, yeah. 06:02 Would you say that gratitude is also, 06:05 it is an attitude. 06:07 And personally I think it's more learned 06:10 than then being born with it. 06:12 But wouldn't you say that our expression, 06:16 gratitude is an expression of thanksgiving? 06:20 Oh, absolutely, absolutely. 06:21 Because it comes through experiences, 06:23 as especially, obviously this is going to be 06:26 within the context of our spirituality, 06:28 our relationship with the Lord. 06:30 But absolutely, 06:32 it's an expression of thanksgiving, 06:33 it's a expression of gratitude, 06:36 in the sense that we're thankful 06:39 for the personal kindness that someone has shown us. 06:43 In this case, you know, we're going to get 06:44 into the details of, 06:45 you know, being, showing gratitude towards God 06:47 and our neighbor and so forth. 06:48 But it comes to me, 06:50 it comes with experience as you grow closer to the Lord, 06:53 then you become humbled. 06:55 Yes. 06:57 Again I think we're going to hear that word 06:58 come up a few times 06:59 humility, being humbled because when you are humbled, 07:03 and the Lord brings you to that place 07:05 where you are able to sense His heart on an issue, 07:09 where He shares His compassion, His mercy, 07:11 His kindness, 07:13 and that comes upon you, you experience that, 07:15 you're covered in that, 07:16 it's almost as if you, it's in You, 07:19 you can't help but have a natural response 07:23 of thanksgiving. 07:24 And it's a humble, it's a genuine, earnest, 07:27 humble thanksgiving as we'll talk about. 07:30 Amen. 07:31 You are grateful, 07:32 you are appreciative 07:35 of something that you've received 07:37 and especially, you're thankful for what God has done for you. 07:41 That's right. Amen. 07:42 That's what I would say gratitude is. 07:44 Amen. 07:45 And we're going to expand this in a moment beyond God 07:48 even as far as expressing our gratitude. 07:51 Let me ask you this. 07:52 I believe that gratitude is virtue. 07:55 It is. 07:56 A virtue is good moral behavior. 08:00 And I know that there are times that I've made great sacrifices 08:05 for somebody in my family and have gone above and beyond. 08:09 And they've just got this sense of entitlement 08:12 where they don't even acknowledge it. 08:15 And it kind of leaves you feeling a little empty 08:19 when you've had to sacrifice. 08:21 But when would you say, I asked Jay Davis, 08:26 do you think that gratitude 08:31 is kind of a debt of appreciation? 08:35 In other words, 08:36 not that you're trying to pay somebody back 08:39 for the kindness they've done, 08:41 but do you think we owe thanksgiving 08:45 to someone who's gone above and beyond? 08:47 I think a perfect word, using your words, 08:51 kind of in an illustrative purpose. 08:54 It's similar to tithing. 08:56 We don't pay back tithing, right? 08:58 We return tithing based on the blessing 09:01 that God has given us. 09:03 So, and absolutely, 09:04 it's a debt in the sense that you, 09:06 you sense, you desire to return to the Lord 09:09 based on the goodness that He has shown you for sure. 09:11 Amen. Amen. 09:13 Let me share something. 09:14 My sister, 09:16 I want to talk about to whom we owe gratitude 09:19 and we know the Lord, and we'll talk about that. 09:22 But my sister came to visit us when we lived in Central Texas. 09:27 And I heard her about the third night, 09:29 she was on the phone with her husband. 09:31 And she said, "Oh, my goodness, it's honey, 09:34 this and honey that, please do this. 09:37 And thank you for this." 09:38 She said, this is just sickeningly sweet around it. 09:43 And so, then she'd been there 09:45 about six nights close to a week. 09:49 And I heard her on the phone with her husband and she said, 09:52 you know, maybe we ought to try this. 09:58 So I want to put forward the premise 10:03 that gratitude is something we owe to God, 10:08 but it is also a grace 10:11 that I think that should be flowing between us. 10:16 Especially she told her husband, 10:19 they're nicer to each other 10:21 than they would be to complete strangers. 10:23 They're so polite. 10:25 Why wouldn't you be? Right. 10:26 I mean, that's so amazing. 10:28 But let's look at Colossians 2:6 and 7. 10:33 Would you, Ricky, 10:35 read that Colossians 2:6 and 7? 10:42 "As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, 10:46 so walk in Him, 10:48 rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, 10:53 as you have been taught, 10:55 abounding in it with thanksgiving." 10:59 So what does it mean to abound in it 11:02 with thanksgiving? 11:04 Overflowing. 11:06 You're overflowing with gratitude. 11:09 And I love, Ricky, when you prayed before, 11:13 we always pray before the program. 11:15 And when you prayed, you thanked God for Jesus. 11:20 That's, you know what, 11:22 ask JD, he hears it every night. 11:25 The most amazing thing to me on earth is that 11:31 and I think it's a bigger sacrifice 11:33 even than Him dying on the cross, 11:35 is that our God came down and took our flesh on Him, 11:39 that He became a man 11:41 because He took that flesh back to heaven with Him. 11:44 I mean, it's just when you, 11:46 I cannot wrap my mind around it. 11:48 I know for eternity we're going to be trying 11:50 to figure that out. 11:52 But I always thank God for Jesus Christ. 11:57 For Him coming here, becoming a man, 11:59 for dying on the cross for us and for His plan of salvation. 12:06 Amen. Praise the Lord. 12:07 A couple of texts that come into my mind 12:09 when we're talking about, 12:11 you know, owing or returning gratitude 12:13 to the Lord, 12:15 is first of all, Psalm 136:1 came to my mind. 12:19 It says, "Oh, give thanks to the Lord, 12:21 for He is good! 12:23 For His mercy endures forever." 12:26 And our minds, our finite human minds 12:29 can't even begin to comprehend that mercy and its fullness. 12:33 We get glimpses of it through the personal Christ, 12:36 through the experiences 12:37 that we have with God in our walk, 12:40 in our daily walk with God. 12:42 But another one that came to my mind 12:43 and this actually expresses a word 12:45 that when I think of gratitude towards God, 12:48 returning that gratitude, 12:49 that attitude of thankfulness towards God. 12:52 There's a word that comes to my mind 12:53 and this particular verse highlights that word, 12:56 but it comes 12:58 from a particular version of translation. 13:00 And this is the English Standard Version. 