¤[music ends]¤¤
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>>John Bradshaw:
This is "It Is Written."
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I'm John Bradshaw.
Thanks for joining me.
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The year was 1621.
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Of the 102 colonists who
had crossed the Atlantic Ocean
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in the fall of the previous
year, only 50 had survived.
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[ocean waves] ¤[somber music]¤
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They'd come for a
new start, all of them,
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many of them seeking a land
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where they could practice their
Christian faith in freedom.
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The previous
winter had been grim.
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Starvation and
death had been waiting
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to welcome the new arrivals.
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But out of the struggles and
challenges of those early years
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there came something that
400 years later has become part
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of the fabric of society in
the United States of America:
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Thanksgiving.
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The story behind that
first Thanksgiving feast
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at Plymouth Bay, Massachusetts,
is more complicated
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than elementary school
books typically portray.
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The Separatist
Puritans, or, or Pilgrims,
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who arrived on the "Mayflower"
were not the first Europeans
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to explore or settle on the
eastern coast of North America.
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When they arrived, they came in
contact with a Native American
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named Tisquantum
from the Patuxet tribe.
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Tisquantum spoke English.
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That's because he'd been
captured by an English explorer
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and then sold
into slavery in Europe.
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Although he arrived
back in America to find
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that his entire tribe had
been wiped out by an epidemic,
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"Squanto," along with
members of the Wampanoag tribe,
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taught the
Pilgrims how to hunt, fish,
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and, most importantly,
how to plant and grow corn.
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Most Thanksgiving
legends portray the colonists
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and Native Americans as,
as living in blissful harmony.
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But the Wampanoags had
also been nearly devastated
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by European illness,
and they were already wary
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of the superior weapons and
expansionist ways of Europeans.
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But they needed help
to counter rival tribes,
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so they formed an uneasy
alliance with the colonists.
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It may be that the Wampanoag
actually had not been invited
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to that first
Thanksgiving feast in 1621.
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One version of the
story-- and there are many--
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has it that the
celebrations of the colonists,
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as they, as they fired
their muskets into the air,
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aroused the
attention of the Wampanoag,
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who arrived with 90
armed and anxious warriors
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thinking a battle was unfolding.
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Now, whatever the
truth of the matter,
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the two parties
united for a feast
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that lasted for several days.
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But relationships
between those early Pilgrims
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and Native Americans broke
down as more settlers arrived
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and took over Native lands.
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The rest is history.
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Thanksgiving celebrations
were already a common practice
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among Europeans, as
well as Native Americans.
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So the practice of
recognizing the goodness of God
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was already part
of the American DNA
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when the Pilgrims first arrived.
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But Thanksgiving wouldn't
become an official holiday
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in the United
States for quite some time.
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¤[soft hopeful music]¤
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In 1777, after the decisive
victory against British forces
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at Saratoga, a victory
that ensured the colonies
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would gain their
independence from England,
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the Continental Congress
decreed that all 13 colonies
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should celebrate a
national day of thanksgiving
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in honor of that victory.
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Now, this carried on
informally for 100 years or so
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when Sarah Josepha Hale,
a journalist and the author
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of "Mary Had a Little Lamb,"
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convinced then-President Abraham
Lincoln that a national holiday
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of thanksgiving would
be good for the country.
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Four months after the Union
victory at Gettysburg in 1863,
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President Lincoln declared
the last Thursday of November
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to be Thanksgiving Day.
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Although Thanksgiving
was instituted as a day
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of giving thanks to God for
His provisions and intervention,
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Thanksgiving has
devolved over time into a day
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of little more than parades,
football, food, and shopping.
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It's less about family
and offering thanks to God
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and more and more
a hollow reflection
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of society's
obsession with materialism
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and self-gratification.
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So, here's how
you make Thanksgiving
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a more authentic
expression of...thanksgiving.
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You start by giving thanks.
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Psalm 105 begins by saying,
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"Oh, give
thanks [unto] the Lord!
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"Call upon His name; make known
His deeds among the peoples!
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"Sing to Him,
sing [praises] to Him;
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[tell] of all
His wondrous works!"
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Now, that psalm provides
us with a simple formula
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for having a great Thanksgiving:
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"Oh, give thanks
[unto] the Lord!"
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That is, recognize the Giver.
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The psalm also says,
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"Make known His
deeds among the peoples!"
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Recognize His gifts.
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When you take time to
consider the greatness of God
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and give thanks to the
Giver, you're connecting
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with the Source of limitless
love, mercy, and resources.
