I want to spend my life
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Mending broken people
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I want to spend my life
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Removing pain
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Lord, let my words
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Heal a heart that hurts
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I want to spend my life
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Mending broken people
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I want to spend my life
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Mending broken people.
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Hello, and welcome
to 3ABN Family Worship.
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You're going to
have to forgive me
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for a squeaky voice,
but I'm Shelley Quinn.
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I'm JD Quinn.
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And we're so glad
that you are joining us.
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Amen.
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Honey, why don't you introduce
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who's at the
table with us tonight?
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We have some of our good friends
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at the table tonight.
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We have my good
friend, Ryan Day.
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That's right.
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You are my good friend.
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Amen.
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Family are friends.
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Amen. So amen.
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And then we have Ricky Carter.
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Now, Ricky Carter,
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I don't know if
y'all can appreciate
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being the newbie.
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I don't even know
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that's a modern-day terminology.
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Ricky is our newbie.
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He's the new guy on the block.
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And tell us a little
bit what you do, Ricky?
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Well, I am a designer animator.
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I'm here with 3ABN
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and Dare to Dream
more specifically,
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working as a video editor.
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And so I love creating things
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I feel the Lord has
blessed me with the ability
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to create a lot of
fascinating things.
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And most recently,
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I've been doing some
animated scripture songs.
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So I love the mighty God
Word. That's just your ministry.
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Yeah, has been my ministry.
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I just, I love
memorizing God's words
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and I find that
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music really
helps me to do that.
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And I can use art
to do that as well.
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Amen. Praise God.
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We are so
thankful that you're here
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because this is
your first time on 3ABN
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and Ricky's been
with us since 2012.
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You've been a contractor,
we've been outsourcing to you,
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but he and his wife, Jasmine,
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just are in the
process of moving here.
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And so you'll get to
see some more of Ricky's,
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a very spiritual
man, very thankful.
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Well, tonight we
are going to talk
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about the power of gratitude,
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and I can't
think of a better way
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to start off the Sabbath
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than to get our hearts
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into that rhythm with
heaven, that gratefulness,
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that thankfulness to God.
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So, Honey,
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why don't you
help him in prayer?
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Amen. Amen.
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Father, as we come to
you on this Sabbath day,
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just we want to
thank You so much, Lord,
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for being in our
hearts and our minds, we do.
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Thank You, Lord
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for the many, many
thousands of things
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that you do.
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Father, someday they say
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that perhaps we
will be able to have
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a better understanding
of what we've gone through
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and have a better glimpse
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of how You've
continually been in our life.
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And, Father, we just hoped
in the middle of everything
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is thanksgiving.
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We want to continue to
give You thanksgiving for all,
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we want to thank
You for our friends,
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we want to thank
You, of course, for 3ABN.
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We want to thank You, Lord,
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for all those who
watch us on 3ABN, Lord,
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and, Father,
especially the Sabbath day
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as we're bringing it in
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that we will continue
to be a loving family.
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We love You and
we thank You, Lord,
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and, Father, the
things that we bring out
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the Sabbath on gratitude.
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We just ask, Lord, that
everyone can identify with
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and, Father,
maybe someone out there,
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they really didn't know
how much they were giving,
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and they'll have a
better understanding.
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So we love You and we thank You.
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We ask this in the
name of Jesus, amen.
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Amen and amen.
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You know, I just
want to take a moment
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to express my gratitude.
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I've been
recuperating from two surgeries,
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and I had a lot of complications
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with those surgeries.
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One of those is kind
of a damaged vocal folds.
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So my voice goes in and out.
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But I just want
to thank all of you
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who have been praying for
me, interceding on my behalf.
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I want to thank
you for your cards
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and the emails
and the text messages,
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because it has been
a real source of cheer
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and joy to me to
know so many people cared.
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So thank you so much.
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And that's kind
of one of the reasons
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that I chose
this topic for tonight
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is that more than ever before,
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I understand the
power of gratitude,
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I've always had
a grateful heart.
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But more than ever before,
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after going through eight months
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of this journey,
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I understand the
power of gratitude.
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So let's start by,
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let's just describe or
define what is gratitude?
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Well to me, the simplicity
is that it's, thanksgiving
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is giving thanks.
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There's so many
different avenues
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that you can go from there.
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I don't know if you're
born with a grateful heart,
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a heart of thanksgiving
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or an attitude of
thanksgiving or gratitude,
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or if that's
something that's learned.
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But anyway, we're going to
be talking about the things
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that we're thankful for
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and how the Lord
fits into our lives
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and try to dissect it.
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Yeah, yeah.
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Would you say
that gratitude is also,
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it is an attitude.
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And personally I
think it's more learned
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than then being born with it.
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But wouldn't you
say that our expression,
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gratitude is an
expression of thanksgiving?
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Oh, absolutely, absolutely.
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Because it comes
through experiences,
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as especially,
obviously this is going to be
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within the context
of our spirituality,
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our relationship with the Lord.
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But absolutely,
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it's an
expression of thanksgiving,
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it's a expression of gratitude,
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in the sense that we're thankful
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for the personal kindness
that someone has shown us.
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In this case, you
know, we're going to get
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into the details of,
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you know, being,
showing gratitude towards God
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and our neighbor and so forth.
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But it comes to me,
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it comes with experience as
you grow closer to the Lord,
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then you become humbled.
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Yes.
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Again I think we're
going to hear that word
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come up a few times
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humility, being humbled
because when you are humbled,
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and the Lord
brings you to that place
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where you are able to
sense His heart on an issue,
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where He shares His
compassion, His mercy,
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His kindness,
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and that comes upon
you, you experience that,
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you're covered in that,
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it's almost as
if you, it's in You,
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you can't help but
have a natural response
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of thanksgiving.
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And it's a humble,
it's a genuine, earnest,
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humble thanksgiving
as we'll talk about.
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Amen.
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You are grateful,
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you are appreciative
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of something
that you've received
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and especially, you're thankful
for what God has done for you.
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That's right. Amen.
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That's what I
would say gratitude is.
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Amen.
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And we're going to expand
this in a moment beyond God
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even as far as
expressing our gratitude.
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Let me ask you this.
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I believe that
gratitude is virtue.
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It is.
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A virtue is good moral behavior.
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And I know that there are times
that I've made great sacrifices
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for somebody in my family
and have gone above and beyond.
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And they've just got
this sense of entitlement
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where they don't
even acknowledge it.
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And it kind of leaves
you feeling a little empty
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when you've had to sacrifice.
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But when would you
say, I asked Jay Davis,
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do you think that gratitude
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is kind of a
debt of appreciation?
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In other words,
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not that you're
trying to pay somebody back
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for the kindness they've done,
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but do you think
we owe thanksgiving
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to someone who's
gone above and beyond?
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I think a perfect
word, using your words,
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kind of in an
illustrative purpose.
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It's similar to tithing.
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We don't pay
back tithing, right?
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We return tithing
based on the blessing
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that God has given us.
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So, and absolutely,
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it's a debt in
the sense that you,
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you sense, you
desire to return to the Lord
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based on the goodness
that He has shown you for sure.
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Amen. Amen.
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Let me share something.
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My sister,
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I want to talk about
to whom we owe gratitude
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and we know the Lord,
and we'll talk about that.
00:09:19.95\00:09:22.62
But my sister came to visit us
when we lived in Central Texas.
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And I heard her
about the third night,
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she was on the
phone with her husband.
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And she said, "Oh,
my goodness, it's honey,
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this and honey
that, please do this.
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And thank you for this."
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She said, this is just
sickeningly sweet around it.
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And so, then she'd been there
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about six
nights close to a week.
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And I heard her on the phone
with her husband and she said,
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you know, maybe
we ought to try this.
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So I want to put
forward the premise
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that gratitude is
something we owe to God,
00:10:03.03\00:10:08.67
but it is also a grace
00:10:08.70\00:10:11.61
that I think that
should be flowing between us.
00:10:11.64\00:10:16.88
Especially she told her husband,
00:10:16.91\00:10:19.48
they're nicer to each other
00:10:19.51\00:10:21.08
than they would be
to complete strangers.
00:10:21.12\00:10:23.32
They're so polite.
00:10:23.35\00:10:24.99
Why wouldn't you be? Right.
00:10:25.02\00:10:26.76
I mean, that's so amazing.
00:10:26.79\00:10:28.56
But let's look at
Colossians 2:6 and 7.
00:10:28.59\00:10:33.60
Would you, Ricky,
00:10:33.63\00:10:35.50
read that Colossians 2:6 and 7?
00:10:35.53\00:10:42.07
"As you therefore have
received Christ Jesus the Lord,
00:10:42.10\00:10:46.01
so walk in Him,
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rooted and built up in Him
and established in the faith,
00:10:48.48\00:10:53.48
as you have been taught,
00:10:53.52\00:10:55.18
abounding in it
with thanksgiving."
00:10:55.22\00:10:59.65
So what does it
mean to abound in it
00:10:59.69\00:11:02.19
with thanksgiving?
00:11:02.22\00:11:04.73
Overflowing.
00:11:04.76\00:11:06.09
You're
overflowing with gratitude.
00:11:06.13\00:11:09.36
And I love, Ricky,
when you prayed before,
00:11:09.40\00:11:13.44
we always pray
before the program.
00:11:13.47\00:11:15.94
And when you prayed,
you thanked God for Jesus.
00:11:15.97\00:11:20.58
That's, you know what,
00:11:20.61\00:11:22.04
ask JD, he hears it every night.
00:11:22.08\00:11:25.28
The most amazing
thing to me on earth is that
00:11:25.31\00:11:31.62
and I think it's
a bigger sacrifice
00:11:31.65\00:11:33.49
even than Him
dying on the cross,
00:11:33.52\00:11:35.59
is that our God came down
and took our flesh on Him,
00:11:35.62\00:11:39.79
that He became a man
00:11:39.83\00:11:41.16
because He took that
flesh back to heaven with Him.
00:11:41.20\00:11:44.77
I mean, it's just when you,
00:11:44.80\00:11:46.94
I cannot wrap my mind around it.
00:11:46.97\00:11:48.80
I know for eternity
we're going to be trying
00:11:48.84\00:11:50.91
to figure that out.
00:11:50.94\00:11:52.37
But I always thank
God for Jesus Christ.
00:11:52.41\00:11:57.81
For Him coming
here, becoming a man,
00:11:57.85\00:11:59.95
for dying on the cross for us
and for His plan of salvation.
00:11:59.98\00:12:06.22
Amen. Praise the Lord.
00:12:06.25\00:12:07.92
A couple of texts
that come into my mind
00:12:07.96\00:12:09.76
when we're talking about,
00:12:09.79\00:12:11.13
you know, owing or
returning gratitude
00:12:11.16\00:12:13.70
to the Lord,
00:12:13.73\00:12:15.60
is first of all,
Psalm 136:1 came to my mind.
00:12:15.63\00:12:19.17
It says, "Oh, give
thanks to the Lord,
00:12:19.20\00:12:21.07
for He is good!
00:12:21.10\00:12:23.37
For His mercy endures forever."
00:12:23.41\00:12:26.81
And our minds,
our finite human minds
00:12:26.84\00:12:29.34
can't even begin to comprehend
that mercy and its fullness.
