WEBVTT 00:00:10.940 --> 00:00:14.199 Welcome to Hub City Vineyard. To get connected 00:00:14.199 --> 00:00:17.780 or to give online, please go to hcv .church slash 00:00:17.780 --> 00:00:21.960 connect or hcv .church slash give. If at any 00:00:21.960 --> 00:00:24.199 point during this message you feel called to 00:00:24.199 --> 00:00:27.039 make a change in your life, text CHANGEME to 00:00:27.039 --> 00:00:33.750 97000. Now enjoy the message. All right, I knew 00:00:33.750 --> 00:00:38.149 that would be a mixed reaction, right? I want 00:00:38.149 --> 00:00:41.729 nothing to do with the cold, so I'm trying to 00:00:41.729 --> 00:00:46.030 cheer myself up that fall is here. Just a couple 00:00:46.030 --> 00:00:48.590 things I want to highlight. If you want to learn 00:00:48.590 --> 00:00:50.570 more about our community of faith, I'm doing 00:00:50.570 --> 00:00:54.770 Start With Why directly after this today. A reminder 00:00:54.770 --> 00:00:57.170 that next weekend is our Compassion Weekend. 00:00:57.170 --> 00:00:59.810 I've been talking about the run for about a month 00:00:59.810 --> 00:01:02.740 now. We're over 100 runners now, and I've been 00:01:02.740 --> 00:01:04.560 talking about getting a runner and signing a 00:01:04.560 --> 00:01:06.700 runner up. Listen, you don't have to be a runner 00:01:06.700 --> 00:01:10.359 to participate. Our family fun run is going to 00:01:10.359 --> 00:01:15.040 include Kung Fu Panda, Batman, Superman, okay, 00:01:15.140 --> 00:01:19.159 and Godzilla. So the thing about Godzilla, you 00:01:19.159 --> 00:01:21.739 know, you don't need to be a runner to participate. 00:01:21.819 --> 00:01:24.900 Sign up, change a child's life by getting them 00:01:24.900 --> 00:01:27.340 out of poverty. All the proceeds goes directly. 00:01:28.109 --> 00:01:30.750 to Compassion International. I do want to highlight 00:01:30.750 --> 00:01:34.150 that next weekend, our National Director of Vineyard 00:01:34.150 --> 00:01:36.269 USA, Jay Pathak, will be with us all weekend 00:01:36.269 --> 00:01:39.189 long. He'll be leading and preaching at our three 00:01:39.189 --> 00:01:41.469 Sunday morning gatherings. He will be at the 00:01:41.469 --> 00:01:43.590 Gather event next Sunday night. We all know about 00:01:43.590 --> 00:01:46.629 the Gather event next Sunday night, right? Boxcar 00:01:46.629 --> 00:01:50.349 Stadium. We're expecting thousands. Everyone 00:01:50.349 --> 00:01:53.739 say thousands. I'm believing for $4 ,000 or $5 00:01:53.739 --> 00:01:55.939 ,000. My good friend Rick Vance is believing 00:01:55.939 --> 00:02:00.900 for $20 ,000. Maybe we'll land somewhere in the 00:02:00.900 --> 00:02:04.060 middle. I have no idea. The point is, show up, 00:02:04.159 --> 00:02:08.099 bring some friends, pack the house. It's going 00:02:08.099 --> 00:02:10.599 to be a great night of gathering in the city 00:02:10.599 --> 00:02:14.419 center. Remember, the stadium that was supposed 00:02:14.419 --> 00:02:17.020 to bring about revival for downtown Hagerstown, 00:02:17.080 --> 00:02:23.360 we're going to bring spiritual revival. All right. 00:02:24.199 --> 00:02:28.259 So let's stand back up. We're going to share 00:02:28.259 --> 00:02:32.000 in communion. It's the first Sunday of the month. 00:02:32.099 --> 00:02:33.900 If you're new to our community of faith, every 00:02:33.900 --> 00:02:35.599 first Sunday of the month we share communion 00:02:35.599 --> 00:02:39.580 together. Let's stay on track. Let's stay on 00:02:39.580 --> 00:02:41.599 track. If you need an element, put your hand 00:02:41.599 --> 00:02:45.379 up real high and keep it up. If you need gluten 00:02:45.379 --> 00:02:50.080 -free, put two hands up real high. And I'm going 00:02:50.080 --> 00:02:53.000 to be sharing with you as we prepare. to take 00:02:53.000 --> 00:02:56.360 communion together. So this morning, we're kicking 00:02:56.360 --> 00:02:59.919 off a new series called Gratitude. And before 00:02:59.919 --> 00:03:02.539 we launch into communion, I want to read for 00:03:02.539 --> 00:03:05.840 you two familiar passages from the Bible that 00:03:05.840 --> 00:03:11.039 were a part of Paul's letter to a church that 00:03:11.039 --> 00:03:13.360 he accidentally started while trying to get to 00:03:13.360 --> 00:03:16.439 Asia but ended up in Europe. Accidentally started. 00:03:16.680 --> 00:03:20.960 Paul is chained to a Roman soldier in prison. 00:03:21.680 --> 00:03:25.039 And listen, if you feel like this morning that 00:03:25.039 --> 00:03:26.800 your life's not working out the way you want 00:03:26.800 --> 00:03:29.979 it to, it's not going in the direction you desire, 00:03:30.300 --> 00:03:32.439 what if God has something better planned for 00:03:32.439 --> 00:03:35.360 you? What if God has ordained you to go through 00:03:35.360 --> 00:03:37.659 this difficult season so that he can reveal to 00:03:37.659 --> 00:03:41.060 you his plans in the next months or even years 00:03:41.060 --> 00:03:44.120 so that you then express gratitude into your 00:03:44.120 --> 00:03:48.560 life? Philippians 4, 12 through 13 reads, I know 00:03:48.560 --> 00:03:51.319 how to live on almost nothing. or with everything. 00:03:51.919 --> 00:03:54.879 I have learned the secret of living in every 00:03:54.879 --> 00:03:58.400 situation. Whether it's with a full stomach or 00:03:58.400 --> 00:04:01.979 empty, with plenty or little, I can do everything 00:04:01.979 --> 00:04:09.379 through Christ who gives me strength. So at HTV, 00:04:09.400 --> 00:04:12.360 we believe that when we share communion together, 00:04:12.520 --> 00:04:17.199 it's just not something we do. This was a commandment 00:04:17.199 --> 00:04:20.670 of Jesus. an ordinance left for us to participate 00:04:20.670 --> 00:04:25.449 in. And we believe that as we partake in this 00:04:25.449 --> 00:04:29.470 bread, in this juice, as we allow ourselves and 00:04:29.470 --> 00:04:32.050 open ourselves up to get real with God, that 00:04:32.050 --> 00:04:35.790 he supernaturally speaks to us. So get your heart 00:04:35.790 --> 00:04:40.970 right. Search your heart. If there's sin, if 00:04:40.970 --> 00:04:44.089 there's brokenness, lay it down before as we 00:04:44.089 --> 00:04:47.410 take these elements. Because I believe as we 00:04:47.410 --> 00:04:49.990 take these elements, the Holy Spirit can free 00:04:49.990 --> 00:04:53.750 you. Free you of sin, free you of addiction. 