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No, God doesn't
need a pat on the back.
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Giving thanks to God honors God,
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but it's really
for your own good.
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Recognizing the goodness of God
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keeps God front and
center in your life.
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And as well as
recognizing the true Giver,
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you do well to recognize
the gifts so generously given.
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They may not always be obvious,
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but God has given everyone
myriad reasons to be thankful.
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Now, that might
not be easy to hear
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when you've got relationship
problems, car problems,
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when your place of
employment just shut down,
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you got a DUI, or
you're sitting in a jail cell.
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Sometimes circumstances
may seem overwhelming;
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that's just the truth.
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But there's a lot
anyone can be thankful for.
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Family, no? Friends, no?
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Okay, you can see, or
you can hear; you can touch.
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There's someone that cares.
You're not sure about that?
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Well, God cares.
Jesus died for you.
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And one day He's going to
return to this earth for you
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and take you to a place where
there's no sin, no sadness,
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no loss, no injustice.
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And between now and then,
you can allow God to use you
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to be a blessing in
the life of someone else.
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So, while Thanksgiving
is an important holiday,
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and it reminds you of the
goodness and blessings of God,
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it reminds you of His
purpose for your life,
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that doesn't mean
Thanksgiving's the only time
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that you can
focus on those things.
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Now, when I come back, I'll
be speaking with Dr. Frank Hasel
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to talk about the
importance of giving thanks,
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the spiritual and emotional
benefits of being thankful,
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not only at
Thanksgiving but at all times--
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that and more in just a moment.
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¤[upbeat music
swells and ends]¤¤
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>>Announcer:
Gratitude is a powerful emotion
00:07:28.84\00:07:31.31
that can lift your spirts
00:07:31.35\00:07:32.65
and dramatically
enhance your sense of wellbeing.
00:07:32.68\00:07:35.38
Unlock the biblical
secrets to a happier life
00:07:35.42\00:07:38.12
with today's gift, entitled
"The Blessings of Gratitude."
00:07:38.15\00:07:41.76
It's absolutely free.
00:07:41.79\00:07:43.43
Just call 800-253-3000
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or order online at iiwoffer.com.
00:07:46.39\00:07:50.10
Experience the
incredible power of gratitude,
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800-253-3000
00:07:52.57\00:07:55.10
or iiwoffer.com.
00:07:55.14\00:07:57.44
>>John Bradshaw: Thanks for
joining me on "It Is Written."
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I sat down recently with author
and pastor Dr. Frank Hasel
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and asked him about something
he knows something about.
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We talked about thankfulness
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and finding
things to be grateful for
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in even the most
challenging of circumstances.
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And I asked him if
there could ever be a person
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who has nothing
to be thankful for.
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Is it true that there's a person
with nothing to be thankful for?
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>>Dr. Frank Hasel: Well, I
can understand the feeling.
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If you have, uh, experienced
significant loss in life,
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if you have experienced
tragedy, uh, things like that,
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first you, you don't
feel thankful at all.
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And, uh, and the tendency
then is to focus on those things
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that you don't have anymore.
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You need to make a
deliberate choice, I think,
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to focus on the things that are
still there to be thankful for.
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And even a person who has, uh,
has experienced what you said,
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if that person sits
down and actually thinks,
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there are plenty of things for
which a person can be thankful--
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little things, uh, and
you have to start little.
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You might, uh, you
might still have a car.
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Think about what would be
the case if you had not a car,
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you know. And, uh, you
still have, um, eyes to see,
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just to see, uh, the colors
of fall, the colors of spring.
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>>John: Now, you
speak about this...
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from an interesting perspective.
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Your wife of more than 20 years
passed away a few years ago now.
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How did you confront that
and maintain or rediscover
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thankfulness in
the wake of that?
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>>Dr. Hasel: If you
lose a person you love,
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it always hits you,
and it's never nice.
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And so how do you deal,
uh, with a situation of that?
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How do you deal with
significant loss in life?
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Uh, there's a very
simple strategy that has made
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a huge difference in my own life
that I learned from my aunt,
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who had lost her husband
through a tragic car accident
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some years ago. And she said,
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"Take a sheet of paper
and, uh, write down 10 words,
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just 10 words, for which
you will be thankful for."
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Now, that's the
challenge; the initial challenge
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is because if you experience
significant loss in life,
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you don't even think
about anything that is, uh,
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that is close to being
thankful. [chuckles softly]
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And, but if you think, you know,
you, you find little things,
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like, uh, I'm thankful for
a bed in which I can sleep,
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uh, that I have an apartment
and a house that gives me,
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uh, comfort, you know. So
you write down the 10 words.
