### Introduction
Video Ill.: Thanksgiving Every Day — Freebridge Media
Transcript: Today we are thankful. We give thanks to God for His love, His mercy, and His faithfulness. We give thanks for family and friends, life and laughter, and the little things which bring joy to our lives. We give thanks for our circumstances even when they’re difficult. For we know the hand of God guides us through it all. But what if we remembered thankfulness every day? What if we lived in a constant state of gratitude? Would our lives be different? Would our faith be strengthened? Would the things of God permeate every aspect of our lives? The Bible tells us to give thanks in everything. What would life look like if we actually lived that out? Today we are reminded of all we have to be thankful for. May that gratitude move our hearts and cause us to make every day Thanksgiving.
https://medium.com/@willkrieger/the-world-didnt-give-you-your-joy-a-story-of-gratitude-10f24fe26f96
Finding Your Joy — A Story of Gratitude
By Will Krieger
10/24/2018
In an article for medium.com, Will Krieger reminds us that all of us go through seasons of life. Some of the seasons are good, others, well not so much. But he reminds us that we get to decide how we react to these seasons. How we react makes a difference.
He reminds us of several well known people who have suffered hardships in their lives:
Nelson Mandela served 27 years in prison. Imagine the mental of those 27 years, and the choices he had to make in order to persevere. Was it hard at times? Absolutely. But he used the time to develop his mind and his character.
Martin Luther King was arrested 26 times, and that only scratches the surface of the challenges he and many others had to endure in the fight for equality.
Mahatma Ghandi was sentenced to six years in prison after organizing a non-violent protest that turned violent. Ghandi was horrified by the violence, yet served his sentence and continued to inspire his people and his movement.
Hellen Keller learned to appreciate so much of life, and accomplish more than most, despite not being able to see or hear from the age of two.
Lance Armstrong launched the Livestrong movement after battling cancer.
Walt Disney endured failure time after time early in his career before finally achieving his big breakthrough.
Mr. Krieger writes: “As we face the challenges that life can bring our way, we need to make a choice about how we’re going to react. If we aren’t able to keep hope, accept what is, and experience gratitude, it’s hard to move forward.”
He then tells the story of Anthony Ray Hinton.
“Anthony Ray Hinton spent 30 years on death row for a crime he didn’t commit. He was working in a locked factory at the time [when] the crime [of which] he was … accused … [took place]. The police told him he would be going to jail because he was black.
“His time in jail was spent in solitary confinement in a five-by-seven-foot cell, allowed out only one hour a day. But, Hinton quickly became a friend and counselor to other inmates and the death row guards, many of whom begged Hinton’s attorney to get him out.
“A unanimous Supreme Court ruling ordered his release and he was able to walk free. In an interview he is quoted saying:
“‘One does not know the value of freedom until it is taken away. People run out of the rain. I run into the rain…I am so grateful for every drop. Just to feel it on my face.’
“Hinton was later interviewed on 60 Minutes. The interviewer asked if he was angry at the people who put him in jail. He said he forgave them all.
“The interviewer asked, ‘but they took 30 years of your life — how can you not be angry?’
“Hinton responded:
“‘If I’m angry and unforgiving, they will have taken the rest of my life.’
Mr. Krieger asks, “How much of your life have you spent angry or unforgiving for far less suffering, or for circumstances out of anyone’s control? Unfortunately, many spend part of their life angry or unforgiving of themselves.
“[Mr.] Hinton is a strong example of the ability to respond with joy and gratitude despite horrendous circumstances.
“…[Mr. Hinton is] quoted in another interview:
“‘The world didn’t give you your joy, and the world can’t take it away. You can let people come into your life and destroy it, but I refuse to let anyone take my joy. I wake up in the morning and I don’t need anyone to make me laugh. I’m going to laugh on my own, because I have been blessed to see another day, and when you’re blessed to see another day that should automatically give you joy.’”
Mr. Krieger concludes the article, saying:?
“There is something to be grateful for every day. As [Mr.] Hinton says, simply seeing another day is something [for which] to be grateful ….
“Sometimes the hardest part is building the awareness. If we’re not careful, we go through each day and each week as machines, repeating the same behaviors and tasks. We rarely stop and bring awareness to each moment, each day, and the things … [for which] we should be grateful ….
