I went to dinner the other night with some friends. They had a reservation for us at a pretty swanky place and introduced me to a group of truly amazing people.
When the check came, they snagged it and I didn’t get to pay.
I offered a clumsy “thank you” as we walked out, fully intending on conveying my gratitude before we got out the door.
I got snagged in conversation with a couple of the people I had just met, and by the time I got outside to say goodbye all I saw were the tail lights of their car as it cruised off into the night.
Oh NO! I didn’t want to be THAT person. The one you talk about on the way home because they couldn’t even say a decent thank you. I wanted to be invited back. Meet all these great people again. To have some more fun. To have a chance to grab the check and show my appreciation.
But I was concerned that my NEXT opportunity might hinge on my gratefulness and thankfulness for THIS opportunity.
Don’t read that last statement too fast….
I was concerned that my NEXT opportunity might hinge on my gratefulness and thankfulness for THIS opportunity.
What If That Is True About Life?
What if God doesn’t move us to the next level until we are grateful for this one – troubles, inconveniences, mess and all?
Always give thanks to the father for EVERYTHING… (Ephesians 5:20)
Blessed are those who have LEARNED to acclaim you… (Psalms 89:15)
…let us continually offer to God a SACRIFICE of praise… (Hebrews 13:15)
Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In EVERYTHING give thanks. (1 Thessalonians 5:16)
God makes His expectations obvious. Be thankful for everything. And there are great promises that come with thanking him anyway. Trusting Him in the ‘meantime’.
May the God of hope fill you with all JOY (I want it) and PEACE (I need it! – can I get an amen?) AS you TRUST in Him.(Thank Him in faith even though the manifestation of what we are praying for isn’t here yet). (Romans 15:13 and my thoughts too)
Are you tired of being where you are? Everyone may understand what you have been complaining about, but it still seems as though nothing you have done is working to get you out of that dumb place…
What do you have to lose by taking the time to find things to be thankful for and watching what ability that gives God to move you out of this place?!?!
We can’t stay here! We have too much to do in life!
If this spoke to you today, can I get an ‘AMEN’. “THIS IS ME”. “ME TOO”. Or, share your thoughts and insights. Our community wants to hear from you!
Oh, and about thanking my friends. I picked up my phone and texted them right away about how I hated missing them and thanking them properly for the wonderful evening. And two days later they invited us to join them again during the holidays. #thankfulnessatwork
Yes Amen!
Amen! It’s so important to be thankful for the now. Thank you for this nugget of gold to place in my treasure chest!
Be blessed!
Amen! This isme all over. Thank you Pastor Nicole. I will definitely meditate on this today.
Amen 🙂 Me.
I might have gotten trapped in a parking garage today (went into the wrong one), but later the car in front of me bought my toll on the tollway–grateful!!
Amen
Amen!!
Our flesh constantly wants more and more and never satisfied. Sometimes we’re so busy asking God for more we forget to give thanks for what he has already done, or what we already have received. Sometimes we just need to have a praise of “thanksgiving” just because his WORD says so. This will allow us to take the focus off ourselves and on the creator of all things.
PASTOR NICOLE,
AMEN !!!!!!!!!!!!!! ME TOO !!!!!!!!!!!!!
CAN’T WAIT TO PASS THIS ON TO SEVERAL PEOPLE I KNOW!
THE LIGHT BULB FLASHED ON !!!!
THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am SO THANKFUL for my dear Dad, who has been there for me ALWAYS! He is “the salt of the earth” kind of man, who is so thoughtful and kind. I also am truly thankful to GOD, because he has been with me through some very difficult times in my life….and I am thankful for YOU Nicole and your husband and all at Faithchurch! Your sermons have been such an inspiration! I am going through some tribulations but I have faith and hope that things WILL get better.
THANKYOU,
Thanks! .God definitely has me on this track! Im seeing God move!
My son just got engaged to who I believe is his soulmate. He wants me to meet the parents and I am so caught up in my appearance and embarrassing him. I lost a lot of teeth due to one illness after the next and this caused my teeth to break and fall out. I know this is my stuff and I don’t want to be embarrassed, he would not even mention meeting the parents if he was embarrassed by the way I look. This message and a lot of the other messages I have had the pleasure of reading, I need to trust in HIM.
That is just your flesh. You are perfect in the eyes of our God.
Amen – I am grateful and thankful my breast MRI did not reveal cancer even though I have to have a total hysterectomy because of “suspicious” findings on an endometrial biopsy! At least I won’t have issues on both ends!!! Praise God!
Amen!
Amen ,me too need changes
This is me. M
Amen! Studying thankfulness right now and all of your blogs are exactly what I need!