The Power of Gratitude

Today I attended church with my family at  Church at the Springs like I do most Sundays when home from college. With the holiday season upon us this weeks message was one I felt so powerful  about and felt like I should share❤️ 

The message this week was called The Power of Gratitude.. Thanksgiving for Christians is not a holiday but a lifestyle. It's something that we as human beings should show everyday! The service started out with the benefits of gratitude.. The first point being: 

1. Gratitude improves my relationships. 

We as human beings tend to take those around us for granted. We think these pleasant thoughts in our head but don't always express how we feel about one another from day to day. In 1 Thessalonians 5:11 it says, "so encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing." Meaning continue to show thanks.. Gratitude is said to be on of the healthiest relationships an individual will ever have. Which brings us to another point of today's sermon which is "gratitude develops my faith.." And "Remember that everything good comes from God." Pastor Ron made one of the best analogies in my opinion for this, "stop trying to make something happen and let the ball come to you." Meaning put your faith in God even when times get rough and don't try to force anything cause God will lead you in the right direction. 

Pastor Ron left us with these two food for thoughts at the closing of today's sermon he said 1. "STOP COMPLAINING," there are only 38 days left of this year so stop he read off these statistics:

"If you own just one Bible ... you are abundantly blessed. 1/3 of all the world does not have access to one.

If you woke up this morning with more health than illness ... you are more blessed than the million who will not survive this week.

If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation ... you are ahead of 500 million people in the world.

If you can attend a church meeting without fear of harassment, arrest, torture, or death ... you are more blessed than three billion people in the world.

If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof overhead and a place to sleep ... you are richer than 75% of this world.

If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish someplace ... you are among the top 8% of the world's wealthy.

If your parents are still alive and still married ... you are very rare, even in the United States.

If you hold up your head with a smile on your face and are truly thankful ... you are blessed because the majority can, but most do not.

If you can hold someone's hand, hug them or even touch them on the shoulder you are blessed because you can offer God's healing touch.

If you prayed yesterday and today ... you are in the minority because you believe God does hear and answer prayers.

If you can read this message, you just received a double blessing in that someone was thinking of you, and furthermore, you are more blessed than over two billion people in the world that cannot read at all.

If you believe in Jesus as the Son of God and as your Saviour ... you are blessed as being part of a small minority in the world ... A men ... 2jesus"

His final point for the day was start a daily discipline of thanks. He challenged everyone with the idea of with social media on Tuesday we get Thankful Tuesdays going. You share your reason of why you are thankful for God and all his work. So I challenge everyone to do so as well. 

So as I close my Sunday evening I sit down with my bible and my God's girl devotional and realize how blessed I am to just have came from dinner and a great night of bowling with my wonderful family and friends and that tonight I get to sleep in a warm bed with a roof over my head and food in the fridge. God bless you all and have a wonderful rest of your Sunday evening..