00:12:29.38\00:12:33.18
We get glimpses of it
through the personal Christ,
00:12:33.21\00:12:35.98
through the experiences
00:12:36.02\00:12:37.35
that we have
with God in our walk,
00:12:37.39\00:12:40.12
in our daily walk with God.
00:12:40.16\00:12:42.42
But another one
that came to my mind
00:12:42.46\00:12:43.89
and this
actually expresses a word
00:12:43.93\00:12:45.69
that when I think of
gratitude towards God,
00:12:45.73\00:12:48.30
returning that gratitude,
00:12:48.33\00:12:49.73
that attitude of
thankfulness towards God.
00:12:49.76\00:12:52.30
There's a word
that comes to my mind
00:12:52.33\00:12:53.67
and this particular
verse highlights that word,
00:12:53.70\00:12:56.67
but it comes
00:12:56.71\00:12:58.04
from a particular
version of translation.
00:12:58.07\00:13:00.08
And this is the
English Standard Version.
00:13:00.11\00:13:02.14
And I think that
it's probably very close
00:13:02.18\00:13:04.81
and in harmony with
the original text here.
00:13:04.85\00:13:07.32
So notice what it says here.
00:13:07.35\00:13:08.68
This is actually
found in Hebrews 12:28,
00:13:08.72\00:13:11.92
this is coming again
00:13:11.95\00:13:13.29
from the English
Standard Version.
00:13:13.32\00:13:15.26
And this is what it
says, Hebrews 12:28,
00:13:15.29\00:13:18.76
"Therefore, let us be
grateful for receiving a kingdom
00:13:18.79\00:13:22.66
that cannot be
shaken," all right,
00:13:22.70\00:13:25.63
"and thus let us offer, "
00:13:25.67\00:13:28.47
I love that because I
think of a free offer,
00:13:28.50\00:13:30.21
when you offer
it's freely offered.
00:13:30.24\00:13:32.74
It's not some like
you're not doing it
00:13:32.77\00:13:34.54
out of like I
am, I have to do this
00:13:34.58\00:13:36.51
or you want to do this.
00:13:36.54\00:13:38.05
So let us offer to
God acceptable worship,
00:13:38.08\00:13:42.35
and then here comes
here, "with reverence and awe."
00:13:42.38\00:13:48.22
Awe, that's the word.
00:13:48.26\00:13:49.62
When I think of
gratitude towards God,
00:13:49.66\00:13:53.73
through the experiences
that I've had with him,
00:13:53.76\00:13:56.73
and the work that
He has done in my life.
00:13:56.77\00:14:00.74
And the grace and mercy
that he has shown upon me
00:14:00.77\00:14:03.04
on a daily basis.
00:14:03.07\00:14:04.61
I think of the word awe
00:14:04.64\00:14:06.91
because when I
stand in the compassion,
00:14:06.94\00:14:11.78
in the mercy and the love of God
00:14:11.81\00:14:15.38
that He has shown upon me,
00:14:15.42\00:14:16.75
undeserved, I'm
undeserving of that.
00:14:16.79\00:14:19.22
All I can think of
00:14:19.25\00:14:20.59
is look at that loving character
00:14:20.62\00:14:21.96
and I'm just in
awe, I'm bit like whoa,
00:14:21.99\00:14:24.03
you know, because you
can't fully comprehend it,
00:14:24.06\00:14:26.16
but you get enough of a glimpse,
00:14:26.19\00:14:28.00
enough of an
experience that it leave,
00:14:28.03\00:14:30.57
it leaves you in a state
00:14:30.60\00:14:31.93
where you simply
ask the question now
00:14:31.97\00:14:34.44
what, what can I,
00:14:34.47\00:14:35.80
Lord, what can
I give back to You
00:14:35.84\00:14:38.17
because You've given
me so much, so I stand,
00:14:38.21\00:14:40.94
You said your favorite song
was I stand, I stand in awe.
00:14:40.98\00:14:44.71
I just do it,
00:14:44.75\00:14:46.28
I find myself as I'm
expressing to the Lord
00:14:46.31\00:14:49.48
and I try, I try when I pray
00:14:49.52\00:14:52.42
to always begin my
prayers with thanksgiving
00:14:52.45\00:14:55.36
and with praise
00:14:55.39\00:14:56.73
instead of you know
opening up a prayer with,
00:14:56.76\00:14:58.09
"Lord, can you give me this?
00:14:58.13\00:14:59.46
Can you give me this?
Can you give me, Lord?
00:14:59.49\00:15:00.83
Can you do this for
me, I need this Lord,
00:15:00.86\00:15:02.20
come on Lord."
00:15:02.23\00:15:03.57
You know, I always
try to open my prayers,
00:15:03.60\00:15:05.20
first and foremost to
say, "Lord, praise be to you.
00:15:05.23\00:15:09.00
Praise God, that
You are a God of mercy
00:15:09.04\00:15:11.94
that You have shown upon me
and bestowed upon me a grace
00:15:11.97\00:15:15.44
that I don't deserve.
00:15:15.48\00:15:16.85
And so when I think of returning
00:15:16.88\00:15:18.81
or giving back that
gratitude towards the Lord.
00:15:18.85\00:15:22.88
I think of the word awe
00:15:22.92\00:15:24.25
because when you
stand in awe of His glory,
00:15:24.29\00:15:26.69
His love, His
mercy, His compassion,
00:15:26.72\00:15:29.92
it's just a natural
output that you just,
00:15:29.96\00:15:33.40
you just want to
express your thankfulness,
00:15:33.43\00:15:36.06
a genuine gratitude that,
00:15:36.10\00:15:38.43
that no one else
could possibly understand.
00:15:38.47\00:15:41.00
Well, I know when
you're talking here,
00:15:41.04\00:15:42.40
it certainly
brings to my attention of,
00:15:42.44\00:15:44.64
of just being a little low sugar
00:15:44.67\00:15:46.78
and you know, and then here,
00:15:46.81\00:15:48.78
here, you've
been put in a position
00:15:48.81\00:15:51.48
that you get to pray
with people around the world,
00:15:51.51\00:15:54.28
and you get to
experience the Holy Spirit
00:15:54.32\00:15:56.32
working in your heart
00:15:56.35\00:15:57.69
and the words that
come out of your mouth.
00:15:57.72\00:15:59.69
Then the little sugar, it
looks up and he sees, wow,
00:15:59.72\00:16:04.69
you know, the awe
that you're talking about.
00:16:04.73\00:16:07.46
And I think that it's some,
00:16:07.50\00:16:08.83
I think that everyone
00:16:08.86\00:16:10.77
that has a
relationship with Christ
00:16:10.80\00:16:13.40
can say that great word awe,
00:16:13.44\00:16:17.04
you know, and that way
00:16:17.07\00:16:18.47
and we certainly do
need to appreciate that,
00:16:18.51\00:16:23.71
you know of what he is,
what he did to allow us that.
00:16:23.75\00:16:27.12
You know, Shelley,
I was thinking about,
00:16:27.15\00:16:30.85
especially when you
said, starting out with praise,
00:16:30.89\00:16:34.99
and in your
prayers in the morning,
00:16:35.02\00:16:38.13
I think about how I
just thank God for creation.
00:16:38.16\00:16:41.40
Amen.
00:16:41.43\00:16:43.63
It's the seasoning in creation.
00:16:43.67\00:16:47.20
I was out walking
with my wife last night,
00:16:47.24\00:16:49.64
and it was a beautiful
sun coming down setting.
00:16:49.67\00:16:53.54
The temperature was perfect,
walking beside my bride,
00:16:53.58\00:16:58.71
but it wasn't
just all those things,
00:16:58.75\00:17:00.92
but it was the
seasoning of the birds
00:17:00.95\00:17:03.28
chirping in the air.
00:17:03.32\00:17:05.25
And, you know, the Lord
just, I'm grateful for that,
00:17:05.29\00:17:09.99
for the things
that God has created
00:17:10.03\00:17:12.29
for those types of things
that the Lord has just blessed.
00:17:12.33\00:17:14.83
And there's so much to, I mean,
00:17:14.86\00:17:16.93
I'm so grateful for this man,
00:17:16.97\00:17:18.63
I would not have made
it through the last eight,
00:17:18.67\00:17:20.94
I'm always been grateful
for my husband and I thank God.
00:17:20.97\00:17:24.34
Every time I pray, I
thank God for being married,
00:17:24.37\00:17:28.61
making me the
wife of a godly man.
00:17:28.64\00:17:31.68
But it has been amazing
how he has had to sacrifice
00:17:31.71\00:17:35.05
to care for me
the last eight months,
00:17:35.08\00:17:37.39
so we're going to come back
to some ideas in just a minute.
00:17:37.42\00:17:42.46
Besides, salvation creation,
there's little hidden blessings
00:17:42.49\00:17:49.46
that we can be
thankful to God for.
00:17:49.50\00:17:52.07
But I do want to
just get in this idea
00:17:52.10\00:17:57.31
that there is a
debt of gratitude
00:17:57.34\00:17:59.44
we owe to one another
00:17:59.47\00:18:00.81
when somebody goes
above and beyond for us,
00:18:00.84\00:18:04.31
and you want to
read 1 Corinthians 16:18.
00:18:04.35\00:18:07.25
Absolutely.
00:18:07.28\00:18:08.62
1 Corinthians 16:18,
00:18:08.65\00:18:10.75
because I think when
others add value to our lives
00:18:10.79\00:18:15.86
by their service
or by their gifts,
00:18:15.89\00:18:18.19
we're living in a generation
where there are so many youth
00:18:18.23\00:18:24.53
who have a sense of entitlement
00:18:24.57\00:18:27.30
that they are
becoming ungrateful wretches.
00:18:27.34\00:18:30.97
And we've got to
be careful, okay.
00:18:31.01\00:18:33.24
In fact, I'm
going to read the key,
00:18:33.27\00:18:34.98
the New King James Version.
00:18:35.01\00:18:36.34
Okay.
00:18:36.38\00:18:37.71
And then I noticed
here in your notes,
00:18:37.75\00:18:39.08
you had put the
Amplified Version,
00:18:39.11\00:18:40.45
which I thought
was beautifully worded.
00:18:40.48\00:18:41.82
So the New King
James Version says this,
00:18:41.85\00:18:43.22
this is again 1
Corinthians 16:18, it says,
00:18:43.25\00:18:47.42
"For they refreshed
my spirit and yours,
00:18:47.46\00:18:50.63
therefore acknowledge such men."
00:18:50.66\00:18:54.13
But the Amplified
Version truly amplifies it.
00:18:54.16\00:18:56.46
And I like this, it says,
00:18:56.50\00:18:57.83
"For they gave me
respite from labor
00:18:57.87\00:19:00.64
and rested me and
refreshed my spirit,
00:19:00.67\00:19:04.47
as well as yours.
00:19:04.51\00:19:06.14
Deeply appreciate
and thoroughly know
00:19:06.17\00:19:09.21
and fully recognize such men."
00:19:09.24\00:19:12.01
So I think God wants us to,
00:19:12.05\00:19:14.98
to be grateful to others
00:19:15.02\00:19:17.29
and to that mean
that is a virtue.