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Then, with each word, you
write out a whole short sentence
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in which you
express why you are thankful
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for that particular thing.
00:11:00.46\00:11:01.66
So, you say,
"What I'm thankful for:
00:11:01.69\00:11:05.33
my ears that I can
still hear beautiful music."
00:11:05.36\00:11:09.46
And then, once you've
written down that thing,
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you speak so that you
can hear yourself speak
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that short sentence.
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So you do that for one
day. You have 10 reasons.
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And the next day, you
write down 10 new reasons.
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Same procedure, a
word, a short sentence,
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you speak the sentence.
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At the end of just one week,
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you have 70 reasons
for which you are thankful.
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And it does make a,
a huge, uh, difference.
00:11:40.63\00:11:43.63
It makes a difference how
you look at your...surroundings.
00:11:43.67\00:11:47.90
It makes a huge difference
how you look at your own life.
00:11:47.94\00:11:51.41
It makes a difference
how you look at other people.
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And it just is transformative.
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>>John: You have written about
the importance of gratitude,
00:11:57.41\00:12:01.22
and in what you've written,
00:12:01.25\00:12:03.69
you've stated that
thanksgiving is medically good.
00:12:03.72\00:12:07.52
It's good for a person's health.
>>Dr. Hasel: Absolutely, yes.
00:12:07.56\00:12:09.52
>>John: How is that so?
00:12:09.56\00:12:10.83
>>Dr. Hasel: Well,
there are, there are a number
00:12:10.86\00:12:12.33
of interesting recent
studies, actually, uh,
00:12:12.36\00:12:15.30
that document how thankfulness,
uh, really improves your health,
00:12:15.33\00:12:21.14
improves your physical
health, your mental health,
00:12:21.17\00:12:24.01
your resilience to
deal with things in life.
00:12:24.04\00:12:27.24
And, and the amazing thing to
me, uh, is that even observing
00:12:27.28\00:12:32.08
another person expressing
his or her thankfulness
00:12:32.11\00:12:35.52
has a positive impact on you.
00:12:35.55\00:12:37.89
>>John: Which means that your
example of thankfulness can be
00:12:37.92\00:12:41.36
a blessing to the
person you're thanking,
00:12:41.39\00:12:42.66
to you-- >>Dr. Hasel: Yes.
00:12:42.69\00:12:43.83
>>John: ...and to
an impartial observer.
00:12:43.86\00:12:45.73
>>Dr. Hasel: Yes, yes.
00:12:45.76\00:12:46.59
>>John: Talk to
me about thanksgiving
00:12:46.63\00:12:47.96
from a theological perspective.
00:12:47.96\00:12:49.56
How do we, how do we
approach that in, in the Bible?
00:12:49.60\00:12:52.07
Why is it of
theological importance?
00:12:52.10\00:12:53.97
>>Dr. Hasel: God has called
us repeatedly to be thankful.
00:12:54.00\00:12:58.47
And I think He did,
He did that for a reason
00:12:58.51\00:13:01.54
because He knows
that it is good for us,
00:13:01.58\00:13:04.08
and He knows that it
will bring us closer to Him,
00:13:04.11\00:13:07.08
who is, who is the
Author of all the goodness
00:13:07.12\00:13:09.88
and the beauty
that we see around.
00:13:09.92\00:13:11.99
The Bible is
saturated, basically,
00:13:12.02\00:13:14.42
with the idea that
we should be grateful,
00:13:14.46\00:13:17.09
that we should be thankful.
00:13:17.13\00:13:19.16
In fact, there is an
entire festival that is devoted
00:13:19.19\00:13:22.83
basically to the
idea of thankfulness.
00:13:22.86\00:13:26.63
It's the Feast of Tabernacles.
00:13:26.67\00:13:29.17
And it was a feast of pilgrimage
that meant everyone had to come
00:13:29.20\00:13:34.14
to Jerusalem to the temple
to celebrate the goodness of God
00:13:34.18\00:13:38.78
in providing the very things
that we need for our lives.
00:13:38.81\00:13:43.72
And it was not just
thankfulness for the fruits
00:13:43.75\00:13:46.39
and the harvest and the things,
uh, that help us to live.
00:13:46.42\00:13:49.86
It's also--on their way
to Jerusalem, they had to,
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to build little
huts, a little booth,
00:13:53.60\00:13:56.70
remembering God's graciousness
00:13:56.73\00:13:59.00
and leading through the
wilderness, uh, at the Exodus
00:13:59.03\00:14:03.47
when they left Egypt,
that He cared for His people.