“We spend too much time living in the past and dwelling on things that went wrong. This poisons our actions in the moment and slows our momentum for the future. Gratitude does not make us complacent. It allows us to experience more hope and more abundance in life.”
This morning, we are beginning a study about overflowing our lives with gratitude.
Over the next few weeks, we will dive into the heart of thanksgiving. Together, we’ll explore how gratitude can transform our lives, deepen our faith, and draw us closer to God’s grace. I hope that we can make this season one of true thankfulness that overflows into every area of our lives.
As we begin this morning, gratitude, when practiced as a lifestyle, transforms not just our view of life but our faith and our relationships with others and with God.
#### 1. **As we begin, may we find gratitude in All Circumstances.**
A Thousand Little Blessings
https://inspirationalife.com/stories-about-gratitude/
3 Inspirational Stories About Gratitude
The following story, called “A Thousand Little Blessings” was published on inspirationallife.com, anonymously.
The alarm blares and I groan. Monday. Again. Why does the weekend always go by so fast? Ugh, my head hurts. Probably from staring at my phone too long last night. I should really stop doing that.
Wait, what was that? Oh, just the neighbor’s dog barking. Annoying. But… kind of cute, actually. Reminds me of the puppy we had when I was a kid. Rusty. He always woke us up like this. Funny how a sound can bring back memories. That’s… nice, I guess. One little blessing?
Okay, feet on the floor. Cold! No, wait – not cold. Cool. Refreshing, even. Wakes me up a bit. Blessing number two?
Shuffle to the bathroom. Toothpaste. Minty. Clean. My teeth feel smooth. When did I start noticing how nice that feels? Huh. Three?
Coffee maker gurgles. That smell… oh man, that smell. It’s like a hug for my brain. Four. Definitely four.
Look out the window while it brews. Sky’s all pink and orange. Gorgeous. How many sunrises have I missed by not looking up? Too many. Five.
Sip of coffee. Hot. Rich. Perfect. Six.
Phone buzzes. Text from Mom. “Have a great day, sweetie!” Warmth spreads through my chest. When did I get so lucky to have her? Seven.
Shower time. Water pressure’s good today. Streams beat against my back, washing away the last bits of sleepiness. Eight.
Closet. Favorite shirt is clean. Soft against my skin. Nine.
Keys jingle in my hand. Car starts on the first try. Ten.
Traffic’s light. Green lights all the way. Eleven and twelve.
Parking spot right near the door. Thirteen.
Sarah from accounting holds the elevator. She smiles. “New haircut? Looks great!” Fourteen and fifteen.
At my desk. Plants are thriving. Didn’t I just get these? Look at them go. Sixteen.
Email from the boss. “Great job on the Johnson account.” Pride swells. Seventeen.
Lunch break. Sandwich is perfect. Did I make this? Go me. Eighteen.
Sun’s out now. Warm on my face as I eat outside. Nineteen.
Bird lands nearby. Hops closer. We share a moment. Twenty.
Back to work. Productive afternoon. Ideas flowing. Twenty-one.
Home time. Traffic’s still okay. Twenty-two.
Home. Comfy clothes. Deep breath. Safe. Twenty-three.
Dinner. Simple pasta, but it hits the spot. Twenty-four.
Call from an old friend. Laughing about shared memories. Twenty-five.
Soft sheets. Cool pillow. Tired in a good way. Twenty-six.
As sleep comes, I realize: I’ve only scratched the surface. There are so many more. A thousand little blessings, at least. Maybe more tomorrow. Maybe I just need to keep noticing. Keep counting. Keep….
No matter what we are doing, where we are going, we need to recognize and appreciate the small, everyday blessings that surround us. If we just stop and observe, we will see so many things for which to be thankful. But we must open our eyes and make a conscious decision to look for these things. By cultivating awareness of these blessings, we fulfill the words of Paul in 1 Thessalonians 5:
16 Always be joyful. 17 Never stop praying. 18 Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5, NLT)
When we become aware of our everyday blessings, we can transform our perspective and find contentment in the simplest moments of life.