00:19:17.32\00:19:19.62
It's a moral behavior and like,
00:19:19.65\00:19:23.49
if JD takes out the trash,
00:19:23.53\00:19:25.19
I still tell him thank you
00:19:25.23\00:19:26.56
every time he
takes out the trash.
00:19:26.59\00:19:28.66
We say thank you, we
say I love you a lot.
00:19:28.70\00:19:31.27
My sister finally learned
that it was something good.
00:19:31.30\00:19:35.44
But let's talk about
00:19:35.47\00:19:36.81
some of the
benefits of gratitude
00:19:36.84\00:19:38.61
because gratitude
affects the quality of our life
00:19:38.64\00:19:42.91
when I would not have made
it through the last eight months
00:19:42.94\00:19:46.05
in recovering
from both surgeries
00:19:46.08\00:19:48.32
and what happened very briefly.
00:19:48.35\00:19:51.22
I had extensive spinal surgery
00:19:51.25\00:19:53.99
five hours on
the operating table.
00:19:54.02\00:19:56.39
I was bound with
my arms above my head.
00:19:56.42\00:20:00.50
And I somehow,
00:20:00.53\00:20:02.86
even though they
gave me enough anesthesia
00:20:02.90\00:20:05.30
to paralyze you during
this, and I had a spinal block,
00:20:05.33\00:20:08.74
somehow my body was aware.
00:20:08.77\00:20:11.57
In my unconscious state,
00:20:11.61\00:20:12.94
I was still aware
that I was uncomfortable.
00:20:12.97\00:20:15.14
So I strained
against the restraints,
00:20:15.18\00:20:17.71
and in doing so,
00:20:17.75\00:20:19.25
totally ripped my rotator
cuff and shredded up this bicep.
00:20:19.28\00:20:24.39
So I ended up having
major spinal surgery,
00:20:24.42\00:20:27.86
then I had to have a
shoulder replacement.
00:20:27.89\00:20:30.63
And so, what I found
when you are in survival mode
00:20:30.66\00:20:37.43
when you are just, you know,
00:20:37.47\00:20:39.20
I have dealt with this pain here
00:20:39.23\00:20:41.40
since the beginning as
well and it took several months
00:20:41.44\00:20:44.41
before they were
willing to operate on it.
00:20:44.44\00:20:46.84
But I found
that it was difficult
00:20:46.88\00:20:50.31
to just press
00:20:50.35\00:20:51.68
into the presence
of God for myself,
00:20:51.71\00:20:53.05
I prayed for others.
00:20:53.08\00:20:55.42
But one thing that I did do
00:20:55.45\00:20:58.59
and I know God
directed me this way,
00:20:58.62\00:21:01.26
was I, what I
express my gratitude to Him
00:21:01.29\00:21:05.76
all through the day.
00:21:05.79\00:21:07.13
I would just
say, Lord, thank You,
00:21:07.16\00:21:08.50
I know You're carrying
me in Your everlasting arms.
00:21:08.53\00:21:10.90
Thank You for what You're
doing in my life right now.
00:21:10.93\00:21:14.37
And what it did
00:21:14.40\00:21:15.94
was it took my
focus away from the lack
00:21:15.97\00:21:21.84
where You're
completely helpless.
00:21:21.88\00:21:23.95
It took my focus
away from my inability
00:21:23.98\00:21:27.75
to my ability,
00:21:27.78\00:21:29.38
you know, and
so you're seeing it
00:21:29.42\00:21:32.69
and it kind of
banished the discouragement
00:21:32.72\00:21:36.09
I was feeling
00:21:36.12\00:21:37.46
because my eyes got focused
on the hidden blessings of God.
00:21:37.49\00:21:42.13
Have you been
00:21:42.16\00:21:43.50
through an experience like that?
00:21:43.53\00:21:45.27
Well, I can certainly.
00:21:45.30\00:21:46.63
I can, I certainly know
00:21:46.67\00:21:48.00
that you're talking to somebody,
00:21:48.04\00:21:50.01
somebody that's listening.
00:21:50.04\00:21:51.37
Yeah.
00:21:51.41\00:21:52.74
Because there's a lot of
people that are in a lot of pain
00:21:52.77\00:21:54.61
and they already know
they'll get through the day,
00:21:54.64\00:21:57.75
and they probably have used
00:21:57.78\00:21:59.88
every artificial method there is
00:21:59.91\00:22:02.42
to try to fool
themselves or something,
00:22:02.45\00:22:04.25
but there's one
that you never fool,
00:22:04.29\00:22:06.62
and that is just turn it
totally over to the Lord.
00:22:06.65\00:22:09.49
Maybe it's to get into
affirmations of Scripture
00:22:09.52\00:22:11.33
or something,
00:22:11.36\00:22:12.69
you know, that
you'll keep your eyes
00:22:12.73\00:22:14.43
focused on Him.
00:22:14.46\00:22:15.86
What is it, Isaiah 26:3?
00:22:15.90\00:22:17.30
Yeah.
00:22:17.33\00:22:18.67
If we would keep our eyes,
00:22:18.70\00:22:20.97
God, if we keep our mind
focused on Him trusting in Him,
00:22:21.00\00:22:24.54
He will give us perfect peace.
00:22:24.57\00:22:26.47
And I want to say something
00:22:26.51\00:22:28.14
because it really does
make you more joyful and happy.
00:22:28.18\00:22:32.38
This is not a
panacea for depression.
00:22:32.41\00:22:35.28
I'm not saying that.
00:22:35.32\00:22:36.75
You know, some
people are so depressed
00:22:36.79\00:22:38.45
you can beat,
00:22:38.49\00:22:39.82
it will help you if
you focus on the positive
00:22:39.85\00:22:43.02
it will help you if
you're returning thanks.
00:22:43.06\00:22:45.46
But I do want to say this.
00:22:45.49\00:22:47.43
It's not a sin to be depressed.
00:22:47.46\00:22:49.70
Think of what Jesus went through
00:22:49.73\00:22:51.23
in the Garden of Gethsemane.
00:22:51.27\00:22:53.20
You know, he had
such great anxiety
00:22:53.23\00:22:56.50
that He was, had drops of
blood coming from His forehead.
00:22:56.54\00:23:02.04
Yeah, you can
sense the depression
00:23:02.08\00:23:03.68
when you read
Psalm 22, when He says,
00:23:03.71\00:23:06.15
you know, I am
a worm and no man,
00:23:06.18\00:23:08.22
I mean, he's hit rock bottom,
00:23:08.25\00:23:09.58
he's hit the
lowest of the lowest.
00:23:09.62\00:23:12.15
So I like that comment.
00:23:12.19\00:23:13.52
That was very good in the sense
00:23:13.56\00:23:15.19
that we're not saying that,
00:23:15.22\00:23:17.16
you know, people
aren't going to experience
00:23:17.19\00:23:19.13
certain types of
emotions and feelings
00:23:19.16\00:23:21.46
depending on the
situation that they're in.
00:23:21.50\00:23:23.16
But I think it kind of goes back
00:23:23.20\00:23:24.63
to what I was saying earlier,
00:23:24.67\00:23:26.00
which is these
particular realities
00:23:26.03\00:23:28.80
in relation to the
topic of gratitude,
00:23:28.84\00:23:31.17
and in this case,
00:23:31.21\00:23:32.54
that it
refocuses on what we have
00:23:32.57\00:23:34.24
rather than what we lack.
00:23:34.28\00:23:36.28
You know, you were talking
about your personal experience,
00:23:36.31\00:23:38.31
it comes with experience, right?
00:23:38.35\00:23:40.62
Your experience in
your walk with the Lord,
00:23:40.65\00:23:42.35
your experiences
in the situations
00:23:42.38\00:23:45.42
and the daily dealings
00:23:45.45\00:23:46.79
and things that you have
to endure and experience.
00:23:46.82\00:23:49.49
I think of it kind
of different outside
00:23:49.52\00:23:52.26
of the
physicalness of what you know,
00:23:52.29\00:23:54.30
in your case, you're saying,
00:23:54.33\00:23:55.66
Lord, I'm
technically handicapped
00:23:55.70\00:23:58.37
for some time,
00:23:58.40\00:23:59.73
but yet I'm so blessed to have
all of these functioning limbs,
00:23:59.77\00:24:02.20
you know, these working limbs.
00:24:02.24\00:24:03.57
So God brought your
attention to what you have,
00:24:03.61\00:24:06.78
rather than what
you're lacking at the moment.
00:24:06.81\00:24:08.48
And that brings
about a sense of gratitude.
00:24:08.51\00:24:10.45
In my case, you know,
and in my life I have had
00:24:10.48\00:24:13.25
high paying jobs,
really high paying jobs,
00:24:13.28\00:24:15.98
where I've been so
blessed to be able to say,
00:24:16.02\00:24:18.72
Lord, you know,
00:24:18.75\00:24:20.09
You've blessed
me here, you know.
00:24:20.12\00:24:21.89
And then I've been
taken into a situation
00:24:21.92\00:24:24.59
where I haven't had so
much a high paying job,
00:24:24.63\00:24:27.36
and it's very easy
for the enemy to creep in
00:24:27.40\00:24:29.73
and start
focusing your attention on,
00:24:29.76\00:24:31.93
man, I don't have this anymore.
00:24:31.97\00:24:33.30
I don't have this anymore.
00:24:33.34\00:24:34.67
I'm lacking this,
this, this, this, this,
00:24:34.70\00:24:36.04
all these things
that I used to have,
00:24:36.07\00:24:37.84
but yet, the Lord,
00:24:37.87\00:24:39.61
when you have that
relationship with Him,
00:24:39.64\00:24:41.41
He's quick to remind you,
00:24:41.44\00:24:43.48
but look at all
that you still have,
00:24:43.51\00:24:46.55
look at all of the blessings.
00:24:46.58\00:24:47.92
You know, I'm quickly reminded,
00:24:47.95\00:24:50.29
because if anybody understands
and knows, in ministry,
00:24:50.32\00:24:52.89
if you go into ministry,
00:24:52.92\00:24:54.26
at least in true,
genuine, godly ministry,
00:24:54.29\00:24:57.66
you're not in it to
get rich for certainly not,
00:24:57.69\00:25:00.70
but the Lord provides and
it's powerful to see that.
00:25:00.73\00:25:03.73
And so that being said,
00:25:03.77\00:25:05.57
you know, there's
been moments in life
00:25:05.60\00:25:07.97
where I've been
like, you know, Lord,
00:25:08.00\00:25:10.37
it seems like I used
to be able to have them,
00:25:10.41\00:25:12.17
an abundance of
this, this, this and this,
00:25:12.21\00:25:14.11
but when the Lord
brings you to a place
00:25:14.14\00:25:16.14
where He seems like
He's humbled you in a sense,
00:25:16.18\00:25:18.61
to where,
00:25:18.65\00:25:19.98
you know, it almost seems
like you're looking at all
00:25:20.02\00:25:21.82
of the what you don't have
00:25:21.85\00:25:23.18
and what you're lacking
00:25:23.22\00:25:24.55
compared to what
you used to have.
00:25:24.59\00:25:25.92
The Lord will show you
00:25:25.95\00:25:27.29
all of those
aspects of blessings.
