Podcasts about thankfulness

The Bible tells us that we can trade our nothing in to get Jesus who gives us life. We are also told to not be anxious about anything, but rather to give thanks in everything. God promises to take care of us and provide all that we could ever need.

Urdu Friday Sermon delivered by Khalifa-tul-Masih on July 17th, 2026 (audio)

Bengali translation of Friday Sermon delivered by Khalifa-tul-Masih on July 17th, 2026 (audio)

Tamil translation of Friday Sermon delivered by Khalifa-tul-Masih on July 17th, 2026 (audio)

French translation of Friday Sermon delivered by Khalifa-tul-Masih on July 17th, 2026 (audio)

Turkish translation of Friday Sermon delivered by Khalifa-tul-Masih on July 17th, 2026 (audio)

Bulgarian translation of Friday Sermon delivered by Khalifa-tul-Masih on July 17th, 2026 (audio)

LESSON 197It Can Be But My Gratitude I Earn.Here is the second step we take to free your mind from the belief in outside force pitted against your own. You make attempts at kindness and forgiveness. Yet you turn them to attack again, unless you find external gratitude and lavish thanks. Your gifts must be received with honor, lest they be withdrawn. And so you think God's gifts are loans at best; at worst, deceptions which would cheat you of defenses, to ensure that when He strikes He will not fail to kill.How easily are God and guilt confused by those who know not what their thoughts can do. Deny your strength, and weakness must become salvation to you. See yourself as bound, and bars become your home. Nor will you leave the prison house, or claim your strength, until guilt and salvation are not seen as one, and freedom and salvation are perceived as joined, with strength beside them, to be sought and claimed, and found and fully recognized.The world must thank you when you offer it release from your illusions. Yet your thanks belong to you as well, for its release can only mirror yours. Your gratitude is all your gifts require, that they be a lasting offering of a thankful heart, released from hell forever. Is it this you would undo by taking back your gifts, because they were not honored? It is you who honor them and give them fitting thanks, for it is you who have received the gifts.It does not matter if another thinks your gifts unworthy. In his mind there is a part that joins with yours in thanking you. It does not matter if your gifts seem lost and ineffectual. They are received where they are given. In your gratitude are they accepted universally, and thankfully acknowledged by the Heart of God Himself. And would you take them back, when He has gratefully accepted them?God blesses every gift you give to Him, and every gift is given Him, because it can be given only to yourself. And what belongs to God must be His Own. Yet you will never realize His gifts are sure, eternal, changeless, limitless, forever giving out, extending love and adding to your never-ending joy while you forgive but to attack again.Withdraw the gifts you give, and you will think that what is given you has been withdrawn. But learn to let forgiveness take away the sins you think you see outside yourself, and you can never think the gifts of God are lent but for a little while, before He snatches them away again in death. For death will have no meaning for you then.And with the end of this belief is fear forever over. Thank your Self for this, for He is grateful only unto God, and He gives thanks for you unto Himself. To everyone who lives will Christ yet come, for everyone must live and move in Him. His Being in His Father is secure, because Their Will is one. Their gratitude to all They have created has no end, for gratitude remains a part of love.Thanks be to you, the holy Son of God. For as you were created, you contain all things within your Self. And you are still as God created you. Nor can you dim the light of your perfection. In your heart the Heart of God is laid. He holds you dear, because you are Himself. All gratitude belongs to you, because of what you are.Give thanks as you receive it. Be you free of all ingratitude to anyone who makes your Self complete. And from this Self is no one left outside. Give thanks for all the countless channels which extend this Self. All that you do is given unto Him. All that you think can only be His Thoughts, sharing with Him the holy Thoughts of God. Earn now the gratitude you have denied yourself when you forgot the function God has given you. But never think that He has ever ceased to offer thanks to you.- Jesus Christ in ACIM

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In this week's message Pastor Jake Richter talks about the importance of Thankfulness and its effect on our lives. He lists three key points about thankfulness, and says that the secret to being thankful is choosing thankfulness. Pastor Jake also has two teens come and share their testimony after the high school trip. Enjoy the message and have a blessed week.

Sunday morning chat from Stan.

As Jesus prepared to face the cross, He sang the closing verses of Psalm 118- a song of confidence, gratitude, and hope that nourished His soul in the darkest moment of His earthly life. These timeless words remind us that, like Jesus, we have a choice in how we respond to life's challenges. Rather than being defined by fear or uncertainty, we can anchor ourselves in God's faithful presence, build our lives on Christ the Cornerstone, and rest in the assurance that we are deeply loved by Him. Psalm 118 also calls us to cultivate a life marked by gratitude and resurrection hope. Thankfulness reshapes our perspective, even in difficult seasons, while the victory of Jesus over death gives us confidence that suffering and loss will never have the final word. Because Christ has conquered the grave, we can face both today's struggles and tomorrow's uncertainties with joy, courage, and the unshakable hope that God always has the last word.