00:04:54.430 --> 00:04:57.930 That a supernatural encounter can happen right 00:04:57.930 --> 00:05:00.490 here, right now, this morning. In Jesus' name. 00:05:01.149 --> 00:05:04.290 So in the night that he was betrayed, Jesus took 00:05:04.290 --> 00:05:07.170 bread, broke it, gave it to his disciples and 00:05:07.170 --> 00:05:10.430 said, Take, eat. This is my body, which is broken 00:05:10.430 --> 00:05:15.269 for you. Do it in remembrance of me. Let's eat. 00:05:21.780 --> 00:05:24.420 Likewise, after supper, he took the cup of wine, 00:05:24.540 --> 00:05:27.560 said, this is my blood which is shed for you 00:05:27.560 --> 00:05:31.600 and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Drink 00:05:31.600 --> 00:05:35.680 it often. And as you do, do it in remembrance 00:05:35.680 --> 00:05:39.819 of me. Search our hearts, God. Reveal to us any 00:05:39.819 --> 00:05:42.579 areas of our life that are not lining up with 00:05:42.579 --> 00:05:52.009 yours. Let's drink. Holy Spirit, come. We are 00:05:52.009 --> 00:05:56.050 thankful we celebrate all that Jesus did for 00:05:56.050 --> 00:06:00.910 us. His broken body, his shed blood. I ask now, 00:06:00.970 --> 00:06:02.829 God, that you would silence any distraction, 00:06:03.050 --> 00:06:05.250 any lies of the enemy, God. You would open our 00:06:05.250 --> 00:06:08.029 minds, our ears, and our hearts to receive all 00:06:08.029 --> 00:06:12.829 that you have for us. In Jesus' name, amen. You 00:06:12.829 --> 00:06:20.189 may be seated. So I know what many of you are 00:06:20.189 --> 00:06:23.009 thinking right now. Chris, what's up with the 00:06:23.009 --> 00:06:31.550 cape? Why are you wearing Phoenix's cape? So 00:06:31.550 --> 00:06:36.589 have you ever thought about what superpower you 00:06:36.589 --> 00:06:39.189 would like to have if you could pick one of the 00:06:39.189 --> 00:06:44.470 many superpowers? Because I think all of us in 00:06:44.470 --> 00:06:47.129 today's age could benefit from a superpower. 00:06:48.300 --> 00:06:50.800 What would you choose? Would you choose super 00:06:50.800 --> 00:06:53.480 speed so you can be speedy and get everything 00:06:53.480 --> 00:06:56.439 done quickly? How about super strength in flight? 00:06:56.639 --> 00:06:58.459 I've always thought it would be just cool to 00:06:58.459 --> 00:07:03.500 fly. Invisibility? Mind power to control all 00:07:03.500 --> 00:07:06.740 the sea creatures in the oceans? How about the 00:07:06.740 --> 00:07:09.060 ability to shoot spider webs from your wrists, 00:07:09.240 --> 00:07:12.500 swing from skyscrapers, and kiss girls upside 00:07:12.500 --> 00:07:20.389 down? Who doesn't want to do that? Or, to quote 00:07:20.389 --> 00:07:23.870 Michael Scott from The Office, Jesus had the 00:07:23.870 --> 00:07:28.529 power of flight and could heal leopards. Yes, 00:07:28.569 --> 00:07:33.769 he did say that. Which superpower would you have? 00:07:34.350 --> 00:07:39.310 We all want one, but what if I told you all of 00:07:39.310 --> 00:07:42.870 us could have one today? Which leads us to our 00:07:42.870 --> 00:07:48.929 first thought. Gratitude is a superpower. Gratitude 00:07:48.929 --> 00:07:52.449 was the reason Paul could write a letter of encouragement 00:07:52.449 --> 00:07:56.529 and contentment from a prison cell to a church 00:07:56.529 --> 00:07:59.449 full of people he desperately wanted to be with. 00:07:59.910 --> 00:08:04.790 Picture it. A cold, rat -infested dungeon floor 00:08:04.790 --> 00:08:08.910 shackled to a prison guard. We find Paul writing 00:08:08.910 --> 00:08:12.389 a letter of gratitude as he shares these words 00:08:12.389 --> 00:08:16.370 from Philippians 4. I know how to live on almost 00:08:16.370 --> 00:08:34.669 nothing. Now not only does gratitude release 00:08:34.669 --> 00:08:38.509 God's power into our lives, it also triggers 00:08:38.509 --> 00:08:42.830 the happy hormones in our brains. According to 00:08:42.830 --> 00:08:47.830 Harvard Health Publishing, is strongly and consistently 00:08:47.830 --> 00:08:50.929 associated with greater happiness. Gratitude 00:08:50.929 --> 00:08:54.610 helps people feel more positive emotions, relish 00:08:54.610 --> 00:08:57.429 good experiences, improve their health, deal 00:08:57.429 --> 00:09:01.149 with adversity, and build strong relationships. 00:09:01.909 --> 00:09:05.350 Other studies have shown by daily practicing 00:09:05.350 --> 00:09:09.509 gratitude, it almost immediately begins to make 00:09:09.509 --> 00:09:12.570 seismic shifts in the rest of your life when 00:09:12.570 --> 00:09:14.490 it comes to your mental and physical health. 00:09:15.080 --> 00:09:18.480 Gratitude helps to build resilience for future 00:09:18.480 --> 00:09:23.480 trauma and helps us to reframe past hurts, pain, 00:09:23.720 --> 00:09:27.759 and trauma. Gratitude helps to calm the fear 00:09:27.759 --> 00:09:30.899 networks in our brains, increasing the neural 00:09:30.899 --> 00:09:33.720 circuits responsible for creating motivation 00:09:33.720 --> 00:09:37.240 in life while simultaneously decreasing the neural 00:09:37.240 --> 00:09:40.899 circuits responsible for anxiety. Scientists 00:09:40.899 --> 00:09:44.159 are actually now calling gratitude the fountain 00:09:44.159 --> 00:09:47.360 of youth for our brains, keeping our minds young, 00:09:47.580 --> 00:09:52.919 healthy, and agile. Gratitude stimulates a strong 00:09:52.919 --> 00:09:55.559 sense of well -being. And listen to this. Finally, 00:09:55.559 --> 00:10:01.019 gratitude is an incredibly potent anti -inflammatory. 00:10:02.279 --> 00:10:07.639 We don't need ibuprofen. We need gratitude. Because 00:10:07.639 --> 00:10:12.120 gratitude is a secret superpower, which leads 00:10:12.120 --> 00:10:15.159 us... To our second thought, practicing gratitude 00:10:15.159 --> 00:10:20.120 is actually God's will for our life. Paul writes 00:10:20.120 --> 00:10:23.100 these words to the church gathered in Thessalonica. 00:10:23.299 --> 00:10:27.500 1 Thessalonians 5, 16 through 18. Always be joyful. 00:10:28.360 --> 00:10:33.940 Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances. 00:10:34.419 --> 00:10:37.480 For this is God's will for you who belong to 00:10:37.480 --> 00:10:39.399 Christ Jesus. Now think about this for a second. 