00:25:27.32\00:25:29.29
And I remember many
times, being humbled,
00:25:29.32\00:25:32.03
looking at images,
watching video footage,
00:25:32.06\00:25:34.93
hearing other people's stories
00:25:34.96\00:25:36.30
about how they went over
to third world countries.
00:25:36.33\00:25:37.90
And, you know, but
these people were so happy
00:25:37.93\00:25:40.17
to praise the Lord
in their grass huts
00:25:40.20\00:25:42.04
or in their, you know,
00:25:42.07\00:25:43.41
and I look at what I'm living in
00:25:43.44\00:25:44.94
and I'd say praise God.
00:25:44.97\00:25:46.31
You know, I
don't live in a mansion
00:25:46.34\00:25:48.24
but I also don't
live in a grass hut.
00:25:48.28\00:25:50.31
I am blessed beyond measure
00:25:50.35\00:25:51.75
and it makes me
again turn back in that awe
00:25:51.78\00:25:54.35
to the Lord and go, God,
You're so good, thank you.
00:25:54.38\00:25:57.45
Praise the Lord.
00:25:57.49\00:25:58.82
What do you think
gratitude does to our faith?
00:25:58.85\00:26:04.79
I want to see if I can
talk about peace first.
00:26:04.83\00:26:07.10
Okay.
00:26:07.13\00:26:08.70
When I think about gratitude,
it increases our peace.
00:26:08.73\00:26:12.90
Amen.
00:26:12.93\00:26:14.27
There's a text here
in Philippians 4:6-7.
00:26:14.30\00:26:19.37
It says this, "Be
anxious for nothing,
00:26:19.41\00:26:23.75
but in everything by
prayer and supplication,
00:26:23.78\00:26:28.02
with thanksgiving,
00:26:28.05\00:26:31.25
let your requests
be made known to God,
00:26:31.29\00:26:35.62
and the peace of God,
00:26:35.66\00:26:36.99
which surpasses
all understanding
00:26:37.03\00:26:39.69
will guard your hearts and minds
00:26:39.73\00:26:41.96
through Christ Jesus."
00:26:42.00\00:26:43.37
Amen.
00:26:43.40\00:26:44.73
When I think about how
gratitude gives me peace,
00:26:44.77\00:26:49.90
this text comes to mind.
00:26:49.94\00:26:53.41
I may have a situation
00:26:53.44\00:26:55.71
that I may be in that
I'm having a challenge with.
00:26:55.74\00:27:00.82
But I know that I
can let my request
00:27:00.85\00:27:04.45
be made known to God.
00:27:04.49\00:27:06.76
He will answer and
I can make it known
00:27:06.79\00:27:09.16
with thanksgiving.
00:27:09.19\00:27:10.99
And I'm so thankful
00:27:11.03\00:27:12.36
that God hears and
answers our prayers.
00:27:12.39\00:27:13.73
Amen. Absolutely.
00:27:13.76\00:27:15.10
That's a great point.
Gives me such great peace.
00:27:15.13\00:27:16.70
Amen. Amen. JD?
00:27:16.73\00:27:18.53
Well, I know, I
know that it says
00:27:18.57\00:27:21.30
but in everything by prayer
00:27:21.34\00:27:22.67
and supplication
with thanksgiving,
00:27:22.70\00:27:24.04
your requests be
made known to God.
00:27:24.07\00:27:26.01
Now there's the
secret right there
00:27:26.04\00:27:27.71
be made known to God or
you can do it stupid way.
00:27:27.74\00:27:33.45
Stupid way is doing it your way,
00:27:33.48\00:27:35.82
thinking that
you're self-sufficient.
00:27:35.85\00:27:38.05
And I'll guarantee
you in the walk of life,
00:27:38.09\00:27:40.62
you're going to run
00:27:40.66\00:27:41.99
across boulder and
boulder and boulder,
00:27:42.02\00:27:45.13
big rocks if you try
to do it by yourself.
00:27:45.16\00:27:48.93
If you're not careful,
00:27:48.96\00:27:50.30
those rocks have a way
of rolling over you too.
00:27:50.33\00:27:52.67
But it does, it
increases our peace.
00:27:52.70\00:27:56.50
I love this.
00:27:56.54\00:27:57.87
I just,
00:27:57.91\00:27:59.24
this is one of my favorite text,
00:27:59.27\00:28:00.61
"Be anxious for nothing."
00:28:00.64\00:28:01.98
Because there's so
many people out there
00:28:02.01\00:28:03.35
that are, they do
have high anxiety.
00:28:03.38\00:28:08.52
Thank you, Jesus.
00:28:08.55\00:28:11.05
Difficult word today.
00:28:11.09\00:28:12.42
So anyway, He said,
"Hey, just be careful."
00:28:12.45\00:28:15.42
You know, use
your head, turn to me.
00:28:15.46\00:28:18.13
Let me assist you here.
00:28:18.16\00:28:19.49
Right, in what...
00:28:19.53\00:28:20.86
I'm sorry, go ahead.
00:28:20.90\00:28:22.23
I was just going to
say, when the Bible says
00:28:22.26\00:28:24.93
that we were to enter
His gates with thanksgiving,
00:28:24.97\00:28:27.94
to enter His courts with praise.
00:28:27.97\00:28:30.37
And as you said, we
know that it change,
00:28:30.41\00:28:33.21
it redirects our focus.
00:28:33.24\00:28:35.18
So if you feel disoriented,
you start praising God,
00:28:35.21\00:28:38.95
it's going to redirect
your focus to the positive,
00:28:38.98\00:28:42.05
it increases our peace,
00:28:42.08\00:28:44.12
but I believe it
builds our faith.
00:28:44.15\00:28:46.19
You know, there's times
00:28:46.22\00:28:47.96
have you ever started
off your prayer and it's,
00:28:47.99\00:28:50.53
you've got that poor
pitiful pearl attitude
00:28:50.56\00:28:54.56
like, oh, woe is me,
00:28:54.60\00:28:56.13
you know, but
you've got that down
00:28:56.16\00:28:58.83
in the mouth attitude.
00:28:58.87\00:29:00.20
And I always start my,
00:29:00.24\00:29:01.57
I would say
00:29:01.60\00:29:02.94
the greatest
portion of my prayer
00:29:02.97\00:29:04.37
is praise and thanksgiving.
00:29:04.41\00:29:06.78
Because what it does
as you're praising God,
00:29:06.81\00:29:11.21
it lifts your spirits,
00:29:11.25\00:29:12.78
it remind you of
who you're praying to.
00:29:12.81\00:29:16.85
And all of a sudden,
nothing, you know, you remember,
00:29:16.89\00:29:20.76
nothing is impossible with God.
00:29:20.79\00:29:24.33
It's powerful.
00:29:24.36\00:29:25.69
Well, what you're
saying, where you were saying
00:29:25.73\00:29:27.06
and what you were saying
in relation to this peace.
00:29:27.10\00:29:29.10
It also feeds
00:29:29.13\00:29:30.47
into what you had
brought up earlier,
00:29:30.50\00:29:31.93
which is how does
it build our faith.
00:29:31.97\00:29:34.27
I love what you said, JD,
00:29:34.30\00:29:35.64
in talking about the dependency.
00:29:35.67\00:29:37.01
Sometimes we depend
upon our own efforts,
00:29:37.04\00:29:39.31
our own
knowledge, our own wisdom,
00:29:39.34\00:29:41.94
that scripture comes to my mind.
00:29:41.98\00:29:43.31
I think it's Proverbs 14:12.
00:29:43.35\00:29:45.21
It says, "There is a way
which seemeth right unto a man
00:29:45.25\00:29:48.32
but the end thereof
are the ways of death."
00:29:48.35\00:29:50.99
We become so dependent upon self
00:29:51.02\00:29:53.15
that we lack a trust in God,
00:29:53.19\00:29:56.09
that we lack a
true faith in the Lord.
00:29:56.12\00:29:58.39
And I love Romans
4:20 because it says,
00:29:58.43\00:30:00.80
He did not waver,
again, this is Romans 4:20.
00:30:00.83\00:30:04.50
Speaking of Abraham.
00:30:04.53\00:30:05.87
Yes, this is speaking of Abraham
00:30:05.90\00:30:07.24
saying he did,
00:30:07.27\00:30:08.60
in fact, that was what
I was going to bring up
00:30:08.64\00:30:09.97
was the example of Abraham.
00:30:10.01\00:30:11.34
He did not waver
at the promise of God
00:30:11.37\00:30:13.17
through unbelief,
00:30:13.21\00:30:14.74
but was strengthened in
faith, giving glory to God.
00:30:14.78\00:30:18.95
You're talking about a
time when there was no Bible.
00:30:18.98\00:30:23.02
You're talking about a time
00:30:23.05\00:30:24.39
when there was
in Abraham's aspect
00:30:24.42\00:30:27.19
in his particular situation,
00:30:27.22\00:30:29.59
coming out of
Babylon, coming out of a land
00:30:29.62\00:30:32.26
draped in apostasy
from one end to the other.
00:30:32.29\00:30:36.97
This man had to
depend fully upon, get this,
00:30:37.00\00:30:40.64
the Word of the Lord.
00:30:40.67\00:30:42.00
Amen.
00:30:42.04\00:30:43.37
I mean, God could
have revealed Himself
00:30:43.41\00:30:44.74
in some miraculous
way, He could have performed
00:30:44.77\00:30:46.64
all of these
amazing signs and miracles,
00:30:46.68\00:30:48.98
which, you know,
Abraham was able to experience
00:30:49.01\00:30:51.48
some of those
things, but none...
00:30:51.51\00:30:53.11
Afterwards. Afterwards, right.
00:30:53.15\00:30:55.82
His relationship
from the beginning
00:30:55.85\00:30:57.59
was built on faith
00:30:57.62\00:30:59.52
and the fact that
Abraham again in his experience,
00:30:59.55\00:31:02.39
and we keep going back to that,
00:31:02.42\00:31:03.89
his experience in
spending time with the Lord,
00:31:03.93\00:31:07.23
trusting in God's Word,
00:31:07.26\00:31:08.83
trusting in the
Word when the Lord said,
00:31:08.86\00:31:10.47
I'm going to do this for you,
I'm going to do that for you.
00:31:10.50\00:31:12.67
I'm going to lead you here,
00:31:12.70\00:31:14.04
I'm going to give you that lamp.
00:31:14.07\00:31:15.40
I'm going to make
your see this way.
00:31:15.44\00:31:16.77
I'm going to...
00:31:16.81\00:31:18.14
Along the way,
00:31:18.17\00:31:19.51
the trust in God's
Word built his faith
00:31:19.54\00:31:23.38
and from that came
a sense of gratitude,
00:31:23.41\00:31:25.98
a gratitude of, you know what?
00:31:26.01\00:31:27.38
I can trust.
00:31:27.42\00:31:28.75
This God is not like those gods
from the land that I came from.