Today we discover God's replacement for worry—whatwe are to do instead. Paul continues: "But in everything by prayer andsupplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God."Notice the contrast. Don't worry about anything. Instead, pray abouteverything. Paulnow mentions four beautiful words that describe our conversation and communionwith God.  First is the word prayer. Thisspeaks of our general fellowship with God. Before we ask for anything, wesimply come into His presence and worship Him as our loving heavenly Father.Remember, Jesus taught us to pray in Matthew chapter 6: "Our Father whoart in heaven, hallowed be Thy name." Holy is Your name. Our Father. WhenJesus says, "Our Father," in teaching us to pray, we are not onlypraying corporately with other believers, even though sometimes we are. We areactually praying alongside Jesus Christ. He is praying with us. He isinterceding for us. He is helping us as we pray. We pray with Him. We haveaccess to the Father because of who Jesus is. That is why we say, "OurFather." Prayeris our connection to God. It is our communion with Him. It connects us toheaven itself and all the resources of heaven. Prayer is vitally important inour walk with God as we learn more about Him, discover His will, and fulfillHis purposes for our lives. We need to learn how to pray. The disciples neversaid, "Lord, teach us to preach," or, "Teach us to teach."But they did say, "Lord, teach us to pray." That should be our prayertoday. Second,we see the word supplication. This refers to earnest, heartfelt petitions. Itbrings our specific needs before the Lord with humility and dependence. It isrecognizing our need. In James chapter 1, we are told that if anyone lackswisdom, let him ask of God. We need wisdom. In James chapter 4, we learn not toask for things to satisfy our own lusts or selfish desires, but to ask for thethings that please Him. James writes: "Cleanse your hands, you sinners,and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Draw nigh to God, and He will drawnigh to you." That happens as we find cleansing through the blood ofChrist.  Then,in James 5:16, we read: "Confess your trespasses one to another, andpray for one another, that you may be healed." Notice the next words: "Theeffective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much." That iswhat supplication is—earnestly praying, both for ourselves and on behalf ofothers, as we fervently seek God's face and His resources. Third,we see the word thanksgiving. How important this word is! Nothing drives awayworry like a thankful heart. When we remember God's past faithfulness, we findconfidence for today's problems. Perhaps before asking God for something new,we should first thank Him for all He has already done. Thankfulness. How weneed to cultivate hearts of gratitude for the wonderful blessings we enjoyevery day. Thenfinally, Paul says: "Let your requests be made known unto God." Remember,Jesus taught us to pray: "Give us this day our daily bread." Dailywe can pray: Father, protect us. Guide us. Provide for us. Help us. Empower us.Fill us. God invites us to tell Him exactly what is on our hearts. Not becauseHe does not already know—He knows before we ask—but because He desires arelationship with His children. He delights in our coming to Him with our needsand bringing every concern before Him. Thinkabout that. The Creator of the universe invites you to bring every concern toHim. Nothing is too small, and nothing is too great. If it matters to you, itmatters to your heavenly Father. What a privilege, my friend! When anxietycomes, do not rehearse the problem over and over in your mind. Turn it intoprayer. Every worry can become an invitation to draw closer to God. Tomorrow wewill look at God's wonderful promise to everyone who does just that.

Psalm 107 The Psalmist reflects on the steadfast love of God and the thankfulness that is due to His name from His beloved people.

