Two of the most powerful words known to mankind are, "thank you." The reality is that we live in an unthankful and immature culture that demands maximum withdrawals while making minimum deposits. This is a month of focusing on Thanksgiving so let’s work at being thankful.
Phil 2:1-3 If you've gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care - 2 then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. 3 Don't push your way to the front; don't sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. (Message)
I’ve watched mature leaders face intense personal pressures that they manage well while attending to the needs of others. Controlling your attitude is the key to having the kind of attitude others can depend on. Do you have an attitude others can depend on? This attitude is the kind of attitude that is filled with deposits of joy and optimism so it can handle withdrawals from those around you who might be having a hard day.
Prov 17:22 A joyful heart is good medicine, But a broken spirit dries up the bones. (NAS)
A merry heart is good medicine for you and everybody around you. A broken spirit affects you and everybody you touch. The #1 common factor among people who live to be very old is not their exercise or eating habits. It’s a positive attitude.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison studied people with high levels of brain activity in a region linked to negative thoughts (the right pre-frontal cortex). They produced research that showed how negative thoughts make you more illness-prone. "Negative" brain activity actually weakens the immune system.
According to further research a positive attitude causes you to be healthier both physically and emotionally. People who are more positive have less pain and fewer limitations due to pain. In addition to this optimism produces an increase in energy.
It almost sounds like a joyful heart is good medicine. The fact is that science proves Proverbs 17:22 to be true. Our challenge then is to stay positive in our negative world. The truth is, we don’t stop laughing because we grow old. We grow old because we stopped laughing. We can life our countenance if we lift our confession giving thanks in every situation.
1 Thes 5:18 in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. (NAS)
Ps 34:1 I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.” -John F. Kennedy
If you’re going to successfully encourage others then you must first practice being encouraged. Every airplane I’ve ever been on teaches you to put your own mask on first before helping others in the event of an emergency. If you aren’t well you can’t help others. All of us have to learn how to put our own mask on first and practice being encouraged. Being thankful is instrumental in being encouraged. We always have something to be thankful for in our lives. Instead of overlooking the most basic things to be thankful for we must practice an attitude of gratitude regularly.
Have you thanked God for the ability to hear the beauty of sounds lately?
We Bring GP2RL Action Point:
This week let’s make it a point to make a daily difference. Give at least two of our thank you cards to others offering sincere appreciation.
It takes so little to encourage somebody’s day. Make it a point to do so every day this week.
LAW OF ATTRACTION:
In preparation for this message I began searching all kinds of articles in many different fields that spoke of attraction. Dating articles suggest that grateful people are more attractive to potential mates. A person who is less attractive physically and thankful is far more attractive than a more physically attractive person who complains.
Business Articles suggest that the biggest turnoff in business is a lack of gratitude. Articles on personal finance indicate that gratitude is the #1 mindset for wealth because it makes you positive and attractive. Health and wellness articles suggest that gratitude is essential for happiness. All of this to say our attitude determines our altitude in every area of life.
Scripture suggests that Jesus had an attitude that was attractive to children. Obviously Jesus was joyful, warm and inviting in his approach to life.
Phil 2:5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: NIV
A smile is an attractive invitation for others to participate in what it is that’s giving you joy. A smile expresses an attractive attitude. Making a choice to rejoice and sharing your smile with your world can change your life.
The Bible actually warns us to avoid angry, toxic people – Prov 22:4. Negative people don't need sympathy, they need correction. Caleb silenced those bringing a negative report and boldly declared, “We are well able to take the land!” - Num 13:28. People who continually complain are distracted from an attitude of worship.
Luke 10:38-42 ... As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. 40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself ? Tell her to help me!" 41 "Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her." NIV
Martha was distracted from Worship which made her prone to Complain!!! Any time we are distracted from worship we are prone to complain. Our attitude problem is more of a worship problem than we might want to admit.
It’s possible to convert frustration to faith. Stop complaining & start believing! Make an attracting sound that attracts the right realm!
Any fool can criticize, condemn & complain - and most fools do. -Benjamin Franklin
We don’t lose our smile. It’s right under our nose. We just tend to forget it’s there over time. Just a little bit of time with newborns and it’s easy to see that we are all born without pessimism. When my daughter, Faith, was very young I threw a ball to her for the first time. She stood there as the ball hit her in the face. She had to learn reactions of defense in efforts of self-protection and self-preservation. After being banged around in life a bit, seeds of pessimism can start to take root.
We learn a lot of self-preserving reactions and attitudes over the course of our lives. Building walls is easier than building bridges. Walls are about protecting me. Bridges are about connecting with others.
Phil 2:1-3 If you've gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care - 2 then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. 3 Don't push your way to the front; don't sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. (Message)
DISCUSSION GUIDE FOR COMMUNITY GROUP LEADERS
Click here for a downloadable pdf file of this guide.
DISCUSSION QUESTION:
1. What is one of the greatest gifts you have ever received from another person?
Why was the gift so special? How did you show gratitude?
Luke 17:11-19 Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. 12 As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance 13 and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!” 14 When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed. 15 One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. 16 He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan. 17 Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? 18 Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” 19 Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.” NIV
In this passage only one of the ten people who Jesus healed returned to thank Him. Their lives were completely changed. In their zeal of this new life they failed to give thanks to the one who provided it.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
2. What are some of the reasons we aren’t as grateful as we should be?
3. What does gratitude toward God in your life look like? How often do you show it?
Col. 3:15-16 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. NIV
Col. 4:2 Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. NIV
DISCUSSION QUESTION:
4. What are some ways to cultivate gratitude in your daily life to God?
In conclusion have each person share 3 names of people who have made a difference in their life. Then have each person share how they can express gratitude toward those people this week.
Encourage everybody to utilize our Thank You cards available in the lobby. Perhaps you can provide some of these cards in your group to commission people out with the assignment of expressing gratitude to others.