13:02 And I think that it's probably very close 13:04 and in harmony with the original text here. 13:07 So notice what it says here. 13:08 This is actually found in Hebrews 12:28, 13:11 this is coming again 13:13 from the English Standard Version. 13:15 And this is what it says, Hebrews 12:28, 13:18 "Therefore, let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom 13:22 that cannot be shaken," all right, 13:25 "and thus let us offer, " 13:28 I love that because I think of a free offer, 13:30 when you offer it's freely offered. 13:32 It's not some like you're not doing it 13:34 out of like I am, I have to do this 13:36 or you want to do this. 13:38 So let us offer to God acceptable worship, 13:42 and then here comes here, "with reverence and awe." 13:48 Awe, that's the word. 13:49 When I think of gratitude towards God, 13:53 through the experiences that I've had with him, 13:56 and the work that He has done in my life. 14:00 And the grace and mercy that he has shown upon me 14:03 on a daily basis. 14:04 I think of the word awe 14:06 because when I stand in the compassion, 14:11 in the mercy and the love of God 14:15 that He has shown upon me, 14:16 undeserved, I'm undeserving of that. 14:19 All I can think of 14:20 is look at that loving character 14:21 and I'm just in awe, I'm bit like whoa, 14:24 you know, because you can't fully comprehend it, 14:26 but you get enough of a glimpse, 14:28 enough of an experience that it leave, 14:30 it leaves you in a state 14:31 where you simply ask the question now 14:34 what, what can I, 14:35 Lord, what can I give back to You 14:38 because You've given me so much, so I stand, 14:40 You said your favorite song was I stand, I stand in awe. 14:44 I just do it, 14:46 I find myself as I'm expressing to the Lord 14:49 and I try, I try when I pray 14:52 to always begin my prayers with thanksgiving 14:55 and with praise 14:56 instead of you know opening up a prayer with, 14:58 "Lord, can you give me this? 14:59 Can you give me this? Can you give me, Lord? 15:00 Can you do this for me, I need this Lord, 15:02 come on Lord." 15:03 You know, I always try to open my prayers, 15:05 first and foremost to say, "Lord, praise be to you. 15:09 Praise God, that You are a God of mercy 15:11 that You have shown upon me and bestowed upon me a grace 15:15 that I don't deserve. 15:16 And so when I think of returning 15:18 or giving back that gratitude towards the Lord. 15:22 I think of the word awe 15:24 because when you stand in awe of His glory, 15:26 His love, His mercy, His compassion, 15:29 it's just a natural output that you just, 15:33 you just want to express your thankfulness, 15:36 a genuine gratitude that, 15:38 that no one else could possibly understand. 15:41 Well, I know when you're talking here, 15:42 it certainly brings to my attention of, 15:44 of just being a little low sugar 15:46 and you know, and then here, 15:48 here, you've been put in a position 15:51 that you get to pray with people around the world, 15:54 and you get to experience the Holy Spirit 15:56 working in your heart 15:57 and the words that come out of your mouth. 15:59 Then the little sugar, it looks up and he sees, wow, 16:04 you know, the awe that you're talking about. 16:07 And I think that it's some, 16:08 I think that everyone 16:10 that has a relationship with Christ 16:13 can say that great word awe, 16:17 you know, and that way 16:18 and we certainly do need to appreciate that, 16:23 you know of what he is, what he did to allow us that. 16:27 You know, Shelley, I was thinking about, 16:30 especially when you said, starting out with praise, 16:35 and in your prayers in the morning, 16:38 I think about how I just thank God for creation. 16:41 Amen. 16:43 It's the seasoning in creation. 16:47 I was out walking with my wife last night, 16:49 and it was a beautiful sun coming down setting. 16:53 The temperature was perfect, walking beside my bride, 16:58 but it wasn't just all those things, 17:00 but it was the seasoning of the birds 17:03 chirping in the air. 17:05 And, you know, the Lord just, I'm grateful for that, 17:10 for the things that God has created 17:12 for those types of things that the Lord has just blessed. 17:14 And there's so much to, I mean, 17:16 I'm so grateful for this man, 17:18 I would not have made it through the last eight, 17:20 I'm always been grateful for my husband and I thank God. 17:24 Every time I pray, I thank God for being married, 17:28 making me the wife of a godly man. 17:31 But it has been amazing how he has had to sacrifice 17:35 to care for me the last eight months, 17:37 so we're going to come back to some ideas in just a minute. 17:42 Besides, salvation creation, there's little hidden blessings 17:49 that we can be thankful to God for. 17:52 But I do want to just get in this idea 17:57 that there is a debt of gratitude 17:59 we owe to one another 18:00 when somebody goes above and beyond for us, 18:04 and you want to read 1 Corinthians 16:18. 18:07 Absolutely. 18:08 1 Corinthians 16:18, 18:10 because I think when others add value to our lives 18:15 by their service or by their gifts, 18:18 we're living in a generation where there are so many youth 18:24 who have a sense of entitlement 18:27 that they are becoming ungrateful wretches. 18:31 And we've got to be careful, okay. 18:33 In fact, I'm going to read the key, 18:35 the New King James Version. 18:36 Okay. 18:37 And then I noticed here in your notes, 18:39 you had put the Amplified Version, 18:40 which I thought was beautifully worded. 18:41 So the New King James Version says this, 18:43 this is again 1 Corinthians 16:18, it says, 18:47 "For they refreshed my spirit and yours, 18:50 therefore acknowledge such men." 18:54 But the Amplified Version truly amplifies it. 18:56 And I like this, it says, 18:57 "For they gave me respite from labor 19:00 and rested me and refreshed my spirit, 19:04 as well as yours. 19:06 Deeply appreciate and thoroughly know 19:09 and fully recognize such men." 19:12 So I think God wants us to, 19:15 to be grateful to others 19:17 and to that mean that is a virtue. 19:19 It's a moral behavior and like, 19:23 if JD takes out the trash, 19:25 I still tell him thank you 19:26 every time he takes out the trash. 19:28 We say thank you, we say I love you a lot. 19:31 My sister finally learned that it was something good. 19:35 But let's talk about 19:36 some of the benefits of gratitude 19:38 because gratitude affects the quality of our life 19:42 when I would not have made it through the last eight months 19:46 in recovering from both surgeries 19:48 and what happened very briefly. 