Giving thanks always!

I saw a small sign which read: “Gratitude turns what we have into ENOUGH!” Wow, that is a powerful perspective. Two people eat the same meal. One was hungry and didn’t have the money to pay for it, but the restaurant owner decided to bless him with the meal, so the person was extremely grateful and thankful. The other person was upset and angry because that is not what he wanted to eat. It was the same meal. What was the difference? It was their perspective. The person that was grateful saw the value in the meal. He realized that he could not take that meal for granted. He could have gone hungry that day. Yet, God provided a wonderful meal for him via that generous restaurant owner. The other person takes every thing for granted.  Each meal, the car he drives, his health, his expensive condominium, his job and his prestige and influence. This kind of perspective lacks the appreciation of just how fortunate  we are when we are able to have the things we need or want. In truth, anything can be taken away from us in a heartbeat. People have lost everything in a fire, a flood, an earthquake, or a tsunami. Today we should really reconsider God’s blessing which is all around us if we have the right perspective! So what if we don’t have everything that we desire at this point. The important thing is that we have what we need. There are many around the world who live with very little and would greatly appreciate what we have right now! Well, are you grateful?

Ephesians 5:20 “Giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ”

The Power of Gratitude!

There are many power principles in the New Testament. One of them is the power of gratitude. King David taught much on the power of gratitude. People that are grateful have such an advantage over those who are ungrateful. The ungrateful cannot see beyond their current circumstances; The grateful see hidden opportunities, even during times of difficulty. The ungrateful do not appreciate what they currently have, so they are always looking and desiring what others have; The grateful appreciate what God has placed in their hands. The ungrateful are never satisfied, so they are always stuck in a vicious cycle of jealousy and desiring what others have; The grateful place great value in what they currently have, thus they are free to grow from there. The ungrateful are not generous, because they do not value what they have; The grateful are generous, even with the little that they have. the ungrateful can’t see past their circumstances to see God’s love and mercy. The grateful realize that God is good, and His mercy endures forever! (Psalms 106:1)

Ephesians 5:20 “Giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another in the fear of God”