THANK-FULL-NESS

   In a word, thankfulness or gratitude expresses the sincere motive for doing, saying, or being anything toward God and your neighbor.  The thankful one is utterly impressed that everything is a gift... the colors of fall with the angular way light breaks through the trees in the darkening late afternoon...the timely call from a friend...the health and vitality of one's genetics...the next breath...forgiveness offered.  Did I mention forgiveness offered--the possibility of a new start with God and your neighbor?  

   You are so utterly impressed that, having gotten down to the bottom of everything you find, everything is a gift.  If that impression has ever hit you, you know (at the bottom of it all) that all you can say, do, or be is grateful--full of thanks.  That's what the messages have been about at Grace Church.  Jesus heals ten lepers but only one comes back thank-full.  What a surprize about the nine that didn't make the connection between Jesus and their healing.  What a shock that only one came back.  I guess God keeps pouring on the good stuff though about a tenth of the time any one takes notice.  In his letters to new converts in the expanding resurrection of Jesus movement, Paul tells the Christians how grateful he is to them and for them.  Paul is a weaving tent-maker stitching together upward praise to God and horizontal gratitude for the fellowship of transformed humans in Rome, Corinth, Colossae, et cetera. 

Leading up to Thanksgiving week, that's what we're talking about at Grace--thank-full-ness.  When you get down to the bottom of all the gifts piled on you and look up, you will not suffocate.  Instead you can breathe out thanks and be full of it. 

November  1  "The One-Word Difference"

November  8   "Horizontal Gratitude"    John Cartwright, speaking

November 15  "How Are You Looking?"

   Larry