19:51 I had extensive spinal surgery 19:54 five hours on the operating table. 19:56 I was bound with my arms above my head. 20:00 And I somehow, 20:02 even though they gave me enough anesthesia 20:05 to paralyze you during this, and I had a spinal block, 20:08 somehow my body was aware. 20:11 In my unconscious state, 20:12 I was still aware that I was uncomfortable. 20:15 So I strained against the restraints, 20:17 and in doing so, 20:19 totally ripped my rotator cuff and shredded up this bicep. 20:24 So I ended up having major spinal surgery, 20:27 then I had to have a shoulder replacement. 20:30 And so, what I found when you are in survival mode 20:37 when you are just, you know, 20:39 I have dealt with this pain here 20:41 since the beginning as well and it took several months 20:44 before they were willing to operate on it. 20:46 But I found that it was difficult 20:50 to just press 20:51 into the presence of God for myself, 20:53 I prayed for others. 20:55 But one thing that I did do 20:58 and I know God directed me this way, 21:01 was I, what I express my gratitude to Him 21:05 all through the day. 21:07 I would just say, Lord, thank You, 21:08 I know You're carrying me in Your everlasting arms. 21:10 Thank You for what You're doing in my life right now. 21:14 And what it did 21:15 was it took my focus away from the lack 21:21 where You're completely helpless. 21:23 It took my focus away from my inability 21:27 to my ability, 21:29 you know, and so you're seeing it 21:32 and it kind of banished the discouragement 21:36 I was feeling 21:37 because my eyes got focused on the hidden blessings of God. 21:42 Have you been 21:43 through an experience like that? 21:45 Well, I can certainly. 21:46 I can, I certainly know 21:48 that you're talking to somebody, 21:50 somebody that's listening. 21:51 Yeah. 21:52 Because there's a lot of people that are in a lot of pain 21:54 and they already know they'll get through the day, 21:57 and they probably have used 21:59 every artificial method there is 22:02 to try to fool themselves or something, 22:04 but there's one that you never fool, 22:06 and that is just turn it totally over to the Lord. 22:09 Maybe it's to get into affirmations of Scripture 22:11 or something, 22:12 you know, that you'll keep your eyes 22:14 focused on Him. 22:15 What is it, Isaiah 26:3? 22:17 Yeah. 22:18 If we would keep our eyes, 22:21 God, if we keep our mind focused on Him trusting in Him, 22:24 He will give us perfect peace. 22:26 And I want to say something 22:28 because it really does make you more joyful and happy. 22:32 This is not a panacea for depression. 22:35 I'm not saying that. 22:36 You know, some people are so depressed 22:38 you can beat, 22:39 it will help you if you focus on the positive 22:43 it will help you if you're returning thanks. 22:45 But I do want to say this. 22:47 It's not a sin to be depressed. 22:49 Think of what Jesus went through 22:51 in the Garden of Gethsemane. 22:53 You know, he had such great anxiety 22:56 that He was, had drops of blood coming from His forehead. 23:02 Yeah, you can sense the depression 23:03 when you read Psalm 22, when He says, 23:06 you know, I am a worm and no man, 23:08 I mean, he's hit rock bottom, 23:09 he's hit the lowest of the lowest. 23:12 So I like that comment. 23:13 That was very good in the sense 23:15 that we're not saying that, 23:17 you know, people aren't going to experience 23:19 certain types of emotions and feelings 23:21 depending on the situation that they're in. 23:23 But I think it kind of goes back 23:24 to what I was saying earlier, 23:26 which is these particular realities 23:28 in relation to the topic of gratitude, 23:31 and in this case, 23:32 that it refocuses on what we have 23:34 rather than what we lack. 23:36 You know, you were talking about your personal experience, 23:38 it comes with experience, right? 23:40 Your experience in your walk with the Lord, 23:42 your experiences in the situations 23:45 and the daily dealings 23:46 and things that you have to endure and experience. 23:49 I think of it kind of different outside 23:52 of the physicalness of what you know, 23:54 in your case, you're saying, 23:55 Lord, I'm technically handicapped 23:58 for some time, 23:59 but yet I'm so blessed to have all of these functioning limbs, 24:02 you know, these working limbs. 24:03 So God brought your attention to what you have, 24:06 rather than what you're lacking at the moment. 24:08 And that brings about a sense of gratitude. 24:10 In my case, you know, and in my life I have had 24:13 high paying jobs, really high paying jobs, 24:16 where I've been so blessed to be able to say, 24:18 Lord, you know, 24:20 You've blessed me here, you know. 24:21 And then I've been taken into a situation 24:24 where I haven't had so much a high paying job, 24:27 and it's very easy for the enemy to creep in 24:29 and start focusing your attention on, 24:31 man, I don't have this anymore. 24:33 I don't have this anymore. 24:34 I'm lacking this, this, this, this, this, 24:36 all these things that I used to have, 24:37 but yet, the Lord, 24:39 when you have that relationship with Him, 24:41 He's quick to remind you, 24:43 but look at all that you still have, 24:46 look at all of the blessings. 24:47 You know, I'm quickly reminded, 24:50 because if anybody understands and knows, in ministry, 24:52 if you go into ministry, 24:54 at least in true, genuine, godly ministry, 24:57 you're not in it to get rich for certainly not, 25:00 but the Lord provides and it's powerful to see that. 25:03 And so that being said, 25:05 you know, there's been moments in life 25:08 where I've been like, you know, Lord, 25:10 it seems like I used to be able to have them, 25:12 an abundance of this, this, this and this, 25:14 but when the Lord brings you to a place 25:16 where He seems like He's humbled you in a sense, 25:18 to where, 25:20 you know, it almost seems like you're looking at all 25:21 of the what you don't have 25:23 and what you're lacking 25:24 compared to what you used to have. 25:25 The Lord will show you 25:27 all of those aspects of blessings. 25:29 And I remember many times, being humbled, 25:32 looking at images, watching video footage, 25:34 hearing other people's stories 25:36 about how they went over to third world countries. 