Radical Gratitude
November 23, 2010 by Mike Knapp
Filed under Sundays
Well, for most of us our thoughts have now officially turned toward the holidays. It’s Thanksgiving week, we have family coming in, we’re finalizing plans for Christmas and thinking about decorating the house.
Over the years it feels like Thanksgiving has almost become a mere prelude for Christmas rather than being a great holiday in itself. I find myself wondering if we Americans may really be missing out on one of the only truly American holidays we celebrate. In our history, we carved out (pun intended!) time and turkey to acknowledge the generosity of God in all He had provided.
In those days it seems we measured God’s goodness differently. People were thankful to be alive, to have food and shelter, to be in community, and to live in a land of freedom. Today our attention can be arrested by the latest and greatest toys: wide screen TVs, cool phones, and the latest that Wii has to offer. Not that these things are wrong; they are, after all, a by-product of God’s blessing. This leads me to ask this question and to invite you to ask it as well. “Am I thankful?” That’s it. Are we truly thankful people? Are we thankful to God for what he has given, or are we sometimes a little bent out of shape that we don’t have more?
The Bible teaches that the pathway to happiness is thankfulness and contentment. In fact we are taught to be thankful in everything (1 Thessalonians 5:18) and even for everything (Ephesians 5:20)! That’s what I call Radical Gratitude. It will transform your attitude and your entire life. That’s our subject this week at Lake Hills. I invite you to join us this Sunday or tune in to our podcast and learn more about finding happiness everyday, no matter what’s going on in your life.
This Thanksgiving be thankful in everything and for everything! [display_podcast]
1 Thessalonians 5:18 “Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
Ephesians 5:20 “And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
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Follow-up Articles: How We Worship
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