Thankfullness - An Uncommon Attitude Series

LIFE IS AN ATTITUDE – PICK A GOOD ONE

Thankfulness – An Uncommon Attitude

Sunday January 28, 2007

Scripture Reference: Romans 12:2, Luke 17:11-19

Intro.

A. In this series we are looking at good and bad attitudes. Each week we will look at a bad attitude that God wants us to eliminate from our lives and in order to do that we also have to look at what good attitude needs to replace the bad attitude we are removing. Last week we looked at the bad attitude of complaining. So how can we best remove this attitude that according to the scripture we looked at last week causes the angry of God to be aroused and also caused him to send a fire upon the children of Israel? Do we remove that attitude by working really hard at having a better attitude? Do we remove that attitude by reading a bunch of books on having a positive mental attitude? Do we remove the complaining attitude by thinking happy thoughts through out the day?

1. Well I think we all know the answer to these questions is “no” don’t we? Our whole premise through out this series is that we get rid of the bad attitudes by replacing them with a good attitude and the best attitude to replace a complaining attitude with is the attitude of Thankfulness or Gratitude. The best way to stop complaining about what we think is wrong in our lives or wrong with our world is to look around and give thanks for what is right. Here is a poem that was given to me by a member of my creative worship team that expresses what I am trying to tell you.

I Am Thankful

For The Wife

Who Says It’s Hot Dogs Tonight,

Because She Is Home With Me,

And Not Out With Someone Else.

For The Husband

Who Is On The Sofa Being A Couch Potato,

Because He Is Home With Me

And Not Out At The Bars.

For The Teenager

Who Is Complaining About Doing Dishes

Because It Means She Is At Home,

Not On The Streets.

For The Taxes I Pay

Because It Means

I Am Employed.

For The Mess To Clean After A Party

Because It Means I Have

Been Surrounded By Friends.

For The Clothes That Fit A Little Too Snug

Because It Means

I Have Enough To Eat.

For My Shadow That Watches Me Work

Because It Means

I Am Out In The Sunshine

For A Lawn That Needs Mowing,

Windows That Need Cleaning,

And Gutters That Need Fixing

Because It Means I Have A Home.

For All The Complaining

I Hear About The Government

Because It Means

We Have Freedom Of Speech..

For The Parking Spot

I Find At The Far End Of The Parking Lot

Because It Means I Am Capable Of Walking

And I Have Been Blessed With Transportation .

For My Huge Heating Bill

Because It Means

I Am Warm.

For The Lady Behind Me In Church

Who Sings Off Key

Because It Means

I Can Hear.

For The Pile Of Laundry And Ironing

Because It Means

I Have Clothes To Wear.

For Weariness And Aching Muscles

At The End Of The Day

Because It Means I Have Been

Capable Of Working Hard.

For The Alarm That Goes Off

In The Early Morning Hours

Because It Means I Am Alive.

And Finally, For Too Much E-Mail

Because It Means I Have

Friends Who Are Thinking Of Me.

B. I think you get the point. The fact is there are many, many things that we can spend our days gripping and complaining about but if we are willing to take a closer look we can discover that in all the things we complain about there are things to give thanks for.

1. What I want to do this morning is to share with you some facts about the attitude of gratitude from this story of the ten lepers and then to share with you how I think we can begin to develop this attitude of thankfulness because remember attitude are developed over time, both good and bad. You are not going to walk out of this sanctuary today magically having a thankful attitude if for years you have been battling a complaining attitude. What you will have are the tools, or at least some of the tools you will need to begin to replace that complaining attitude with the attitude of thankfulness.

Trans. So let’s explore some facts about thankfulness from this story in the bible.

I. SOME FACTS ABOUT THANKFULNESS.

First of all I think that just as complaining is a common ailment of much of our society.

A. Learning To Be Thankful Is A Common Need.

1. I am going to strive to make this message pretty interactive today and that is why you were all given a pen as you cam in today. I am hoping that you will use that pen to start you on your way to developing that thankful attitude. So let’s begin by answering this question, “Who are the people you know that you would characterize as having a thankful attitude?” I want you to take just a few moments right now to write down the people that you know that you feel characterize thankfulness. Go ahead right now and write those names down. How many of you have more than five names? How many have four, Three, Two, One, None?