00:14:03.51\00:14:07.14
So God wanted them to remember
His goodness in protecting them
00:14:07.18\00:14:12.15
and leading them
through the wilderness to, uh,
00:14:12.18\00:14:15.62
to Jerusalem, to the Holy Land.
00:14:15.65\00:14:18.15
And when they arrived, it was,
uh, a feast of some seven days.
00:14:18.19\00:14:22.62
It was the most joyous feast
of the entire Jewish festivals.
00:14:22.66\00:14:29.06
And it culminated in a
majestic, uh, celebration
00:14:29.10\00:14:33.87
of light and water and
remembering the goodness of God.
00:14:33.90\00:14:39.21
And this is the
biblical precedent, basically,
00:14:39.24\00:14:42.71
to our Thanksgiving celebration,
where we also bring,
00:14:42.74\00:14:47.95
you know, the, the
harvest fruits, basically,
00:14:47.98\00:14:50.39
remembering God's goodness
in our lives and how He has led.
00:14:50.42\00:14:54.99
And this is just,
uh, a few things that,
00:14:55.02\00:14:57.76
uh, that I think
should make us think
00:14:57.79\00:15:01.43
and should make us grateful
for, for what the Bible teaches,
00:15:01.46\00:15:05.57
uh, on that particular subject.
00:15:05.60\00:15:07.80
>>John: In a moment I'm going
to share with you four A's,
00:15:07.84\00:15:11.91
four A's that will help you
to be a more thankful person.
00:15:11.94\00:15:17.21
Be back in just a moment.
00:15:17.25\00:15:18.81
¤[upbeat music
swells and ends]¤¤
00:15:18.85\00:15:24.85
>>John: Thank you for
remembering that It Is Written
00:15:27.79\00:15:29.79
exists because of the kindness
of people just like you.
00:15:29.82\00:15:32.83
To support this international
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00:15:32.86\00:15:36.40
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00:15:36.43\00:15:40.64
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00:15:42.17\00:15:43.61
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00:15:43.64\00:15:47.41
Thank you for your prayers
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00:15:47.44\00:15:50.28
Our number
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00:15:50.31\00:15:54.45
or you can visit us
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00:15:54.48\00:15:57.49
>>John: There are some
things you don't want to forget.
00:15:59.02\00:16:02.16
And there are some things
00:16:02.19\00:16:03.12
God specifically
tells us to remember.
00:16:03.16\00:16:06.26
At the dawn of time,
the Creator of the universe
00:16:06.29\00:16:09.30
gifted to the human
family a divine prescription
00:16:09.33\00:16:12.93
for combating stress, busyness,
and the pressures of daily life,
00:16:12.97\00:16:17.61
a regular blessing of
time spent in the heart of God.
00:16:17.64\00:16:20.81
¤[soft contemplative music]¤
00:16:20.84\00:16:21.81
Don't miss "A Day to Remember."
00:16:21.84\00:16:24.38
We'll travel to the largest
Ten Commandments in the world
00:16:24.41\00:16:27.55
and rediscover
heaven's purpose for your life.
00:16:27.58\00:16:30.89
"A Day to Remember,"
00:16:30.92\00:16:32.32
a personal God seeking
a meaningful connection
00:16:32.35\00:16:34.86
with His children, a way
forward for spiritual renewal.
00:16:34.89\00:16:38.96
We'll open the Bible together
00:16:38.99\00:16:40.60
and learn that God has
blessings for His children
00:16:40.63\00:16:43.90
that have been
overlooked and neglected.
00:16:43.93\00:16:46.63
Get more from God;
go deeper in your faith.
00:16:46.67\00:16:49.97
"A Day to Remember,"
00:16:50.01\00:16:51.64
watch now on It Is Written TV.
00:16:51.67\00:16:54.44
¤[music ends]¤¤
00:16:54.48\00:16:55.48
>>John: Welcome
back to "It Is Written."
00:16:58.85\00:17:01.45
The Mayo Clinic suggests that
you practice gratitude daily
00:17:01.48\00:17:06.15
and that you take
time to demonstrate thanks
00:17:06.19\00:17:08.46
to the people who
positively impact your life.
00:17:08.49\00:17:11.06
You can thank them
with a text or a note
00:17:11.09\00:17:13.43
or with a kind word
next time you see them.
00:17:13.46\00:17:16.80
Another idea is to
keep a gratitude journal.