00:31:28.78\00:31:32.39
He's the one true
God and you can sense
00:31:32.42\00:31:35.46
and if you go to that great,
00:31:35.49\00:31:36.83
you know, blessed chapter
or the faith chapter in Hebrews
00:31:36.86\00:31:39.69
is the words are beautiful there
00:31:39.73\00:31:41.16
of how Abraham,
00:31:41.20\00:31:42.60
his faith was
unwavering in the sense
00:31:42.63\00:31:45.37
that he was so thankful
00:31:45.40\00:31:47.44
that he served a true God
00:31:47.47\00:31:49.80
that was behind him and for him
00:31:49.84\00:31:52.14
and to build him up
rather than to bring him down.
00:31:52.17\00:31:55.24
And to me that, that really,
that testifies to the fact
00:31:55.28\00:31:58.98
that a true
genuine gratitude to God
00:31:59.01\00:32:02.28
does indeed build our faith.
00:32:02.32\00:32:03.65
Amen.
00:32:03.69\00:32:05.02
And don't you think
that when we're grateful,
00:32:05.05\00:32:07.82
it's kind of like
gratitude is saying
00:32:07.86\00:32:11.09
what we've got is enough,
00:32:11.13\00:32:12.66
you know, when you
were talking about praying,
00:32:12.69\00:32:15.46
because maybe you're
going through a lack,
00:32:15.50\00:32:17.87
and then all of a
sudden you realize,
00:32:17.90\00:32:19.27
I mean, I've got it
better than 99% of the world.
00:32:19.30\00:32:23.84
So suddenly you start
focusing on the good of God.
00:32:23.87\00:32:28.48
And you become, I believe,
00:32:28.51\00:32:30.71
would you say
00:32:30.75\00:32:32.08
that gratitude
increases our contentment?
00:32:32.11\00:32:34.38
Oh, most certainly.
00:32:34.42\00:32:35.82
Most certainly.
00:32:35.85\00:32:38.09
And the Bible
thanks, thanks that also.
00:32:38.12\00:32:40.06
That's right.
00:32:40.09\00:32:42.32
You want to share? I will.
00:32:42.36\00:32:44.03
I think Paul wrote
this, is that right?
00:32:44.06\00:32:45.86
Yes.
00:32:45.89\00:32:47.23
That's correct. Okay.
00:32:47.26\00:32:48.60
"Not that I am implying
00:32:48.63\00:32:49.96
that I was in any personal want,
00:32:50.00\00:32:51.93
for I have
learned how to be content,
00:32:51.97\00:32:54.84
to be satisfied to the point
00:32:54.87\00:32:56.34
where I am not
disturbed or disquieted
00:32:56.37\00:32:59.07
in whatever state I am."
00:32:59.11\00:33:02.71
That's Philippians
4:11, the Amplified Version.
00:33:02.74\00:33:07.22
And, you know, here
again we're talking about
00:33:07.25\00:33:09.88
are you
sufficient within yourself?
00:33:09.92\00:33:12.02
Or are you
allowing the experiences
00:33:12.05\00:33:15.19
to show you the way.
00:33:15.22\00:33:18.26
You know, I often pray,
00:33:18.29\00:33:19.63
you know, Lord continue
to be a lamp to my feet,
00:33:19.66\00:33:22.00
because I do see
00:33:22.03\00:33:23.37
that there's
slippery slopes on both sides.
00:33:23.40\00:33:25.90
And I've been
in a slippery slope
00:33:25.93\00:33:29.27
in real life
00:33:29.30\00:33:30.64
and a lot of just up here.
00:33:30.67\00:33:36.71
Slippery slopes
hard to get out of,
00:33:36.75\00:33:38.58
because every
time you're grabbing
00:33:38.61\00:33:39.95
is that clay and everything,
you just slide back down,
00:33:39.98\00:33:43.15
and you think that
you're getting so close.
00:33:43.18\00:33:44.75
That's being self-sufficient,
00:33:44.79\00:33:46.12
you know, so I just want to be,
00:33:46.15\00:33:47.72
keep my eyes focused on Him
00:33:47.76\00:33:49.76
standing in the
middle of the road.
00:33:49.79\00:33:51.79
And, but that's not what
we're talking about here,
00:33:51.83\00:33:54.46
we're talking about
here is to be content
00:33:54.50\00:33:56.70
with what you have,
00:33:56.73\00:33:58.07
where you want
00:33:58.10\00:33:59.43
because you're in
the center of God's will.
00:33:59.47\00:34:01.94
Think that's
what I'm trying to do.
00:34:01.97\00:34:03.37
I just say, Lord, please,
00:34:03.41\00:34:04.74
you know, just
continue to be a lamp.
00:34:04.77\00:34:06.57
So I'm staying in
the center of your will.
00:34:06.61\00:34:08.68
And then I will be
content wherever I am.
00:34:08.71\00:34:11.68
And I think that Paul uses that,
00:34:11.71\00:34:13.48
take our time,
hey, I'm in prison,
00:34:13.52\00:34:15.42
but I'm content
because the Lord put me here.
00:34:15.45\00:34:17.89
He allowed this to happen.
00:34:17.92\00:34:19.55
So he must have
something in mind and...
00:34:19.59\00:34:24.63
You know, it reminds me
of when I was, in December,
00:34:24.66\00:34:28.60
I was in the hospital for a week
00:34:28.63\00:34:30.63
with my initial spinal surgery.
00:34:30.67\00:34:32.90
Out for five days,
woke up one morning,
00:34:32.93\00:34:36.40
couldn't lift my leg, not
even a quarter of an inch.
00:34:36.44\00:34:39.51
JD got me out of bed.
00:34:39.54\00:34:41.01
I couldn't walk.
00:34:41.04\00:34:43.04
I mean, I couldn't
move my legs whatsoever.
00:34:43.08\00:34:45.58
So he was so precious.
00:34:45.61\00:34:47.98
I won't, I'll
spare you the story
00:34:48.02\00:34:50.05
of how we got to the hospital
00:34:50.09\00:34:51.69
but they said, get
to the ER right away.
00:34:51.72\00:34:54.99
So here I am in the ER,
well, after I got admitted.
00:34:55.02\00:34:59.23
I can't walk,
I'm in horrible pain,
00:34:59.26\00:35:01.73
can't use my arm at all.
00:35:01.76\00:35:03.73
It's in horrible pain.
00:35:03.77\00:35:05.87
And it's easy to start
feeling sorry for yourself.
00:35:05.90\00:35:09.77
But you know what?
00:35:09.80\00:35:11.27
All of a sudden, he brought
me, we've got a wave machine.
00:35:11.31\00:35:16.01
And I was running
this wave machine,
00:35:16.04\00:35:18.21
I didn't want to watch
TV, I was in too much pain.
00:35:18.25\00:35:21.18
And I started thanking God,
00:35:21.22\00:35:22.62
I could find a spot
00:35:22.65\00:35:24.25
that I was
fairly comfortable in.
00:35:24.29\00:35:27.26
I had a comfortable bed,
00:35:27.29\00:35:29.52
I had lovely nurses
who were ministering to me,
00:35:29.56\00:35:32.86
had a wonderful husband.
00:35:32.89\00:35:34.46
And as I began to
focus, and say, Lord, thank You
00:35:34.50\00:35:41.04
that I'm in a place
where I'm getting good care.
00:35:41.07\00:35:43.47
Thank You that You
still have a plan for my life.
00:35:43.51\00:35:46.34
Thank You.
00:35:46.37\00:35:48.11
I actually was
content where I was.
00:35:48.14\00:35:50.45
Does that make
sense? Oh, absolutely.
00:35:50.48\00:35:52.45
Because I know things
could be so much worse.
00:35:52.48\00:35:55.98
And I think that
gratitude really does magnify
00:35:56.02\00:36:00.99
that feeling of contentment.
00:36:01.02\00:36:03.22
I really do.
00:36:03.26\00:36:04.59
I also think would you all agree
00:36:04.63\00:36:06.13
that gratitude
makes us more generous?
00:36:06.16\00:36:10.77
Oh, yes, absolutely.
00:36:10.80\00:36:12.80
In fact, there's a...
00:36:12.83\00:36:15.44
I want to read a
text before we go there.
00:36:15.47\00:36:17.14
Okay.
00:36:17.17\00:36:18.51
Because I see that's
the next point on here.
00:36:18.54\00:36:20.01
I want to read this text,
it comes from 1 Timothy 6:6-10.
00:36:20.04\00:36:25.35
And this is kind of
giving us a lead way or segue
00:36:25.38\00:36:31.02
into the
generosity conversation.
00:36:31.05\00:36:33.25
Notice what it says
here. This is 1 Timothy 6:6-10.
00:36:33.29\00:36:36.12
And kind of goes back
to this contentment issue.
00:36:36.16\00:36:39.39
But notice what it says here.
00:36:39.43\00:36:40.76
It says, "Now godliness
with contentment is great gain.
00:36:40.80\00:36:46.50
For we brought
nothing into this world,
00:36:46.53\00:36:50.11
and it is certain we
can carry nothing out."
00:36:50.14\00:36:52.81
Okay, we really
let that sink in,
00:36:52.84\00:36:54.68
then, you know,
things begin to make sense
00:36:54.71\00:36:57.25
after a while.
00:36:57.28\00:36:58.61
Verse 8 says, "And
having food and clothing,
00:36:58.65\00:37:00.92
with these we shall be content.
00:37:00.95\00:37:03.75
But those who desire to
be rich fall into temptation
00:37:03.79\00:37:06.52
and a snare,
00:37:06.55\00:37:08.06
and into many
foolish and harmful lusts
00:37:08.09\00:37:10.29
which drown men in
destruction and perdition.
00:37:10.33\00:37:13.80
For the love of money,"
00:37:13.83\00:37:15.16
we heard this many times,
00:37:15.20\00:37:16.53
"for the love of money is
a root of all kinds of evil,
00:37:16.56\00:37:19.60
for which some have
strayed from the faith
00:37:19.63\00:37:22.57
in their greediness,
00:37:22.60\00:37:24.41
and pierced themselves
through with many sorrows."
00:37:24.44\00:37:27.38
So this is going
to give us some segue
00:37:27.41\00:37:29.01
into the
generosity conversation.
00:37:29.04\00:37:30.85
But I brought this up
00:37:30.88\00:37:32.21
because being
content with what we have,
00:37:32.25\00:37:35.58
most of the time,
00:37:35.62\00:37:36.95
this conversation
quickly is opened up.
00:37:36.99\00:37:39.89
And we're talking about
00:37:39.92\00:37:41.26
being content with our finances,
00:37:41.29\00:37:42.62
being content with what we have
00:37:42.66\00:37:43.99
in relation to the
things of the world.
00:37:44.03\00:37:45.63
And, you know, I have
learned some lessons in this
00:37:45.66\00:37:48.96
in the sense that,
00:37:49.00\00:37:50.43
you know, God has
brought me in ways
00:37:50.47\00:37:52.60
and showing me and teaching me
00:37:52.63\00:37:54.40
that along the way
my needs will be met,
00:37:54.44\00:37:57.11
and I think of the best
story that I can think of that
00:37:57.14\00:38:00.28
really
illustrates this is Psalm 23.
00:38:00.31\00:38:03.41
Because when you
think about David
00:38:03.45\00:38:04.78
pouring his heart out,
00:38:04.81\00:38:06.15
you know, the
Lord is my shepherd,
00:38:06.18\00:38:07.65
I shall not want.