00:10:39.519 --> 00:10:42.809 As I was reading... Those three verses this week, 00:10:42.970 --> 00:10:46.669 did Paul just throw out the meaning of human 00:10:46.669 --> 00:10:50.710 existence in one verse? And the answer is yes. 00:10:51.750 --> 00:10:56.129 This is God's will for you. And what is his will? 00:10:56.529 --> 00:11:00.690 That we daily practice gratitude. Now, if I would 00:11:00.690 --> 00:11:02.990 have made a promo video for this series six weeks 00:11:02.990 --> 00:11:05.919 ago. And I would have invited you and all your 00:11:05.919 --> 00:11:08.820 friends to join us at HCV for October. I'm going 00:11:08.820 --> 00:11:12.039 to reveal to you God's plan, God's will for your 00:11:12.039 --> 00:11:14.659 life. We would have had a month full of packed 00:11:14.659 --> 00:11:17.960 house. Because everyone wants to know what God's 00:11:17.960 --> 00:11:21.220 will is for their life. Because when people hear 00:11:21.220 --> 00:11:23.519 the will of God, you know what their minds begin 00:11:23.519 --> 00:11:27.440 to think of? Who am I going to marry? What job 00:11:27.440 --> 00:11:30.700 should I be working? What does God want me to 00:11:30.700 --> 00:11:34.419 do with my life? Should I marry this man or should 00:11:34.419 --> 00:11:37.799 I be dating her? Should I take this job or should 00:11:37.799 --> 00:11:40.360 I relocate and move from Maryland to Virginia 00:11:40.360 --> 00:11:44.879 or Florida? Listen, God cares about all areas 00:11:44.879 --> 00:11:47.840 of our life. He cares about our families, cares 00:11:47.840 --> 00:11:50.340 about our jobs, our kids, our health. I believe 00:11:50.340 --> 00:11:52.360 he even cares about our parking spot when we're 00:11:52.360 --> 00:11:57.159 going to Sam's. And why do I know that? Because 00:11:57.159 --> 00:12:00.659 our God has no beginning or no end. He cannot 00:12:00.659 --> 00:12:04.220 be exhausted. He cannot be bothered by you. I 00:12:04.220 --> 00:12:07.100 dare you, every single one of you this week to 00:12:07.100 --> 00:12:10.580 try and bother God. Because there's nothing more 00:12:10.580 --> 00:12:13.279 that our Father in Heaven wants than for His 00:12:13.279 --> 00:12:17.059 kids to bother Him. To spend time with Him. Talk 00:12:17.059 --> 00:12:19.320 His ear off about all the stuff you're happy 00:12:19.320 --> 00:12:22.759 about, you don't like, you're struggling with. 00:12:23.539 --> 00:12:27.779 He desires we get close to Him. All those prayer 00:12:27.779 --> 00:12:32.110 requests. All those questions about God's plan 00:12:32.110 --> 00:12:38.110 for my life. Allow it to be noted that his priority 00:12:38.110 --> 00:12:43.990 for us, his will for us, according to these verses, 00:12:44.250 --> 00:12:49.070 is that we're always joyful. We never stop praying. 00:12:49.570 --> 00:12:54.090 And we're grateful. That's his will for you and 00:12:54.090 --> 00:12:57.879 me. And imagine. Imagine if we lived like that 00:12:57.879 --> 00:13:01.120 every single day. The tri -state area would be 00:13:01.120 --> 00:13:04.080 transformed because it would make a difference 00:13:04.080 --> 00:13:06.980 in our lives, which would then spill out into 00:13:06.980 --> 00:13:11.340 everybody else in our sphere of influence. So 00:13:11.340 --> 00:13:15.840 let's look at the four ways gratitude makes us 00:13:15.840 --> 00:13:19.279 alive and free. Four ways gratitude makes us 00:13:19.279 --> 00:13:22.460 alive and free. Number one, gratitude unlocks 00:13:22.460 --> 00:13:26.460 the door to God's presence. Psalm 100, verse 00:13:26.460 --> 00:13:31.519 4. Enter his gates with thanksgiving. Go into 00:13:31.519 --> 00:13:34.580 his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and 00:13:34.580 --> 00:13:38.200 praise his name. God's presence on our lives 00:13:38.200 --> 00:13:42.559 means we have more of God's power in our life. 00:13:42.740 --> 00:13:47.159 Jesus shares this with us in Mark 10, 27. Jesus 00:13:47.159 --> 00:13:50.159 looked at them intently. He looks at us and he 00:13:50.159 --> 00:13:54.000 says, humanly speaking, it is impossible. But 00:13:54.000 --> 00:13:57.620 not with God. Everything is possible with God. 00:13:58.000 --> 00:14:02.379 In other words, be encouraged. We can't do it 00:14:02.379 --> 00:14:05.659 on our own, but we can do it with God's power. 00:14:05.980 --> 00:14:08.360 And that's why Paul writes to us in Philippians 00:14:08.360 --> 00:14:15.440 4 .13, I can do everything. How? Through Christ 00:14:15.440 --> 00:14:20.580 who gives me strength. Gratitude unlocks the 00:14:20.580 --> 00:14:24.639 door to God's presence. See, gratitude is the 00:14:24.639 --> 00:14:27.639 difference between shouting and screaming our 00:14:27.639 --> 00:14:30.539 prayers from outside of the house to having a 00:14:30.539 --> 00:14:32.879 heart -to -heart, face -to -face with God at 00:14:32.879 --> 00:14:35.559 the kitchen table in his presence like his son 00:14:35.559 --> 00:14:40.200 or like his daughter. We enter into his courts. 00:14:40.299 --> 00:14:44.200 We enter into his presence with thanksgiving. 00:14:44.700 --> 00:14:47.700 Thanksgiving is not one day a year. For Jesus 00:14:47.700 --> 00:14:52.659 followers, it should be 365 days. And what is 00:14:52.659 --> 00:14:55.620 the power of being grateful? Remember the story 00:14:55.620 --> 00:14:58.659 of the prodigal son from Luke chapter 15? See, 00:14:58.720 --> 00:15:02.639 the focus of Jesus' parable quite often goes 00:15:02.639 --> 00:15:07.639 to the lost son who spent all of the father's 00:15:07.639 --> 00:15:11.559 inheritance. But let's not forget about the older 00:15:11.559 --> 00:15:15.879 son that remained in the fields, working, earning, 00:15:16.200 --> 00:15:20.220 serving his father. Unfortunately, though, his... 00:15:20.440 --> 00:15:24.659 earning leads to his entitlement. His entitlement 00:15:24.659 --> 00:15:29.240 keeps him outside of the father's house, outside 00:15:29.240 --> 00:15:32.259 of his father's presence. And please understand, 00:15:32.340 --> 00:15:35.340 this isn't a salvation issue. This is a blessing 00:15:35.340 --> 00:15:38.279 issue. The father didn't want his older son outside 00:15:38.279 --> 00:15:41.299 of the house. The father wanted his son in the 00:15:41.299 --> 00:15:44.120 house celebrating that his brother had returned 00:15:44.120 --> 00:15:48.960 home and joined the party. But entitlement was 00:15:48.960 --> 00:15:51.679 the son keeping himself out of the house with 00:15:51.679 --> 00:15:54.720 a scarcity mindset. Let's read the story, Luke 00:15:54.720 --> 00:15:58.799 15. The older brother was angry and wouldn't 00:15:58.799 --> 00:16:01.379 go in. His father came out and begged him, but 00:16:01.379 --> 00:16:05.019 he replied, all these years I've slaved for you 00:16:05.019 --> 00:16:07.379 and never once refused to do a single thing you 00:16:07.379 --> 00:16:09.960 told me to do. And in all that time, you never 00:16:09.960 --> 00:16:12.340 gave me even one young goat for a feast with 00:16:12.340 --> 00:16:15.059 my friends. Yet when this son of yours comes 00:16:15.059 --> 00:16:17.600 back after squandering your money on prostitutes, 00:16:17.720 --> 00:16:21.679 you celebrate by killing the fattened calf. His 00:16:21.679 --> 00:16:25.179 father said to him, look, dear son, you've always 00:16:25.179 --> 00:16:28.639 stayed by me and everything I have is yours. 00:16:29.799 --> 00:16:33.100 What does a scarcity mindset look like for us? 00:16:33.820 --> 00:16:36.940 That promotion he got, it should have been mine. 00:16:37.639 --> 00:16:40.759 That life that she's living, those pictures I 00:16:40.759 --> 00:16:44.179 see on Facebook, on Instagram, they should be 00:16:44.179 --> 00:16:48.639 mine. I deserve a party like that. I deserve 00:16:48.639 --> 00:16:53.240 it, not them. Entitlement leads to a scarcity 00:16:53.240 --> 00:16:56.480 mindset that keeps us out of God's presence, 00:16:56.659 --> 00:17:00.759 while gratitude leads us into God's presence. 00:17:01.320 --> 00:17:05.079 John Gordon was quoted as saying, abundance flows 00:17:05.079 --> 00:17:09.220 into your life. When gratitude flows out of your 00:17:09.220 --> 00:17:14.220 heart. Our second way, gratitude takes what we 00:17:14.220 --> 00:17:18.819 have and makes it enough. Takes what we have 00:17:18.819 --> 00:17:23.539 and makes it enough. See, it's really hard to 00:17:23.539 --> 00:17:26.299 define gratitude without two words. Grateful 00:17:26.299 --> 00:17:30.619 and thankful. See, gratitude is when you have 00:17:30.619 --> 00:17:33.460 what you need because you want what you have. 00:17:34.539 --> 00:17:37.289 Gratitude. is when you have what you need because 00:17:37.289 --> 00:17:41.910 you want what you have. Let's look at the feeding 00:17:41.910 --> 00:17:45.410 of the 5 ,000 in John chapter 6. Then Andrew, 00:17:45.650 --> 00:17:49.170 Simon Beter's brother, spoke up. There's a young 00:17:49.170 --> 00:17:52.890 boy here with five barley loaves and two fish. 00:17:54.150 --> 00:17:59.890 In other words, it was a lunchable. Notice what 00:17:59.890 --> 00:18:03.349 they say. But what good is that with this huge 00:18:03.349 --> 00:18:07.420 crowd? Tell everyone to sit down, Jesus said. 00:18:08.220 --> 00:18:11.559 So they all sat down on the grassy slopes. The 00:18:11.559 --> 00:18:15.099 men alone numbered about 5 ,000. Then Jesus took 00:18:15.099 --> 00:18:20.599 the loaves and gave thanks to God and distributed 00:18:20.599 --> 00:18:23.119 them to the people. Afterward, he did the same 00:18:23.119 --> 00:18:25.920 with the fish. What did he do? He gave thanks 00:18:25.920 --> 00:18:30.819 to God. And notice, after giving thanks, they 00:18:30.819 --> 00:18:34.029 all ate as much as they wanted. After everyone 00:18:34.029 --> 00:18:36.349 was full, Jesus told his disciples, now gather 00:18:36.349 --> 00:18:41.210 the leftovers so nothing is wasted. At first, 00:18:41.230 --> 00:18:46.390 there wasn't enough food. But as soon as Jesus 00:18:46.390 --> 00:18:49.890 gives thanks, expresses gratitude for the food, 00:18:50.150 --> 00:18:53.769 then there's abundance. There's more than enough, 00:18:53.890 --> 00:18:57.809 even with leftovers. Gratitude takes what we 00:18:57.809 --> 00:19:02.750 have and makes it enough. Now, with that thought 00:19:02.750 --> 00:19:05.569 in mind, let's reread Philippians 4, 12 through 00:19:05.569 --> 00:19:10.089 13. I know how to live on almost nothing or with 00:19:10.089 --> 00:19:12.950 everything. So Paul's saying, church, regardless 00:19:12.950 --> 00:19:17.329 of what you have, Paul learned the secret of 00:19:17.329 --> 00:19:20.009 living in every situation. In other words, the 00:19:20.009 --> 00:19:23.609 secret of contentment, whether it's with a full 00:19:23.609 --> 00:19:25.950 stomach or empty, with plenty or little, I can 00:19:25.950 --> 00:19:30.069 do everything through Christ who gives me strength. 00:19:31.530 --> 00:19:36.069 Contentment is having and being enough. It has 00:19:36.069 --> 00:19:38.210 even been said that contentment is the greatest 00:19:38.210 --> 00:19:42.289 wealth there is in this world. Which means learning 00:19:42.289 --> 00:19:45.869 the secret to it might be the most valuable thing 00:19:45.869 --> 00:19:49.329 all of us can practice. I believe our world needs 00:19:49.329 --> 00:19:52.130 some inspiration right now from Jesus followers 00:19:52.130 --> 00:19:55.089 on how to live a life of contentment. Because 00:19:55.089 --> 00:19:58.450 there are very few people in our culture that 00:19:58.450 --> 00:20:01.670 actually live a life of contentment. Even though, 00:20:01.690 --> 00:20:05.569 think about this, we live in a day and age where 00:20:05.569 --> 00:20:08.710 we have infinity on our phones. Like we can take 00:20:08.710 --> 00:20:11.269 our phone out of our pocket. I literally can 00:20:11.269 --> 00:20:14.349 talk and have a face -to -face conversation with 00:20:14.349 --> 00:20:17.410 my son who is on the other side of the globe 00:20:17.410 --> 00:20:21.230 in Kenya right now. It's never been done before. 00:20:21.849 --> 00:20:24.789 Oh, and a quick Isaac update. He gave us an update 00:20:24.789 --> 00:20:28.279 on Wednesday. Isaac received his placement in 00:20:28.279 --> 00:20:31.460 Kenya for the next two years. He will be teaching 00:20:31.460 --> 00:20:35.140 in secondary school in one of the poorest villages 00:20:35.140 --> 00:20:38.880 in the country. And not only that, listen to 00:20:38.880 --> 00:20:43.140 this, listen to this, there has never been. A 00:20:43.140 --> 00:20:46.799 volunteer serve in this village. He will be the 00:20:46.799 --> 00:20:50.180 first outsider to ever walk foot into the village. 