00:17:16.83\00:17:20.77
Look back over your day
00:17:20.80\00:17:21.94
and write down the
things that went right.
00:17:21.97\00:17:25.04
Maybe your spouse took
care of a household repair.
00:17:25.07\00:17:27.78
You might have enjoyed a couple
of chapters in a great book.
00:17:27.81\00:17:30.41
Maybe you saw a bright
rainbow adorn a stormy sky.
00:17:30.45\00:17:35.78
Don't forget the many blessings
you tend to take for granted,
00:17:35.82\00:17:38.72
such as having clean water
00:17:38.75\00:17:40.52
or the abilities
God has gifted you with.
00:17:40.56\00:17:43.02
Your life is full of
reasons to thank God.
00:17:43.06\00:17:46.39
Sometimes you just need
to remember to notice them.
00:17:46.43\00:17:50.47
When it comes to
expressing gratitude to others,
00:17:50.50\00:17:54.07
there are at least four
effective things you can do,
00:17:54.10\00:17:57.37
and they all start with an "A."
00:17:57.41\00:18:00.71
You might want to jot them down.
00:18:00.74\00:18:02.41
Appreciation is
when you let others know
00:18:02.44\00:18:05.41
that something they have
done has impacted your life:
00:18:05.45\00:18:09.32
"Thanks for that
thoughtful gift."
00:18:09.35\00:18:11.55
"I'm so grateful you went
out of your way to see me."
00:18:11.59\00:18:14.12
"I couldn't have passed
that test without your help."
00:18:14.16\00:18:17.76
Now, approval is
when you express gratitude
00:18:17.79\00:18:20.96
for how things have been
done or how they're going:
00:18:21.00\00:18:24.10
"Well, you've
managed some steady progress
00:18:24.13\00:18:25.70
on keeping your room clean."
00:18:25.73\00:18:27.40
"I really like how
you play the violin."
00:18:27.44\00:18:30.07
Approval. Now, if
you're doing this already,
00:18:30.11\00:18:32.87
you are a good trajectory.
00:18:32.91\00:18:34.74
If you're not
doing this already,
00:18:34.78\00:18:36.61
it's probably not
because you don't approve of
00:18:36.64\00:18:40.08
or appreciate certain
people and what they do,
00:18:40.12\00:18:42.48
it's more than likely because
00:18:42.52\00:18:43.65
you just haven't
thought about it.
00:18:43.69\00:18:45.89
So, think about it.
It'll make a difference.
00:18:45.92\00:18:49.22
People will appreciate
it; they'll appreciate you.
00:18:49.26\00:18:53.09
It'll become a
positive habit in your life.
00:18:53.13\00:18:55.80
The next "A": attention.
00:18:55.83\00:18:58.67
People can tell
you appreciate them
00:18:58.70\00:19:00.80
when you're
generous with your attention,
00:19:00.84\00:19:03.24
when you maintain eye contact,
00:19:03.27\00:19:05.44
when you listen attentively,
00:19:05.47\00:19:07.61
when you put the phone down
and listen and ask questions
00:19:07.64\00:19:12.41
and encourage others
to tell their stories.
00:19:12.45\00:19:14.85
Now, this comes
naturally to some people,
00:19:14.88\00:19:17.19
not so naturally to others.
But you can develop this.
00:19:17.22\00:19:21.32
And then finally: admiration.
00:19:21.36\00:19:23.99
When you let people
know how grateful you are
00:19:24.03\00:19:26.49
for the role that
they play in your life:
00:19:26.53\00:19:28.40
"I'm so glad that
you're my grandpa."
00:19:28.43\00:19:29.83
"You make me smile."
00:19:29.86\00:19:31.67
"You do such a
good job with that."
00:19:31.70\00:19:33.57
That's, that's admiration.
00:19:33.60\00:19:36.04
Gratitude provides
you with clearer vision.
00:19:37.01\00:19:40.14
That old saying: "Two men
looked [through] prison bars.
00:19:40.18\00:19:44.05
One saw...mud,
the other...stars."
00:19:44.08\00:19:46.82
There's some reality about that.
00:19:46.85\00:19:50.82
Now, what about that
failed relationship, though?
00:19:50.85\00:19:53.29
Well, be thankful for the
lessons that you've learned.
00:19:53.32\00:19:55.96
Ask God to fulfill
you in better ways,
00:19:55.99\00:19:57.99
with better choices.