00:38:07.68\00:38:09.02
He leadeth me
beside still waters,
00:38:09.05\00:38:12.19
and He maketh me lie
down in green pastures."
00:38:12.22\00:38:15.26
Amen.
00:38:15.29\00:38:16.62
When you really
do a study of this,
00:38:16.66\00:38:17.99
and I think
I've brought this out
00:38:18.03\00:38:19.36
a couple of times on,
00:38:19.39\00:38:20.73
on Family Worship
and on programs before
00:38:20.76\00:38:22.93
but when I think of contentment,
00:38:22.96\00:38:25.80
you're happy with
what you have now.
00:38:25.83\00:38:28.60
You're not worried
about the next moment
00:38:28.64\00:38:30.41
what you gonna have.
00:38:30.44\00:38:31.77
When you think of the
shepherd leading a sheep,
00:38:31.81\00:38:34.18
that sheep is
completely dependent
00:38:34.21\00:38:36.58
on where the shepherd leads him
00:38:36.61\00:38:37.98
and where the
shepherd is going to lead him
00:38:38.01\00:38:39.35
to his next food plot.
00:38:39.38\00:38:40.72
When you think
of green pastures,
00:38:40.75\00:38:42.08
over in Jerusalem,
00:38:42.12\00:38:43.45
there's an actual
hillside called Green Pastures.
00:38:43.49\00:38:44.85
And it ain't very green.
00:38:44.89\00:38:46.22
And you look at and all
of it is a rocky hillside
00:38:46.25\00:38:48.52
and you look out
there and you think,
00:38:48.56\00:38:49.89
and you see these sheep
walking in perfect lines,
00:38:49.92\00:38:53.29
and you see the
shepherd ahead of them.
00:38:53.33\00:38:55.10
And you think from a distance,
00:38:55.13\00:38:56.46
it's like are
these rock eating sheep?
00:38:56.50\00:38:58.50
Like what, what are they eating?
00:38:58.53\00:39:00.60
But if you get
closer and you really,
00:39:00.64\00:39:02.10
you focus on
the terrain of this,
00:39:02.14\00:39:03.67
what is called Green
Pastures in Jerusalem.
00:39:03.71\00:39:06.24
It's interesting
that you'll find it
00:39:06.27\00:39:08.31
that you know, few feet here,
00:39:08.34\00:39:09.74
there's a little sprig of grass,
00:39:09.78\00:39:11.51
walk a few more feet,
little sprig of grass,
00:39:11.55\00:39:13.25
walk a few more feet,
little sprig of grass.
00:39:13.28\00:39:15.22
And it's an
powerful object lesson
00:39:15.25\00:39:17.25
that I think clearly alludes to
00:39:17.29\00:39:20.76
and help support this idea
00:39:20.79\00:39:23.06
that gratitude
increases our appreciation
00:39:23.09\00:39:25.33
for what we have,
00:39:25.36\00:39:26.70
and being
content with what we have
00:39:26.73\00:39:28.16
because those sheep
when Peter or excuse me,
00:39:28.20\00:39:30.93
when David was
pouring his heart out,
00:39:30.97\00:39:33.00
the Lord is my shepherd,
00:39:33.03\00:39:34.37
I shall not want, He leadeth me.
00:39:34.40\00:39:37.51
He leadeth me.
00:39:37.54\00:39:38.87
Those sheep are
completely dependent
00:39:38.91\00:39:40.68
on that shepherd
00:39:40.71\00:39:42.04
leading them
from one little sprig
00:39:42.08\00:39:43.75
to the next, to
the next, to the next.
00:39:43.78\00:39:46.01
And those sheep, you
don't hear them out there,
00:39:46.05\00:39:47.92
you know, complaining,
you know, I'm not hurt,
00:39:47.95\00:39:50.45
they're completely
content to know that
00:39:50.49\00:39:52.95
that shepherd is
going to lead them
00:39:52.99\00:39:55.56
to what they
need for that moment.
00:39:55.59\00:39:57.66
You know what
story that reminds me of?
00:39:57.69\00:39:59.76
There was a lady who
had three little children.
00:39:59.79\00:40:03.26
Her husband died.
00:40:03.30\00:40:04.63
They lived out on a farm.
00:40:04.67\00:40:06.00
They were very poor.
00:40:06.03\00:40:07.37
This was in Arkansas, very poor.
00:40:07.40\00:40:09.70
And they were very
faithful churchgoers.
00:40:09.74\00:40:12.14
And everybody always was amazed
00:40:12.17\00:40:14.98
at how grateful she was to God
00:40:15.01\00:40:18.38
for all of her blessings.
00:40:18.41\00:40:20.05
I mean, so anyway,
00:40:20.08\00:40:22.25
they made the announcement
from the pulpit one day,
00:40:22.28\00:40:25.15
we're going to take up,
00:40:25.19\00:40:26.52
it was before Christmas
00:40:26.55\00:40:27.89
a couple of
months before Christmas.
00:40:27.92\00:40:29.32
We're going to
take up an offering
00:40:29.36\00:40:33.06
for a very poor
family, da-da-da.
00:40:33.09\00:40:35.43
This woman held a bake sale,
00:40:35.46\00:40:38.00
her kids worked out
00:40:38.03\00:40:39.37
in people's gardens rake leaves,
00:40:39.40\00:40:41.17
did this did that.
00:40:41.20\00:40:43.57
And she was so excited
00:40:43.61\00:40:47.24
to be able to
help this poor family.
00:40:47.28\00:40:49.54
So the whole
family work together,
00:40:49.58\00:40:52.48
and they made a...
00:40:52.51\00:40:54.28
When the plate was passed
00:40:54.32\00:40:56.55
this few weeks before Christmas,
00:40:56.58\00:40:58.89
they had their little
bundle in an envelope,
00:40:58.92\00:41:02.06
and they put over.
00:41:02.09\00:41:03.63
I think it was like,
00:41:03.66\00:41:04.99
just a little over
$200 into the plate.
00:41:05.03\00:41:09.53
Now there were a
lot of wealthy people
00:41:09.56\00:41:12.17
in this church.
00:41:12.20\00:41:14.20
Well-to-do
people, I put it that way.
00:41:14.24\00:41:18.57
At the end of the service,
00:41:18.61\00:41:20.28
the pastor called them up
00:41:20.31\00:41:23.14
to give this lady
and her little kids.
00:41:23.18\00:41:26.55
She had no idea that
collection was for her.
00:41:26.58\00:41:29.65
None.
00:41:29.68\00:41:31.12
He calls them up to
give them the collection.
00:41:31.15\00:41:36.56
You know how
much money was in it?
00:41:36.59\00:41:38.46
Two hundred and fifty dollars.
00:41:38.49\00:41:42.03
So here is a poor
woman with her children.
00:41:42.06\00:41:48.37
I mean, they were
the object of this,
00:41:48.40\00:41:51.97
but she was so grateful to God.
00:41:52.01\00:41:54.21
I absolutely believe
when we are grateful,
00:41:54.24\00:41:57.98
we will definitely be
more generous with others.
00:41:58.01\00:42:04.42
Okay, Honey, why don't you read
00:42:04.45\00:42:06.52
because I thought
this was so interesting.
00:42:06.55\00:42:09.16
Harvard Health Publications
has done great studies
00:42:09.19\00:42:13.86
and they say that
gratitude increases our capacity
00:42:13.90\00:42:19.80
to experience pleasure,
00:42:19.83\00:42:22.70
and it improves our
relationship with others.
00:42:22.74\00:42:25.34
Why don't you
read what they wrote?
00:42:25.37\00:42:26.71
Okay, this is taken
from this particularly,
00:42:26.74\00:42:29.54
this particular publication,
Harvard Health Publications
00:42:29.58\00:42:32.95
in a positive
psychological research.
00:42:32.98\00:42:35.68
Gratitude is strongly
and consistently associated
00:42:35.72\00:42:39.29
with greater happiness.
00:42:39.32\00:42:41.72
Gratitude helps
people feel more positive,
00:42:41.76\00:42:45.89
allows them to feel
more positive emotions,
00:42:45.93\00:42:49.16
relish good experiences,
improve their health,
00:42:49.20\00:42:52.23
deal with adversity and
build strong relationships.
00:42:52.27\00:42:56.34
Most studies
published on this topic
00:42:56.37\00:42:58.37
have formed an association
00:42:58.41\00:42:59.74
between gratitude and
an individual's well-being.
00:42:59.77\00:43:04.28
So if you want to
be healthy, happy...
00:43:04.31\00:43:08.48
You need to be giving.
00:43:08.52\00:43:10.19
You need to be experiencing
and expressing your thanks.
00:43:10.22\00:43:14.52
Yes, yes.
00:43:14.56\00:43:16.96
I mean, you
know, I always heard,
00:43:16.99\00:43:18.33
I mean thanks of giving,
00:43:18.36\00:43:20.86
I guess that those
could be correlated.
00:43:20.90\00:43:23.16
Thanksgiving,
expressing your gratitude.
00:43:23.20\00:43:25.33
Perfect.
00:43:25.37\00:43:26.70
I mean, God gonna tell her half,
00:43:26.74\00:43:28.24
halfway this whole
thing of Thanksgiving dinner
00:43:28.27\00:43:32.14
for a family you know and how,
00:43:32.17\00:43:35.74
how generous the time it
is as you because here you,
00:43:35.78\00:43:39.08
everybody's coming
from different directions
00:43:39.11\00:43:41.08
to show up for the special day.
00:43:41.12\00:43:43.45
You know we've all missed
mama, we've all missed daddy,
00:43:43.49\00:43:45.75
we all get to come home,
00:43:45.79\00:43:47.52
big table around the
table and everything,
00:43:47.56\00:43:49.56
stories are going everything.
00:43:49.59\00:43:50.99
And, boy, you
just kind of sit back
00:43:51.03\00:43:52.86
and there was
just joy in your heart
00:43:52.89\00:43:54.66
that families
together just the generosity
00:43:54.70\00:43:58.00
and Shelley would tell
us a story, I tell a story,
00:43:58.03\00:44:01.07
my brother Frank
would tell a story,
00:44:01.10\00:44:02.57
Mary Joe Ann wasn't
going to be outdone,
00:44:02.60\00:44:04.04
she's going to tell her story.
00:44:04.07\00:44:05.41
And, boy, you're just,
00:44:05.44\00:44:06.91
this is family,
this is gratitude.
00:44:06.94\00:44:10.98
And so, but here,
I think that this is,
00:44:11.01\00:44:16.75
goes back to the tithe,
00:44:16.79\00:44:18.12
you know, that
you cannot give God,
00:44:18.15\00:44:20.16
so you cannot
give in your gratitude
00:44:20.19\00:44:22.82
you know, and this is just it,
00:44:22.86\00:44:25.23
people that really
believe in a lot of science.
00:44:25.26\00:44:27.76
This just goes to prove it,
00:44:27.80\00:44:29.13
you know, they've
done testing on this.
00:44:29.16\00:44:31.17
And the more you
give, the happier you are.
00:44:31.20\00:44:32.77
That's right.
