Better Together

How Gratitude Unlocks Blessing - Episode 1116

November 17, 2025 | S7 E1116 | 52:34

Gratitude is an act of FAITH! When our circumstances are chaotic and challenges surround us, choosing to give thanks to our All-Powerful God opens the door for His strength, peace, and joy to flood our hearts and shift our perspective. | TBN Prayer Line: 714-731-1000

#Thankfulness #Gratitude #Transformation #Suffering #Loss #Faith #Hope #Hopelessness #Grace #Peace #Tragedy #Grief #PresenceofGod #Generations #LaurieCrouch #SheilaWalsh #HollyWagner #NonaJones

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Better Together | How Gratitude Unlocks Blessing - Episode 1116 | November 17, 2025

Gratitude is powerful and when we give thanks to god and
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Declare that he is good, we position our hearts to receive
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His blessing and supernatural joy.
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Come on, let's talk about it.
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♪ (music playing) ♪
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- so, friends, i am really, really looking
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Forward to this conversation because we're going to talk
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About just gratitude and the importance of being thankful.
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My mind immediately went to first thessalonians chapter 5.
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The apostle paul is writing to this new church that has been
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Established, and it's a church of people who were passionate
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About jesus, but they were basically called out of a
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Pagan society.
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And so, you know, they're being persecuted for their
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Faith, and they're just trying to contend for the faith, but
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People are very hostile toward them.
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They're experiencing a lot of abuse and all types of things.
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And as he's writing this letter to them, he says in 1st
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Thessalonians chapter 5, i'll start at 16.
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He says, rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in
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All circumstances for this is god's will for you in christ,
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Jesus.
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If we were to read that outside of the context that
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They were in, which was one of persecution, we might read
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That and be like, of course, give thanks for the goodness
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Of god and his blessings.
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But paul is saying in all circumstances, including when
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You're persecuted, when you're experiencing pain to give
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Thanks.
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And i was thinking back on, right now, you know, i have
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Two boys.
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My oldest is 15.
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My youngest is 12.
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And very, very busy.
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My 15-year-old, he's like six foot one.
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He is darling.
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- and he is a sweetheart.
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- but he has such an incredible testimony.
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He was born at 26 weeks.
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It was a very, very tumultuous situation.
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I remember after i gave birth to him, looking at the doctor
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And saying, is my baby going to be okay?
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And she looked at me with this look of fear in her eyes, and
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She said, we'll do the best we can.
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And that's all she said.
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You know, i'm a new mom, and i'm having my baby, don't know
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If he's gonna live or not.
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And so, you know, he went to the nicu, he was there for
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Three months.
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But during that time, i found out i was pregnant again.
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The thing to know is i was actually diagnosed with
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Infertility before my oldest son was born, and i was told i
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Would have to take all these medicines in order to get
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Pregnant, but the lord let me get pregnant naturally.
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And so i was so grateful for that.
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But then when the premature birth happened, we were in the
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Nicu, there was all this craziness going on.
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I was so anxious with the pregnancy, because i was like,
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What if this happens again?
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Well, 20 weeks into that pregnancy, my water broke,
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Cervix dilated, ended up having to deliver our son,
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Daniel, had to essentially watch him die.
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It was like trauma on top of trauma.
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And i remember thinking, lord, what, like, what are you
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Doing?
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Like, what is this?
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Why would you let this happen?
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Like, i was just so overcome with these questions.
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And because of my son's very, very early birth, we learned
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Why my first son was born premature.
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It was a condition called incompetent cervix.
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And when i got pregnant again, they were able to do a
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Cervical stitch that allowed me to carry my youngest son
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Full term.
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And i remember when that happened, just going before
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The lord and giving thanks on two levels.
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One was the fact that my son was able to be carried to full
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Term, but the other was that i knew i would see my baby in
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Heaven.
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And i think part of what i was gleaning from this text was in
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All things, god is still good, even when your heart is
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Broken, even when you have more questions than answers.
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And there's always a reason to give thanks, even when it
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Seems like you're suffering.
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And i just, i wanted us to talk a little bit about that
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Because i can imagine there are people watching us right
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Now who they're like, i don't know how i could possibly give
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Thanks in this scenario.
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And i think we can offer just some hope and some insight.
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And i'd love to just open the floor for any thoughts on
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That.
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- i think the truth is, in those context, it's not even
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Just what i'm giving thanks for, but who i'm giving thanks
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To.
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- yeah, yeah.
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- it shifts because it's about who i'm talking to with my
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Gratitude, because it's supposed to draw me into a
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Relationship.
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I'm like, god, like, i can't see it, but you can.
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And that to me is it just, it makes me wrestle out.
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Gratitude makes me wrestle out some things with the lord,
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Which makes me just grateful.
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He wants to hear those questions.
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He's not saying, only come to me with gratitude when you've
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Got it all together.
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And i'm just, i'm grateful for that because i've got a lot of
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Questions, and he's ready to lean in and listen to that.
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- i think one of the hardest things in life is when you
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Find yourself stuck in a place and you're like, i don't even
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Know where to go from here.
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And maybe you're there right now.
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And one of the things i've learned in my own life is when
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I come to a place where i just feel like, lord, i don't know
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What to do, i just stop.
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I just pause.
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But one of the things i do, it'll sound kind of strange,
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But that's me, is sometimes i'll drag a chair out of the
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Kitchen and i'll put it in the middle of my living room and
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I'll just sit there.
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And i'm consciously sitting in the presence of the lord.
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Because sometimes i think i want answers.
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Honestly, what i really want is his presence.
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So if you feel yourself kind of stuck, why don't you just
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Spend some time quiet and let the lord love you?
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I love the way that you distinguish, though, what
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We're giving thanks for.
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Because i think sometimes that verse in romans 8:28 gets
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Misunderstood, you know?
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Because paul doesn't say all things are good.
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He doesn't say all things feel good, but he said that god
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Himself has promised that he will bring good.
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And to me, that's when you can say in the midst of what's not
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Working, god, i can still thank you because right now i
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Can't see how this is going to resolve.
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However, i'm fixing my eyes on you and you have a track
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Record.
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And you are good and you are god.
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Yeah, you are good.
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And so good will come.
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Maybe not in my timing, maybe not in a way that even makes
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Sense to me, but god is not man that he should lie.
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- and i think this gets back to hope, the fact that they
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That hope in the lord shall renew their strength.
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I think a lot of times when we are hopeless, that's when we
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Experience depression.
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We experience discouragement, that's, i've noticed that when
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People are hopeless, that's when they start to isolate
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Themselves in community, where we can be encouraged, where we
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Can find support, where we can find the hope of jesus.
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And so i think a huge part of gratitude is that it restores
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Hope, because it trains your eyes.
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And i agree, i think what you said is so powerful.
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It's not what you're grateful for.
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You're not grateful for what happened, but i'm grateful for
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The god who causes all things to work together for my good.
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And i derive my hope from who he is and his promises, not
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The situation.
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- i find very interesting that we recognize the power of
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Gratitude, and i feel like so does every country in the
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World, or almost every country in the world, has some day
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Where they're giving thanks, where they're honoring.
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Different countries would do different things, but i feel
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Like it's because we all recognize that there is this
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Something about giving thanks.
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I mean, right, we even teach our kids to say thank you when
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They're given something, or we say thank you when a good
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Thing happens to us or whatever, and we should.
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But if we start to think that we'll be more grateful, the
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More we receive things or more grateful, the more good things
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Happen to us, then gratitude is a result of circumstances.
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And gratitude is not.
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It's always a decision of the heart, almost regardless of
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Circumstances.
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So i feel like that's kind of the power of what happens when
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Cultures, people decide to celebrate.
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You know, thanksgiving.
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So think about like you.
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What do you do on when it's your family in the u.s., we
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Celebrate thanksgiving.
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So when you have, everybody's coming together and probably
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Eating good food because we do.
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But so do you do anything that acknowledges this?
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What do you do in your family?
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- yeah, so we actually just go around the room and we ask
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Everybody to share, like, what are you grateful for and just
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Make space for people to reflect on that?
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Because i do feel like we just rush through life without
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Being intentional about gratitude.
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- one of the most difficult aspects of gratitude is being
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Commanded to give thanks in all things when all things are
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Not thanks worthy.
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And what i mean by that is, when there are situations that
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Either don't feel good or maybe they're not resolved
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Yet, we haven't seen the prayer manifest yet.
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And yet, because we are actually commanded to give
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Thanks in all situations, we obey that, even when we don't
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Feel like it, because there is a promise connected to our
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Thanksgiving.
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It is the peace of god, which surpasses all understanding.
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- i love to run.
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[cross talk]
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- she works out twice a day.
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- that's because i don't have the genes you have lady.
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I can't be naturally thin.
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But you know what i do when i'm running, something that
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I'm very intentional about is when i'm running i take a
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Purposeful inventory of my health.
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So i literally, as i'm running, i scan my body and i
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Say, god, i thank you for my brain.
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I thank you for the fact that i can think my thoughts.
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I thank you for the blood circulating through my veins.
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God, i thank you for eyes to see.
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I thank you for a nose that smells.
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I thank you for a mouth and a tongue that i can taste.
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And i thank you for being able to swallow my food because
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There are people in the hospitals who cannot swallow
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Food.
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I thank you for lungs that are able to take in oxygen.
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I thank you for a heart that beats.
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Like, i literally scan my body from the top of my head down
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To the soles of my feet.
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And i just thank god, because i remember, when i was in the
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Nicu with my oldest son, i used to drive by that
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Hospital, like, daily for years.
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I didn't even know the nicu existed.
00:10:25.414 --> 00:10:28.317
I didn't even know that there were babies up there.
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I didn't know there were families that were literally
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Crying and not sure if if their child was gonna, i
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Didn't know.
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So suddenly, i had this awareness of how blessed i was
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Because of the situation i had been in.
00:10:41.931 --> 00:10:43.666
And so, yeah, we go around the room and we just, we're just
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Intentional about saying this is why we're grateful.
00:10:44.867 --> 00:10:47.503
- well, the difference between you, i mean, when we run, i'm
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Trying to suck in air.
00:10:50.673 --> 00:10:51.907
- but it's actually scientific what you're doing, so, in
00:10:51.907 --> 00:10:55.377
Which the science always backs up the bible, it just takes a
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Little time.
00:10:59.281 --> 00:11:00.583
So in that romans 12:2, you're literally creating a neuro
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Pathway when you run.
00:11:03.686 --> 00:11:07.223
So if you think, like, sometimes the start of my runs
00:11:07.223 --> 00:11:10.960
Are, what am i doing?
00:11:10.960 --> 00:11:11.961
Right, why am i here?
00:11:11.961 --> 00:11:13.229
What is going on?