00:20:50.319 --> 00:20:53.539 And the only reason he is in that village is 00:20:53.539 --> 00:20:55.859 because a Lutheran church in the United States 00:20:55.859 --> 00:20:58.720 paid for the opportunity for him to be there. 00:20:58.859 --> 00:21:00.660 And you don't tell me God doesn't have a plan. 00:21:09.160 --> 00:21:11.099 But not only can I talk to my son on the other 00:21:11.099 --> 00:21:14.819 end of the world, we now have 72 -inch high -definition 00:21:14.819 --> 00:21:18.099 TVs that would have cost over $10 ,000 a decade 00:21:18.099 --> 00:21:21.119 ago, and I can leave here and want to go and 00:21:21.119 --> 00:21:27.049 buy one at Sam's Club for $500. Those TVs give 00:21:27.049 --> 00:21:30.130 us 4K access to millions of sports, TV shows 00:21:30.130 --> 00:21:32.569 and movies at the click of a button. We don't 00:21:32.569 --> 00:21:35.349 have to go to the theaters anymore. We can stay 00:21:35.349 --> 00:21:38.190 at home in our own living room. We can literally 00:21:38.190 --> 00:21:43.890 get a college degree on YouTube for free. You 00:21:43.890 --> 00:21:47.130 can listen to a podcast and receive enough advice 00:21:47.130 --> 00:21:49.150 and wisdom that you can start your own company 00:21:49.150 --> 00:21:52.480 tomorrow. You can book and schedule a flight 00:21:52.480 --> 00:21:56.099 today and travel anywhere you want to by Wednesday. 00:21:57.460 --> 00:21:59.960 After these gatherings, you can go out and grab 00:21:59.960 --> 00:22:04.079 lunch at hundreds of different restaurants around 00:22:04.079 --> 00:22:06.940 the tri -state area. We can eat a meal we didn't 00:22:06.940 --> 00:22:10.920 have to grow or hunt or kill. Heck, we don't 00:22:10.920 --> 00:22:12.700 even have to cook it. We can just sit there and 00:22:12.700 --> 00:22:17.299 be served. There are now more places to go with 00:22:17.299 --> 00:22:20.140 easier means to get there. More things to do, 00:22:20.240 --> 00:22:23.900 see, and experience than ever before. We truly 00:22:23.900 --> 00:22:26.720 live in the most entertained, available, and 00:22:26.720 --> 00:22:29.539 wealthy world in the history of man. Yet for 00:22:29.539 --> 00:22:32.940 much of the people in our country, they are bored. 00:22:35.160 --> 00:22:40.079 And miserable. They're bored. There's nothing 00:22:40.079 --> 00:22:45.960 to do. And the reason is, deep within us, there's 00:22:45.960 --> 00:22:50.279 this cry for more. More money, more success, 00:22:50.660 --> 00:22:55.420 more recognition, more stuff, more clothes, more, 00:22:55.480 --> 00:22:59.539 more, more. What is it for you? Is it the promotion? 00:23:00.619 --> 00:23:04.180 Is it a new house? Is it a dream school, a new 00:23:04.180 --> 00:23:06.839 car? Is it a husband? Is it a wife? Heck, for 00:23:06.839 --> 00:23:14.119 some of you, it's a date. Just saying. But we 00:23:14.119 --> 00:23:19.500 have to learn what it means to be content. We 00:23:19.500 --> 00:23:21.740 don't need more to have enough. We need gratitude. 00:23:22.440 --> 00:23:25.559 1 Timothy chapter 6, verses 6 through 8. A true 00:23:25.559 --> 00:23:30.799 godliness with contentment is what? Great wealth. 00:23:32.940 --> 00:23:36.480 You want to be a millionaire? Practice godliness 00:23:36.480 --> 00:23:39.829 with contentment. After all, we brought nothing 00:23:39.829 --> 00:23:41.890 with us when we come into the world and we can't 00:23:41.890 --> 00:23:45.049 take anything with us when we leave it. So if 00:23:45.049 --> 00:23:49.109 we have enough food and clothing, let us be content. 00:23:50.970 --> 00:23:55.450 Gratitude takes what we have and makes it enough. 00:23:55.529 --> 00:23:59.509 Our third reason, gratitude reframes how we see 00:23:59.509 --> 00:24:02.349 the world. Now, many of you know I got a new 00:24:02.349 --> 00:24:05.960 Spectacles about six. And these new glasses that 00:24:05.960 --> 00:24:09.539 I've been wearing are absolutely amazing. Right? 00:24:09.579 --> 00:24:12.480 When I'm wearing these glasses, the world around 00:24:12.480 --> 00:24:17.019 me is better. I get it. So I can see. Right? 00:24:17.400 --> 00:24:21.700 It's clear. It's not like trees walking around 00:24:21.700 --> 00:24:28.960 with eyeballs. I can see with fresh eyes. Gratitude 00:24:28.960 --> 00:24:34.779 is seeing life with these new glasses. It's just 00:24:34.779 --> 00:24:37.980 better than normal. It's exercising our superpower. 00:24:39.460 --> 00:24:44.140 This is normal for human beings. On average, 00:24:44.180 --> 00:24:49.119 we think 40 ,000 thoughts every single day. 40 00:24:49.119 --> 00:24:53.980 ,000 thoughts. And it's normal for 80 % of them, 00:24:54.019 --> 00:24:56.720 four out of five of those thoughts, to drift 00:24:56.720 --> 00:24:59.660 in the negative direction. Four out of five of 00:24:59.660 --> 00:25:01.380 our thoughts daily drift towards negativity. 00:25:02.029 --> 00:25:04.529 And why is that? The survival instinct of our 00:25:04.529 --> 00:25:08.390 brains makes us much more prone to notice what 00:25:08.390 --> 00:25:11.549 is wrong as opposed to what is actually right. 00:25:12.410 --> 00:25:15.769 Then we focus on what we don't have rather than 00:25:15.769 --> 00:25:18.849 focusing on what we do have. That's why bad news 00:25:18.849 --> 00:25:22.109 sells. The news media outlets, they focus on 00:25:22.109 --> 00:25:25.589 the bad news. Heck, you can bond with a friend, 00:25:25.730 --> 00:25:29.279 realize you both hate something. And then say, 00:25:29.420 --> 00:25:32.339 let's start a podcast and make thousands of dollars. 00:25:33.799 --> 00:25:37.619 Because you're simply mad. Psychiatrists call 00:25:37.619 --> 00:25:40.660 this the negativity bias because mad is easier. 