Across generations, public moments of prayer and thanksgiving have shaped how many people understand national identity and responsibility. Whether one looks at early proclamations or later seasons of national hardship, the consistent theme is simple: gratitude toward God is meant to be expressed, not assumed. It keeps perspective steady and prevents freedom from turning into entitlement. At its core, this kind of reflection isn’t just about looking backward—it’s about asking what we do with what we’ve been given today. Gratitude becomes a posture that influences how we live, serve, and treat one another right now. Highlights: Scripture invites believers to actively remember and proclaim God’s works Gratitude is a stabilizing force in how we view history and present blessings Public and personal thanksgiving have long shaped spiritual and cultural identity Freedom carries responsibility, not just privilege Remembering God’s faithfulness helps anchor perspective in the present Continue the conversation with the Crosswalk community here: https://forums.crosswalk.com/ Do you want to listen ad-free? When you join Crosswalk Plus, you gain access to exclusive, in-depth Bible study guides, devotionals, sound biblical advice, and daily encouragement from trusted pastors and authors—resources designed to strengthen your faith and equip you to live it out boldly. PLUS ad free podcasts! Sign Up Today! Full Transcript Below: A Call to Be Thankful for America on Its 250th Anniversary By Lynette Kittle Bible Reading: “Give praise to the Lord, proclaim His name; make known among the nations what He has done.” - Psalm 105:1 As America celebrates its 250th Anniversary, we, as citizens of the United States, have much to be thankful for! History books record, and historical monuments stand, in honor of the Christians whom God led across the ocean, who were seeking a land where they could freely and openly serve Him, those willing to leave all they had behind and risk their lives to set sail for a New World. As the forerunners, the Pilgrims’ trek led them to America, where they brought their deep spiritual convictions to lay the groundwork and foundational biblical beliefs; truths that led our Founding Fathers to base our Declaration of Independence on godly principles; and truths that have given us the right to worship God freely and without reserve since their coming. Without our founders humbling themselves before God, there would be no USA today. As American history records, prayer and fasting were called for and practiced in America’s founding and the establishment of our nation, playing a major role in establishing America by the first patriots who practiced James 4:10 on a national level: “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up.” By our leaders calling our nation to humble itself before God in prayer and fasting, our founders followed 2 Chronicles 7:14, urging, “If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and heal their land.” By humbling ourselves as a nation, our leaders seemed to understand what Galatians 5:13 reminds us: “You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.” America’s History Reveals Decades of National Thankfulness Even before the official establishment of the United States, historical documents record that, throughout the American Revolution, the Continental Congress, in response to winning critical battles, called for national days of Thanksgiving, asking colonists to express gratitude to God for His divine protection over the troops. After the Declaration of Independence, national thanksgiving continued, beginning in 1789, with President George Washington issuing the first official United States Thanksgiving proclamation, calling upon all Americans to demonstrate gratitude to God for the end of the war and the Constitution’s successful ratification. President Washington said, “Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the Providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor.” Following Washington’s example, Presidents John Adams and James Madison also called for national days of Thanksgiving during their presidential terms. As well, President Abraham Lincoln, on October 3, 1863, in the midst of the Civil War, proclaimed the last Thursday in November as a national day of Thanksgiving. A Nation’s Living Testament to God’s Faithfulness The United States is a living testament to God’s faithfulness and to what happens when a nation is willing to humble itself before God… recognizing His sovereignty over the earth and publicly thanking Him for His protection and provision for its leaders and people. As citizens of the USA, we have much to be thankful to God for our nation, as we celebrate our 250th anniversary. Thankfulness to God for what He has done in America through the faith of our Founding Fathers, who feared and worshipped Him and laid a godly foundation for our land based on biblical truth, and whose beliefs continue to this day across our nation. Intersecting Faith & Life: As our nation celebrates its 250th anniversary, ask God to help you find reasons to be thankful for our country, our godly heritage, and the freedoms we still enjoy today. As well, ask the Lord to move in the hearts of people across our nation, encouraging them to praise and thank Him for all that He has done for us as a country. Further Reading: A Prayer to Praise God for Our Nation Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Be wise about: Your communication; Your deeds; The Name of Jesus; Thankfulness.

If you're facing a hard trial, let it refine your faith and you will end up faithful. -------- Thank you for listening! Your support of Joni and Friends helps make this show possible.     Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Become part of the global movement today at www.joniandfriends.org   Find more encouragement on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube.

In this episode of the Tactical Living Podcast, hosts Coach Ashlie Walton and Sergeant Clint Walton talk about something that gets said to exhausted first responders more than almost anything else — some version of "you should be grateful" — and what happens when a genuinely healthy concept gets weaponized against people who are already running on empty. Gratitude is real. It matters. But when it is used to silence struggle, dismiss burnout, or make someone feel guilty for being depleted, it stops being a tool for healing and starts being a barrier to it. This episode takes an honest look at the difference between genuine gratitude and the pressure to perform it — and what that pressure costs first responders who are already carrying more than enough.

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Colossians 1:13-14

Central Baptist Church in Kansas City Sunday sermon by Nolan G. Psalm 50

Pastor Rob Curington shares the Tale of Thankfulness from the Parables of Jesus to uncover how lavish love comes from lavish forgiveness.

Series: Jesus PrayedOverview: This week we discussed how physical conditions (like leprosy) can relate to our spiritual condition (sin) and how healing (physically) was a picture of salvation (spiritually). To access our message notes, click here. Passages: Luke 17:11-19Speaker: Tim Howey (6/14/26)

This week, Pastor Kevin begins teaching verse by verse through the book of Colossians. The passage of study is Colossians 1:1-8. In Chapter 1 verses 1-8, we explore what Paul says regarding his thankfulness for the Colossian church.

In his first sermon as the pastor-teacher of Crosswalk Church, Pastor Chris preached a sermon from Colossians 1:3-14 providing a personal perspective on this new season of ministry and his thankfulness and prayer for the members of Crosswalk Church.  