25:37 And, you know, but these people were so happy 25:40 to praise the Lord in their grass huts 25:42 or in their, you know, 25:43 and I look at what I'm living in 25:44 and I'd say praise God. 25:46 You know, I don't live in a mansion 25:48 but I also don't live in a grass hut. 25:50 I am blessed beyond measure 25:51 and it makes me again turn back in that awe 25:54 to the Lord and go, God, You're so good, thank you. 25:57 Praise the Lord. 25:58 What do you think gratitude does to our faith? 26:04 I want to see if I can talk about peace first. 26:07 Okay. 26:08 When I think about gratitude, it increases our peace. 26:12 Amen. 26:14 There's a text here in Philippians 4:6-7. 26:19 It says this, "Be anxious for nothing, 26:23 but in everything by prayer and supplication, 26:28 with thanksgiving, 26:31 let your requests be made known to God, 26:35 and the peace of God, 26:37 which surpasses all understanding 26:39 will guard your hearts and minds 26:42 through Christ Jesus." 26:43 Amen. 26:44 When I think about how gratitude gives me peace, 26:49 this text comes to mind. 26:53 I may have a situation 26:55 that I may be in that I'm having a challenge with. 27:00 But I know that I can let my request 27:04 be made known to God. 27:06 He will answer and I can make it known 27:09 with thanksgiving. 27:11 And I'm so thankful 27:12 that God hears and answers our prayers. 27:13 Amen. Absolutely. 27:15 That's a great point. Gives me such great peace. 27:16 Amen. Amen. JD? 27:18 Well, I know, I know that it says 27:21 but in everything by prayer 27:22 and supplication with thanksgiving, 27:24 your requests be made known to God. 27:26 Now there's the secret right there 27:27 be made known to God or you can do it stupid way. 27:33 Stupid way is doing it your way, 27:35 thinking that you're self-sufficient. 27:38 And I'll guarantee you in the walk of life, 27:40 you're going to run 27:42 across boulder and boulder and boulder, 27:45 big rocks if you try to do it by yourself. 27:48 If you're not careful, 27:50 those rocks have a way of rolling over you too. 27:52 But it does, it increases our peace. 27:56 I love this. 27:57 I just, 27:59 this is one of my favorite text, 28:00 "Be anxious for nothing." 28:02 Because there's so many people out there 28:03 that are, they do have high anxiety. 28:08 Thank you, Jesus. 28:11 Difficult word today. 28:12 So anyway, He said, "Hey, just be careful." 28:15 You know, use your head, turn to me. 28:18 Let me assist you here. 28:19 Right, in what... 28:20 I'm sorry, go ahead. 28:22 I was just going to say, when the Bible says 28:24 that we were to enter His gates with thanksgiving, 28:27 to enter His courts with praise. 28:30 And as you said, we know that it change, 28:33 it redirects our focus. 28:35 So if you feel disoriented, you start praising God, 28:38 it's going to redirect your focus to the positive, 28:42 it increases our peace, 28:44 but I believe it builds our faith. 28:46 You know, there's times 28:47 have you ever started off your prayer and it's, 28:50 you've got that poor pitiful pearl attitude 28:54 like, oh, woe is me, 28:56 you know, but you've got that down 28:58 in the mouth attitude. 29:00 And I always start my, 29:01 I would say 29:02 the greatest portion of my prayer 29:04 is praise and thanksgiving. 29:06 Because what it does as you're praising God, 29:11 it lifts your spirits, 29:12 it remind you of who you're praying to. 29:16 And all of a sudden, nothing, you know, you remember, 29:20 nothing is impossible with God. 29:24 It's powerful. 29:25 Well, what you're saying, where you were saying 29:27 and what you were saying in relation to this peace. 29:29 It also feeds 29:30 into what you had brought up earlier, 29:31 which is how does it build our faith. 29:34 I love what you said, JD, 29:35 in talking about the dependency. 29:37 Sometimes we depend upon our own efforts, 29:39 our own knowledge, our own wisdom, 29:41 that scripture comes to my mind. 29:43 I think it's Proverbs 14:12. 29:45 It says, "There is a way which seemeth right unto a man 29:48 but the end thereof are the ways of death." 29:51 We become so dependent upon self 29:53 that we lack a trust in God, 29:56 that we lack a true faith in the Lord. 29:58 And I love Romans 4:20 because it says, 30:00 He did not waver, again, this is Romans 4:20. 30:04 Speaking of Abraham. 30:05 Yes, this is speaking of Abraham 30:07 saying he did, 30:08 in fact, that was what I was going to bring up 30:10 was the example of Abraham. 30:11 He did not waver at the promise of God 30:13 through unbelief, 30:14 but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God. 30:18 You're talking about a time when there was no Bible. 30:23 You're talking about a time 30:24 when there was in Abraham's aspect 30:27 in his particular situation, 30:29 coming out of Babylon, coming out of a land 30:32 draped in apostasy from one end to the other. 30:37 This man had to depend fully upon, get this, 30:40 the Word of the Lord. 30:42 Amen. 30:43 I mean, God could have revealed Himself 30:44 in some miraculous way, He could have performed 30:46 all of these amazing signs and miracles, 30:49 which, you know, Abraham was able to experience 30:51 some of those things, but none... 30:53 Afterwards. Afterwards, right. 30:55 His relationship from the beginning 30:57 was built on faith 30:59 and the fact that Abraham again in his experience, 31:02 and we keep going back to that, 31:03 his experience in spending time with the Lord, 31:07 trusting in God's Word, 31:08 trusting in the Word when the Lord said, 31:10 I'm going to do this for you, I'm going to do that for you. 31:12 I'm going to lead you here, 31:14 I'm going to give you that lamp. 31:15 I'm going to make your see this way. 31:16 I'm going to... 31:18 Along the way, 31:19 the trust in God's Word built his faith 31:23 and from that came a sense of gratitude, 31:26 a gratitude of, you know what? 31:27 I can trust. 31:28 This God is not like those gods from the land that I came from. 31:32 He's the one true God and you can sense 31:35 and if you go to that great, 31:36 you know, blessed chapter or the faith chapter in Hebrews 31:39 is the words are beautiful there 31:41 of how Abraham, 31:42 his faith was unwavering in the sense 31:45 that he was so thankful 31:47 that he served a true God 31:49 that was behind him and for him 31:52 and to build him up rather than to bring him down. 31:55 And to me that, that really, that testifies to the fact 31:59 that a true genuine gratitude to God 32:02 does indeed build our faith. 