00:25:41.319 --> 00:25:47.039 Cynical is easier. Complaining is easier. Have 00:25:47.039 --> 00:25:49.859 you ever noticed that modern pessimists now call 00:25:49.859 --> 00:25:53.819 themselves realists? When in reality, it's a 00:25:53.819 --> 00:25:56.680 lie. Authentic realism is focusing on the bad 00:25:56.680 --> 00:25:59.779 and the good at the same time. So if we naturally 00:25:59.779 --> 00:26:02.079 drift towards what is wrong, which we now know, 00:26:02.180 --> 00:26:08.599 what is negative, then we need a nudge, a kick 00:26:08.599 --> 00:26:11.079 in the butt from the Holy Spirit to move towards 00:26:11.079 --> 00:26:15.880 what is right. And that is faith. Faith is genuine 00:26:15.880 --> 00:26:18.039 realism. And when we combine that with gratitude, 00:26:18.180 --> 00:26:21.380 daily gratitude, blessings flow, Matthew 13, 00:26:21.579 --> 00:26:24.420 16, but blessed are your eyes because they see 00:26:24.420 --> 00:26:29.109 and your ears because they hear. Friends, the 00:26:29.109 --> 00:26:33.009 kingdom of God is here right now. And as Jesus 00:26:33.009 --> 00:26:37.690 followers, we are called. We are called to bring 00:26:37.690 --> 00:26:40.250 that new reality to earth right now. We're to 00:26:40.250 --> 00:26:43.490 pray it daily. Thy kingdom come. And that happens 00:26:43.490 --> 00:26:47.029 with gratitude. Because the one who is grateful 00:26:47.029 --> 00:26:51.390 will see what everyone else cannot. While society 00:26:51.390 --> 00:26:54.670 walks around stirring with anxiety, their hearts 00:26:54.670 --> 00:26:56.730 focused on everything negative, whether past, 00:26:56.849 --> 00:27:00.269 present, or future, gratitude gives us new eyes 00:27:00.269 --> 00:27:04.809 to see the same world through a kingdom lens. 00:27:05.049 --> 00:27:07.970 Paul writes these words a few verses earlier 00:27:07.970 --> 00:27:10.549 in Philippians 4 .8. And now, dear brothers and 00:27:10.549 --> 00:27:14.009 sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts, 00:27:14.250 --> 00:27:20.069 40 ,000 thoughts, on what is true. And honorable 00:27:20.069 --> 00:27:21.970 and right and pure and lovely and admirable. 00:27:22.170 --> 00:27:24.190 Think about things that are excellent and worthy 00:27:24.190 --> 00:27:27.430 of praise. So he's not telling us to just pretend 00:27:27.430 --> 00:27:29.930 there's no negativity in the world. Paul understands 00:27:29.930 --> 00:27:35.750 the patterns of human nature. He knows our focus 00:27:35.750 --> 00:27:39.670 is going to drift towards the bad. Way more than 00:27:39.670 --> 00:27:43.049 the good. So Paul asked the question, church, 00:27:43.130 --> 00:27:45.410 what is right in front of you to be grateful 00:27:45.410 --> 00:27:49.400 for? Because when we practice gratitude, We don't 00:27:49.400 --> 00:27:52.740 have to pretend. Practicing gratitude allows 00:27:52.740 --> 00:27:56.039 us to think about things that are excellent and 00:27:56.039 --> 00:28:00.559 worthy of praise. But it's not going to be easy. 00:28:00.799 --> 00:28:03.440 These past few weeks in preparation for this 00:28:03.440 --> 00:28:06.579 series and for this talk today, God has been 00:28:06.579 --> 00:28:09.299 changing my heart by having a grateful outlook 00:28:09.299 --> 00:28:13.759 on life. And this grateful outlook on life means 00:28:13.759 --> 00:28:18.150 that I cry a lot more. But it's not negative 00:28:18.150 --> 00:28:23.809 cries. It's tearful cries of joy and abundance 00:28:23.809 --> 00:28:29.630 and happiness. Tears are just a part of it. Finally, 00:28:29.630 --> 00:28:31.569 our fourth thing, gratitude gets us through any 00:28:31.569 --> 00:28:34.049 trouble this world throws at us. Now many of 00:28:34.049 --> 00:28:35.990 us know we're going to have trouble. Jesus' words 00:28:35.990 --> 00:28:38.769 in John 16, I have told you all this so you may 00:28:38.769 --> 00:28:42.549 have peace in me. Here on earth, you're going 00:28:42.549 --> 00:28:45.269 to have trials and sorrow. But take heart because 00:28:45.269 --> 00:28:49.910 I've overcome the world. See, the JV level of 00:28:49.910 --> 00:28:53.809 gratitude is being grateful for good things that 00:28:53.809 --> 00:28:58.230 go right. Everyone can do that. That's JV. But 00:28:58.230 --> 00:29:02.210 when we graduate in gratitude to the varsity 00:29:02.210 --> 00:29:06.490 team, this is what it looks like. Being grateful 00:29:06.490 --> 00:29:10.539 even when it doesn't. And it's not easy when 00:29:10.539 --> 00:29:12.220 things aren't going right, working out the way 00:29:12.220 --> 00:29:16.220 we want them to. It's frustrating. We get negative. 00:29:16.279 --> 00:29:20.900 We can feel it coming on. But what if this trial 00:29:20.900 --> 00:29:24.019 is creating a better version of you? What if 00:29:24.019 --> 00:29:27.160 this valley is making us stronger and releases 00:29:27.160 --> 00:29:29.440 God's presence into areas of our lives that we've 00:29:29.440 --> 00:29:35.339 never allowed Him to go? I don't know why bad 00:29:35.339 --> 00:29:38.710 things happen in this world. I don't have all 00:29:38.710 --> 00:29:42.789 the answers. It's called faith. And I am no way 00:29:42.789 --> 00:29:45.450 saying that God wants us to be happy about heartache. 00:29:46.269 --> 00:29:48.849 The Bible tells us that God grieves with us, 00:29:48.970 --> 00:29:53.210 counts our tears, walks us through our pain. 00:29:54.009 --> 00:29:57.309 But we have to learn to praise God for what the 00:29:57.309 --> 00:30:01.329 pain will produce in our life. That is varsity 00:30:01.329 --> 00:30:06.710 level gratitude. Romans 8, 28, and we know that 00:30:06.710 --> 00:30:09.170 God causes everything to work together for the 00:30:09.170 --> 00:30:11.109 good of those who love God and are called according 00:30:11.109 --> 00:30:15.690 to his purpose for them. And I don't know what 00:30:15.690 --> 00:30:17.069 you're going through today. I don't know what 00:30:17.069 --> 00:30:20.589 you brought into this gathering. I get it, pain 00:30:20.589 --> 00:30:24.289 is difficult. It's a challenging season to walk 00:30:24.289 --> 00:30:26.630 through, but you have to reframe the way you 00:30:26.630 --> 00:30:30.190 see the pain. Trials and pain can produce a better 00:30:30.190 --> 00:30:33.069 version of ourselves if we allow the Holy Spirit 00:30:33.069 --> 00:30:36.109 to walk us through that pain. C .S. Lewis says 00:30:36.109 --> 00:30:39.190 it this way, God whispers to us in our pleasures, 00:30:39.369 --> 00:30:44.970 but shouts to us in our pain. So today, if you're 00:30:44.970 --> 00:30:47.730 struggling, I want to encourage you, silence 00:30:47.730 --> 00:30:50.549 the distractions, the negativity, the questions, 00:30:50.589 --> 00:30:54.029 and allow the Holy Spirit to speak to your heart 00:30:54.029 --> 00:30:57.730 right now. And how do I know he wants to speak 00:30:57.730 --> 00:31:00.390 to your heart? Because if there was ever anyone 00:31:00.390 --> 00:31:03.490 that deserved to be negative, that deserved to 00:31:03.490 --> 00:31:08.450 be a pessimist, full of doubt, it was Paul. Listen 00:31:08.450 --> 00:31:12.190 to Paul's life. I've worked harder, been put 00:31:12.190 --> 00:31:14.369 in prison more often, been whipped times without 00:31:14.369 --> 00:31:18.890 number, and faced death again and again. Five 00:31:18.890 --> 00:31:21.069 different times the Jewish leaders gave me 39 00:31:21.069 --> 00:31:24.279 lashes. And we all know that 39 lashes is what 00:31:24.279 --> 00:31:26.019 Jesus experienced before he went to the cross. 