00:19:58.03\00:19:59.49
That DUI? An
attitude of gratitude
00:19:59.53\00:20:02.26
would lead you to
thank God for the wakeup call
00:20:02.30\00:20:04.60
about what alcohol
is doing in your life,
00:20:04.63\00:20:06.60
maybe spur you to seek help.
00:20:06.63\00:20:09.17
Money problems? But
you might be learning
00:20:09.20\00:20:11.91
that if you keep
doing the same things,
00:20:11.94\00:20:13.27
you'll get the same results.
00:20:13.31\00:20:14.84
So, thank God for
getting you this far,
00:20:14.88\00:20:17.31
for teaching you the importance
of living within your means,
00:20:17.35\00:20:20.48
and for helping you develop
better money management skills.
00:20:20.52\00:20:24.32
The Bible itself
is full of thanks.
00:20:24.35\00:20:26.32
Psalm 136, verse 1:
00:20:26.35\00:20:28.56
"Oh, give thanks to
the Lord, for He is good!
00:20:28.59\00:20:30.36
For His mercy endures forever."
00:20:30.39\00:20:32.19
David said that four
times in that one psalm alone.
00:20:32.23\00:20:36.90
When Jesus multiplied
five loaves and two fish
00:20:36.93\00:20:39.33
into a meal for thousands
of people, He gave thanks.
00:20:39.37\00:20:42.70
Thanks for the food, no doubt,
00:20:42.74\00:20:44.81
but also thanks for what
He knew His Father could do.
00:20:44.84\00:20:49.01
When you know that
God is mighty enough
00:20:49.04\00:20:50.98
to speak
galaxies into existence,
00:20:51.01\00:20:54.58
you then can
pray with confidence.
00:20:54.62\00:20:57.55
And then you've got
plenty to be thankful for.
00:20:57.59\00:21:00.86
At the Last
Supper, Jesus gave thanks.
00:21:00.89\00:21:03.73
When 10 lepers
were healed by Jesus,
00:21:03.76\00:21:06.39
one came back to say thank you.
00:21:06.43\00:21:09.36
But only one,
and Jesus commented
00:21:09.40\00:21:11.97
on the
thanklessness of the others.
00:21:12.00\00:21:14.97
At the tomb of Lazarus,
00:21:15.00\00:21:15.94
before one of the
most remarkable miracles
00:21:15.97\00:21:18.01
ever performed, Jesus gave
thanks before calling Lazarus
00:21:18.04\00:21:22.51
from the tomb
in which he rested:
00:21:22.54\00:21:24.71
"And Jesus lifted
up His eyes and said,
00:21:24.75\00:21:26.85
'Father, I thank You
that You have heard me.'"
00:21:26.88\00:21:29.32
That's John 11, verse 41,
00:21:29.35\00:21:31.22
which makes a
really important point.
00:21:31.25\00:21:35.12
When you pray,
take time to thank God.
00:21:35.16\00:21:39.36
Now, we're encouraged to
ask God for things in prayer.
00:21:39.39\00:21:42.60
But prayer needs to be about
more than just presenting God
00:21:42.63\00:21:46.47
with a shopping list.
00:21:46.50\00:21:48.10
Praying with thanks
will increase the fervency
00:21:48.14\00:21:50.67
of your prayers and
increase your faith.
00:21:50.71\00:21:53.74
Because now instead
of saying, "Please, Lord,
00:21:53.78\00:21:56.21
let there be fine
weather on Friday,"
00:21:56.24\00:21:58.48
you're saying, "Thank
You for all Your blessings.
00:21:58.51\00:22:00.78
Thank You for the
prayers You've answered."
00:22:00.82\00:22:02.18
And you'll pray with greater
faith and greater confidence.
00:22:02.22\00:22:05.95
When you've just thanked God for
making the sun, moon, and stars,
00:22:05.99\00:22:08.52
you'll have no trouble believing
00:22:08.56\00:22:10.53
that God can answer your
prayer about the weather.
00:22:10.56\00:22:13.70
And if it turns out the
weather is wet and not fine,
00:22:13.73\00:22:17.30
you know so much
about God's goodness
00:22:17.33\00:22:19.07
that you'll trust Him anyway
00:22:19.10\00:22:21.04
and you'll believe
that He has a perfect plan.
00:22:21.07\00:22:24.41
David thanked God
for His blessings:
00:22:24.44\00:22:27.48
"Both riches and honor come from
You, and You reign over all....
00:22:27.51\00:22:31.15
"Now therefore,
our God, we thank You
00:22:31.18\00:22:34.78
and praise Your glorious name."
00:22:34.82\00:22:36.62
You read that in 1
Chronicles, chapter 29.