00:11:13.229 --> 00:11:14.563
I had to create, i need to get past that part.
00:11:14.563 --> 00:11:17.199
I had to create a playlist that said, i am a runner.
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I was like, okay, my husband ran track for the university
00:11:19.602 --> 00:11:22.605
Of alabama.
00:11:22.605 --> 00:11:24.006
So he looks amazing when he runs.
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Like, perfect form.
00:11:26.342 --> 00:11:27.910
Like, when someone says they call me run, i'm like, i hope
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You didn't video that.
00:11:29.945 --> 00:11:31.113
I know it does not look the way that i hope it does.
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But what i say, it just points to the fact that i can't wait
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Till it's something that arises out of a feeling or a
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Moment or a circumstance.
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It's a discipline.
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Yes.
00:11:46.028 --> 00:11:46.929
And we don't like that word.
00:11:46.929 --> 00:11:48.364
We don't lean into that as a culture.
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We want things instantly.
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We want something that i don't have to wait for.
00:11:53.736 --> 00:11:55.304
And when we use gratitude the way that you're saying, only
00:11:55.304 --> 00:11:57.106
When i get things, then i'm bartering with my gratitude.
00:11:57.106 --> 00:12:00.309
I'm trying to lay something on the table for the lord to say,
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If i give you this, will you give me what i want?
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And that's not a relationship.
00:12:07.049 --> 00:12:09.819
It's not a relationship that draws me close.
00:12:09.819 --> 00:12:12.087
- well, the thing we, with jesus, when he, most every
00:12:12.087 --> 00:12:15.291
Prayer that he started with was, thank you, father.
00:12:15.291 --> 00:12:19.261
Thank you, father, you hear me.
00:12:19.261 --> 00:12:22.264
Thank you, father.
00:12:22.264 --> 00:12:23.632
So even jesus was beginning, his prayer, was beginning
00:12:23.632 --> 00:12:27.203
Conversations with thank you.
00:12:27.203 --> 00:12:29.138
And so i think that's probably the best example for us that
00:12:29.138 --> 00:12:30.806
Whether we're praying, thanking god first, or just
00:12:30.806 --> 00:12:36.345
Even how we approach our day, how we go about our day
00:12:36.345 --> 00:12:39.882
Looking for things that we can be thankful for.
00:12:39.882 --> 00:12:41.483
- thanksgiving is a season to reflect on god's greatest
00:12:41.483 --> 00:12:44.587
Gifts to us.
00:12:44.587 --> 00:12:46.155
And here at better together, we're thankful for our
00:12:46.155 --> 00:12:48.958
Community.
00:12:48.958 --> 00:12:50.192
- connect with us on social media to ask a question or
00:12:50.192 --> 00:12:51.560
Maybe even share a prayer request.
00:12:51.560 --> 00:12:53.796
Let's keep the conversation going.
00:12:53.796 --> 00:12:57.600
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Favorite listening platform.
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Subscribe today.
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♪ (music playing) ♪
00:13:03.105 --> 00:13:07.002
♪ (music playing) ♪
00:13:07.002 --> 00:13:10.146
- i learned so much about what gratitude can look like in
00:13:10.146 --> 00:13:11.848
Relation to the lord from my mom.
00:13:11.848 --> 00:13:14.584
Because, you know, my mom was widowed at 34.
00:13:14.584 --> 00:13:17.654
Never remarried, three children under six.
00:13:17.654 --> 00:13:20.457
And she lived on what was called a widow's pension at
00:13:20.457 --> 00:13:23.927
That time.
00:13:23.927 --> 00:13:25.128
And we lived in housing provided by the government.
00:13:25.128 --> 00:13:26.429
We lost our car, all that kind of stuff.
00:13:26.429 --> 00:13:29.232
But whenever there was some kind of need, i mean, i'll
00:13:29.232 --> 00:13:31.968
Never forget, after dinner one night, my mom's saying to us,
00:13:31.968 --> 00:13:35.238
Let's talk to god about your brother's pants.
00:13:35.238 --> 00:13:37.374
I'm like, okay.
00:13:37.374 --> 00:13:38.775
My brother had hit this growth spurt, you know, and he needed
00:13:38.775 --> 00:13:45.815
New long pants for school, but it wasn't in the budget.
00:13:45.815 --> 00:13:48.351
And she said, let's just talk to god about the pants and
00:13:48.351 --> 00:13:50.987
Let's thank him.
00:13:50.987 --> 00:13:52.289
And i remember sitting there, and i'm probably five years
00:13:52.289 --> 00:13:54.591
Old.
00:13:54.591 --> 00:13:55.892
My mom is bringing everything we need before the lord, but
00:13:55.892 --> 00:13:58.495
Talking about his pants and thanking god for his
00:13:58.495 --> 00:14:00.964
Provision.
00:14:00.964 --> 00:14:02.198
And i remember thinking that was strange.
00:14:02.198 --> 00:14:04.935
And she went then after she went back to the kitchen, and
00:14:04.935 --> 00:14:08.271
I'm like, does it come down the chimney?
00:14:08.271 --> 00:14:10.307
What's god's delivery system?
00:14:10.307 --> 00:14:12.008
Do angels wear pants?
00:14:12.008 --> 00:14:14.010
And a few days later, a friend of my mom's came over, and
00:14:14.010 --> 00:14:16.646
When she left, she left this brown package on the seat, and
00:14:16.646 --> 00:14:19.482
When my mom opened it, it was three pairs of long pants.
00:14:19.482 --> 00:14:23.353
And i remember saying to my mom, did you tell aunt
00:14:23.353 --> 00:14:27.490
Margaret we needed those?
00:14:27.490 --> 00:14:28.725
She said, no, darling, don't you remember?
00:14:28.725 --> 00:14:29.826
We told jesus.
00:14:29.826 --> 00:14:31.094
But my mom, i grew up with a mother who had very little,
00:14:31.094 --> 00:14:33.596
But constantly thanked god for his provision, even before it
00:14:33.596 --> 00:14:38.835
Came.
00:14:38.835 --> 00:14:40.136
And i used to think, in fact, one of the things i treasure
00:14:40.136 --> 00:14:42.072
From my mom, in fact, i had it tattooed on my wrist, she had
00:14:42.072 --> 00:14:45.408
This little picture that says, yes, lord, hung above her bed.
00:14:45.408 --> 00:14:49.546
And sometimes i would tease her when i was like, know all
00:14:49.546 --> 00:14:52.682
Teenager and say, you don't know what you're saying yes
00:14:52.682 --> 00:14:55.185
To.
00:14:55.185 --> 00:14:56.353
She would say, no, but i know who i'm saying yes to.
00:14:56.353 --> 00:14:58.822
And that makes all the difference.
00:14:58.822 --> 00:15:00.790
It's like what a privilege is to come from a family of
00:15:00.790 --> 00:15:04.160
Faith, even no matter how hard things were, but to have a mom
00:15:04.160 --> 00:15:07.731
Who knew, without a shadow of a doubt, god is our provider.
00:15:07.731 --> 00:15:11.067
And we can say yes before we know what we're saying yes to.
00:15:11.067 --> 00:15:15.472
- i think any time that we're stepping out into something or
00:15:15.472 --> 00:15:18.675
We're having a circumstance that feels like everything's
00:15:18.675 --> 00:15:23.413
Against me, i think that declaring our gratitude and
00:15:23.413 --> 00:15:28.251
Being thankful for the opportunity to worship and the
00:15:28.251 --> 00:15:31.788
Opportunity to have faith unlocks a door for us.
00:15:31.788 --> 00:15:37.694
And it builds our faith.
00:15:37.694 --> 00:15:43.700
I think when we start declaring who god is and we
00:15:43.700 --> 00:15:46.102
Start being grateful that he is with us, thank you, god,
00:15:46.102 --> 00:15:50.340
That you're with me.
00:15:50.340 --> 00:15:51.408
I thank you that you know what i need today.
00:15:51.408 --> 00:15:53.643
I thank you that you, instead of even maybe praying those
00:15:53.643 --> 00:15:57.013
Things of, oh, god, i need this or i need, i thank you,
00:15:57.013 --> 00:15:59.716
God, that you're meeting my needs according to your riches
00:15:59.716 --> 00:16:02.018
And glory, and just change the tone of your prayer to
00:16:02.018 --> 00:16:07.323
Thanksgiving.
00:16:07.323 --> 00:16:08.191
And that is an act of your faith.
00:16:08.191 --> 00:16:10.060
That is declaring who god is so that you know that builds
00:16:10.060 --> 00:16:16.499
My faith.
00:16:16.499 --> 00:16:18.101
When i'm declaring who god is, that's building me up and
00:16:18.101 --> 00:16:20.270
That's encouraging myself in the lord.
00:16:20.270 --> 00:16:22.639
That is a step of faith.
00:16:22.639 --> 00:16:26.910
That is something that i can do, that i can act upon, and
00:16:26.910 --> 00:16:30.113
It opens doors for me in so many beautiful ways.
00:16:30.113 --> 00:16:32.115
I love the scripture that you read in thessalonians.
00:16:32.115 --> 00:16:34.484
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in
00:16:34.484 --> 00:16:40.657
All circumstances.
00:16:40.657 --> 00:16:43.226
For this is the will of god concerning you.
00:16:43.226 --> 00:16:46.062
Not necessarily your circumstances, but it's the
00:16:46.062 --> 00:16:47.797
Will of god, that you rejoice always, that you pray
00:16:47.797 --> 00:16:53.870
Continually, and that you give thanks.
00:16:53.870 --> 00:16:55.338
This divine command to us, reading just kind of through
00:16:55.338 --> 00:16:56.739
This week's notes, i was bawling last night.
00:16:56.739 --> 00:17:00.677
I was asking forgiveness for not being content and knowing
00:17:00.677 --> 00:17:05.415
That god, that it's actually an act of faith that we are
00:17:05.415 --> 00:17:08.384
Thanking god because the circumstances are minute in
00:17:08.384 --> 00:17:17.160
God, in the scheme of things, and all he wants is his
00:17:17.160 --> 00:17:19.863
Children to walk by faith, trusting in a living, holy,
00:17:19.863 --> 00:17:23.867
Wonderful god that knows what he's doing.
00:17:23.867 --> 00:17:31.174
God knows what he's doing, and sometimes it can wreak havoc
00:17:31.174 --> 00:17:35.345
In our thoughts and in our minds, and it looks like our
00:17:35.345 --> 00:17:39.249
Lives are upside down, god knows what he's doing in our
00:17:39.249 --> 00:17:44.988
Lives.
00:17:44.988 --> 00:17:46.823
So he wants us to rejoice always, rejoice yourself in
00:17:46.823 --> 00:17:49.559
The lord.