00:31:27.420 --> 00:31:29.660 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was 00:31:29.660 --> 00:31:32.059 stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I 00:31:32.059 --> 00:31:34.000 spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea. 00:31:34.079 --> 00:31:36.579 I've traveled on many long journeys. I've faced 00:31:36.579 --> 00:31:38.940 dangers from rivers and from robbers. I've faced 00:31:38.940 --> 00:31:40.960 danger from my own people, the Jews, as well 00:31:40.960 --> 00:31:43.460 as from the Gentiles. I've faced danger in the 00:31:43.460 --> 00:31:46.099 cities, in the deserts, and on the seas. And 00:31:46.099 --> 00:31:48.500 I've faced danger from men who claim to be believers 00:31:48.500 --> 00:31:51.019 but are not. I have worked hard and long and 00:31:51.019 --> 00:31:52.940 during many sleepless nights, I've been hungry 00:31:52.940 --> 00:31:55.559 and thirsty and have often gone without food. 00:31:55.880 --> 00:31:59.000 I have shivered in the cold without enough clothing 00:31:59.000 --> 00:32:03.200 to keep me warm. And I don't know about you, 00:32:03.259 --> 00:32:07.380 but I haven't experienced a lot of that. Yet 00:32:07.380 --> 00:32:10.960 through all that, Paul writes, I have a secret 00:32:10.960 --> 00:32:14.640 superpower. Philippians 4, 6, and 13. Don't worry 00:32:14.640 --> 00:32:17.380 about anything. Instead, pray about everything. 00:32:18.079 --> 00:32:20.880 Tell God what you need. Thank him. Thank him 00:32:20.880 --> 00:32:24.319 for all he's done. For I can do everything through 00:32:24.319 --> 00:32:28.180 Christ who gives me strength. See, gratitude 00:32:28.180 --> 00:32:30.299 gets us through any trouble the world is going 00:32:30.299 --> 00:32:32.299 to throw at us. It changes our entire outlook. 00:32:32.859 --> 00:32:35.099 Think about it. I'm walking around on this stage 00:32:35.099 --> 00:32:38.240 right now. And if just this week, unfortunately, 00:32:38.319 --> 00:32:42.619 I'm in an accident, I no longer can walk, I'm 00:32:42.619 --> 00:32:45.940 going to long to walk again. There are so many 00:32:45.940 --> 00:32:48.640 things we have right now and can do right now 00:32:48.640 --> 00:32:52.019 that we should be grateful for. Because many 00:32:52.019 --> 00:32:53.940 of us, if we just think about them, if we lose 00:32:53.940 --> 00:32:56.380 them, we're going to want them. And it doesn't 00:32:56.380 --> 00:32:58.559 matter what we're going through. You have to 00:32:58.559 --> 00:33:01.359 see the good right now. What if I told you there's 00:33:01.359 --> 00:33:03.880 over a billion people on this planet right now 00:33:03.880 --> 00:33:06.680 whose one prayer request is to be where we are 00:33:06.680 --> 00:33:11.480 and experiencing what we have right now? See, 00:33:11.519 --> 00:33:13.400 our hearts should be full of gratitude. It changes 00:33:13.400 --> 00:33:17.420 the way we see the world. We focus on the good 00:33:17.420 --> 00:33:19.759 right now. And you say, well, Chris, I'm struggling. 00:33:19.819 --> 00:33:23.160 I lost someone in my family. Fine, hug the ones 00:33:23.160 --> 00:33:26.460 that you can right now. Hug the loved ones that 00:33:26.460 --> 00:33:29.299 you can right now. Cry with the loved ones that 00:33:29.299 --> 00:33:32.759 you can right now. You have a heart that's beating 00:33:32.759 --> 00:33:35.160 in your chest. You have lungs that are processing 00:33:35.160 --> 00:33:37.940 oxygen. You have vocal cords that enable you 00:33:37.940 --> 00:33:41.470 to talk. It's going to be 82 and sunny on this 00:33:41.470 --> 00:33:44.210 beautiful fall day. Think about those things 00:33:44.210 --> 00:33:48.769 that are pure, noble, and true. And we're not 00:33:48.769 --> 00:33:50.809 pretending that there's not bad in this world. 00:33:52.950 --> 00:33:55.250 We're an expert in seeing the bad. We're human. 00:33:56.589 --> 00:33:58.029 But I don't know about you, but I'm going to 00:33:58.029 --> 00:34:01.130 graduate to varsity gratitude. I want to see 00:34:01.130 --> 00:34:03.549 the good and the beauty that's right in front 00:34:03.549 --> 00:34:05.589 of us. How about this? How about the billions 00:34:05.589 --> 00:34:09.300 of people all over the world? That would tell 00:34:09.300 --> 00:34:12.039 us we are so blessed. Because we have a crappy 00:34:12.039 --> 00:34:18.679 car. Billions. There's so many ways. That we 00:34:18.679 --> 00:34:20.619 can learn to practice gratitude. And my encouragement 00:34:20.619 --> 00:34:24.119 to you. Start small. Do not despise these small 00:34:24.119 --> 00:34:27.000 beginnings. For the Lord rejoices to see the 00:34:27.000 --> 00:34:31.519 work begin. Start small. As you brush your teeth 00:34:31.519 --> 00:34:33.940 in the morning. Take a moment and tell Jesus. 00:34:34.000 --> 00:34:36.980 One thing you're thankful for. And if you say 00:34:36.980 --> 00:34:39.119 Chris. I don't brush my teeth. I'm going to get 00:34:39.119 --> 00:34:43.159 you a toothbrush. Because you should start your 00:34:43.159 --> 00:34:46.579 day by brushing your teeth. And I'm sorry for 00:34:46.579 --> 00:34:50.500 the neighbor that's sitting beside you. But one 00:34:50.500 --> 00:34:54.519 thing. Tell Jesus what you're thankful for. Create 00:34:54.519 --> 00:34:57.539 a gratitude note in your phone or carry a gratitude 00:34:57.539 --> 00:35:00.699 journal for your old schoolers. Matt Chandler, 00:35:00.739 --> 00:35:03.519 a pastor in Dallas, has a gratitude journal he 00:35:03.519 --> 00:35:06.619 calls Don't Cry For Me. And in this journal, 00:35:07.119 --> 00:35:10.340 He records one thing every day and he writes 00:35:10.340 --> 00:35:12.940 down, don't cry for me. I'm married to the most 00:35:12.940 --> 00:35:16.079 beautiful woman in the world. Don't cry for me. 00:35:16.119 --> 00:35:19.280 I've eaten the perfectly cooked steak. Don't 00:35:19.280 --> 00:35:22.099 cry for me. I have children to continue to live 00:35:22.099 --> 00:35:25.460 a legacy after me. Chandler goes on to say he 00:35:25.460 --> 00:35:27.860 wants this journal read during his funeral, during 00:35:27.860 --> 00:35:30.360 his celebration of life. And the very last statement 00:35:30.360 --> 00:35:32.960 that will be read from this journal says, don't 00:35:32.960 --> 00:35:39.650 cry for me because I'm now home. Just yesterday, 00:35:39.690 --> 00:35:43.969 I put in my gratitude note in my phone. Today, 00:35:44.170 --> 00:35:51.389 I ate a crab omelet. And let me tell you something. 