00:44:32.80\00:44:34.14
It's powerful
00:44:34.17\00:44:35.50
because what we just read there
00:44:35.54\00:44:37.17
in that Harvard
Health Publication.
00:44:37.21\00:44:39.91
And talking about
that you clearly can't have
00:44:39.94\00:44:42.41
true genuine happiness,
00:44:42.44\00:44:44.48
unless you've experienced
00:44:44.51\00:44:45.85
or putting forth
gratitude and thanksgiving.
00:44:45.88\00:44:50.29
And it's interesting to me that
00:44:50.32\00:44:51.65
that in turn leads
to a servant's heart.
00:44:51.69\00:44:55.99
I heard someone once said
00:44:56.02\00:44:57.36
that you really
can't truly be happy
00:44:57.39\00:44:59.43
unless you have
served someone else.
00:44:59.46\00:45:00.80
Amen.
00:45:00.83\00:45:02.16
Unless you've experienced
what it means to truly serve
00:45:02.20\00:45:04.83
and, you know, what
brought my attention
00:45:04.87\00:45:07.24
to Philippians 2:5-8.
00:45:07.27\00:45:10.44
Christ being our example.
00:45:10.47\00:45:12.94
Let this mind be in you
which was also in Christ Jesus,
00:45:12.97\00:45:15.41
who, being in the form of God,
00:45:15.44\00:45:17.28
did not consider it
robbery to be equal with God."
00:45:17.31\00:45:19.75
God, Father, I'm not going to,
00:45:19.78\00:45:21.48
I'm going to
bring Myself down here,
00:45:21.52\00:45:22.88
I'm going to go
serve those people
00:45:22.92\00:45:24.25
because they need Me.
00:45:24.29\00:45:25.69
There was a sense of gratitude
00:45:25.72\00:45:27.06
that Christ had
for His creation,
00:45:27.09\00:45:29.62
that He was able to
as it continues to say,
00:45:29.66\00:45:32.23
"But He made
Himself of no reputation,
00:45:32.26\00:45:34.43
taking the form
of a bondservant,
00:45:34.46\00:45:37.73
and coming in
the likeness of men.
00:45:37.77\00:45:39.13
And being found in
appearance as a man,
00:45:39.17\00:45:40.74
He humbled Himself, "
00:45:40.77\00:45:42.54
there's that humility factor,
00:45:42.57\00:45:44.54
"He humbled
Himself and became obedient
00:45:44.57\00:45:47.08
to the point of death,
even the death at the cross."
00:45:47.11\00:45:49.88
Christ's love for humanity
00:45:49.91\00:45:52.48
and His creation brought about
00:45:52.51\00:45:57.25
and basically came forth
00:45:57.29\00:45:59.65
because of the
love and the gratitude
00:45:59.69\00:46:01.59
He had towards His
people, His children.
00:46:01.62\00:46:04.76
I've never thought about
that in a sense of gratitude.
00:46:04.79\00:46:07.56
It's amazing that He was willing
00:46:07.60\00:46:09.56
to lower Himself, get this,
00:46:09.60\00:46:11.83
and I get this mental
picture in my mind of Jesus
00:46:11.87\00:46:14.47
kneeling at the feet of
Peter about to wash His feet.
00:46:14.50\00:46:18.07
You almost see a
sense of gratitude
00:46:18.11\00:46:19.77
coming from Peter
00:46:19.81\00:46:21.14
although we can find that
00:46:21.18\00:46:22.51
He still had a
little bit of humbling
00:46:22.54\00:46:23.88
he needed there.
00:46:23.91\00:46:25.25
But you almost sense a
gratitude towards Peter
00:46:25.28\00:46:27.28
because you could just
sense in see in your mind's eye
00:46:27.32\00:46:29.68
in your mind the
scene taking place
00:46:29.72\00:46:31.99
and Peter drawing
his feet away and saying,
00:46:32.02\00:46:33.52
"Oh, no, Jesus,
what are You doing?
00:46:33.56\00:46:35.89
No, no, You
shouldn't be washing my feet.
00:46:35.92\00:46:37.83
I should be washing Your feet."
00:46:37.86\00:46:39.56
And then Jesus shares His heart,
00:46:39.59\00:46:41.00
"No, no, no, I have to do this.
00:46:41.03\00:46:42.63
I have to do this.
00:46:42.66\00:46:44.00
I have to serve you.
00:46:44.03\00:46:45.37
I have to humble Myself
before you, to serve you,
00:46:45.40\00:46:48.54
to show you that
this, this is how it works."
00:46:48.57\00:46:51.21
This is true gratitude.
00:46:51.24\00:46:52.74
This is true love.
00:46:52.77\00:46:54.11
And then, of course,
00:46:54.14\00:46:55.48
we know what
Peter, his response.
00:46:55.51\00:46:56.85
Well, you know,
while you're at it,
00:46:56.88\00:47:00.32
washing his feet,
00:47:00.35\00:47:02.25
but it's powerful
to think in that sense.
00:47:02.28\00:47:05.29
True happiness doesn't
come until you can have
00:47:05.32\00:47:08.42
the heart of a servant
00:47:08.46\00:47:09.79
because the heart of the servant
00:47:09.82\00:47:11.16
is someone who's thankful.
00:47:11.19\00:47:12.53
They're thankful for
those who they're serving
00:47:12.56\00:47:14.70
if it's genuine service.
00:47:14.73\00:47:16.90
Amen. Amen. Powerful.
00:47:16.93\00:47:18.33
You know, one of
my favorite examples
00:47:18.37\00:47:20.80
in the Bible of
gratitude is found,
00:47:20.84\00:47:26.71
well it's found
in all the gospels
00:47:26.74\00:47:30.18
but in Luke Chapter 7,
00:47:30.21\00:47:33.31
I'm going to read
verse, start with verse 37.
00:47:33.35\00:47:37.05
And I love this one
of the best because Luke,
00:47:37.09\00:47:40.82
this is about Mary coming
to anoint the feet of Jesus
00:47:40.86\00:47:46.90
and breaking this alabaster box
00:47:46.93\00:47:49.50
and whoops, I'm
falling pieces over here.
00:47:49.53\00:47:51.97
But what I love
about what Luke does,
00:47:52.00\00:47:57.61
being that he was a Gentile,
00:47:57.64\00:47:59.51
this is
interesting because he says
00:47:59.54\00:48:01.64
he's the only one
00:48:01.68\00:48:03.01
that identifies her as a sinner.
00:48:03.04\00:48:05.11
And so he sets the
scene for us and he says,
00:48:05.15\00:48:08.02
one of the
Pharisees ask Jesus tea,
00:48:08.05\00:48:10.02
with him He went to
the Pharisee's house,
00:48:10.05\00:48:11.89
he sat down deep.
00:48:11.92\00:48:13.36
So now get this.
00:48:13.39\00:48:14.72
Here are a group of Pharisees
00:48:14.76\00:48:17.29
that Jesus has
gone and they hate,
00:48:17.33\00:48:19.19
they're throwing Him up banquet.
00:48:19.23\00:48:21.63
And behold, a woman in the city
00:48:21.66\00:48:25.00
who was a sinner.
00:48:25.03\00:48:28.97
I mean, to the point
00:48:29.00\00:48:30.34
that later on the Pharisee says,
00:48:30.37\00:48:31.77
"Man, if Jesus
is really a prophet,
00:48:31.81\00:48:34.24
He wouldn't let her
be doing this to you."
00:48:34.28\00:48:36.81
But she comes in.
00:48:36.85\00:48:39.38
I mean, you talk about
laying down yourself in service
00:48:39.41\00:48:43.28
about humbling yourself.
00:48:43.32\00:48:45.42
She comes into an environment
where people are whispering,
00:48:45.45\00:48:52.39
"Oh, there she is.
00:48:52.43\00:48:53.90
Do you know what she's done?"
00:48:53.93\00:48:56.50
And it says that
she came to Jesus,
00:48:56.53\00:49:01.60
washed His feet with her tears,
00:49:01.64\00:49:04.84
wipe them with
the hair of her head
00:49:04.87\00:49:07.24
and it was not.
00:49:07.28\00:49:09.01
I mean, that was not kosher
00:49:09.04\00:49:10.55
to let your hair down in public,
00:49:10.58\00:49:12.65
yet she's...
00:49:12.68\00:49:14.02
And let me tell you something.
00:49:14.05\00:49:15.75
This is
something that foot washing
00:49:15.78\00:49:17.69
should have been
done by the host.
00:49:17.72\00:49:20.06
Because when they
walked His feet were dirty,
00:49:20.09\00:49:22.49
probably with animal dung even,
00:49:22.52\00:49:24.69
and she's
washing it with her hair.
00:49:24.73\00:49:27.03
Then she breaks
open her piggy bank,
00:49:27.06\00:49:30.47
her alabaster box.
00:49:30.50\00:49:32.73
That was probably the proceeds
of her former lifestyle.
00:49:32.77\00:49:37.71
Which most scholars would agree,
00:49:37.74\00:49:39.07
most scholars believe,
00:49:39.11\00:49:40.44
this was the same woman
that was caught in adultery,
00:49:40.48\00:49:43.04
prostitute, Mary Magdalene.
00:49:43.08\00:49:45.51
Even though it
doesn't say that...
00:49:45.55\00:49:46.88
Oh, boy, this study I've done
I can, I do believe it's Mary.
00:49:46.92\00:49:50.49
But, so she comes
in and she doesn't care
00:49:50.52\00:49:55.46
what anybody thinks,
00:49:55.49\00:49:56.89
she is going to
express her thanksgiving
00:49:56.93\00:50:01.16
to the Lord for delivering her.
00:50:01.20\00:50:04.37
But now if you
jump down to verse 47,
00:50:04.40\00:50:08.87
one of my
favorite verses, Luke 7:47.
00:50:08.90\00:50:13.61
Jesus said, to...
00:50:13.64\00:50:15.48
Well, let's begin with 46.
00:50:15.51\00:50:18.11
Let's begin with 45.
00:50:18.15\00:50:20.72
He says, he's
talking to his host now,
00:50:20.75\00:50:23.75
because the host is
upset that she's doing this.
00:50:23.79\00:50:27.09
And Jesus said,
00:50:27.12\00:50:28.49
"You gave Me no
kiss when I came in,
00:50:28.52\00:50:31.06
but this woman has
not ceased to kiss My feet
00:50:31.09\00:50:33.36
since the time I came in.
00:50:33.40\00:50:35.16
You did not anoint
My head with oil, "
00:50:35.20\00:50:37.37
and that was
considered standard practice
00:50:37.40\00:50:40.20
for a host to do,
00:50:40.24\00:50:42.27
"but this woman
has anointed My feet
00:50:42.30\00:50:44.74
with fragrant oil.
00:50:44.77\00:50:46.11
Therefore I say
to you, her sins,
00:50:46.14\00:50:48.71
which are many are
forgiven, for she loved much.
00:50:48.74\00:50:54.75
But to whom little is forgiven,
the same loves little."
00:50:54.78\00:50:59.62
I think it all comes
down as far as gratitude
00:50:59.65\00:51:03.39
is how much we open our
heart to receive from the Lord.