00:17:49.559 --> 00:17:51.828
And it's this sweet because it's for our benefit.
00:17:51.828 --> 00:17:54.063
Our gratitude is for us.
00:17:54.063 --> 00:17:56.366
It's for our benefit.
00:17:56.366 --> 00:17:59.402
God loves it.
00:17:59.402 --> 00:18:02.005
I'm sure he loves it, but it's for our benefit to have that
00:18:02.005 --> 00:18:04.507
Spirit of gratitude that makes us generous, that makes us
00:18:04.507 --> 00:18:06.676
Pour out.
00:18:06.676 --> 00:18:09.979
Because when we're thankful, we're open to god and his
00:18:09.979 --> 00:18:14.284
Blessings in our lives.
00:18:14.284 --> 00:18:15.752
So it opens this door of blessing.
00:18:15.752 --> 00:18:18.121
- in that scripture, you kind of highlighted the end, like,
00:18:18.121 --> 00:18:20.690
This is god's will for you.
00:18:20.690 --> 00:18:22.058
- yes.
00:18:22.058 --> 00:18:22.725
Right.
00:18:22.725 --> 00:18:23.893
- and so i feel like as a pastor, probably one of the
00:18:23.893 --> 00:18:25.495
Most often asked questions of me was, what is god's will for
00:18:25.495 --> 00:18:29.299
My life.
00:18:29.299 --> 00:18:30.967
- oh, gosh.
00:18:30.967 --> 00:18:32.168
- what is his plan for my life?
00:18:32.168 --> 00:18:33.970
Rejoice always.
00:18:33.970 --> 00:18:35.505
And so i would just say, be grateful.
00:18:35.505 --> 00:18:36.839
If you make the decision right now to be grateful, you're in
00:18:36.839 --> 00:18:37.607
God's will.
00:18:37.607 --> 00:18:38.975
So tell somebody thank you.
00:18:38.975 --> 00:18:40.910
It's just like do something, right, that demonstrates
00:18:40.910 --> 00:18:42.212
Gratitude.
00:18:42.212 --> 00:18:44.814
And then you're in the will of god.
00:18:44.814 --> 00:18:46.416
It all starts.
00:18:46.416 --> 00:18:47.984
- it does.
00:18:47.984 --> 00:18:48.985
- like, we're going to be in god's will.
00:18:48.985 --> 00:18:49.452
Be grateful.
00:18:49.452 --> 00:18:50.720
- you know, it's always so funny to me that people think
00:18:50.720 --> 00:18:54.090
Gratitude is about giving affirmation to god and
00:18:54.090 --> 00:18:55.858
Celebrating god.
00:18:55.858 --> 00:18:57.160
But the truth is, god knows who he is, whether we are
00:18:57.160 --> 00:19:01.531
Grateful to him or not.
00:19:01.531 --> 00:19:03.066
What gratitude is, is it's actually a power that unlocks
00:19:03.066 --> 00:19:04.400
Healing within us.
00:19:04.400 --> 00:19:07.470
It forces us to pay attention to god's goodness in
00:19:07.470 --> 00:19:10.206
Situations.
00:19:10.206 --> 00:19:13.276
And i think that's what causes a perspective shift in our own
00:19:13.276 --> 00:19:15.878
Lives.
00:19:15.878 --> 00:19:18.248
And so in many ways, gratitude is a gift that we give
00:19:18.248 --> 00:19:20.717
Ourselves as we give thankfulness to god.
00:19:20.717 --> 00:19:25.455
- a friend of mine called, and she was distraught.
00:19:25.455 --> 00:19:29.826
Her husband had cheated on her, left her.
00:19:29.826 --> 00:19:31.628
It was a really horrible situation.
00:19:31.628 --> 00:19:32.929
And as she was talking to me, and she's someone who loved
00:19:32.929 --> 00:19:35.531
The lord, she was sharing how angry she was, and she
00:19:35.531 --> 00:19:39.302
Expressed even anger at god.
00:19:39.302 --> 00:19:40.637
As she was talking, and this is what the holy spirit said
00:19:40.637 --> 00:19:43.706
Through me, the holy spirit said, you're angry because
00:19:43.706 --> 00:19:46.843
You're grieving when you should be mourning.
00:19:46.843 --> 00:19:49.279
And the explanation that the lord gave me was, so the bible
00:19:49.279 --> 00:19:51.581
Says that blessed are those who mourn for they shall be
00:19:51.581 --> 00:19:57.420
Comforted.
00:19:57.420 --> 00:19:58.621
The difference between mourning and grieving is that
00:19:58.621 --> 00:20:02.992
When we grieve, there's an element of resentment for what
00:20:02.992 --> 00:20:04.394
Was taken, what i lost, right?
00:20:04.394 --> 00:20:06.262
There's anger.
00:20:06.262 --> 00:20:09.265
I'm grieving because i'm angry.
00:20:09.265 --> 00:20:10.900
When i mourn, i've still lost, but i'm grateful for what i
00:20:10.900 --> 00:20:15.138
Had.
00:20:15.138 --> 00:20:16.873
It's a completely different mindset where i had a friend
00:20:16.873 --> 00:20:19.509
On the other end of the spectrum.
00:20:19.509 --> 00:20:22.478
Her son was murdered violently.
00:20:22.478 --> 00:20:27.216
And when i talked to her about it, she said, my heart is
00:20:27.216 --> 00:20:29.252
Broken and i still rejoice.
00:20:29.252 --> 00:20:31.954
She said, because he was such a good son.
00:20:31.954 --> 00:20:33.956
And i know he's in heaven.
00:20:33.956 --> 00:20:36.959
And so i'm thinking on the good times i had with him.
00:20:36.959 --> 00:20:38.795
I'm thinking on the memories that we made.
00:20:38.795 --> 00:20:40.630
And she said, of course, my heart is broken, but i can
00:20:40.630 --> 00:20:44.000
Still thank god.
00:20:44.000 --> 00:20:45.234
And i juxtapose those two, because i do think that part
00:20:45.234 --> 00:20:50.373
Of what the lord is willing for us is to mourn because
00:20:50.373 --> 00:20:53.476
There's a promise of comfort that comes with mourning as
00:20:53.476 --> 00:20:56.713
Opposed to grieving when we're just like, i can't believe
00:20:56.713 --> 00:20:58.948
This happened.
00:20:58.948 --> 00:21:00.817
The lord did this to me.
00:21:00.817 --> 00:21:02.819
And i remember when i lost my son daniel, i was initially
00:21:02.819 --> 00:21:03.953
Grieving.
00:21:03.953 --> 00:21:06.789
Why did you let this happen?
00:21:06.789 --> 00:21:08.958
I can't, there was a time, i couldn't even pray.
00:21:08.958 --> 00:21:10.226
I didn't want to pray.
00:21:10.226 --> 00:21:12.595
God, you could have saved my son and you didn't do it.
00:21:12.595 --> 00:21:14.931
It wasn't until my heart began to change.
00:21:14.931 --> 00:21:16.833
And i could thank god for knowing i'm going to see my
00:21:16.833 --> 00:21:20.470
Son in heaven, for knowing that because of his loss, the
00:21:20.470 --> 00:21:23.973
Doctors were able to figure out what happened, and i was
00:21:23.973 --> 00:21:25.775
Able to carry isaac to term.
00:21:25.775 --> 00:21:28.745
That's when i began to start to heal, is when the mourning
00:21:28.745 --> 00:21:35.318
Happened, and the spirit of god was able to comfort me.
00:21:35.318 --> 00:21:36.753
And i just think that's part of it.
00:21:36.753 --> 00:21:38.888
The reason why gratitude is so powerful is because even in
00:21:38.888 --> 00:21:41.624
Our loss, we can be thankful for what we had, and it
00:21:41.624 --> 00:21:43.726
Invites the spirit of god to begin to comfort us.
00:21:43.726 --> 00:21:46.529
- it's a discipline, right?
00:21:46.529 --> 00:21:47.930
- it is such a discipline.
00:21:47.930 --> 00:21:48.831
Thanksgiving changes us.
00:21:48.831 --> 00:21:51.868
I discovered that because, you know, there were so many years
00:21:51.868 --> 00:21:54.437
Where i would be aware of what wasn't working or what wasn't
00:21:54.437 --> 00:21:56.706
Good.
00:21:56.706 --> 00:21:59.108
But the more i began to understand that god is good
00:21:59.108 --> 00:22:01.444
All the time.
00:22:01.444 --> 00:22:03.946
Life is not good all the time, but god is good all the time.
00:22:03.946 --> 00:22:05.314
And so when i can thank him for that, it shifts my
00:22:05.314 --> 00:22:08.184
Perspective.
00:22:08.184 --> 00:22:11.587
I see things differently because i know he's for me and
00:22:11.587 --> 00:22:12.622
I know he's with me.
00:22:12.622 --> 00:22:13.923
And i don't know what might be going on in your life right
00:22:13.923 --> 00:22:14.824
Now.
00:22:14.824 --> 00:22:16.159
But i want to encourage you to remember who he is because if
00:22:16.159 --> 00:22:20.229
You remember who he is you can make it through anything.
00:22:20.229 --> 00:22:22.665
- i'm grateful though that he even allows us to begin where
00:22:22.665 --> 00:22:24.534
We are.
00:22:24.534 --> 00:22:30.807
Like i'm just thinking me sitting and listening man
00:22:30.807 --> 00:22:33.309
There's just these places we wrestle out i'm not asking
00:22:33.309 --> 00:22:36.379
You not to bring it to me.
00:22:36.379 --> 00:22:38.181
Bring it to me with questions and the resentment and the
00:22:38.181 --> 00:22:42.251
Questions and the, all of the place.
00:22:42.251 --> 00:22:43.953
Be real with me with this because i think many of us
00:22:43.953 --> 00:22:49.392
Have seen gratitude used as a mask.
00:22:49.392 --> 00:22:51.227
How are you blessed and highly favored?
00:22:51.227 --> 00:22:54.464
You know, we use verses, but, you know, we've used, i've got
00:22:54.464 --> 00:22:56.265
50 different signs from stores.
00:22:56.265 --> 00:22:58.868
You know, i'm blessed.
00:22:58.868 --> 00:23:02.071
I'm thankful, especially in america around the table at
00:23:02.071 --> 00:23:04.340
Thanksgiving, the fall decor it's everywhere and it can
00:23:04.340 --> 00:23:07.944
Become this mask i use and then i hide all the realities
00:23:07.944 --> 00:23:11.747
That i'm wrestling with in the back.
00:23:11.747 --> 00:23:13.216
Like now i can't come to church and tell you how i
00:23:13.216 --> 00:23:16.018
Really am.