Let gratitude lift your heart tonight and lighten your spirit as you find reasons to rejoice in Luke 17.No matter what kind of day you've had, rest in hope and peace tonight as you draw near to the heart of God. This short, uplifting meditation from His Word will create a space at the end of the day for you to refocus on the goodness and nearness of the Lord, entrust your burdens to Him and fill your mind with His promises and faithfulness towards you. Tonight's meditation is read by Maddy. Meet the team at https://www.odbm.org/en-GB/about-us/meet-the-team. These meditations are lovingly and prayerfully crafted by human writers, presenters and producers, with no AI-generated content. If you'd like to get in touch with us to share your story or let us know how we can make the Evening Meditations an even better experience, email our team at eveningmeditations@odbm.orgWe hope that you enjoy this Evening Meditation from Our Daily Bread Ministries! You can find more exciting content from Our Daily Bread Ministries by downloading the Our Daily Bread app or visiting us at: odbm.orgAll our funding comes from our listeners, like you, who value what we do and want to help us reach more people. Together, we can keep making our podcast freely accessible to all. You can make a donation towards our mission at eveningmeditations.org. ★ Support this podcast ★

The command to be thankful and give thanks is overwhelmingly one of the most repeated commands in Scripture. Thankfulness is an exercise of the will that helps us see life more from God's perspective. It becomes an antidote to bitterness, and the more we practice it, the more we strengthen and develop that seed of thankfulness in our lives.