32:03 Amen. 32:05 And don't you think that when we're grateful, 32:07 it's kind of like gratitude is saying 32:11 what we've got is enough, 32:12 you know, when you were talking about praying, 32:15 because maybe you're going through a lack, 32:17 and then all of a sudden you realize, 32:19 I mean, I've got it better than 99% of the world. 32:23 So suddenly you start focusing on the good of God. 32:28 And you become, I believe, 32:30 would you say 32:32 that gratitude increases our contentment? 32:34 Oh, most certainly. 32:35 Most certainly. 32:38 And the Bible thanks, thanks that also. 32:40 That's right. 32:42 You want to share? I will. 32:44 I think Paul wrote this, is that right? 32:45 Yes. 32:47 That's correct. Okay. 32:48 "Not that I am implying 32:50 that I was in any personal want, 32:51 for I have learned how to be content, 32:54 to be satisfied to the point 32:56 where I am not disturbed or disquieted 32:59 in whatever state I am." 33:02 That's Philippians 4:11, the Amplified Version. 33:07 And, you know, here again we're talking about 33:09 are you sufficient within yourself? 33:12 Or are you allowing the experiences 33:15 to show you the way. 33:18 You know, I often pray, 33:19 you know, Lord continue to be a lamp to my feet, 33:22 because I do see 33:23 that there's slippery slopes on both sides. 33:25 And I've been in a slippery slope 33:29 in real life 33:30 and a lot of just up here. 33:36 Slippery slopes hard to get out of, 33:38 because every time you're grabbing 33:39 is that clay and everything, you just slide back down, 33:43 and you think that you're getting so close. 33:44 That's being self-sufficient, 33:46 you know, so I just want to be, 33:47 keep my eyes focused on Him 33:49 standing in the middle of the road. 33:51 And, but that's not what we're talking about here, 33:54 we're talking about here is to be content 33:56 with what you have, 33:58 where you want 33:59 because you're in the center of God's will. 34:01 Think that's what I'm trying to do. 34:03 I just say, Lord, please, 34:04 you know, just continue to be a lamp. 34:06 So I'm staying in the center of your will. 34:08 And then I will be content wherever I am. 34:11 And I think that Paul uses that, 34:13 take our time, hey, I'm in prison, 34:15 but I'm content because the Lord put me here. 34:17 He allowed this to happen. 34:19 So he must have something in mind and... 34:24 You know, it reminds me of when I was, in December, 34:28 I was in the hospital for a week 34:30 with my initial spinal surgery. 34:32 Out for five days, woke up one morning, 34:36 couldn't lift my leg, not even a quarter of an inch. 34:39 JD got me out of bed. 34:41 I couldn't walk. 34:43 I mean, I couldn't move my legs whatsoever. 34:45 So he was so precious. 34:48 I won't, I'll spare you the story 34:50 of how we got to the hospital 34:51 but they said, get to the ER right away. 34:55 So here I am in the ER, well, after I got admitted. 34:59 I can't walk, I'm in horrible pain, 35:01 can't use my arm at all. 35:03 It's in horrible pain. 35:05 And it's easy to start feeling sorry for yourself. 35:09 But you know what? 35:11 All of a sudden, he brought me, we've got a wave machine. 35:16 And I was running this wave machine, 35:18 I didn't want to watch TV, I was in too much pain. 35:21 And I started thanking God, 35:22 I could find a spot 35:24 that I was fairly comfortable in. 35:27 I had a comfortable bed, 35:29 I had lovely nurses who were ministering to me, 35:32 had a wonderful husband. 35:34 And as I began to focus, and say, Lord, thank You 35:41 that I'm in a place where I'm getting good care. 35:43 Thank You that You still have a plan for my life. 35:46 Thank You. 35:48 I actually was content where I was. 35:50 Does that make sense? Oh, absolutely. 35:52 Because I know things could be so much worse. 35:56 And I think that gratitude really does magnify 36:01 that feeling of contentment. 36:03 I really do. 36:04 I also think would you all agree 36:06 that gratitude makes us more generous? 36:10 Oh, yes, absolutely. 36:12 In fact, there's a... 36:15 I want to read a text before we go there. 36:17 Okay. 36:18 Because I see that's the next point on here. 36:20 I want to read this text, it comes from 1 Timothy 6:6-10. 36:25 And this is kind of giving us a lead way or segue 36:31 into the generosity conversation. 36:33 Notice what it says here. This is 1 Timothy 6:6-10. 36:36 And kind of goes back to this contentment issue. 36:39 But notice what it says here. 36:40 It says, "Now godliness with contentment is great gain. 36:46 For we brought nothing into this world, 36:50 and it is certain we can carry nothing out." 36:52 Okay, we really let that sink in, 36:54 then, you know, things begin to make sense 36:57 after a while. 36:58 Verse 8 says, "And having food and clothing, 37:00 with these we shall be content. 37:03 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation 37:06 and a snare, 37:08 and into many foolish and harmful lusts 37:10 which drown men in destruction and perdition. 37:13 For the love of money," 37:15 we heard this many times, 37:16 "for the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, 37:19 for which some have strayed from the faith 37:22 in their greediness, 37:24 and pierced themselves through with many sorrows." 37:27 So this is going to give us some segue 37:29 into the generosity conversation. 37:30 But I brought this up 37:32 because being content with what we have, 37:35 most of the time, 37:36 this conversation quickly is opened up. 37:39 And we're talking about 37:41 being content with our finances, 37:42 being content with what we have 37:44 in relation to the things of the world. 37:45 And, you know, I have learned some lessons in this 37:49 in the sense that, 37:50 you know, God has brought me in ways 37:52 and showing me and teaching me 37:54 that along the way my needs will be met, 37:57 and I think of the best story that I can think of that 38:00 really illustrates this is Psalm 23. 38:03 Because when you think about David 38:04 pouring his heart out, 38:06 you know, the Lord is my shepherd, 38:07 I shall not want. 38:09 He leadeth me beside still waters, 38:12 and He maketh me lie down in green pastures." 