Is there a time when gratitude reveals our selfishness? Things I am thankful for: electricity, a car that works, food I like, clothes, money, a nice tv, my iPhone, family, raspberry m&ms, friends, etc, etc, etc. It's good to be thankful for "stuff" and some people. It's just that I'm wondering why a spirit of gratitude has be to attached to "things." The obvious problem with Thanksgiving being glued to stuff, and even people, is that both of them aren't sources of joy, they are causes. Causes that don't have the power to provide gratitude. Electricity can't give me gratitude, I'm just glad it's here (and really put out when it's not). My car doesn't have joy in it that it gives me, I give it value and am thankful when it works. Even family can't give me joy. Please understand I am thankful for people and things and will celebrate that next week. But, my relationship with God is both a reason for gratitude and a source. By living as a follower of Christ my spirit is changed so that I am thankful in Him and He teaches me how to have a thankful heart and live a thank-filled life. I'm thinking there's a difference between being thankful for something and being a thankful person. Let's be thankful people. Pastor Dave
What would happen if people judged you by your big toe? Not even both of them, imagine complete judgement of who you are based on just one toe on the left foot. The website 'dates-r-us' would ask people to send a photo of the big toe on the left foot. No face. No profile. Just Big Lefty. How accurately would people be able to judge you based on that one slice of visual information? What if the cover letter on you resume was a portrait of Big Lefty. The prospective employer would look at the toe and make a conclusion based on the wealth of information gleaned from that digit on your foot. Both silliness and injustice (and in my case fear - there's a reason I never wear sandals) seem to scream in our spirits. "That's not right! There's no way to know someone from such a limited exposure! My toe doesn't reveal enough about me! My toe doesn't tell you the whole story!" Do you know that we do that to God all the time? Based on a limited view, a small window, an event, or even a single bible verse. That's how things get taken out of context in the bible. I focus on a toe and assume I know the person. The bible is a story. The Christian journey is a story. We err when build our judgement on less than the whole. Look at the whole story of Christ. Hear him hum through the events in the bible before he was born. Watch him walk in the gospels and fill the air with his song. Listen to his Holy Spirit empowered echo in the birth of the church, and tune in to the choir as his musical score continues in and through us. His big toe is great, but get to know more than that or you'll miss knowing him. Still Getting to Know Him, Pastor Dave
I imagined a conversation with Jesus. It started with me asking him about his will on a decision that needs to be made. I needed a "yes" or "no" answer. The dialog unfolded like this: Jesus: Have you noticed that you can't worry and be thankful at the same time? Dave: I guess I hadn't thought about it. But, that doesn't answer my question. Jesus: Lately worry get's your attention and gratitude is just a passing thought. That needs to be turned around. Dave: I guess I hadn't thought about it. But, that doesn't answer my question. Jesus: Here's the problem, what you worry about and what you are thankful for have too much in common - they're both temporary. The wrong one is consuming your thought life. Dave: I guess I hadn't thought about it. But, that doesn't answer my question. (One of us was stuck in the conversation. Like many times I want an answer and Jesus wants me to ask a different question.) Jesus: The answer is, "It's time to wake your thanker up." Dave: That answer doesn't fit my question. Jesus: You're right, which do you think is wrong, my answer or your question? (I imagined the odds of me being right and Jesus being wrong. They didn't seem to be that good.)Jesus: Answers to your questions live inside the expression of being a thankful spirit. You have things you are thankful for, but you are not being a thankful person when you carry worry. Sometimes your thanker sleeps while your worrier screams. Wake your thanker up. Dave: I understand, but what about my question? What should I do? What is the Father's will? Jesus: Now that's the right question. (He pointed to a verse in the bible on the table) Jesus: What is the Father's will for you in this situation? "Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." (1 Thess. 5:18) Jesus: The Father's will is discovered from inside a life that is in me. Being in me will keep your thanker from sleeping. So the answer is, "yes." The question is, "Will God guide me in this decision if I remain thankful for his love and grace." Waking up, Pastor Dave