00:22:36.65\00:22:39.09
When you thank
God for what you have,
00:22:39.12\00:22:42.09
you're recognizing
that it comes from Him.
00:22:42.12\00:22:46.23
You'll be less
likely to be careless
00:22:46.26\00:22:47.86
because you'll understand
it isn't yours but His.
00:22:47.86\00:22:51.27
And thanking God is
going to encourage humility.
00:22:51.30\00:22:53.80
No, that house, that car,
that vacation wasn't because
00:22:53.84\00:22:59.57
of your brilliance but
because of God's providence.
00:22:59.61\00:23:04.01
After God revealed to Daniel
the dream of Nebuchadnezzar,
00:23:05.01\00:23:07.72
along with its
meaning, Daniel said,
00:23:07.75\00:23:10.25
"I thank You and praise
You, O God of my fathers;
00:23:10.29\00:23:13.59
You have given me
wisdom and might."
00:23:13.62\00:23:15.79
Daniel 2:23.
00:23:15.82\00:23:17.63
God had not only
answered a prayer,
00:23:17.66\00:23:20.20
but He'd saved Daniel's life
and the lives of his friends.
00:23:20.23\00:23:23.70
And Daniel didn't forget to
thank God and acknowledge God
00:23:23.73\00:23:27.10
as the source of his wisdom.
00:23:27.14\00:23:29.50
And when King Jehoshaphat
and Judah were confronted
00:23:29.54\00:23:32.17
by a vast army,
the Bible says that
00:23:32.21\00:23:35.44
"when he had
consulted with the people,
00:23:35.48\00:23:38.18
"he appointed those who
should sing to the Lord,
00:23:38.21\00:23:40.52
"and who should praise
the beauty of holiness,
00:23:40.55\00:23:42.65
"as they went out before
the army and were saying:
00:23:42.68\00:23:45.92
'Praise the Lord, for
His mercy endures forever.'"
00:23:45.95\00:23:49.22
Now, notice this:
00:23:49.26\00:23:50.19
"Now when they began
to sing and to praise,
00:23:50.23\00:23:54.40
"the Lord set ambushes against
the people of Ammon, Moab,
00:23:54.46\00:23:58.10
"and Mount Seir, who
had come against Judah;
00:23:58.13\00:24:01.00
and they were defeated."
00:24:01.04\00:24:02.70
Second Chronicles 20:21 and 22.
00:24:02.74\00:24:04.84
Judah defeated its enemy
without firing a single shot,
00:24:05.84\00:24:11.78
and that came after the
people went out praising God
00:24:11.81\00:24:16.12
in the face of what
looked like certain defeat.
00:24:16.15\00:24:19.25
Now, praise and thanks
are not one and the same,
00:24:19.29\00:24:21.96
but they're
incredibly closely related.
00:24:21.99\00:24:24.29
Thanks is thanks,
00:24:24.33\00:24:25.69
thanking God for
one thing or another.
00:24:25.73\00:24:28.00
Praise is more a focus on
who God is, not what He gives.
00:24:28.03\00:24:33.87
You praise God for
His goodness, His love,
00:24:33.90\00:24:36.57
His might, His
power, His patience.
00:24:36.60\00:24:39.11
You praise God
for His attributes.
00:24:39.14\00:24:41.91
You thank God
for that fine Friday
00:24:41.94\00:24:44.68
or for your Aunt
Keisha's successful surgery
00:24:44.71\00:24:47.65
or that your kids made it
safely home for the holiday.
00:24:47.68\00:24:50.55
Now, praise and
thanks are closely related.
00:24:50.59\00:24:54.06
God loves to hear them both.
00:24:54.09\00:24:56.46
God knows the power of gratitude
00:24:56.49\00:24:58.66
in keeping you
focused, encouraged, and capable
00:24:58.69\00:25:02.20
of overcoming the confusion and
darkness of this fallen world.
00:25:02.23\00:25:05.90
Now, gratitude is not a
psych job; it's a reality check.
00:25:05.93\00:25:09.97
It's a spirit of appreciation
recognizing that God
00:25:10.01\00:25:12.97
has a thousand
ways to provide for you
00:25:13.01\00:25:14.98
of which you know nothing.
00:25:15.01\00:25:16.81
Paul put it this way
in Colossians 4, verse 2:
00:25:16.85\00:25:19.51
"Continue earnestly in prayer,
00:25:19.55\00:25:22.18
being vigilant in
it with thanksgiving."