The End of the World Jonathan Parnell Download Psalm 97,The Lord reigns, let the earth rejoice;let the many coastlands be glad!2 Clouds and thick darkness are all around him;righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.3 Fire goes before himand burns up his adversaries all around.4 His lightnings light up the world;the earth sees and trembles.5 The mountains melt like wax before the Lord,before the Lord of all the earth.6 The heavens proclaim his righteousness,and all the peoples see his glory.7 All worshipers of images are put to shame,who make their boast in worthless idols;worship him, all you gods!8 Zion hears and is glad,and the daughters of Judah rejoice,because of your judgments, O Lord.9 For you, O Lord, are most high over all the earth;you are exalted far above all gods.10 O you who love the Lord, hate evil!He preserves the lives of his saints;he delivers them from the hand of the wicked.11 Light is sown for the righteous,and joy for the upright in heart.12 Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous, and give thanks to his holy name!This morning I want to talk to you about the end of the world. For as long as there has been a world, humanity has been fascinated with this topic. This has been true of cultures all over the world all throughout history — from Ancient Mesopotamia to Chinese dynasties, from Norse Vikings to sub-Saharan Africa, from medieval Europeans to modern Americans — it's a human thing to wonder about the world's end.And in the Bible itself, the end of the world was on the table right away!In the Book of Genesis, just five chapters in, the Flood could have been the final judgment to end the world — and it would have been if not for the mercy of God!But because of God's mercy, and because of his patience (the apostle Peter tells us), the final end of the world has been delayed. Still.But the end is coming, and that's what I want to talk about this morning. And the real reason I wanna talk about the end of the world is because it's the topic of Psalm 97.There are three parts to the psalm, and I'm gonna title each part with what its mainly about:Part 1, verses 1–6 is Christ will come again.Part 2, verses 7–9 is Every human will respond. Part 3, verses 10–12 is How God's people live in the meantime.We're gonna spend most of our time on Part 3, but first Part 1.1. Christ will come again (vv. 1–6)Psalm 97, verse 1 just picks up where Psalm 96 left off. Psalm 96 envisions all of creation rejoicing, and the last verse of Psalm 96 explains why. This rejoicing is, verse 13,“…before the Lord, for he comes, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness, and the peoples in his faithfulness.”97:1, then, says: Yes, that's right, the Lord reigns and all the earth rejoices, even the coastlands. That's the deepest corners of the earth. The parts way out there.Then verses 2–5 describe the coming of God with this intense imagery. Listen to this: clouds and thick darkness. A throne of righteousness and justice. Fire going before him, consuming his adversaries. Lightning flashes. The earth itself trembles. Mountains melt like wax.To a casual reader, this sounds like a really bad thunderstorm. But when we have the whole Bible in mind, we can pick up the allusion to Mount Sinai. Mount Sinai was when God came down on the mountain to give the law: Exodus 19:18,“Now Mount Sinai was wrapped in smoke because the LORD had descended on it in fire. The smoke of it went up like the smoke of a kiln, and the whole mountain trembled greatly.”Deuteronomy 4:11,“the mountain burned with fire to the heart of heaven, wrapped in darkness, cloud, and gloom.”The Final TheophanyThis was an amazing moment in history. The word for it is a ‘theophany' — which means a God-appearing. That's what Sinai was.And now Psalm 97 is describing another theophany — it's a future, final God-appearing, that's envisioned to be like Sinai!That's because the Original Law-Giver and the Final Judge are the same. That's why the imagery is the same, except in this future, final appearing, God comes in the person of Jesus Christ. We know this from the New Testament: John 5:11,“The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son.”Matthew 24:30,“Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man… and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.”2 Thessalonians 1:7,“the Lord Jesus [will be] revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire…”The end of the world is now what we call the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. The God who once descended on Sinai in clouds and fire will appear again finally in the person of Christ, and “every eye will see him” — Revelation 1:7. Everybody will see him, and everybody will respond, one way or another. That's Part 2.2. Every human will respond (vv. 7–9) Humanity is divided into two categories that will be clearest on the final day of judgment.Jesus has called these categories the wheat and the tares. The Psalms use the language of the righteous and the wicked. The New Testament draws the line as between believers and unbelievers — those who are in Christ and those who are not. And when Jesus comes back every eye will see him — those who have been united to him by faith and those who have rejected him. They all will see him, but they're gonna respond differently. Shame for IdolatersVerse 7 tells us the unbelievers (those who reject Christ) will be put to shame — but here they're described as the “worshipers of images” … as those who “boast in worthless idols.” Which is a good reminder! I want you to get this: there is really no such thing as an unbeliever. Everybody believes in something. The question is never if you believe, but who you believe in. So, unbelievers are always more accurately called “idolaters.” They've chosen to reject the one true God, and instead, they've replaced him with some other ‘little-g god' — and for the last hundred years in our society, the ‘little-g god' of choice is the Modern Self. That's the point of theologian Carl Trueman's book, The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self (it's a helpful book written a few years ago).In one sense, modern idolatry is as old as it comes — our society has “exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen” — that's Romans 1:25.But what makes us different today is that, with our technologies, we have said, “I will make myself like the Most High” (Isaiah 14:14) …So we want to create human life … We want to determine our own sexuality …We want to invent our own morality … We want to become super human in our daily lives and live longer than ever … We even want to have the final say on when and how we die … The whole thing is about putting Self in the place of God.That's what transhumanism is — it starts with the myth of exclusive humanism (that's the idea that there is no God, but only us). That paves the way for the idolatry of the Self — the idea that “We are all God.” And right now, it's just so clear that's what's going on. If you look around in our culture, the idolatry of Self is having its moment. But on the day Jesus returns, at the end of the world, every unbeliever/every idolater/everyone who rejects Jesus will be put to shame. That means eternal regret. They will hate the choices they have made. The lies they have embraced will be exposed. And the demonic forces behind the idolatry will also bow the knee in submission to Jesus! (That's the end of verse 7.) The Day is coming. Joy for BelieversBut now in verse 8 notice the contrast to believers, to those who trust in Christ — that's who Zion and Judah represent. It's the people of God. Zion is glad! The daughters of Judah rejoice! And the mention of “daughters” in verse 8 is an idiom for villages or small towns. (This is an insight from Christopher Ash.) He says the idea here is that it's not just the capital city, Zion, that rejoices, but it's all believers everywhere! Even what might seem like the smallest outpost of kingdom of Christ, even the parts way out there, like in the middle of North America — on that day we're all rejoicing together … believers from “every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages” … We will all say, “Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory!” (Revelation 7:9; 19:7). On that day, verse 9 will be the clearest reality of all:“For you, O Lord, are most high over all the earth;you are exalted far above all gods.”In other words, Jesus has ultimate supremacy … “every knee will bow, in heaven and on earth and under earth, and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:11).This is what Psalm 97 is getting at. In summary, Psalm 97:1–9 is the Christian hope in a nutshell: One day Jesus is coming back in judgment and salvation — judgment for those who reject him and salvation for those who trust him. And by his grace, church, we trust him. We will rejoice on that day. We will love his future, final appearing! Amen.The big question now is: How do we live in the meantime?3. How do God's people live in the meantime?Now this is the church's question. We ask it together, and the New Testament is all about it. But verses 10–12 in Psalm 97 give us a pretty good answer, and that's what I wanna show you. But I want to help you bring it down more personally. This is a topic that can be so out there and theoretical, but don't let it be. I want you to think, right now: Jesus is coming back one day. Now ask yourself this question: What does God want me to do in this life? How should I live in the meantime?According to verses 10, 11, 12, we see at least three answers. First is this:1. Lead a moral life.This is verse 10, and it's one you need to see. So everybody help me out. Find Psalm 97, verse 10:“O you who love the Lord, hate evil!”“Hate evil” — this is a command, and it's one that we are not set up well to understand. That's because “hate” is a biblically strong word that we use too commonly. And “evil” is a biblically common word that we use too strongly. That make sense? We've weakened the word hate and narrowed the word evil. So we have to slow down and think about this.To hate something is to have an intense hostility against it. It's not a mood, it's a conviction. We shouldn't casually throw the word around about food or weather or sports teams. And evil is anything that defies the moral will of God — anything that is a deprivation or distortion of God's goodness. It's not just the worst, most horrible things nobody likes to talk about. But truly, sin, of every kind, is evil. See, we often define evil horizontally: we think it has to do with how much hurt it causes other people. But the Bible, first, defines evil vertically: the issue is what it says about God.Evil is evil because it defies him, it rejects him, it dishonors him. This is why we must have a God-centered morality.Right and wrong, good and evil, is not whatever you want it to be in the moment. But good and evil — the moral framework of reality — is an objective standard determined by the righteousness of God, and he has revealed this to us as his moral will in Scripture. What a gift!God guides us how to live in harmony with his holiness. He shows us how to lead a moral life, which means we hate evil. I think this is one of the greatest needs in our day for the church's witness. We need moral clarity — the ability to recognize evil, the courage to call evil evil, and the God-centered conviction to hate evil.And that means the evil out there, but it starts first with the evil within our own hearts. It's been said that many Christians today are soft on evil. And wherever that's true, my theory is that we're soft on evil culturally because we're soft on evil personally, and we're soft on evil personally because our vision of God is small … Wherever our understanding of God's glory is frail, and our commitment to his word is weak, we will get this wrong.And if we're ever gonna experience true revival, in our church, in this country, it will include a recovery here. Spurgeon put it plainly. He said, “We cannot love God without hating what he hates.”Until Jesus returns, in the meantime, we're called … you're called … to lead a moral life.Second thing to do in the meantime …2. Lead a hopeful life. This is verse 11:“Light is sown for the righteous, and joy for the upright in heart.”A few years back, the Holy Spirit made this verse pop off the page to me. I wrote it out on a notecard and put it on my desk. I think it's a glorious sentence. Notice first that it's an agricultural metaphor, which we see a lot of in Scripture. Light and joy are sown. The focus is on planting, on sowing, but the words “light” and “joy” sound more like a harvest. How do you sow light? How do you plant joy? You don't. You sow something else that, in the moment of sowing, looks different from what you hope it will become.I just re-seeded my front yard. Tall fescue grass: Thick, forest-green blades, cool to the touch on the hottest summer day, firm but humble, durable but inviting, elegant but approachable — oh it will be wonderful! But what I held in my hand, before I dropped it in the ground, looked nothing like that — it looked nothing like what it will become. It was just a seed.That's so much of life, isn't it? Life in this meantime is sowing. It's planting. And a lot of times, we want to judge the future harvest by how the seed looks now. It's such an easy mistake to make. How do we not do that?How can we call it light now in the sowing? How can we call it joy now? The answer is hope. Our hope is in the harvest, and it's so sure — God's promise is so certain — we can say the light is in the ground. The joy is coming, and it's already here. That's what it means to lead a hopeful life.Third thing to do in the meantime …3. Lead a thankful life.This is verse 12:“Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous, and give thanks to his holy name!”Rejoicing and thanksgiving — it's the same idea. We rejoice in God and we give him thanks in response to who he is and what he's done. Now, I'm just going to use the word thankful because it's the last word in verse 12 and it encapsulates joy. Thankfulness includes joy. And this is such a fitting way to conclude Psalm 97, and really, to conclude everything. For everyone who trusts in Christ, thankfulness will be the posture of our hearts at the end of the world. We begin doing now what we will do forever. We're called to lead a thankful life today: Colossians 3:15,“And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts… And be thankful.”1 Thessalonians 5:18,“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”Now, how do we do that? What does it look like to lead a thankful life?I think it comes down to the discipline of daily thankfulness.Very practically, just imagine how you start and end your days. You wake up every morning. We all start there. Now what if, first thing in the morning, when you're awake for your brain to work, you thanked God? Thank him for something specific — a provision, a gift, an experience. Start by thanking him. And then that night, with your head on your pillow, when God has brought you through another day, you end your day by thanking him for it. Even when things are tough, when things go sideways, in the full assessment of everything, there's a reason to be thankful. Give God thanks as you fall asleep, give God thanks when you wake up — and if you do that everyday that becomes a thankful life. It will be a life that honors God until that final day when we step into the eternal morning. This is how we live as we wait for the end of the world, because, as Psalm 97 shows us: Because Christ will come again. And every human will respond to his final appearing, either in shame or joy. And until that day, in the meantime, lead a moral life, lead a hopeful life, lead a thankful life.Father in heaven, the life to which you have called us is a life that you create. Thank you for the Holy Spirit! Thank you for his presence and power day by day, moment by moment. We need him. Thank you that your Spirit brought us from death to life through the gospel. Thank you that he opened our eyes to see Jesus and to know your great love for us.Thank you for the hope that your Spirit guarantees in our hearts — the hope that Jesus will return and make all things new. We long for that day. And we pray, with the apostle John, Come, Lord Jesus!In his name, amen.