00:23:16.018 --> 00:23:16.953
I can't tell you that i'm grieving.
00:23:16.953 --> 00:23:18.921
I can't tell you that i haven't prayed.
00:23:18.921 --> 00:23:20.156
I'm not gonna have that conversation with friends.
00:23:20.156 --> 00:23:22.258
Everything on instagram looks so pretty and filtered and i
00:23:22.258 --> 00:23:24.393
Took 16 pictures to post that one and that family photo.
00:23:24.393 --> 00:23:26.996
Do you know what bribery i did?
00:23:26.996 --> 00:23:29.799
- right, right, right.
00:23:29.799 --> 00:23:31.901
- but it's like the lord's sitting and walking, because
00:23:31.901 --> 00:23:33.503
Gratitude brings me into relationship, i'm actually
00:23:33.503 --> 00:23:36.606
Talking to him.
00:23:36.606 --> 00:23:39.141
And even if i say, i can't even thank you for this yet.
00:23:39.141 --> 00:23:42.378
And he says, i know, but i love you.
00:23:42.378 --> 00:23:45.014
And i'm going to love you through.
00:23:45.014 --> 00:23:47.316
And you get to the end, and you get to look back and go, i
00:23:47.316 --> 00:23:50.219
See your patience with me, your kindness with the ability
00:23:50.219 --> 00:23:54.123
To just sit in hard places and dark places, those are things
00:23:54.123 --> 00:23:56.859
That i'm just continually, it just softens my heart for it.
00:23:56.859 --> 00:24:01.697
- well, and it changes our perspective.
00:24:01.697 --> 00:24:04.133
You know, sometimes i sit there and i think, even in
00:24:04.133 --> 00:24:08.304
Worship, when you compare god's greatness to my problem,
00:24:08.304 --> 00:24:09.972
It makes me almost embarrassed to sing about my problems
00:24:09.972 --> 00:24:12.308
Compared to who you are.
00:24:12.308 --> 00:24:15.411
- like in the same game.
00:24:15.411 --> 00:24:19.048
- like, that doesn't go together at all.
00:24:19.048 --> 00:24:21.250
God's greatness compared to what i'm going through.
00:24:21.250 --> 00:24:23.152
But when we magnify the lord, oh, magnify the lord, that
00:24:23.152 --> 00:24:25.821
Means we put a magnifying glass on it.
00:24:25.821 --> 00:24:31.961
And our problems in the things that we get so concerned about
00:24:31.961 --> 00:24:35.898
And all the things that mess our little daily lives up
00:24:35.898 --> 00:24:38.501
Because we've got a little problem over here that's just
00:24:38.501 --> 00:24:42.238
Brewing and stirring around, man, when we start worshiping
00:24:42.238 --> 00:24:44.974
God and we start becoming grateful, it changes our
00:24:44.974 --> 00:24:47.977
Perspective to see who god is in our life, and then all of a
00:24:47.977 --> 00:24:51.981
Sudden we see his comfort.
00:24:51.981 --> 00:24:54.083
We feel his comfort, we feel his embrace, we see his
00:24:54.083 --> 00:24:56.586
Faithfulnness, everything that he is we get to see when we're
00:24:56.586 --> 00:25:03.359
Grateful.
00:25:03.359 --> 00:25:09.131
- i think true gratitude acknowledges how i'm feeling
00:25:09.131 --> 00:25:10.933
And the circumstances in front of me and i'm still making a
00:25:10.933 --> 00:25:12.969
Choice of it in the midst of it.
00:25:12.969 --> 00:25:15.538
It has all of me in it and i don't have to hide the
00:25:15.538 --> 00:25:19.508
Feelings behind my back and say oh i'm blessed and i'm so
00:25:19.508 --> 00:25:22.411
Favored when things aren't, god is saying no bring it to
00:25:22.411 --> 00:25:26.682
Me, tell me what you feel about this, i'm frustrated,
00:25:26.682 --> 00:25:29.385
I'm angry, i'm hurt about this, god i don't understand
00:25:29.385 --> 00:25:31.988
Yet i thank you because you're listening to me and that i'm
00:25:31.988 --> 00:25:35.324
Not in the circumstance by myself.
00:25:35.324 --> 00:25:37.760
The reason you begin with gratitude is because it helps
00:25:37.760 --> 00:25:43.766
Shift your perspective on your feelings and your
00:25:43.766 --> 00:25:44.934
Circumstance, and then you come out with a different
00:25:44.934 --> 00:25:47.069
Conclusion.
00:25:47.069 --> 00:25:48.137
- it's why i love the discipline of, i love the
00:25:48.137 --> 00:25:51.173
Psalms.
00:25:51.173 --> 00:25:52.174
- yes.
00:25:52.174 --> 00:25:53.342
- to me, god gave us the psalms to pray back to you.
00:25:53.342 --> 00:25:55.845
I love that, i think it was athanasia said that whereas
00:25:55.845 --> 00:25:59.382
Most of scripture speaks to us, the psalms speak for us.
00:25:59.382 --> 00:26:01.717
They give us a language of prayer.
00:26:01.717 --> 00:26:04.186
And the thing i love about that is even in the psalms,
00:26:04.186 --> 00:26:06.355
Even like psalm 88, which does not resolve.
00:26:06.355 --> 00:26:08.924
It's the one in there that starts in a hard place and
00:26:08.924 --> 00:26:11.527
Ends in a hard place.
00:26:11.527 --> 00:26:13.763
But the thing i notice, but it's still in conversation
00:26:13.763 --> 00:26:15.665
With god.
00:26:15.665 --> 00:26:17.833
It's like, this is not working, but i know where i'm
00:26:17.833 --> 00:26:18.768
Going.
00:26:18.768 --> 00:26:19.568
I'm coming to you.
00:26:19.568 --> 00:26:21.604
I love the freedom we get to come as we are, not as we wish
00:26:21.604 --> 00:26:23.372
We were.
00:26:23.372 --> 00:26:24.440
It's a safe place to rest of that out.
00:26:24.440 --> 00:26:25.975
- absolutely.
00:26:25.975 --> 00:26:27.143
If i'm not gonna have a resolve, i need to have no
00:26:27.143 --> 00:26:28.210
Resolve in front of him.
00:26:28.210 --> 00:26:29.378
- yeah, exactly.
00:26:29.378 --> 00:26:30.680
- not in front of my friend who's gonna try to resolve it.
00:26:30.680 --> 00:26:32.481
Or, you know, in a, to looking to someone or something that
00:26:32.481 --> 00:26:35.918
Can't.
00:26:35.918 --> 00:26:36.919
It's like you're a safe place for that.
00:26:36.919 --> 00:26:39.722
- you know, i was just even thinking about what you said
00:26:39.722 --> 00:26:41.223
About your mom that she, like, demonstrated, in her way, a
00:26:41.223 --> 00:26:46.529
Way to be grateful.
00:26:46.529 --> 00:26:48.130
So i feel like it's our responsibility than to train
00:26:48.130 --> 00:26:49.865
Up a generation to think a little bit differently like
00:26:49.865 --> 00:26:51.934
This, right?
00:26:51.934 --> 00:26:53.469
So i remember with my kids, so we would, you know, we've
00:26:53.469 --> 00:26:58.474
Taken many a trip to sub-saharan africa and in
00:26:58.474 --> 00:27:01.143
Communities, and there are kids who are, you know,
00:27:01.143 --> 00:27:06.082
Wrestling to pay the school fees to go to school, and when
00:27:06.082 --> 00:27:08.150
They finally get in school, and then their books, they
00:27:08.150 --> 00:27:09.418
Have a book and paper, and they're just like, so grateful
00:27:09.418 --> 00:27:12.388
For this book and paper.
00:27:12.388 --> 00:27:16.292
And then i'm looking at my kids going, literally.
00:27:16.292 --> 00:27:18.994
No, absolutely.
00:27:18.994 --> 00:27:20.563
Perspective.
00:27:20.563 --> 00:27:21.697
And they're so grateful they get to go to school.
00:27:21.697 --> 00:27:23.399
Yeah.
00:27:23.399 --> 00:27:24.200
Right?
00:27:24.200 --> 00:27:25.534
And so i'm just like, you get home and it's like, hello, you
00:27:25.534 --> 00:27:27.036
Start complaining about your teacher, whatever.
00:27:27.036 --> 00:27:28.370
Can you be grateful you get to go to school and that it's not
00:27:28.370 --> 00:27:29.472
A problem?
00:27:29.472 --> 00:27:31.640
So like those kind of things that like just challenges my
00:27:31.640 --> 00:27:35.010
Brain.
00:27:35.010 --> 00:27:37.379
So how can we like, train up a generation to instead of
00:27:37.379 --> 00:27:39.515
Feeling, because now we have this whole entitled thing,
00:27:39.515 --> 00:27:43.352
Right?
00:27:43.352 --> 00:27:44.553
Instead of feeling entitled, like, this is your right?
00:27:44.553 --> 00:27:45.855
Maybe it's something to be, look for a way to be grateful.
00:27:45.855 --> 00:27:46.756
Right, find something to be great.
00:27:46.756 --> 00:27:49.058
Instead of in that long line at the cafe, like you're
00:27:49.058 --> 00:27:53.963
Waiting and waiting, waiting, waiting, waiting, way,
00:27:53.963 --> 00:27:55.898
Waiting.
00:27:55.898 --> 00:27:57.500
So there's some people that are grumbling, and there are
00:27:57.500 --> 00:27:58.601
Some people that are just grateful to be there.
00:27:58.601 --> 00:28:00.169
They're happy to be there because it's a decision,
00:28:00.169 --> 00:28:02.671
Right?
00:28:02.671 --> 00:28:03.939
So then, for me, i just feel like i guess because i'm
00:28:03.939 --> 00:28:06.375
Around so many young people so there's this decision we have
00:28:06.375 --> 00:28:09.645
For me it how we train up a generation to find things to
00:28:09.645 --> 00:28:13.182
Be grateful for instead of attacking that person on
00:28:13.182 --> 00:28:15.017
Instagram or instead of being entitled.
00:28:15.017 --> 00:28:17.353
- i think it matters well first of all you took your
00:28:17.353 --> 00:28:19.655
Kids on an experience you know and you can see what jesus and
00:28:19.655 --> 00:28:20.856
His intentionality to be around people you know so it's
00:28:20.856 --> 00:28:26.829
So i want you to not only just hear my teachings, but i want
00:28:26.829 --> 00:28:28.664
You to watch what i'm doing.
00:28:28.664 --> 00:28:31.066
I'm blessing the food.
00:28:31.066 --> 00:28:32.902
And so i can do all i want about saying my phrases, but
00:28:32.902 --> 00:28:38.474
Your kids, your people around you watch you.