**Key Point**: You see, Paul’s exhortation to “be thankful in all circumstances” wasn’t just an ideal but a spiritual discipline.
Gratitude as a lifestyle means cultivating a heart that looks for reasons to be thankful, in the mundane, in the everyday, in the good times, and even when life is difficult. It’s not about ignoring hardships but seeing God’s faithfulness in the midst of everything in our lives.
When we stop and live a life of gratitude, being thankful in each moment, we begin to see God working in our lives. We begin to see God moving in each and every moment of our life. We really then truly can become thankful for the ways that God really works in our lives each and every day!
Our faith will grow. Our trust in Him will grow. Our relationship with our God and Savior will be stronger as we see Him working in our lives in each moment of every day.
This week, let’s take time to reflect on each moment and ask, “How did I see God at work?” Write it down at the end of the day so that we have a list of things for which we are thankful when we close our day in prayer.
#### 2. **There is a Joy-Gratitude Connection.**
Brennan Manning on Being Grateful
Source: "The Dick Staub Interview: Brennan Manning on Ruthless Trust," ChristianityToday.com (12-10-02)
Copied from Preaching Today
https://www.preachingtoday.com/illustrations/2006/october/2101606.html
Author, public speaker, and priest Brennan Manning once said in an interview:
“I believe that the real difference in the American church is not between conservatives and liberals, fundamentalists and charismatics, nor between Republicans and Democrats. The real difference is between the aware and the unaware.
“When somebody is aware of that love—the same love that the Father has for Jesus—that person is just spontaneously grateful. Cries of thankfulness become the dominant characteristic of the interior life, and the byproduct of gratitude is joy. We're not joyful and then become grateful—we're grateful, and that makes us joyful.”
Not Happy With the View
By Bill Love
Copied from Sermon Central
The story is told of a young salesman who lands a job selling new windows door to door. On his first day of the job he comes across this sweet older lady who agrees to purchase a beautiful new window in her living room. A few days after the job was completed the salesmen gets a call from the lady informing him that she is not happy with the view from her new window.
Wanting to make a good impression at his new job the young salesmen works with the lady and replaces the window with a much larger one at no additional cost.
A few days pass and he once again gets a call from the lady saying that she is not happy with the view from her window; once again the salesman doubles the size of the window at no additional cost.
As predicted a few days pass and the lady calls him again letting him know that she is not happy with the view from her new window. The young salesman explains to the woman that he has just installed the newest, most efficient, largest window that the company sells and asks her what the problem is with the window.
The lady responds that every time she looks out the large new window she can still see the ugly old oak tree in her front yard.
The lady could not find the joy in her new view because she was not grateful for the windows that had been installed in order to give her a better view.
When we are not grateful for the things that we have, we will not find true joy.
Paul made this connection between joy and gratitude in Philippians 4:
4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. 5 Let all men know your forbearance. The Lord is at hand. 6 Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4, RSV)
**Key Point**: Gratitude and joy are intimately linked. When we focus on God’s blessings, joy naturally follows.
When we choose gratitude — to give thanks for our blessings no matter how great or small, we shift our focus from what we lack to what God has given.
When we focus on what God has given, we find ourselves overflowing with joy. There are so many blessings around us. How can we not be filled with joy for all that God has done for us?
When we realize the joy we have because of the ways God has provided for us, cared for us, and loved us, we find the strength to go on through the difficult and tough times in our lives.
As the priest Ezra said in Nehemiah 8:
10 “… [T]he joy of the Lord is your strength.” (Nehemiah 8, NKJV)
When we feel that joy and strength, we find peace — peace that transcends our worries, our concerns, our stresses.
It’s like the story I opened with about Anthony Hinton. He chose to be grateful because each day he was granted another day. He was able to find something for which to be grateful in each and every day. In that gratitude he found a joy that he said the world could not take away.
By being grateful, we can find true joy.
This week, I challenge all of us to start each day by listing three things for which we are grateful. By doing so, we will be on our way to cultivating a habit of joy-filled gratitude.