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In Today's Episode: Host: Brandon Elliott,  https://zez.am/brandonelliottinvestments ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ Resourceful Links:  CLICK THE LINK TO GET ACCESS:  https://www.creditcounselelite.com/event-access How To Get Up To $500,000 Every 6 Months At 0%: https://www.creditcounselelite.com/ Get Your Most Accurate Credit Report: https://www.myscoreiq.com/get-fico-max.aspx?offercode=432121Z8 Best Credit Cards: https://milevalue.com/best-credit-cards/?aff=cce Free Credit Education Resources: https://creditcounselelite.com/articles Guide to Taking Massive Action: https://amzn.to/2IZMN8Z LEARN MORE CLICK HERE: https://www.creditcounselelite.com/fb-start-here ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ Meet Your Host, Brandon:  Brandon Elliott went from being off track finding himself on house arrest and burning 40% of his body to getting on track reaching $8.5 million in Assets and being acknowledged part of the "Top 100 Yahoo Finance" by using Credit Cards to buy small multi-family and scaling his businesses using the exact strategies taught in Credit Counsel Elite (CCE). CCE teaches business owners how to get up to $500,000 every 6 months at 0%. By being a member with CCE, you get to learn how to Travel Hack, get access to the 800 FICO Score Club in 30 days or less, fix credit quickly, receive $5K-15K+ of free sign up bonuses, buy Real Estate with Credit Cards, deep dive into Business Credit and Personal credit. To learn more visit: https://www.creditcounselelite.com/ ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ Connect with Brandon Elliott:  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brandonelliottinvestor YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BrandonElliottInvestments Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brandonelliottinvestments LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandon-elliott-6b1643148