00:51:03.43\00:51:08.80
When we open up our
hearts to allow God to love us,
00:51:08.83\00:51:13.70
you know, some
people have an incorrect,
00:51:13.74\00:51:15.80
incomplete picture
of the character of God.
00:51:15.84\00:51:19.41
And they run around
with their nose in the air
00:51:19.44\00:51:23.78
or in a snit all the
time, they're upset with God.
00:51:23.81\00:51:27.82
If we just open up our hearts,
and don't reject God's love,
00:51:27.85\00:51:32.59
we'll be just like this.
00:51:32.62\00:51:34.19
I mean, once you
really begin to understand
00:51:34.22\00:51:36.36
the character of God,
you do stand in awe of Him.
00:51:36.39\00:51:39.89
Absolutely.
00:51:39.93\00:51:41.26
And most people, I
love what you're saying,
00:51:41.30\00:51:42.73
as I'm just taking in the story
00:51:42.76\00:51:44.80
and hear what you're
saying it's powerful.
00:51:44.83\00:51:46.33
This situation
reminds me of the fact
00:51:46.37\00:51:49.40
that most
people don't understand
00:51:49.44\00:51:52.47
what true gratitude is
00:51:52.51\00:51:53.84
because they haven't had
00:51:53.88\00:51:55.21
a personal encounter with Jesus.
00:51:55.24\00:51:56.58
Yeah.
00:51:56.61\00:51:57.98
They're reading the story
00:51:58.01\00:52:00.02
of her pouring out her gratitude
00:52:00.05\00:52:02.08
and thanksgiving to Christ.
00:52:02.12\00:52:03.52
But what, the
question is what caused this?
00:52:03.55\00:52:05.85
What was it that
brought this into motion?
00:52:05.89\00:52:09.06
This woman had been caught
not just, not it's known as,
00:52:09.09\00:52:12.96
you know, it's not like
they just went to her home
00:52:12.99\00:52:14.43
and said, "Hey, you
know, we know you're a harlot,
00:52:14.46\00:52:16.13
we're going to take you
out here and judge you."
00:52:16.16\00:52:17.50
They caught her in the very act.
00:52:17.53\00:52:19.70
And then she's
brought and thrown
00:52:19.73\00:52:21.30
at the feet of Jesus,
00:52:21.34\00:52:22.67
whom, at this point,
00:52:22.70\00:52:24.04
maybe she's heard
a little bit about,
00:52:24.07\00:52:25.41
but this is her
first personal encounter
00:52:25.44\00:52:27.74
with Christ, the Son of God.
00:52:27.78\00:52:30.38
And it's powerful
to think of that story,
00:52:30.41\00:52:34.22
that Jesus doesn't condemn her,
00:52:34.25\00:52:36.89
but He also
doesn't condone her sin.
00:52:36.92\00:52:39.55
But yet he
doesn't just beat her up
00:52:39.59\00:52:41.46
and, you know,
treat her as the people
00:52:41.49\00:52:44.16
there were about to treat her.
00:52:44.19\00:52:45.76
They were going to
stone her to death.
00:52:45.79\00:52:47.60
Jesus saved her life
and showed her compassion.
00:52:47.63\00:52:50.33
He gave her the treatment
that she didn't deserve,
00:52:50.37\00:52:53.27
which was love,
compassion, and mercy.
00:52:53.30\00:52:56.74
And this story that
we just read in Luke 7
00:52:56.77\00:52:59.01
is that automatic
response of gratitude of,
00:52:59.04\00:53:02.28
you know what?
00:53:02.31\00:53:03.65
He has saved me, I
would gladly pour out.
00:53:03.68\00:53:06.18
I sing that song alabaster box,
00:53:06.21\00:53:07.78
you know, I've come
to pour my praise on Him,
00:53:07.82\00:53:13.05
like oil from Mary.
00:53:13.09\00:53:15.46
She's literally pouring
her whole life out on Jesus
00:53:15.49\00:53:19.13
because she recognizes
00:53:19.16\00:53:20.50
that He gave His
entire life for her.
00:53:20.53\00:53:23.23
And Jesus in Luke 47 is
saying, hey, she loves much,
00:53:23.26\00:53:27.40
she's been forgiven
much so she understands.
00:53:27.44\00:53:30.74
When we realize
00:53:30.77\00:53:32.11
how much we've
been forgiven we will.
00:53:32.14\00:53:34.71
Absolutely.
00:53:34.74\00:53:36.08
Honey, why don't you
share the story of the lepers?
00:53:36.11\00:53:39.61
Of the lepers, okay, that's,
00:53:39.65\00:53:41.28
we're going to
take this from Luke 17.
00:53:41.32\00:53:44.35
And I'm going to kind of
go through, it started...
00:53:44.39\00:53:49.49
Well, 13
00:53:49.52\00:53:51.26
because this is where
they're calling on, Jesus,
00:53:51.29\00:53:53.43
Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.
00:53:53.46\00:53:56.83
And so when they
saw Him, He says,
00:53:56.87\00:53:59.03
"Go show yourself to the priest.
00:53:59.07\00:54:01.10
Okay, He had, He
saw them and He said,
00:54:01.14\00:54:04.01
Go show yourself to the priest.
00:54:04.04\00:54:05.37
And so it was that they
went and they were cleansed."
00:54:05.41\00:54:08.38
Wow, gratitude right there.
00:54:08.41\00:54:10.48
"And one of them whenever he saw
00:54:10.51\00:54:11.85
that he was healed
00:54:11.88\00:54:13.21
returned with a
loud voice glorify God,
00:54:13.25\00:54:15.42
and fell down on His face
00:54:15.45\00:54:16.79
at His feet giving
Him thanks, Jesus."
00:54:16.82\00:54:18.75
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
00:54:18.79\00:54:20.12
I mean, we
can't even appreciate,
00:54:20.16\00:54:22.89
this is leprosy.
00:54:22.92\00:54:24.43
I mean, this was
just, everybody just,
00:54:24.46\00:54:26.56
you know, avoided them.
00:54:26.59\00:54:28.56
"And one of them, when
that he saw he was healed,
00:54:28.60\00:54:30.37
he returned with a
loud voice glorified,
00:54:30.40\00:54:31.93
fell down on his face
00:54:31.97\00:54:33.30
and him thanks and
he was a Samaritan."
00:54:33.34\00:54:35.37
Oh, my goodness.
00:54:35.40\00:54:37.61
And so Jesus answers and says,
"Where there not ten cleansed,
00:54:37.64\00:54:41.24
but where are the nine?
00:54:41.28\00:54:43.41
Where there not any found
00:54:43.45\00:54:45.21
who returned to
give glory to God
00:54:45.25\00:54:46.75
except this foreigner?"
00:54:46.78\00:54:48.32
And He said to him,
"Arise, go your way,
00:54:48.35\00:54:50.95
your faith has made you well."
00:54:50.99\00:54:53.56
What is it?
00:54:53.59\00:54:54.92
What do you think
about that, Ricky?
00:54:54.96\00:54:58.26
I think about how
He was the only one
00:54:58.29\00:55:04.00
that came back to give thanks.
00:55:04.03\00:55:05.60
I think about
those other gentlemen.
00:55:05.63\00:55:08.20
And I'm sad for them.
00:55:08.24\00:55:12.01
I think about my father.
00:55:12.04\00:55:13.78
And my father is been
the one that's always said,
00:55:13.81\00:55:16.61
"Son, you need to
express your gratitude
00:55:16.64\00:55:20.22
when someone
does something for you
00:55:20.25\00:55:22.52
and especially when
you see what Christ,
00:55:22.55\00:55:26.45
this is another encounter.
00:55:26.49\00:55:28.12
That's right.
Another encounter with Jesus.
00:55:28.16\00:55:30.46
This gentleman had
an encounter with Jesus.
00:55:30.49\00:55:32.86
And he came back and
just showed his thanks
00:55:32.89\00:55:35.96
and his
appreciation and his gratitude.
00:55:36.00\00:55:38.63
I love this story.
00:55:38.67\00:55:40.00
Now, what I like about it is,
00:55:40.04\00:55:41.70
it absolutely shows
00:55:41.74\00:55:43.20
that Jesus thinks we
ought to be giving thanks.
00:55:43.24\00:55:47.68
But He says,
00:55:47.71\00:55:49.04
when he gives
thanks, he calls it faith,
00:55:49.08\00:55:51.88
your faith has healed you
00:55:51.91\00:55:54.15
because it was
recognizing what Jesus had done.
00:55:54.18\00:55:57.65
So it was faith in Jesus.
00:55:57.69\00:55:59.72
You know, our
time's already gone away
00:55:59.75\00:56:01.29
but I just want to tell you,
00:56:01.32\00:56:03.09
we need to
think about guidelines
00:56:03.12\00:56:06.80
for grateful living.
00:56:06.83\00:56:08.43
Keep a gratitude journal.
00:56:08.46\00:56:10.37
If you feel like
00:56:10.40\00:56:11.73
what can I be
thankful for every day,
00:56:11.77\00:56:13.30
get up, write down 10
words on a sheet of paper,
00:56:13.34\00:56:17.81
then after each
one of those words,
00:56:17.84\00:56:20.51
write out one sentence
of why you're grateful for
00:56:20.54\00:56:23.65
and pray it back to the Lord.
00:56:23.68\00:56:25.81
Watch what God will do,
He will turn your focus.
00:56:25.85\00:56:30.25
I mean, if you can't
think of what to be grateful for
00:56:30.29\00:56:32.35
maybe your toothbrush,
00:56:32.39\00:56:34.09
even what be it,
hot water, whatever.
00:56:34.12\00:56:37.63
But we, I think we
show by setting aside
00:56:37.66\00:56:41.36
time for worship,
00:56:41.40\00:56:43.26
and making
provision for the poor
00:56:43.30\00:56:46.50
and expressing our
gratitude to others.
00:56:46.53\00:56:49.24
We're out of time.
00:56:49.27\00:56:50.61
Well, I want to say in
closing really quickly.
00:56:50.64\00:56:52.07
I want to express my
gratitude to you guys
00:56:52.11\00:56:53.94
because you have been
wonderful mentors to me
00:56:53.98\00:56:56.61
and my wife
since we've been here.
00:56:56.64\00:56:58.61
We love 3ABN, we love you guys,
00:56:58.65\00:57:00.75
and we praise God
for what God is doing
00:57:00.78\00:57:03.08
through you in this ministry.
00:57:03.12\00:57:04.55
Thank you.
00:57:04.59\00:57:05.92
And we just want to thank
you both for being here today.
00:57:05.95\00:57:09.09
For those of you
at home, our prayer,
00:57:09.12\00:57:12.09
our thanksgiving is for you
00:57:12.13\00:57:14.03
because this
ministry couldn't even exist
00:57:14.06\00:57:17.37
without those
who partner with us.
00:57:17.40\00:57:19.77
And we pray
00:57:19.80\00:57:21.87
that the grace of our
Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
00:57:21.90\00:57:26.34
the love of the Father,
00:57:26.37\00:57:28.01
and the
fellowship of the Holy Spirit
00:57:28.04\00:57:30.35
will be yours this
Sabbath and every day to come.
00:57:30.38\00:57:34.58
God bless. God bless you.
00:57:34.62\00:57:36.15