38:15 Amen. 38:16 When you really do a study of this, 38:18 and I think I've brought this out 38:19 a couple of times on, 38:20 on Family Worship and on programs before 38:22 but when I think of contentment, 38:25 you're happy with what you have now. 38:28 You're not worried about the next moment 38:30 what you gonna have. 38:31 When you think of the shepherd leading a sheep, 38:34 that sheep is completely dependent 38:36 on where the shepherd leads him 38:38 and where the shepherd is going to lead him 38:39 to his next food plot. 38:40 When you think of green pastures, 38:42 over in Jerusalem, 38:43 there's an actual hillside called Green Pastures. 38:44 And it ain't very green. 38:46 And you look at and all of it is a rocky hillside 38:48 and you look out there and you think, 38:49 and you see these sheep walking in perfect lines, 38:53 and you see the shepherd ahead of them. 38:55 And you think from a distance, 38:56 it's like are these rock eating sheep? 38:58 Like what, what are they eating? 39:00 But if you get closer and you really, 39:02 you focus on the terrain of this, 39:03 what is called Green Pastures in Jerusalem. 39:06 It's interesting that you'll find it 39:08 that you know, few feet here, 39:09 there's a little sprig of grass, 39:11 walk a few more feet, little sprig of grass, 39:13 walk a few more feet, little sprig of grass. 39:15 And it's an powerful object lesson 39:17 that I think clearly alludes to 39:20 and help support this idea 39:23 that gratitude increases our appreciation 39:25 for what we have, 39:26 and being content with what we have 39:28 because those sheep when Peter or excuse me, 39:30 when David was pouring his heart out, 39:33 the Lord is my shepherd, 39:34 I shall not want, He leadeth me. 39:37 He leadeth me. 39:38 Those sheep are completely dependent 39:40 on that shepherd 39:42 leading them from one little sprig 39:43 to the next, to the next, to the next. 39:46 And those sheep, you don't hear them out there, 39:47 you know, complaining, you know, I'm not hurt, 39:50 they're completely content to know that 39:52 that shepherd is going to lead them 39:55 to what they need for that moment. 39:57 You know what story that reminds me of? 39:59 There was a lady who had three little children. 40:03 Her husband died. 40:04 They lived out on a farm. 40:06 They were very poor. 40:07 This was in Arkansas, very poor. 40:09 And they were very faithful churchgoers. 40:12 And everybody always was amazed 40:15 at how grateful she was to God 40:18 for all of her blessings. 40:20 I mean, so anyway, 40:22 they made the announcement from the pulpit one day, 40:25 we're going to take up, 40:26 it was before Christmas 40:27 a couple of months before Christmas. 40:29 We're going to take up an offering 40:33 for a very poor family, da-da-da. 40:35 This woman held a bake sale, 40:38 her kids worked out 40:39 in people's gardens rake leaves, 40:41 did this did that. 40:43 And she was so excited 40:47 to be able to help this poor family. 40:49 So the whole family work together, 40:52 and they made a... 40:54 When the plate was passed 40:56 this few weeks before Christmas, 40:58 they had their little bundle in an envelope, 41:02 and they put over. 41:03 I think it was like, 41:05 just a little over $200 into the plate. 41:09 Now there were a lot of wealthy people 41:12 in this church. 41:14 Well-to-do people, I put it that way. 41:18 At the end of the service, 41:20 the pastor called them up 41:23 to give this lady and her little kids. 41:26 She had no idea that collection was for her. 41:29 None. 41:31 He calls them up to give them the collection. 41:36 You know how much money was in it? 41:38 Two hundred and fifty dollars. 41:42 So here is a poor woman with her children. 41:48 I mean, they were the object of this, 41:52 but she was so grateful to God. 41:54 I absolutely believe when we are grateful, 41:58 we will definitely be more generous with others. 42:04 Okay, Honey, why don't you read 42:06 because I thought this was so interesting. 42:09 Harvard Health Publications has done great studies 42:13 and they say that gratitude increases our capacity 42:19 to experience pleasure, 42:22 and it improves our relationship with others. 42:25 Why don't you read what they wrote? 42:26 Okay, this is taken from this particularly, 42:29 this particular publication, Harvard Health Publications 42:32 in a positive psychological research. 42:35 Gratitude is strongly and consistently associated 42:39 with greater happiness. 42:41 Gratitude helps people feel more positive, 42:45 allows them to feel more positive emotions, 42:49 relish good experiences, improve their health, 42:52 deal with adversity and build strong relationships. 42:56 Most studies published on this topic 42:58 have formed an association 42:59 between gratitude and an individual's well-being. 43:04 So if you want to be healthy, happy... 43:08 You need to be giving. 43:10 You need to be experiencing and expressing your thanks. 43:14 Yes, yes. 43:16 I mean, you know, I always heard, 43:18 I mean thanks of giving, 43:20 I guess that those could be correlated. 43:23 Thanksgiving, expressing your gratitude. 43:25 Perfect. 43:26 I mean, God gonna tell her half, 43:28 halfway this whole thing of Thanksgiving dinner 43:32 for a family you know and how, 43:35 how generous the time it is as you because here you, 43:39 everybody's coming from different directions 43:41 to show up for the special day. 43:43 You know we've all missed mama, we've all missed daddy, 43:45 we all get to come home, 43:47 big table around the table and everything, 43:49 stories are going everything. 43:51 And, boy, you just kind of sit back 43:52 and there was just joy in your heart 43:54 that families together just the generosity 43:58 and Shelley would tell us a story, I tell a story, 44:01 my brother Frank would tell a story, 44:02 Mary Joe Ann wasn't going to be outdone, 44:04 she's going to tell her story. 44:05 And, boy, you're just, 44:06 this is family, this is gratitude. 44:11 And so, but here, I think that this is, 44:16 goes back to the tithe, 44:18 you know, that you cannot give God, 44:20 so you cannot give in your gratitude 44:22 you know, and this is just it, 44:25 people that really believe in a lot of science. 44:27 This just goes to prove it, 44:29 you know, they've done testing on this. 44:31 And the more you give, the happier you are. 44:32 That's right. 44:34 It's powerful 44:35 because what we just read there 44:37 in that Harvard Health Publication. 