Grateful For Imperfect Gifts
Let's continue with Derek Wilson's sermon on Gratitude from back in 2004, what wise words he shares here. Today let's listen as he begins to share different ways in which we can be grateful.
Building a Spirit of Gratitude
I want to just give you five quick ideas about building a spirit of gratitude. Firstly, I want to say to you, we've got to learn to be grateful for imperfect gifts. In this world, there's only one kind of gift you're ever going to receive. And that's imperfect.
Even the gift of your own life is imperfect, if you think about it. There's no such thing as the perfect gift. If you're married here in church tonight and you're sitting with your spouse, you're sitting next to an imperfect gift. So turn to her or him and say, "You're an imperfect gift" - but don't get cocky about it, because they're going to say exactly the same thing to you!
The Gifts We Actually Receive
Your body is a gift. Let's have a show of hands here. How many people here have an imperfect body? Okay, a few of you. Those of you who didn't raise your hands - you can meet after the service tonight and get together and have perfect children!
The only gifts that we are ever going to get are imperfect things. Perfect gifts never arrive. There's no such thing as a perfect gift. We have to learn to be grateful for the gifts we receive, imperfect as they may be, because that's the only kind of gift you're ever going to get. We need to learn to be grateful for that.
What a great lesson! Even imperfect gifts are blessings from God. Will you give thanks for the imperfect gifts God has blessed you with today?
God's presence is inescapable, and even when we drift from Him, He holds us and calls us back. If you have drifted from Him, today is the day to reach out and take His hand again.
Life without God leads to emptiness, but a life lived in connection with Him brings peace, purpose, joy, and gratitude. Ask yourself today whether you are truly living in deep reliance on Him.
The gospel message of God's love, forgiveness, and rescue from sin should never lose its power to leave us in wonder. Pause today and let the truth of what God has done for you sink in afresh..
The cure for sin has already been bought and paid for by Jesus Christ - all you have to do is receive it. Trust Him today as the Great Doctor of your soul, and let Him get you into remission.
Change is the one constant in life, and every one of us must learn to deal with it. Ask God today to give you the grace to face whatever change may be coming your way.
Familiarity is the enemy of gratitude - when we stop noticing the gifts around us, we stop being thankful for them. Ask God to open your eyes today to the beauty and blessing that surrounds you.
Derek Wilson encourages us to allow God to stir our hearts to gratitude – in worship, and in many small things.
Every gift we receive in this life is imperfect - and learning to be grateful for them anyway is the mark of a truly thankful heart.
Gratitude to God is not just good manners - it opens the door to deeper blessing. Derek Wilson encourages us to go to God today and say a heartfelt thank you for what He has done for us.
An extra devotion to thank you for your support! Let me share a story that reminds me of Peter’s staying away from Jesus in fear of condemnation. I hope it will inspire you to go back to Jesus, if you need to, today.
Jesus promised to strengthen Peter's faith after his denial – and He will do the same for you. Will you return to Jesus and find strengthening too?
Peter’s sorrow at his sin pushed him further from Jesus. Instead, he should have run TO Jesus!
What happens when we receive the Communion elements? Christ is specially present, in a mysterious way.
What happens when we receive the Communion elements? We are reminded of the most important event of the past – the death of Christ as the Passover Lamb.
Holding both God's majesty and His mercy in view together is what keeps us spiritually balanced. Have a great weekend, and may this song help you keep that balance.