Series: N/AService: Sun PM WorshipType: SermonSpeaker: Wendel Montalvo

Series: N/AService: Sun PM WorshipType: SermonSpeaker: Wendel Montalvo

When life gets hard, complaining comes naturally — but gratitude is what God calls us to. Drawing from 1 Thessalonians 5:18 and the repeated failures of Israel in the wilderness, Dr. John Neufeld examines the danger of a grumbling spirit and what it means to give thanks in all circumstances — not just the good ones. Trusting God in Suffering: One of the obstacles to faith is the problem of pain. Why does a powerful loving God allow suffering? The Scriptures are forthright and do not ignore, diminish or bypass the problem. Nor do they resolve it. But God does tell us how we are to respond to pain. In this 10 message series, Dr. John will explore God's teaching on pain. It will not answer every question, but it will help us in the midst of our struggles.

Can you really hear thank you enough? It truly is a powerful source that strengthens your well-being, boosts motivation, and transforms school culture. That's what this episode aims to do for you. Who will you show appreciation to this week?   Pick up this journal for your students—it's the perfect tool to help them reflect, regulate, and thrive through the rest of the year.           GET YOUR STUDENT BEHAVIOR JOURNAL on AMAZON TODAY!                                             https://a.co/d/iFwFezb               You'll get trauma-informed language swaps, quick-response scripts, what-to-do flowchart, print-and-go intervention cards, student regulation menu, and an impulse tracking chart….ALL for only $10!                    https://diane-bachman.mykajabi.com/impulsivity-toolkit If you found today's episode valuable, subscribe and leave me a review in Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, IHeart, or wherever you're listening. Your voice matters and will help others!   Is there a behavior topic you would like to hear or hear more of? We can chat through any of these ways….   Website: Behavior Strategies 4 Class    Book a FREE Strategy Call Today:  https://calendly.com/4behavior    Let's Connect! - diane@behaviorstrategies4class.com,    Join my Facebook Group! - Behavior Strategies 4 Class (193) Diane Bachman - YouTube (25) Diane Bachman | LinkedIn

It is time this very minute to pray and seek God. Time to set our timers and pray for the minute. This podcast encourages us to stop for a minute and, now, in the presence of our Heavenly Father—with praise and prayer—worship Him in Jesus' name and in the power of the Holy Spirit. ———— *We do not own the rights to music played on this podcast.

May 4, 2026 | In Luke 17, Pastor shares a powerful message about gratitude inspired by Jesus healing ten men with leprosy, focusing on the one who returned to thank Him. This final sermon reflects on God's miracles, the importance of saying thank you, and the unifying power of Jesus' love across cultural divides. It challenges listeners to cultivate a heart of thankfulness and faith that lasts for the rest of their lives.