#### 3. **Finally, this morning, we should view Gratitude as a form of Worship and a Witness.**
Gratitude Helps Others See Jesus
MaryBeth Eberhard
https://catholictimescolumbus.org/voices/marybeth-eberhard/gratitude-helps-others-see-jesus
In an article “Gratitude Helps Others See Jesus” for Catholic Times, MaryBeth Eberhard draws attention to how the act of expressing gratitude can serve as a powerful reflection of God’s love and grace to the world around us. She points out a few things:
1. **She explains how gratitude is a Witness**: Gratitude is not just a personal response to God's blessings, but also a way to witness to others about God's goodness. When we express thankfulness in both good times and difficult moments, we make the invisible God visible to those around us. This is especially true in challenging times, where a grateful heart can stand as a testimony of faith, pointing others toward Jesus.
2. **She also encourages us to see Jesus in everyday moments.**: MaryBeth shares personal stories where she noticed God's hand at work in ordinary situations. She reminds us that practicing gratitude helps us recognize God's presence in the everyday, even in the midst of hardship or suffering. It is in these moments of thankfulness that others can see the light of Christ shining through us.
3. **MaryBeth helps us to understand how gratitude transforms Pain into Praise**: Gratitude doesn't diminish pain, but it shifts our perspective, allowing us to find reasons to praise God, even when life is hard. This shift can serve as a powerful witness to others of God’s sustaining grace.
4. **Impact on Others**: MaryBeth emphasizes how gratitude is contagious. When we model gratefulness, we inspire others to do the same. In a world often focused on negativity or self-centeredness, choosing to be grateful for God's blessings—no matter how small—serves as a reminder that Jesus is at work in our lives.
### Summary Illustration Based on the Article:
**The Ripple Effect of Gratitude**
Imagine walking by a calm lake. You drop a small stone into the water, and at first, there is only a small ripple. But as the ripples spread, they reach every corner of the water, gradually making their way outward. In the same way, the expression of gratitude, no matter how small, can create ripples that reach out to others, drawing them closer to Jesus.
The act of gratitude is like that first small stone. It starts with us—a simple thank you for God's goodness, even in the face of difficulty—and spreads outward. Those who witness our grateful hearts, especially in the midst of hardship, begin to see Jesus in a new light. They recognize that the source of our joy and thanksgiving is not from our circumstances, but from a deep trust and faith in the goodness of God. Our gratitude becomes a living testimony that God is present, active, and worthy of worship in all seasons of life.
Through this act of grace, others are invited to experience the peace and joy that come from knowing Jesus, just as we have. In a world that often focuses on what is lacking, our gratitude shines a light on all that we have received, encouraging others to see the presence of Christ in their own lives.
This is at very the heart of the words of the Psalmist in Psalm 100:
1 Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you
lands!
2 Serve the Lord with gladness;?Come before His presence with singing.
3 Know that the Lord, He is God;?|| It is He who has made us, and not we
ourselves;?We are His people and the sheep of His
pasture.
|| 4 Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,?And into His courts with praise.?Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
5 For the Lord is good;?|| His mercy is everlasting,?And His truth endures to all generations.
(Psalm 100, NKJV)
**Key Point**: Gratitude isn’t just personal; it’s also an expression of worship that honors God and becomes a testimony to others.
When we live gratefully, we acknowledge God as the source of every good thing. Having this mindset doesn’t just honor God; it encourages others to see His goodness, too, and worship Him.
This morning, let us daily express gratitude in a way that others can see. When others can see, they too, can praise our heavenly Father, for He is good. His mercy is everlasting. His truth endures to all generations.
### Conclusion:
This morning, as we are working our way toward Thanksgiving day, I hope that we consider that the gratitude we feel during Thanksgiving should be felt more than just a one day a year, a one season attitude. Gratitude needs to be at the heart of the way live each day. Gratitude needs to be a lifestyle, not an afterthought.
When gratitude is our way of life, we invite God’s joy and peace into our lives, transforming both our hearts and our perspectives.
May we begin practicing gratitude today, beginning with something small, but meaningful.
As a suggestion, write down one thing each day for which we are thankful. Do this every day this upcoming week. At the end of the week, we will have a list of things for which we can thank our God for His goodness, His mercy, His grace, and His love through each and every day.
May those thoughts of gratitude help to cultivate in us a heart that’s tuned to see God’s goodness and respond each day with gratitude.