44:39 And talking about that you clearly can't have 44:42 true genuine happiness, 44:44 unless you've experienced 44:45 or putting forth gratitude and thanksgiving. 44:50 And it's interesting to me that 44:51 that in turn leads to a servant's heart. 44:56 I heard someone once said 44:57 that you really can't truly be happy 44:59 unless you have served someone else. 45:00 Amen. 45:02 Unless you've experienced what it means to truly serve 45:04 and, you know, what brought my attention 45:07 to Philippians 2:5-8. 45:10 Christ being our example. 45:12 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 45:15 who, being in the form of God, 45:17 did not consider it robbery to be equal with God." 45:19 God, Father, I'm not going to, 45:21 I'm going to bring Myself down here, 45:22 I'm going to go serve those people 45:24 because they need Me. 45:25 There was a sense of gratitude 45:27 that Christ had for His creation, 45:29 that He was able to as it continues to say, 45:32 "But He made Himself of no reputation, 45:34 taking the form of a bondservant, 45:37 and coming in the likeness of men. 45:39 And being found in appearance as a man, 45:40 He humbled Himself, " 45:42 there's that humility factor, 45:44 "He humbled Himself and became obedient 45:47 to the point of death, even the death at the cross." 45:49 Christ's love for humanity 45:52 and His creation brought about 45:57 and basically came forth 45:59 because of the love and the gratitude 46:01 He had towards His people, His children. 46:04 I've never thought about that in a sense of gratitude. 46:07 It's amazing that He was willing 46:09 to lower Himself, get this, 46:11 and I get this mental picture in my mind of Jesus 46:14 kneeling at the feet of Peter about to wash His feet. 46:18 You almost see a sense of gratitude 46:19 coming from Peter 46:21 although we can find that 46:22 He still had a little bit of humbling 46:23 he needed there. 46:25 But you almost sense a gratitude towards Peter 46:27 because you could just sense in see in your mind's eye 46:29 in your mind the scene taking place 46:32 and Peter drawing his feet away and saying, 46:33 "Oh, no, Jesus, what are You doing? 46:35 No, no, You shouldn't be washing my feet. 46:37 I should be washing Your feet." 46:39 And then Jesus shares His heart, 46:41 "No, no, no, I have to do this. 46:42 I have to do this. 46:44 I have to serve you. 46:45 I have to humble Myself before you, to serve you, 46:48 to show you that this, this is how it works." 46:51 This is true gratitude. 46:52 This is true love. 46:54 And then, of course, 46:55 we know what Peter, his response. 46:56 Well, you know, while you're at it, 47:00 washing his feet, 47:02 but it's powerful to think in that sense. 47:05 True happiness doesn't come until you can have 47:08 the heart of a servant 47:09 because the heart of the servant 47:11 is someone who's thankful. 47:12 They're thankful for those who they're serving 47:14 if it's genuine service. 47:16 Amen. Amen. Powerful. 47:18 You know, one of my favorite examples 47:20 in the Bible of gratitude is found, 47:26 well it's found in all the gospels 47:30 but in Luke Chapter 7, 47:33 I'm going to read verse, start with verse 37. 47:37 And I love this one of the best because Luke, 47:40 this is about Mary coming to anoint the feet of Jesus 47:46 and breaking this alabaster box 47:49 and whoops, I'm falling pieces over here. 47:52 But what I love about what Luke does, 47:57 being that he was a Gentile, 47:59 this is interesting because he says 48:01 he's the only one 48:03 that identifies her as a sinner. 48:05 And so he sets the scene for us and he says, 48:08 one of the Pharisees ask Jesus tea, 48:10 with him He went to the Pharisee's house, 48:11 he sat down deep. 48:13 So now get this. 48:14 Here are a group of Pharisees 48:17 that Jesus has gone and they hate, 48:19 they're throwing Him up banquet. 48:21 And behold, a woman in the city 48:25 who was a sinner. 48:29 I mean, to the point 48:30 that later on the Pharisee says, 48:31 "Man, if Jesus is really a prophet, 48:34 He wouldn't let her be doing this to you." 48:36 But she comes in. 48:39 I mean, you talk about laying down yourself in service 48:43 about humbling yourself. 48:45 She comes into an environment where people are whispering, 48:52 "Oh, there she is. 48:53 Do you know what she's done?" 48:56 And it says that she came to Jesus, 49:01 washed His feet with her tears, 49:04 wipe them with the hair of her head 49:07 and it was not. 49:09 I mean, that was not kosher 49:10 to let your hair down in public, 49:12 yet she's... 49:14 And let me tell you something. 49:15 This is something that foot washing 49:17 should have been done by the host. 49:20 Because when they walked His feet were dirty, 49:22 probably with animal dung even, 49:24 and she's washing it with her hair. 49:27 Then she breaks open her piggy bank, 49:30 her alabaster box. 49:32 That was probably the proceeds of her former lifestyle. 49:37 Which most scholars would agree, 49:39 most scholars believe, 49:40 this was the same woman that was caught in adultery, 49:43 prostitute, Mary Magdalene. 49:45 Even though it doesn't say that... 49:46 Oh, boy, this study I've done I can, I do believe it's Mary. 49:50 But, so she comes in and she doesn't care 49:55 what anybody thinks, 49:56 she is going to express her thanksgiving 50:01 to the Lord for delivering her. 50:04 But now if you jump down to verse 47, 50:08 one of my favorite verses, Luke 7:47. 50:13 Jesus said, to... 50:15 Well, let's begin with 46. 50:18 Let's begin with 45. 50:20 He says, he's talking to his host now, 50:23 because the host is upset that she's doing this. 50:27 And Jesus said, 50:28 "You gave Me no kiss when I came in, 50:31 but this woman has not ceased to kiss My feet 50:33 since the time I came in. 50:35 You did not anoint My head with oil, " 50:37 and that was considered standard practice 50:40 for a host to do, 50:42 "but this woman has anointed My feet 50:44 with fragrant oil. 50:46 Therefore I say to you, her sins, 50:48 which are many are forgiven, for she loved much. 50:54 But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little." 50:59 I think it all comes down as far as gratitude 51:03 is how much we open our heart to receive from the Lord. 51:08 When we open up our hearts to allow God to love us, 51:13 you know, some people have an incorrect, 51:15 incomplete picture of the character of God. 51:19 And they run around with their nose in the air 51:23 or in a snit all the time, they're upset with God. 51:27 If we just open up our hearts, and don't reject God's love, 51:32 we'll be just like this. 51:34 I mean, once you really begin to understand 51:36 the character of God, you do stand in awe of Him. 51:39 Absolutely. 