00:35:52.110 --> 00:35:56.670 It was the best crab omelet that I've ever eaten. 00:35:57.110 --> 00:35:59.650 And I am grateful to eat it because I may never 00:35:59.650 --> 00:36:06.929 eat it again. Gratitude note. Number three, every 00:36:06.929 --> 00:36:10.780 day, tell someone. You appreciate them. Learn 00:36:10.780 --> 00:36:13.380 from me. If you get texts from me, who are you 00:36:13.380 --> 00:36:16.639 giving them back to? Because typically when I'm 00:36:16.639 --> 00:36:18.679 texting you and encouraging you, guess what? 00:36:19.280 --> 00:36:23.400 I'm in a valley and I'm trying to get out. Before 00:36:23.400 --> 00:36:27.460 you fall asleep at night, take one moment as 00:36:27.460 --> 00:36:30.679 your head hits the pillow and focus on one thing 00:36:30.679 --> 00:36:34.659 that you can be thankful for. Scientists say 00:36:34.659 --> 00:36:41.550 the one thing that taps in to the gratitude circuitry 00:36:41.550 --> 00:36:45.409 of your brain is story. Can you find a story 00:36:45.409 --> 00:36:47.969 that will fill your mind with gratitude? And 00:36:47.969 --> 00:36:49.510 listen, if you're in a relationship with Jesus, 00:36:49.730 --> 00:36:53.269 you have the greatest story ever recorded. Will 00:36:53.269 --> 00:36:58.590 you stand with me? There's this story about a 00:36:58.590 --> 00:37:02.929 God who left everything and experienced all the 00:37:02.929 --> 00:37:06.980 lows and pain this world has to offer. He didn't 00:37:06.980 --> 00:37:10.820 just want to sympathize with us. He wanted to 00:37:10.820 --> 00:37:14.380 empathize with us. He was tortured and made fun 00:37:14.380 --> 00:37:17.519 of even though he lived a perfect life. He was 00:37:17.519 --> 00:37:21.820 crucified on a cross and slowly suffocated to 00:37:21.820 --> 00:37:27.039 pay the wages for all sin so that this world 00:37:27.039 --> 00:37:29.800 would be the worst place that we've ever lived 00:37:29.800 --> 00:37:32.900 in. This world would be the worst place that 00:37:32.900 --> 00:37:35.300 we ever lived in because if we believe in him, 00:37:35.800 --> 00:37:38.199 We're going to go to be in heaven forever and 00:37:38.199 --> 00:37:43.199 spend eternity with Jesus, worshiping him and 00:37:43.199 --> 00:37:47.500 celebrating him day in and day out. And that's 00:37:47.500 --> 00:37:50.440 why we talk about Jesus every chance we get. 00:37:51.320 --> 00:37:54.739 Every time we gather, we're going to point people 00:37:54.739 --> 00:37:57.059 to Jesus because it's the good news and it's 00:37:57.059 --> 00:38:00.099 the greatest story that's ever been told. This 00:38:00.099 --> 00:38:03.519 world is not all there is to offer. There's another 00:38:03.519 --> 00:38:06.860 world coming. And as Jesus follows, we're called 00:38:06.860 --> 00:38:10.599 to bring that world here. Amen? So we're going 00:38:10.599 --> 00:38:12.219 to pray a simple prayer like we always do. And 00:38:12.219 --> 00:38:14.059 listen, if you're distant, far from God, you've 00:38:14.059 --> 00:38:16.300 never started this journey, this is your day. 00:38:17.039 --> 00:38:19.199 And as we pray these words, you pray with all 00:38:19.199 --> 00:38:20.980 of us because we'll all pray them together. And 00:38:20.980 --> 00:38:25.340 we're going to say to you, welcome home. Welcome 00:38:25.340 --> 00:38:30.300 home. Let's pray. Jesus, I'm broken. I'm full 00:38:30.300 --> 00:38:36.199 of doubt, shame, regret, sin. Change me. Forgive 00:38:36.199 --> 00:38:41.360 me. I believe you're God's son. I believe you 00:38:41.360 --> 00:38:46.539 died for me. Make me new. Set me free. Fill me 00:38:46.539 --> 00:38:50.539 with your spirit. Help me, God, to serve others. 00:38:51.039 --> 00:38:55.360 In Jesus' name, amen. So if you prayed that prayer, 00:38:55.500 --> 00:38:58.440 listen, see me, text me, do something. I want 00:38:58.440 --> 00:39:00.260 to get you baptized. I want to get you in a group. 00:39:00.300 --> 00:39:03.639 I want to get you started on your journey with 00:39:03.639 --> 00:39:08.840 Jesus. Now, here's what I want you to do. I want 00:39:08.840 --> 00:39:12.460 you to close your eyes. And I want you to think 00:39:12.460 --> 00:39:16.519 about one thing. Think about one thing that you're 00:39:16.519 --> 00:39:23.960 grateful for. One thing. Picture it. See it. 00:39:25.800 --> 00:39:29.079 Now sing these words like you've never sung before. 00:39:29.099 --> 00:39:31.519 before and allow God to change your heart, mold 00:39:31.519 --> 00:39:34.719 your heart, and form your heart into a new creation. 00:39:35.179 --> 00:39:37.940 Amen? Our prayer team's here on my right. If 00:39:37.940 --> 00:39:40.719 you have any needs, prayer for anything, if your 00:39:40.719 --> 00:39:42.659 shoulder, you can't lift your shoulder up more 00:39:42.659 --> 00:39:44.360 than that, like right here, I think Mark said, 00:39:44.519 --> 00:39:46.079 come up here and get prayed. You're going to 00:39:46.079 --> 00:39:49.860 get healed. Okay? But otherwise, we are singing 00:39:49.860 --> 00:40:02.050 boldly. The void was finished I thought I was 00:40:02.050 --> 00:40:06.630 diminished But back then, I was deep I was deep, 00:40:06.690 --> 00:40:08.929 I was deep, I was I was deep in the dark, he 00:40:08.929 --> 00:40:10.869 ain't leave me there Now I step in the light, 00:40:10.949 --> 00:40:13.630 I don't need a fear Had to die to myself just 00:40:13.630 --> 00:40:15.510 to see it clear All life in his hands, I'ma leave 00:40:15.510 --> 00:40:15.750 it there