00:28:38.474 --> 00:28:41.544
And so if you aren't grateful.
00:28:41.544 --> 00:28:43.746
- you can have that thankful sign in your house, but if
00:28:43.746 --> 00:28:46.615
You're not grateful, it's true.
00:28:46.615 --> 00:28:47.950
- it can be on the pillow, it can be, you know, on the back
00:28:47.950 --> 00:28:50.986
Of your plate.
00:28:50.986 --> 00:28:52.021
But people are watching what you're doing.
00:28:52.021 --> 00:28:54.123
So it doesn't matter what i post.
00:28:54.123 --> 00:28:55.291
So after, you know, after i teach who i am when i'm
00:28:55.291 --> 00:28:58.294
Talking to people, how i am in my home on my frustrated days,
00:28:58.294 --> 00:29:01.630
Did i, you know, it just come up, thank you.
00:29:01.630 --> 00:29:05.467
I had such a rough day yesterday and i wasn't okay.
00:29:05.467 --> 00:29:08.103
And y'all knew that and you let me be safe in that.
00:29:08.103 --> 00:29:11.006
Like, thank you for that.
00:29:11.006 --> 00:29:14.343
- i think the best thing to do for your kids to teach them
00:29:14.343 --> 00:29:16.812
About gratitude is to be grateful yourself.
00:29:16.812 --> 00:29:19.615
Monkey see, monkey do.
00:29:19.615 --> 00:29:21.684
This is the way we say it around our house.
00:29:21.684 --> 00:29:24.353
And if you start seeing the beauty around you and being
00:29:24.353 --> 00:29:27.556
Thankful for the little things, your kids pick up on
00:29:27.556 --> 00:29:29.325
That quickly, and all of a sudden, they're saying
00:29:29.325 --> 00:29:31.594
Beautiful things, and they're saying sweet things, and
00:29:31.594 --> 00:29:37.066
They're thankful for daddy, and they're thankful for this,
00:29:37.066 --> 00:29:40.069
And they're thankful for that.
00:29:40.069 --> 00:29:44.240
And it's something that you cultivate on the inside of
00:29:44.240 --> 00:29:45.708
Them because you're planting the seed.
00:29:45.708 --> 00:29:46.976
- you'd asked, nona about, like, what we do in
00:29:46.976 --> 00:29:49.879
Thanksgiving, and we go around, but because every
00:29:49.879 --> 00:29:51.113
Night we do rainbows and clouds, someone told us about
00:29:51.113 --> 00:29:55.351
Roses and thorns, and we just switched it around.
00:29:55.351 --> 00:29:56.518
So ours are rainbows and clouds, things that we like,
00:29:56.518 --> 00:29:58.354
Things that we didn't like, and then one person special
00:29:58.354 --> 00:30:00.522
Each night, learning to give and receive.
00:30:00.522 --> 00:30:02.358
For our thanksgiving tradition, we say what we're
00:30:02.358 --> 00:30:05.728
Thankful about to the lord, and not just things, because
00:30:05.728 --> 00:30:07.730
We can get caught up in the things, not that they're
00:30:07.730 --> 00:30:10.032
Wrong.
00:30:10.032 --> 00:30:12.134
So it's not like tabby buzzer people when they're like, oh,
00:30:12.134 --> 00:30:14.837
You can't think about this circumstance.
00:30:14.837 --> 00:30:16.605
Thank you, jesus, you know.
00:30:16.605 --> 00:30:18.007
But it's like, i want to see you in this.
00:30:18.007 --> 00:30:20.342
I'm thankful for you in this.
00:30:20.342 --> 00:30:21.610
And so, but those can be like blips on a screen if they're
00:30:21.610 --> 00:30:24.079
Just seeing it at holiday time.
00:30:24.079 --> 00:30:26.815
The challenge for me is, am i that person?
00:30:26.815 --> 00:30:29.051
Am i who on stage, off stage, in moments, outside of moments
00:30:29.051 --> 00:30:33.188
That people can see.
00:30:33.188 --> 00:30:36.392
And when i don't, because i'm not always going to get it,
00:30:36.392 --> 00:30:37.660
Can i own that?
00:30:37.660 --> 00:30:38.827
- yeah.
00:30:38.827 --> 00:30:40.729
- because then they can see that gratitude is, it's a
00:30:40.729 --> 00:30:41.897
Muscle you develop.
00:30:41.897 --> 00:30:43.799
When we say it's a discipline, that means i'm working on it.
00:30:43.799 --> 00:30:45.834
I mean, sometimes i wake up and i did it.
00:30:45.834 --> 00:30:47.603
You know, i missed it.
00:30:47.603 --> 00:30:49.939
And to keep working towards that.
00:30:49.939 --> 00:30:52.541
I want this generation to see, i want my daughter to see, i
00:30:52.541 --> 00:30:55.044
Have an 18-year-old and a 22-year-old, and i want them
00:30:55.044 --> 00:30:57.079
To see what they have been set up to be able to do.
00:30:57.079 --> 00:31:00.983
There's something that you're standing on the shoulders of
00:31:00.983 --> 00:31:05.154
Generations or just even in the picture of like, i want
00:31:05.154 --> 00:31:08.824
You to pass me, so i'm just running harder.
00:31:08.824 --> 00:31:10.960
I was like, oh, you're going to pass me, great.
00:31:10.960 --> 00:31:12.795
I'm going to start sprinting so that you have to go, you
00:31:12.795 --> 00:31:14.863
Get to go even further, but i want them to see it.
00:31:14.863 --> 00:31:16.198
I want them to know it's not about perfection in it because
00:31:16.198 --> 00:31:18.033
That's what they're locked into.
00:31:18.033 --> 00:31:19.335
They're seeing so many false, you know, the beautiful fall
00:31:19.335 --> 00:31:21.437
Door with the blessings and that's how life is presented.
00:31:21.437 --> 00:31:31.981
And if i point that to you, then i'm not giving you
00:31:31.981 --> 00:31:34.450
Something that's achievable to go towards, i'm setting you up
00:31:34.450 --> 00:31:36.652
To fail.
00:31:36.652 --> 00:31:37.753
It's exposure.
00:31:37.753 --> 00:31:39.054
- i learned that a lot with my son, because our son is 28
00:31:39.054 --> 00:31:40.289
Years old, and he's a perfectionist.
00:31:40.289 --> 00:31:41.724
He's always been so hard on himself.
00:31:41.724 --> 00:31:44.460
And i remember one time he came back from school with his
00:31:44.460 --> 00:31:46.161
Report card.
00:31:46.161 --> 00:31:48.564
And he had maybe like six a's and one b.
00:31:48.564 --> 00:31:52.668
And he was so upset that he had this b.
00:31:52.668 --> 00:31:54.937
And so i got this chair and i put it in the middle of the
00:31:54.937 --> 00:31:56.205
Kitchen and i said to him, okay, sit there.
00:31:56.205 --> 00:31:58.507
And i said, i'll be right back and i went upstairs.
00:31:58.507 --> 00:32:01.910
We have this, what we did, party closet.
00:32:01.910 --> 00:32:04.279
And i put on this hat and feather bows and all sorts of
00:32:04.279 --> 00:32:06.348
Stuff and a toy trumpet that we'd had for one of his
00:32:06.348 --> 00:32:10.252
Birthday parties.
00:32:10.252 --> 00:32:14.390
And i came downstairs and i said, now, just sit there.
00:32:14.390 --> 00:32:15.791
I'm about to celebrate around.
00:32:15.791 --> 00:32:18.160
And i literally danced around him blowing this trumpet.
00:32:18.160 --> 00:32:20.596
And i said, you can spend the rest of your life, darling,
00:32:20.596 --> 00:32:24.433
Noticing the one thing that's not good.
00:32:24.433 --> 00:32:26.268
Or you can spend the rest of your life celebrating what is
00:32:26.268 --> 00:32:29.171
Good.
00:32:29.171 --> 00:32:30.406
And he said, thank you and please never do that again.
00:32:30.406 --> 00:32:33.675
[laughter]
00:32:33.675 --> 00:32:35.110
- i think we love thanksgiving because you can
00:32:35.110 --> 00:32:38.213
Sit and pause for a minute, mainly because you've eaten
00:32:38.213 --> 00:32:39.982
Too much food.
00:32:39.982 --> 00:32:43.419
But just to be able to, those moments where you can reflect,
00:32:43.419 --> 00:32:46.021
And you can just take a second, and you can talk about
00:32:46.021 --> 00:32:48.490
What god's done in your life, they're not just for
00:32:48.490 --> 00:32:50.526
Thanksgiving tables, that this is how god says, just come and
00:32:50.526 --> 00:32:52.828
Talk to me, just come and talk to me.
00:32:52.828 --> 00:32:56.432
And the reason i should enter his gates with thanksgiving is
00:32:56.432 --> 00:33:00.669
Because it just sets up my perspective.
00:33:00.669 --> 00:33:02.604
And for me, personally, it's in those days, honestly, when
00:33:02.604 --> 00:33:05.741
I didn't want to come with thanksgiving, when i was
00:33:05.741 --> 00:33:08.644
Confused, when i didn't understand, when i didn't see
00:33:08.644 --> 00:33:12.147
The end result, and i was, i honestly just didn't even want
00:33:12.147 --> 00:33:14.183
To sit there and talk about it.
00:33:14.183 --> 00:33:17.453
But if i could begin with thanksgiving, say, god, i
00:33:17.453 --> 00:33:20.989
Thank you that i can come this way, that i can come undone,
00:33:20.989 --> 00:33:25.360
That i'm safe here, that i can thank you that you're still
00:33:25.360 --> 00:33:26.962
Got even when i don't understand and i don't, i may
00:33:26.962 --> 00:33:29.231
Even struggle to trust you in it.
00:33:29.231 --> 00:33:37.106
For me personally, that has changed how many times i want
00:33:37.106 --> 00:33:39.308
To come to him.
00:33:39.308 --> 00:33:42.311
It increases my heart to want to be with him because he's
00:33:42.311 --> 00:33:44.580
Safe.
00:33:44.580 --> 00:33:46.115
He's safe when i want to be there and he's safe when i
00:33:46.115 --> 00:33:47.549
Don't.
00:33:47.549 --> 00:33:48.750
- be the first to know all the latest better together
00:33:48.750 --> 00:33:49.818
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00:33:49.818 --> 00:33:51.854
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- i'm thinking about my boys and how earlier this summer we
00:33:57.593 --> 00:34:01.005
- i'm thinking about my boys and how earlier this summer we
00:34:01.005 --> 00:34:08.138
Took them on this mediterranean cruise and we
00:34:08.138 --> 00:34:12.642
Went to like several ports in italy, we were in barcelona,
00:34:12.642 --> 00:34:13.943
We did this whole thing.