00:25:22.22\00:25:24.79
Now, same author,
Philippians, chapter 4:
00:25:24.82\00:25:27.32
"Be anxious for nothing,
but in everything by prayer
00:25:27.36\00:25:30.23
"and
supplication, with thanksgiving,
00:25:30.26\00:25:33.63
"let your requests be made known
to God; and the peace of God,
00:25:33.66\00:25:36.93
"which surpasses
all understanding,
00:25:36.97\00:25:39.03
will guard your hearts and
minds through Christ Jesus."
00:25:39.07\00:25:42.87
Giving thanks brings peace.
00:25:42.90\00:25:45.37
¤[soft contemplative music]¤
00:25:45.41\00:25:46.51
Thanksgiving--or you
could call it "thanks-living"--
00:25:46.54\00:25:50.45
God's plan for a
deeper experience with Him,
00:25:50.48\00:25:53.42
for better health and for a
new, improved outlook on life.
00:25:53.45\00:25:58.39
With more thanks in your heart,
00:25:58.42\00:26:00.39
there's room for more
of God in your heart--
00:26:00.42\00:26:03.39
and for more of the
blessing of God in your life.
00:26:03.43\00:26:06.66
Let me pray with you right now.
00:26:06.70\00:26:08.30
Our Father in
heaven, we say thank You.
00:26:08.33\00:26:11.17
In the beginning
You created this world,
00:26:11.20\00:26:13.20
and then by a
miracle of providence,
00:26:13.23\00:26:16.10
You placed each one of us in it.
00:26:16.14\00:26:18.51
And when the
world had gone astray
00:26:18.54\00:26:20.14
and sin had
overtaken everything,
00:26:20.18\00:26:22.91
You allowed Your Son
Jesus to come to this world
00:26:22.94\00:26:25.01
to die for our sin so
that we might have hope
00:26:25.05\00:26:27.65
in and beyond this life, hope
through what Jesus has done.
00:26:27.68\00:26:31.45
Friend, can you be thankful now?
00:26:31.49\00:26:33.42
Can you say, "Thank
You, God, for Your goodness
00:26:33.46\00:26:36.02
and Your wonderful
works to the children of men"?
00:26:36.06\00:26:38.83
I believe you
can. And, Lord, we do.
00:26:38.86\00:26:41.16
We love You, we thank
You, and we praise You
00:26:41.20\00:26:44.23
because You are
good and a great God.
00:26:44.27\00:26:46.37
And we pray in Jesus' name.
00:26:46.40\00:26:48.84
Amen.
00:26:48.87\00:26:49.77
¤[music fades]¤
00:26:49.80\00:26:50.81
>>Announcer:
Gratitude is a powerful emotion
00:26:52.67\00:26:55.01
that can lift your spirts
00:26:55.04\00:26:56.31
and dramatically
enhance your sense of wellbeing.
00:26:56.34\00:26:59.08
Unlock the biblical
secrets to a happier life
00:26:59.11\00:27:01.78
with today's gift, entitled
"The Blessings of Gratitude."
00:27:01.82\00:27:05.15
It's absolutely free.
00:27:05.19\00:27:06.99
Just call 800-253-3000
00:27:07.02\00:27:10.16
or order online at iiwoffer.com.
00:27:10.19\00:27:13.83
Experience the
incredible power of gratitude,
00:27:13.86\00:27:16.23
800-253-3000
00:27:16.26\00:27:18.67
or iiwoffer.com.
00:27:18.70\00:27:21.20
>>John: So, who
knew something so simple,
00:27:22.84\00:27:25.07
doesn't cost
anything, anybody can do it?
00:27:25.11\00:27:28.61
Who knew thanksgiving could
be so profoundly influential
00:27:28.64\00:27:31.81
and effective in your life,
even in your spiritual life?
00:27:31.85\00:27:36.32
I encourage you to be
a person who is thankful,
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thankful to God, and as you are,
00:27:39.12\00:27:41.26
I believe you'll draw closer
to the heart of that great God
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from whom all blessings flow.
00:27:46.36\00:27:48.20
Thanks so much for joining me.
00:27:48.23\00:27:49.90
I'm looking forward to
seeing you again next time.
00:27:49.93\00:27:51.90
Until then, remember:
00:27:51.93\00:27:53.80
"It is written, 'Man
shall not live by bread alone,
00:27:53.84\00:27:57.34
but by every word that proceeds
from the mouth of God.'"
00:27:57.37\00:28:01.48
¤[dramatic,
triumphant theme music]¤
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¤[music ends]¤¤
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