51:41 And most people, I love what you're saying, 51:42 as I'm just taking in the story 51:44 and hear what you're saying it's powerful. 51:46 This situation reminds me of the fact 51:49 that most people don't understand 51:52 what true gratitude is 51:53 because they haven't had 51:55 a personal encounter with Jesus. 51:56 Yeah. 51:58 They're reading the story 52:00 of her pouring out her gratitude 52:02 and thanksgiving to Christ. 52:03 But what, the question is what caused this? 52:05 What was it that brought this into motion? 52:09 This woman had been caught not just, not it's known as, 52:12 you know, it's not like they just went to her home 52:14 and said, "Hey, you know, we know you're a harlot, 52:16 we're going to take you out here and judge you." 52:17 They caught her in the very act. 52:19 And then she's brought and thrown 52:21 at the feet of Jesus, 52:22 whom, at this point, 52:24 maybe she's heard a little bit about, 52:25 but this is her first personal encounter 52:27 with Christ, the Son of God. 52:30 And it's powerful to think of that story, 52:34 that Jesus doesn't condemn her, 52:36 but He also doesn't condone her sin. 52:39 But yet he doesn't just beat her up 52:41 and, you know, treat her as the people 52:44 there were about to treat her. 52:45 They were going to stone her to death. 52:47 Jesus saved her life and showed her compassion. 52:50 He gave her the treatment that she didn't deserve, 52:53 which was love, compassion, and mercy. 52:56 And this story that we just read in Luke 7 52:59 is that automatic response of gratitude of, 53:02 you know what? 53:03 He has saved me, I would gladly pour out. 53:06 I sing that song alabaster box, 53:07 you know, I've come to pour my praise on Him, 53:13 like oil from Mary. 53:15 She's literally pouring her whole life out on Jesus 53:19 because she recognizes 53:20 that He gave His entire life for her. 53:23 And Jesus in Luke 47 is saying, hey, she loves much, 53:27 she's been forgiven much so she understands. 53:30 When we realize 53:32 how much we've been forgiven we will. 53:34 Absolutely. 53:36 Honey, why don't you share the story of the lepers? 53:39 Of the lepers, okay, that's, 53:41 we're going to take this from Luke 17. 53:44 And I'm going to kind of go through, it started... 53:49 Well, 13 53:51 because this is where they're calling on, Jesus, 53:53 Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. 53:56 And so when they saw Him, He says, 53:59 "Go show yourself to the priest. 54:01 Okay, He had, He saw them and He said, 54:04 Go show yourself to the priest. 54:05 And so it was that they went and they were cleansed." 54:08 Wow, gratitude right there. 54:10 "And one of them whenever he saw 54:11 that he was healed 54:13 returned with a loud voice glorify God, 54:15 and fell down on His face 54:16 at His feet giving Him thanks, Jesus." 54:18 Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. 54:20 I mean, we can't even appreciate, 54:22 this is leprosy. 54:24 I mean, this was just, everybody just, 54:26 you know, avoided them. 54:28 "And one of them, when that he saw he was healed, 54:30 he returned with a loud voice glorified, 54:31 fell down on his face 54:33 and him thanks and he was a Samaritan." 54:35 Oh, my goodness. 54:37 And so Jesus answers and says, "Where there not ten cleansed, 54:41 but where are the nine? 54:43 Where there not any found 54:45 who returned to give glory to God 54:46 except this foreigner?" 54:48 And He said to him, "Arise, go your way, 54:50 your faith has made you well." 54:53 What is it? 54:54 What do you think about that, Ricky? 54:58 I think about how He was the only one 55:04 that came back to give thanks. 55:05 I think about those other gentlemen. 55:08 And I'm sad for them. 55:12 I think about my father. 55:13 And my father is been the one that's always said, 55:16 "Son, you need to express your gratitude 55:20 when someone does something for you 55:22 and especially when you see what Christ, 55:26 this is another encounter. 55:28 That's right. Another encounter with Jesus. 55:30 This gentleman had an encounter with Jesus. 55:32 And he came back and just showed his thanks 55:36 and his appreciation and his gratitude. 55:38 I love this story. 55:40 Now, what I like about it is, 55:41 it absolutely shows 55:43 that Jesus thinks we ought to be giving thanks. 55:47 But He says, 55:49 when he gives thanks, he calls it faith, 55:51 your faith has healed you 55:54 because it was recognizing what Jesus had done. 55:57 So it was faith in Jesus. 55:59 You know, our time's already gone away 56:01 but I just want to tell you, 56:03 we need to think about guidelines 56:06 for grateful living. 56:08 Keep a gratitude journal. 56:10 If you feel like 56:11 what can I be thankful for every day, 56:13 get up, write down 10 words on a sheet of paper, 56:17 then after each one of those words, 56:20 write out one sentence of why you're grateful for 56:23 and pray it back to the Lord. 56:25 Watch what God will do, He will turn your focus. 56:30 I mean, if you can't think of what to be grateful for 56:32 maybe your toothbrush, 56:34 even what be it, hot water, whatever. 56:37 But we, I think we show by setting aside 56:41 time for worship, 56:43 and making provision for the poor 56:46 and expressing our gratitude to others. 56:49 We're out of time. 56:50 Well, I want to say in closing really quickly. 56:52 I want to express my gratitude to you guys 56:53 because you have been wonderful mentors to me 56:56 and my wife since we've been here. 56:58 We love 3ABN, we love you guys, 57:00 and we praise God for what God is doing 57:03 through you in this ministry. 57:04 Thank you. 57:05 And we just want to thank you both for being here today. 57:09 For those of you at home, our prayer, 57:12 our thanksgiving is for you 57:14 because this ministry couldn't even exist 57:17 without those who partner with us. 57:19 And we pray 57:21 that the grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, 57:26 the love of the Father, 57:28 and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit 57:30 will be yours this Sabbath and every day to come. 57:34 God bless. God bless you. |
Revised 2020-09-11