00:34:13.943 --> 00:34:15.545
And i remember being there and it's like so amazing and so
00:34:15.545 --> 00:34:16.846
Wonderful and my boys were just like...
00:34:16.846 --> 00:34:19.716
- oh gosh.
00:34:19.716 --> 00:34:22.585
And you don't understand the way i grew up i didn't know people
00:34:22.585 --> 00:34:27.824
Went places for spring break and summer, i just rode my bike
00:34:27.824 --> 00:34:31.828
Around the neighborhood, i didn't know about any of this.
00:34:31.828 --> 00:34:33.463
So i'm giving my boys experiences i never had and
00:34:33.463 --> 00:34:36.466
They're just so bored because this is what they're used to
00:34:36.466 --> 00:34:39.335
And i think as we're sharing, i think part of what produces
00:34:39.335 --> 00:34:45.708
Gratitude, unfortunately, is suffering.
00:34:45.708 --> 00:34:47.277
And what we have done as parents is we've created so
00:34:47.277 --> 00:34:49.512
Many conditions where our children don't know what it
00:34:49.512 --> 00:34:55.552
Means to suffer.
00:34:55.552 --> 00:34:56.486
They don't know what it means to lack.
00:34:56.486 --> 00:34:57.754
Like, so for them, it's like the idea is, of course, the
00:34:57.754 --> 00:34:59.055
Line should immediately move and i should get what i want,
00:34:59.055 --> 00:35:02.425
Because that's just how life is.
00:35:02.425 --> 00:35:04.227
Like, of course, i should get everything i want because
00:35:04.227 --> 00:35:05.395
That's just how life is.
00:35:05.395 --> 00:35:07.197
But for me personally, it was in times of suffering, in
00:35:07.197 --> 00:35:09.566
Times of loss, where i discovered gratitude, and it
00:35:09.566 --> 00:35:12.835
Was almost like i had to discover it through the
00:35:12.835 --> 00:35:15.138
Process of realizing how blessed i was despite the
00:35:15.138 --> 00:35:17.707
Suffering.
00:35:17.707 --> 00:35:19.042
And i'm not saying this to say that we need to like make our
00:35:19.042 --> 00:35:22.679
Children suffer, but i do think that there's something
00:35:22.679 --> 00:35:24.981
To that.
00:35:24.981 --> 00:35:26.182
- no you're not wrong i feel like we protect them from
00:35:26.182 --> 00:35:27.050
Hardship and so then it's like-
00:35:27.050 --> 00:35:28.985
- god has a way.
00:35:28.985 --> 00:35:30.220
- yes he does.
00:35:30.220 --> 00:35:32.522
- i have a little sign right by my coffee maker that says,
00:35:32.522 --> 00:35:37.293
I am living today the prayers that i had prayed for.
00:35:37.293 --> 00:35:43.299
I'm living in that today.
00:35:43.299 --> 00:35:46.336
I remember praying.
00:35:46.336 --> 00:35:47.570
And when i look at it, it makes me think, how did i get
00:35:47.570 --> 00:35:51.774
Here?
00:35:51.774 --> 00:35:53.343
It's through that.
00:35:53.343 --> 00:35:54.978
It's what i learned in the process when i thought, man,
00:35:54.978 --> 00:35:57.714
There is nothing we can do.
00:35:57.714 --> 00:36:01.751
Only god can get us through this.
00:36:01.751 --> 00:36:03.253
And i remember going through hard times, you know, things
00:36:03.253 --> 00:36:06.222
That matt would normally describe it as today, i'm
00:36:06.222 --> 00:36:08.658
Going to go to the office and we're hitting the wall.
00:36:08.658 --> 00:36:12.595
We'll be closed down today.
00:36:12.595 --> 00:36:14.430
Back up in l.a.
00:36:14.430 --> 00:36:16.499
When we lived up there.
00:36:16.499 --> 00:36:17.800
He would come home and he would say, the wall moved
00:36:17.800 --> 00:36:18.968
Today.
00:36:18.968 --> 00:36:21.204
- amen.
00:36:21.204 --> 00:36:22.939
- you know, and the wall moved.
00:36:22.939 --> 00:36:24.374
And i remember my father-in-law saying, faith is just
00:36:24.374 --> 00:36:25.808
Taking one more step when you don't see it.
00:36:25.808 --> 00:36:29.779
You know, when you don't see that, into the darkness.
00:36:29.779 --> 00:36:33.349
And we only please god by faith.
00:36:33.349 --> 00:36:34.684
And so i think each of us can testify of the faith walk that
00:36:34.684 --> 00:36:39.255
We have learned to trust god and learned those steps of
00:36:39.255 --> 00:36:43.893
Faith.
00:36:43.893 --> 00:36:45.328
And when it's like, i can't, only god can get us through
00:36:45.328 --> 00:36:48.164
This.
00:36:48.164 --> 00:36:49.299
Only god can get us through this health challenge.
00:36:49.299 --> 00:36:50.500
Only god can get us through this financial trouble.
00:36:50.500 --> 00:36:53.336
Only god can get us through this mourning, you know, with
00:36:53.336 --> 00:36:57.373
His comfort and his love.
00:36:57.373 --> 00:36:59.042
And so i remember praying for god to help us then, and we're
00:36:59.042 --> 00:37:02.445
Here today.
00:37:02.445 --> 00:37:04.781
And so to look back and see the faithfulness and the
00:37:04.781 --> 00:37:08.318
Goodness of god, that's what thankfulness does for you.
00:37:08.318 --> 00:37:13.222
And then there's nothing that's impossible for god.
00:37:13.222 --> 00:37:16.225
And it lifts your faith, and it brings you out of despair
00:37:16.225 --> 00:37:21.030
Is what gratefulness does for us when we look back and say,
00:37:21.030 --> 00:37:25.902
I'm only here today because of what god has brought me
00:37:25.902 --> 00:37:29.639
Through.
00:37:29.639 --> 00:37:30.940
- there have been seasons in life where i wasn't quite sure
00:37:30.940 --> 00:37:34.243
Of what was coming next.
00:37:34.243 --> 00:37:36.212
I wasn't sure what i was going to do.
00:37:36.212 --> 00:37:37.513
And i remember during those seasons, looking back to when
00:37:37.513 --> 00:37:40.683
God has been with me in the past and directed me and
00:37:40.683 --> 00:37:43.820
Opened the right door at the right time, because sometimes
00:37:43.820 --> 00:37:48.291
Literally all you know to do is to take the next step.
00:37:48.291 --> 00:37:50.626
You know, we'd like to know the great big picture.
00:37:50.626 --> 00:37:53.463
And sometimes we don't get to see the whole picture.
00:37:53.463 --> 00:37:56.366
We simply get to take the next step.
00:37:56.366 --> 00:37:58.468
That you might want to...
00:37:58.468 --> 00:38:00.903
What i've done in my bible is i had little notes in my bible
00:38:00.903 --> 00:38:03.339
Of verses that spoke to me and the date, prayers that i've
00:38:03.339 --> 00:38:05.808
Prayed and the date.
00:38:05.808 --> 00:38:08.478
And then sometimes you can go back and look at that and say,
00:38:08.478 --> 00:38:11.614
Wow, i remember praying that.
00:38:11.614 --> 00:38:12.648
And i didn't know what was going to happen.
00:38:12.648 --> 00:38:14.484
And look at what god did.
00:38:14.484 --> 00:38:15.918
- my daughter is a 911 operator.
00:38:15.918 --> 00:38:19.155
So she hears, you know, a bunch of stuff.
00:38:19.155 --> 00:38:22.291
And she called me one time, and she just shared just
00:38:22.291 --> 00:38:24.160
About, you know, a call that came in and it ended up being
00:38:24.160 --> 00:38:27.263
The death of a child.
00:38:27.263 --> 00:38:29.866
And so she's a mother.
00:38:29.866 --> 00:38:31.534
And so she has all of these feelings, you know, and it was
00:38:31.534 --> 00:38:33.770
Just this horrible situation, real grief and tragedy.
00:38:33.770 --> 00:38:37.673
And then she goes home.
00:38:37.673 --> 00:38:39.542
And, you know, she has, at this point, she was
00:38:39.542 --> 00:38:42.445
14-year-old daughter, who's complaining about a zit on her
00:38:42.445 --> 00:38:45.681
Face and going off about it.
00:38:45.681 --> 00:38:48.184
And she's just like, mom, call me, how do i manage, like
00:38:48.184 --> 00:38:50.887
This, real tragedy here.
00:38:50.887 --> 00:38:54.190
And then, you know, my daughter who has a pimple on
00:38:54.190 --> 00:38:58.561
Her face, who is just whining about everything, just, you
00:38:58.561 --> 00:39:00.663
Know, the tension.
00:39:00.663 --> 00:39:02.098
And so for me, that's when we had some of these
00:39:02.098 --> 00:39:04.567
Conversations about, you can't protect her from pimples, so
00:39:04.567 --> 00:39:07.136
She's going to get them.
00:39:07.136 --> 00:39:08.571
And what you can teach her is be grateful that, you know,
00:39:08.571 --> 00:39:10.640
The braces are off her face or whatever.
00:39:10.640 --> 00:39:12.341
So i find something, right, to kind of be grateful for in
00:39:12.341 --> 00:39:15.344
That moment because there are real tragedies in the world.
00:39:15.344 --> 00:39:18.681
And so i just felt like with her, we started having these
00:39:18.681 --> 00:39:21.517
Conversations about exposing them to real pain.
00:39:21.517 --> 00:39:24.720
- yeah.
00:39:24.720 --> 00:39:27.056
- because i feel like our, and our good intentions is to
00:39:27.056 --> 00:39:29.425
Protect them.
00:39:29.425 --> 00:39:30.726
- absolutely.
00:39:30.726 --> 00:39:31.994
- it's to protect our kids, right?
00:39:31.994 --> 00:39:32.995
That's great.
00:39:32.995 --> 00:39:34.096
But somehow we have to let them see a heartache.
00:39:34.096 --> 00:39:35.898
I think there's something to...
00:39:35.898 --> 00:39:38.167
- what did you say?
00:39:38.167 --> 00:39:39.202
- god has a way.
00:39:39.202 --> 00:39:41.737
- there's something about the presence of god, though, that
00:39:40.403 --> 00:39:45.107
Changes everything.
00:39:45.107 --> 00:39:46.409
Because i was thinking back to when barry and i had to file
00:39:46.409 --> 00:39:48.478
For bankruptcy some years ago, just a whole bunch of
00:39:48.478 --> 00:39:50.913
Circumstances, a disaster.
00:39:50.913 --> 00:39:52.748
And so we're sitting in the bankruptcy court, and we were
00:39:52.748 --> 00:39:54.817
Case number seven.
