Ecclesiastes 12:10

   As William Shakespeare once wrote, Blow, blow, thou winter wind. Thou art not so unkind As man’s ingratitude.”   Ingratitude comes in many forms. Maybe it’s the boss who passes you over for the promotion. Maybe it’s the spouse who doesn’t appreciate the chores you take care of. The client that never seems to acknowledge the time and energy you expend for them. The kids that expect you to constantly do for them without even a hint of respect or concern.   Even Jesus got frustrated with ingratitude (Luke 17:16-18). It lies at the heart of man's rebellion against God (Romans 1:21) We are commanded to be thankful people (Colossian 3:15, 1 st Thessalonians 5:18). So why is it that ingratitude is so common?   Because it is the easy path. Most ingratitude comes from the fact we just don’t take the time to stop and acknowledge. We are so caught up in ourselves that we forget to think about others. You don’t have to do anything to be ingrateful. It is an easy wi...

  I've noticed gratefulness is often skewed by observation. We are thankful with what we have till we see what someone else has.  The workers in the vineyard loved their pay till they saw someone else getting get the same amount but for less time served. Then it wasn’t enough.  The older brother was happy living with his father until the prodigal came home to a party and then he felt as if he had been mistreated. He wanted his own party. It seems often we are happy with our portion till another gets more, then we grumble and complain.   In Galatians 6 4 we read, “ But each one must examine his own work, and then he will have reason for boasting in regard to himself alone, and not in regard to another .” This passage in its context is telling us to not judge our work by someone else’s. No matter how good or bad they do, it should not change our actions. I think this principle should also apply to our gratefulness.   Be thankful for what you have been given. ...

  I n 1942, the providence of Manitoba raised over 60 million in the sale of Victory Bonds. The city of Winnipeg itself had 40 million of that alone. Not bad for a city of about 250,00 at the time. How did they get the people to give so much?   They let the Nazis take over.   No, there wasn’t a real invasion of Canada but a fake one, On February 19 th , the Canadian troops dressed as Nazi soldiers marched into town. Bombers flew overhead. Important officials and leaders were arrested.  Churches were barred from holding services. Armed soldiers searched buses. One of the principals of a local elementary was “arrested” and replaced by a Nazi propagandist. There was even a book burning in front of the city library. (The books used were scheduled to be destroyed anyway; they had fallen into disrepair.) For one day the city simulated what it would be like if the Nazis were able to take power.   Citizens of Winnipeg and those of neighboring tow...

  Psychologist Robert Emmons has spent nearly his entire career studying gratitude. He has found that few things in life are as integral to our well-being. Study after study has shown that consistently grateful people are more energetic, emotionally intelligent, forgiving, and less likely to be depressed, anxious, or lonely. Gratitude is an attitude of a healthy person. Colossians 2:7 ..being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, overflowing with gratitude.   The Bible is full of proclamations about the need to be thankful and grateful. It’s not just good behavior, it's good for us behavior. Gratitude keeps us in the right framework. Lose it and you start to lose everything. As Francis Schaffer put it, “The beginning of men's rebellion against God was, and is, the lack of a thankful heart”. Romans 1:21 For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and th...

  This year I’m not asking for much. We’re going to tone things back. Just get me a nice pair of socks. You know the fancy kind with lots of patterns. Maybe more than one set. And it would be nice if I got a sweater as well. Oh, I could use some accessories for my truck. A new side rail, seat covers, bed liner… it might just be easier to get a new truck. A recliner might be nice. One of those movie theater ones with the electronic adjustment with the cup holder and the place to charge your phone. Well if I got a place to charge the phone, I might need a new phone as well.  But not the newest model, I’m not greedy.   Ah, the creep of materialism. Maybe we notice more this time of year but it’s a struggle we all face. In a country as blessed as ours, it’s sad that it never seems like enough. We constantly want and get more stuff, thinking it will bring us joy. And it does… for a bit. Then we see something else, someone gets something better and the pulls start over...

  A man had two sons   The younger son of them felt he had earned his share of his father’s estate so he left home with Dad’s credit card and went out to find himself.   It didn’t take long till the card was maxed out and the people that the younger son was indebted to didn’t seem to care too much about the younger son’s journey of discovery, and just wanted their money. Times were tough and it seemed a full of himself spoiled son wasn’t the resume material for an easy high paying job so the son had to get a low-end menial one.   One day when he was scrubbing toilets, the younger son had an epiphany. His Dad was wealthy and raised him accustomed to that lifestyle. This wasn’t fair. He couldn't even afford an unlimited data plan on minimum wage. He shouldn’t have to work. His father had cursed him with affluenza. This was his fault! He should march right back to father house and lay the blame right square on him!   So as texted his Father to te...

            Ask anyone that has done benevolent work and they will have a story for you.  The woman that complained about the grocery given to her because it wasn't name brands.  The couple that threw a fit because the Christmas basket they received from the church had less than the one given to another family member.  The man that told a story that pulled at your heart strings so you gave him money, only to find out he is a con.  The lady that is now badmouthing to anyone that will listen about the “heartless” church that won’t help her, when you know good and well the church has been supporting her for years.   They are the stories that make us jaded and bitter .  Make us suspicious and hesitant to help others.  These experiences can make serving others hard and cause us to become weary of doing good.             These ty...

             A good long while back I was doing some visiting when I had two very different experiences.  Both visits were to those that had been ill for some time.  Both were to people in pain.  Both had additional problems brought about by their illness. As much at it seemed they would be alike, they could have been more different.             One visit I heard nothing but complaints.  How few had visited, how bad of a time it had been, all the problems the doctors had caused, and on and on.  The other visit however, was different.  No complaints but gratefulness on those who had visited and called; concern for others that were sick and in need; hopefulness on the treatment received and the future.  One of those visits felt like work, one felt like enjoyment.   Similar circumstances, similar problems, vastly different outlooks . ...

  Dr. William James an eminent psychiatrist in the early 1900’s said “The deepest principle of the human experience is the craving to be appreciated.” Not all that much has change in one hundred years. Everyone likes to be credited with a job well done and know that what they do is appreciated. Even Jesus was disappointed with only one of the leapers return to thank him for being healed. (Luke 17:11-19)    We can lose the habit of gratitude. A simple thank you or compliment can brighten anyone’s day. As loving Christian it should be our goal to do good to everyone we come across. It can be a simple as complimenting the waitress on her good service,   or a husband thanking his wife with a special gift, or an employer giving a pat on the back to his employees.   Let us strive to follow the word of Galatians 6:10 “ So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of faith ”