gratitude.

we weren't able to go to church today- sick kids! story of my life. and this is probably the first time we've missed church, that i've actually CARED that we missed. baby steps.

i watched it first chance i got, and today's message was on gratitude.

you can see it here: https://12stone.com/watch/close-the-gratitude-gap/close-the-gratitude-gap/

four principles to help close the gratitude gap

two practices to develop a grateful heart.

PRINCIPLES

1. gratitude gets noticed by God.

Luke 17:17 'were not all ten cleansed? where are the other nine?"

God notices the presence AND absence of gratitude. He notices a grateful heart. God doesn't need your gratitude, he's not insecure- but He wants it, desires it, deserves it.

gratitude = moving towards God

2. gratitude must be expressed to exist. you feel it, do something with it-express it and let it be known.

unexpressed gratitude feels like ingratitude.

the two words 'thank you' strengthen marriage, relationships, work relationships, teams, etc.

"feeling gratitude and not expressing it, is like wrapping a present and not giving it." - William Aurthur Ward

3. gratitude defeats entitlement.

Luke 17 : the nine who did not return were Jewish like Jesus, privileged. the one who did return was an outsider- the only one who came back to say thank you. the other nine felt entitled, the one felt undeserving.

4. gratitude opens opportunity.

Luke 17 "....rise and go, your faith has made you well." he received cleansing, and salvation.

PRACTICES

1. develop a gratitude routine.

example: make a list each day of ten things you're thankful for from the day before.

Giving thanks to God is how we enter in to His presence.

2. improve your gratitude reflex.

how quickly you are to say thank you, to express your gratitude when you feel it.

i will say, i've been feeling a whole lot of gratitude here lately. people have come in to my life, old friends/family and new. they have totally blown my mind with their generosity- and i'm happy to say i've said thank you pretty dang quickly. my heart is overflowing with gratitude, almost daily for the last couple months. and again, i'm just now realizing God is speaking to me through these people. using these people to soften my heart.

you should be thankful, you should be grateful. and goodness gracious am i. and wow....light bulb. thats because of God. here i am all these months and years angry with God, just so hurt and bitter. but now i'm starting to realize that He is not responsible for the bad,  He IS responsible for the good.

i'm actually starting to HEAR what is being said in church, i'm actually listening to the messages now. and it is slowly starting to sink in for me. i've stopped resisting and am finally embracing. it feels pretty freeing!

Dear God, please help me understand the 'why' i am constantly asking You. help me understand that the bad isn't You, its satan. help me understand that i don't have to listen SO hard to hear Your voice- i just need to pay closer attention to those around me. amen.