00:39:54.817 --> 00:39:56.118
And i'm looking around, and this gentleman is beside me,
00:39:56.118 --> 00:39:58.654
And he's got a tissue.
00:39:58.654 --> 00:40:00.690
And it's like, it's like it's snowing.
00:40:00.690 --> 00:40:02.124
You know, he's just doing it like this.
00:40:02.124 --> 00:40:04.627
And our lawyer, our attorney, turned to me, and she said,
00:40:04.627 --> 00:40:07.897
Why are you smiling?
00:40:07.897 --> 00:40:09.165
And i said, oh, sorry, no, i know this should be serious as
00:40:09.165 --> 00:40:14.370
A court.
00:40:14.370 --> 00:40:15.671
But i said, one of the things i realized this morning is,
00:40:15.671 --> 00:40:17.673
When you walk into a bankruptcy court, jesus walks
00:40:17.673 --> 00:40:20.343
In with you.
00:40:20.343 --> 00:40:21.644
There's nowhere on this earth that i will ever have to go,
00:40:21.644 --> 00:40:23.679
That i walk in by myself.
00:40:23.679 --> 00:40:26.315
And even though i'm not grateful that we lost our
00:40:26.315 --> 00:40:28.818
House and we lost this, i am grateful for the presence of
00:40:28.818 --> 00:40:30.219
The lord.
00:40:30.219 --> 00:40:32.522
Because sometimes i think, i need an answer, i need this,
00:40:32.522 --> 00:40:35.124
And i think, no, the presence of the lord changes
00:40:35.124 --> 00:40:36.492
Everything.
00:40:36.492 --> 00:40:38.327
- if gratitude was our first response in every situation, i
00:40:38.327 --> 00:40:43.165
Just imagine we would be filled with peace.
00:40:43.165 --> 00:40:47.637
That's the promise for us, that we'll have the peace that
00:40:47.637 --> 00:40:50.406
Stands guard around our heart, and that peace only comes with
00:40:50.406 --> 00:40:54.510
Thanksgiving.
00:40:54.510 --> 00:40:55.711
It comes with praying and talking to god, but it comes
00:40:55.711 --> 00:40:56.345
With thanksgiving.
00:40:56.345 --> 00:41:00.249
And so i just think if we make gratitude the first thing, it
00:41:00.249 --> 00:41:01.617
Will change everything about what's inside us.
00:41:01.617 --> 00:41:02.985
It will bring peace in ways, and it will change our
00:41:02.985 --> 00:41:05.421
Environment with people.
00:41:05.421 --> 00:41:06.522
I just think we have an obligation, actually, to
00:41:06.522 --> 00:41:08.991
Change our environment.
00:41:08.991 --> 00:41:10.927
And gratitude is one of the first ways to do it.
00:41:10.927 --> 00:41:13.162
- to think you can be in the darkest place, but suddenly
00:41:13.162 --> 00:41:15.898
You're not alone.
00:41:15.898 --> 00:41:18.668
It's just--
00:41:18.668 --> 00:41:19.335
- it's what god does.
00:41:19.335 --> 00:41:20.269
He gives us the stuff we can't buy.
00:41:20.269 --> 00:41:20.803
Yeah.
00:41:20.803 --> 00:41:22.104
The things that you long for down in the gut of your soul,
00:41:22.104 --> 00:41:26.108
You know, the things i need, i need peace.
00:41:26.108 --> 00:41:29.245
God is my peace.
00:41:29.245 --> 00:41:31.314
He is my joy.
00:41:31.314 --> 00:41:34.884
He is my comfort.
00:41:34.884 --> 00:41:35.785
He's my solid rock.
00:41:35.785 --> 00:41:36.752
My foundation.
00:41:36.752 --> 00:41:38.821
- but we get caught in the things and that, oh, then i'm
00:41:38.821 --> 00:41:40.656
Grateful when the things are present.
00:41:40.656 --> 00:41:42.892
And i'm not grateful when they aren't.
00:41:42.892 --> 00:41:44.627
But i see this pattern between, with your mom and
00:41:44.627 --> 00:41:45.928
Just hearing you talk to your daughter.
00:41:45.928 --> 00:41:48.030
It's like, okay, there's also an inheritance of gratitude
00:41:48.030 --> 00:41:50.566
That i get to pass on.
00:41:50.566 --> 00:41:53.302
And there are some that are thinking, yeah, but you don't
00:41:53.302 --> 00:41:58.207
Know my family.
00:41:58.207 --> 00:41:59.375
There was nobody that gave it to me.
00:41:59.375 --> 00:42:02.445
And then i think about you're having a conversation with a
00:42:02.445 --> 00:42:04.313
Friend.
00:42:04.313 --> 00:42:05.548
It comes in so many different ways or this generational
00:42:05.548 --> 00:42:07.850
Blessing that can come.
00:42:07.850 --> 00:42:09.852
And we have an opportunity to bless the next generation.
00:42:09.852 --> 00:42:11.220
Proverbs talks about that there's life and death and the
00:42:11.220 --> 00:42:13.055
Power of the tongue.
00:42:13.055 --> 00:42:14.490
And so when i hear them have a response that can be natural
00:42:14.490 --> 00:42:20.129
And human, which we all had, we all remember when we were
00:42:20.129 --> 00:42:21.664
14, 18, 20, 30s.
00:42:21.664 --> 00:42:23.733
You know, all of them.
00:42:23.733 --> 00:42:26.736
40s.
00:42:26.736 --> 00:42:30.506
But, you know, that someone would come along and say, oh,
00:42:29.205 --> 00:42:31.140
You bring it to jesus.
00:42:31.140 --> 00:42:32.008
Yeah.
00:42:32.008 --> 00:42:33.075
Oh, you have, there's a faith there for you.
00:42:33.075 --> 00:42:33.876
Oh, you can help them see that.
00:42:33.876 --> 00:42:35.311
And i can speak life over this generation instead of saying
00:42:35.311 --> 00:42:38.481
This generation's so ungrateful, this generation so
00:42:38.481 --> 00:42:40.816
And now i'm agreeing with and cursing the generation and
00:42:40.816 --> 00:42:43.152
Then asking my kids to act right, i'm like wait i just i
00:42:43.152 --> 00:42:50.259
Didn't speak life over you and say you have this i know you
00:42:50.259 --> 00:42:51.661
Can't see this that's what faith is thank god that god is
00:42:51.661 --> 00:42:54.196
With you.
00:42:54.196 --> 00:42:56.799
- yes.
00:42:56.799 --> 00:42:59.301
- i think there are people probably watching this who
00:42:59.301 --> 00:43:01.370
Have found themselves in a scenario where they don't know
00:43:01.370 --> 00:43:05.708
If god is truly with them.
00:43:05.708 --> 00:43:07.677
And i understand, there are some times, you talked about
00:43:07.677 --> 00:43:09.845
Being there in the darkness, man, there are some times
00:43:09.845 --> 00:43:10.846
Where it's dark, dark.
00:43:10.846 --> 00:43:12.314
And you're just like, father, where are you?
00:43:12.314 --> 00:43:16.385
I wanted to encourage everyone.
00:43:16.385 --> 00:43:18.721
I was looking at psalm 34, beginning at verse 17.
00:43:18.721 --> 00:43:20.856
It says, "the righteous cry out, and the lord hears them.
00:43:20.856 --> 00:43:27.496
He delivers them from all their troubles.
00:43:27.496 --> 00:43:30.066
The lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those
00:43:30.066 --> 00:43:33.903
Who are crushed in spirit.
00:43:33.903 --> 00:43:35.638
The righteous person may have many troubles, but the lord
00:43:35.638 --> 00:43:38.507
Delivers him from them all.”
00:43:38.507 --> 00:43:42.311
I think we have to hang on to god's truth and
00:43:42.311 --> 00:43:43.913
God's promise because the idea that he has
00:43:43.913 --> 00:43:45.281
Somehow left us or forgotten about us, that's just a lie.
00:43:45.281 --> 00:43:46.515
That's a lie.
00:43:46.515 --> 00:43:48.651
And what's amazing is before we were even formed in the
00:43:48.651 --> 00:43:55.157
Womb everything that has happened to us god already
00:43:55.157 --> 00:43:57.426
Knew, he already knew, and he promised to walk with us
00:43:57.426 --> 00:44:01.697
Through it.
00:44:01.697 --> 00:44:02.732
Amen.
00:44:02.732 --> 00:44:04.734
So good.
00:44:04.734 --> 00:44:05.968
- but you know what let me just add to that right there
00:44:05.968 --> 00:44:07.269
If you don't know what to thank god for you can thank
00:44:07.269 --> 00:44:11.841
Him in declaring that scripture i thank you that
00:44:11.841 --> 00:44:15.211
You're with me yes do that do that read that scripture.
00:44:15.211 --> 00:44:16.712
- psalm 34:17, the righteous cry out, and the lord hears
00:44:16.712 --> 00:44:20.649
Them.
00:44:20.649 --> 00:44:22.151
He delivers them from all their troubles.
00:44:22.151 --> 00:44:23.786
- i thank you that you deliver me from all of my trouble
00:44:23.786 --> 00:44:25.921
And that you hear me when i cry out to you.
00:44:25.921 --> 00:44:29.191
- yes.
00:44:29.191 --> 00:44:30.459
- the lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those.
00:44:30.459 --> 00:44:32.595
- thank you for being close to me.
00:44:32.595 --> 00:44:34.730
- who are crushed in spirit.
00:44:34.730 --> 00:44:35.798
- and saving me when i'm crushed in spirit.
00:44:35.798 --> 00:44:37.299
Just start thanking him for those things.
00:44:37.299 --> 00:44:39.335
That's the faith walk and declaring those things.
00:44:39.335 --> 00:44:43.072
And when you do, i'm telling you, it changes not only your
00:44:43.072 --> 00:44:45.808
Perspective, it changes something on the inside of you
00:44:45.808 --> 00:44:48.744
And builds your faith.
00:44:48.744 --> 00:44:50.679
And your faith grows.
00:44:50.679 --> 00:44:53.015
And all of a sudden, you start seeing life differently.
00:44:53.015 --> 00:44:54.383
And all of a sudden, you do see god is with me.
00:44:54.383 --> 00:44:56.986
And all of a sudden you say, ooh, when i do call on him, he
00:44:56.986 --> 00:45:00.256
Does answer me.
00:45:00.256 --> 00:45:01.524
And you start seeing those things manifest in your life.
00:45:01.524 --> 00:45:03.025
That's what we're talking about.
00:45:03.025 --> 00:45:05.261
Declare who he is in gratitude.
00:45:05.261 --> 00:45:07.463
- it's interesting because gratitude, it awakens really
00:45:07.463 --> 00:45:12.234
Who your source is.
00:45:12.234 --> 00:45:13.836
Because who i'm saying thank you to, who i'm giving my
00:45:13.836 --> 00:45:18.741
Attention to is really who's my source.
00:45:18.741 --> 00:45:21.010
And when i'm thinking about, think about the flip, when i'm
00:45:21.010 --> 00:45:25.815
Ungrateful about something, it's because some source
00:45:25.815 --> 00:45:27.950
Didn't give me what i thought i was going to get.
00:45:27.950 --> 00:45:32.254
But when i'm grateful, then i'm like, hey, the source gave
00:45:32.254 --> 00:45:36.826
It.
00:45:36.826 --> 00:45:38.160
But imagine, like for me, i'm thinking, god, remind me that
00:45:38.160 --> 00:45:40.763
You're the best thing to make my source, because you are
00:45:40.763 --> 00:45:43.566
Good and that you are for me and not against me.
00:45:43.566 --> 00:45:49.905
So it really does, it aligns me to say, hey, put your eyes
00:45:49.905 --> 00:45:52.675
Up here, stop looking down, stop looking at your
00:45:52.675 --> 00:45:54.210
Circumstances, stop looking at people or things or
00:45:54.210 --> 00:45:57.213
Opportunities or moments or what happened or didn't
00:45:57.213 --> 00:46:00.282
Happen.
00:46:00.282 --> 00:46:01.550
And look at him because it postures me to receive what he
00:46:01.550 --> 00:46:05.354
Has for me.
00:46:05.354 --> 00:46:07.056
Now, i think some of the things that catches me, it
00:46:07.056 --> 00:46:09.191
Doesn't mean that i'm postureed to receive what i
00:46:09.191 --> 00:46:11.060
Want him to give me.
00:46:11.060 --> 00:46:12.428
Sometimes he gives me what i need and not what i want.
00:46:12.428 --> 00:46:16.432
And that's a whole different thing about his provisions.
00:46:16.432 --> 00:46:20.436
But because he's good, i know it's exactly what i need, and
00:46:20.436 --> 00:46:25.207
I know that i'm gonna come back and even thank him for
00:46:25.207 --> 00:46:28.110
It.
00:46:28.110 --> 00:46:29.345
I'm gonna even thank him for not giving me what i asked
00:46:29.345 --> 00:46:31.046
For, because he's so good.
00:46:31.046 --> 00:46:33.349
- we can speak god's word back to him.
00:46:33.349 --> 00:46:36.218
- yeah, because it doesn't return void.
00:46:36.218 --> 00:46:38.354
- it doesn't.
00:46:38.354 --> 00:46:39.655
- and when we don't, see, this is the beauty of god's word.
00:46:39.655 --> 00:46:40.923
- yeah, exactly.
00:46:40.923 --> 00:46:42.157
When we don't know what to do.
00:46:42.157 --> 00:46:42.992
He's given us the words, though.
00:46:42.992 --> 00:46:46.328
I would love to just have a chance to pray for those who
00:46:46.328 --> 00:46:49.431
May be watching and feel like they're somehow forsaken or
00:46:49.431 --> 00:46:52.501
Feel like there's no way they can give god thanks for the
00:46:52.501 --> 00:46:56.105
Situation that they're in.
00:46:56.105 --> 00:46:58.007
Look, we've all been there.
00:46:58.007 --> 00:46:59.208
I think we've all shared stories where we were in some
00:46:59.208 --> 00:47:00.309
Dark places and yet god was faithful in that.
00:47:00.309 --> 00:47:03.379
And so i'd love for us to join our faith to theirs and pray
00:47:03.379 --> 00:47:05.814
For them.
00:47:05.814 --> 00:47:07.316
We thank you, father, that you are an ever-present help.
00:47:07.316 --> 00:47:11.553
You are not a god who is far removed from your people.
00:47:11.553 --> 00:47:15.157
You are in it with us.
00:47:15.157 --> 00:47:16.959
God, we just thank you for loving us.
00:47:16.959 --> 00:47:20.195
We thank you, god, for knowing what we need when we don't
00:47:20.195 --> 00:47:23.032
Even have the words to pray what we need.
00:47:23.032 --> 00:47:24.833
And i pray, god, for everyone who may be watching this right
00:47:24.833 --> 00:47:28.203
Now, lord, who has found themselves in a place where
00:47:28.203 --> 00:47:30.105
They're struggling to thank you because the cracks in
00:47:30.105 --> 00:47:33.008
Their heart are so significant that they just don't even
00:47:33.008 --> 00:47:37.880
Think there's anything to be grateful for.
00:47:37.880 --> 00:47:40.015
God, i ask you to open the eyes of their heart so that
00:47:40.015 --> 00:47:43.285
They can see you in this situation.
00:47:43.285 --> 00:47:45.721
I pray, god, that you will surround them with a community
00:47:45.721 --> 00:47:49.258
Of people who will encourage them and who will love them to
00:47:49.258 --> 00:47:51.460
A place of knowing that they are seen and they are
00:47:51.460 --> 00:47:54.997
Understood.
00:47:54.997 --> 00:47:56.332
And, father, in all things, i pray that you are glorified.
00:47:56.332 --> 00:47:58.500
I pray that you are magnified, and i pray that the kingdom of
00:47:58.500 --> 00:48:03.339
Darkness is terrified as they recognize that you walk with
00:48:03.339 --> 00:48:06.108
Us and through us.
00:48:06.108 --> 00:48:07.242
In jesus name i pray.
00:48:07.242 --> 00:48:09.778
Amen.
00:48:09.778 --> 00:48:11.347
Connect with us on social media and let us know how our
00:48:11.347 --> 00:48:15.384
Team can pray for you.
00:48:15.384 --> 00:48:18.587
♪ (music playing) ♪
00:48:18.587 --> 00:48:22.191
- hey everybody my name is nona and
00:48:22.191 --> 00:48:26.028
I'm here with sheila and we are answering some viewer
00:48:26.028 --> 00:48:28.130
Questions today for better together.
00:48:28.130 --> 00:48:29.932
And so, maggie wrote to us on instagram, and this is a
00:48:29.932 --> 00:48:33.569
Really important question.
00:48:33.569 --> 00:48:35.037
She said, "the hurt inside is so strong.
00:48:35.037 --> 00:48:38.007
I struggle every day to trust god.
00:48:38.007 --> 00:48:40.376
I read god's word and i pray often.
00:48:40.376 --> 00:48:43.145
Everybody says, keep pushing, but it has been six years.
00:48:43.145 --> 00:48:47.049
How do i receive what god has?
00:48:47.049 --> 00:48:50.119
What am i doing so wrong?”
00:48:50.119 --> 00:48:53.122
I feel like this question was almost tailor-made for you to
00:48:53.122 --> 00:48:54.723
Speak to, sheila.
00:48:54.723 --> 00:48:57.026
- first of all, honestly, you know what, maggie, i wish we
00:48:57.026 --> 00:49:00.295
Could sit down and have coffee together.
00:49:00.295 --> 00:49:02.064
I wish we could have, like, a proper conversation because
00:49:02.064 --> 00:49:05.167
There's obviously so much that's going on in your life.
00:49:05.167 --> 00:49:08.470
And first of all, nona and i would just want to say that
00:49:08.470 --> 00:49:10.973
We're so sorry for whatever is hard in your life.
00:49:10.973 --> 00:49:13.842
But i would want to remind you that even in the hardest times
00:49:13.842 --> 00:49:16.779
That god is with you.
00:49:16.779 --> 00:49:19.214
Sometimes we walk through things that are just
00:49:19.214 --> 00:49:21.683
Inconceivable and we think, well, when's it going to be
00:49:21.683 --> 00:49:24.853
Over?
00:49:24.853 --> 00:49:26.155
I just would like to remind you of a- the power of the
00:49:26.155 --> 00:49:29.058
Word of god.
00:49:29.058 --> 00:49:30.092
Let me give you an example.
00:49:30.092 --> 00:49:31.427
I was supposed to be speaking somewhere and i had a terrible
00:49:31.427 --> 00:49:32.761
Sore throat and i woke up and i didn't feel good and i felt
00:49:32.761 --> 00:49:35.397
This kind of condemnation of the enemy, you know, you
00:49:35.397 --> 00:49:39.168
Shouldn't go, you're by your best, let somebody else go,
00:49:39.168 --> 00:49:40.502
Don't do this.
00:49:40.502 --> 00:49:43.772
And what i try to do is to counter all of that stuff with
00:49:43.772 --> 00:49:46.108
The truth of the word of god.
00:49:46.108 --> 00:49:47.342
And so i literally just looked at myself in the bathroom
00:49:47.342 --> 00:49:52.314
Mirror and said, i can do all things through christ who
00:49:52.314 --> 00:49:54.783
Gives me strength.
00:49:54.783 --> 00:49:56.418
So we're going to pray for you, maggie, you would know
00:49:56.418 --> 00:49:58.720
The strength of god in this and you would hold on to
00:49:58.720 --> 00:50:01.557
Jesus.
00:50:01.557 --> 00:50:02.591
Lord, right now i just want to pray for maggie.
00:50:02.591 --> 00:50:04.493
Right now i ask, lord, in jesus' name.
00:50:04.493 --> 00:50:08.263
Whatever this bondage is over her, that you would break it,
00:50:08.263 --> 00:50:11.100
Lord.
00:50:11.100 --> 00:50:12.067
I pray for chains to fall in jesus' name.
00:50:12.067 --> 00:50:13.969
Lord, i pray that you would anoint her from the top of her
00:50:13.969 --> 00:50:19.575
Head to the bottom of her feet, fill her afresh with the
00:50:19.575 --> 00:50:21.276
Holy spirit, with hope, with peace, with joy, knowing that
00:50:21.276 --> 00:50:25.848
She is a daughter of the king of kings, and you love her.
00:50:25.848 --> 00:50:28.617
And we ask it in the powerful name of jesus.
00:50:28.617 --> 00:50:29.718
Amen.
00:50:29.718 --> 00:50:33.388
- stream full episodes of better together on demand.
00:50:33.388 --> 00:50:37.426
Go to bettertogether.tv to stream all of our latest
00:50:37.426 --> 00:50:41.797
Conversations.
00:50:41.797 --> 00:50:42.965
Join our conversations anytime, anywhere, download
00:50:42.965 --> 00:50:46.735
Tbn plus to stream your favorite episodes.
00:50:46.735 --> 00:50:49.404
♪ (music playing) ♪
00:50:49.404 --> 00:50:49.404

How Gratitude Unlocks Blessing - Episode 1116

November 17, 2025 | S7 E1116 | 52:34

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