LESSON 123I Thank My Father For His Gifts To Me.Today let us be thankful. We have come to gentler pathways and to smoother roads. There is no thought of turning back, and no implacable resistance to the truth. A bit of wavering remains, some small objections and a little hesitance, but you can well be grateful for your gains, which are far greater than you realize.A day devoted now to gratitude will add the benefit of some insight into the real extent of all the gains which you have made; the gifts you have received. Be glad today, in loving thankfulness, your Father has not left you to yourself, nor let you wander in the dark alone. Be grateful He has saved you from the self you thought you made to take the place of Him and His creation. Give Him thanks today.Give thanks that He has not abandoned you, and that His Love forever will remain shining on you, forever without change. Give thanks as well that you are changeless, for the Son He loves is changeless as Himself. Be grateful you are saved. Be glad you have a function in salvation to fulfill. Be thankful that your value far transcends your meager gifts and petty judgments of the one whom God established as His Son.Today in gratitude we lift our hearts above despair, and raise our thankful eyes, no longer looking downward to the dust. We sing the song of thankfulness today, in honor of the Self That God has willed to be our true Identity in Him. Today we smile on everyone we see, and walk with lightened footsteps as we go to do what is appointed us to do.We do not go alone. And we give thanks that in our solitude a Friend has come to speak the saving Word of God to us. And thanks to you for listening to Him. His Word is soundless if it be not heard. In thanking Him the thanks are yours as well. An unheard message will not save the world, however mighty be the Voice that speaks, however loving may the message be.Thanks be to you who heard, for you become the messenger who brings His Voice with you, and lets It echo round and round the world. Receive the thanks of God today, as you give thanks to Him. For He would offer you the thanks you give, since He receives your gifts in loving gratitude, and gives them back a thousand and a hundred thousand more than they were given. He will bless your gifts by sharing them with you. And so they grow in power and in strength, until they fill the world with gladness and with gratitude.Receive His thanks and offer yours to Him for fifteen minutes twice today. And you will realize to Whom you offer thanks, and Whom He thanks as you are thanking Him. This holy half an hour given Him will be returned to you in terms of years for every second; power to save the world eons more quickly for your thanks to Him.Receive His thanks, and you will understand how lovingly He holds you in His Mind, how deep and limitless His care for you, how perfect is His gratitude to you. Remember hourly to think of Him, and give Him thanks for everything He gave His Son, that he might rise above the world, remembering his Father and his Self.- Jesus Christ in ACIM

Thankfulness

What if the rules we resist are actually the guardrails keeping our lives from breaking? Paul's instructions in Ephesians 5 aren't about control. They're loving guidance that protects us from greed, broken relationships, and twisted desires. The antidote is thankfulness and knowing we've received everything through Christ. Listen now and be inspired to let gratitude reshape how you live today.

Let love continue, give thanks, and help others.

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Travel with us through three practical stops—thankfulness, right prayer, and right thinking—each shown with concrete scenes: a family sharing nightly gratitude, prayer as an honest, ongoing conversation, and truth as a detector that protects your heart. These snapshots create a narrative arc from anxiety to peace, from comparison to confidence, and from scattered thoughts to a mind renewed. Short, punchy, and rooted in Scripture, this episode offers a hopeful roadmap: change your marination, change your life. Tune in to be encouraged, challenged, and equipped to take your next step in faith.

How do you have real peace in a chaotic world? Maybe something called gratitude might help? Jim Daly and Kay Wyma discuss how to teach your kids to be thankful. Also, Danny gives some tips for how to help your child if he or she is having a bad attitude Find us online at focusonthefamily.com/parentingpodcast. Or call 1-800-A-FAMILY. Receive the book The Peace Project for your donation of any amount! Take the 7 Traits of Effective Parenting Assessment Finding Peace in Your Everyday Life How to Reduce Grumbling and Increase Gratitude Learn About Our Age and Stage e-Newsletter Support This Show! If you enjoyed listening to the Focus on Parenting Podcast, please give us your feedback.

“Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18 NLT) In her remarkable book The Hiding Place, Corrie ten Boom relates an amazing story about the importance of being thankful. Corrie and her sister Betsie were held in a concentration camp known as Ravensbrück, where they lived in barracks that were plagued by fleas. Fleas were everywhere—in their hair and on their bodies. One day Betsie told Corrie they needed to give thanks for the fleas. Corrie thought Betsie had gone too far. She couldn’t imagine thanking God for fleas. But Betsie insisted, reminding her sister that 1 Thessalonians 5:18 says, “Be thankful in all circumstances” (NLT). Still, Corrie didn’t want to thank God for the fleas. But as it turned out, Corrie and Betsie were trying to reach the other women in their barracks with the message of the gospel, and they had been holding Bible studies. They found out later that because of the fleas, the guards would not go into those barracks, and therefore, the women were able to have their Bible studies. As a result, they had the freedom to minister to numerous women. So, God can use even fleas. If the Bible said, “Be thankful in some circumstances,” I would say, “No problem there!” But it says, “Be thankful in all circumstances.” And that’s not an easy thing to do. Yet it’s necessary because “this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” It’s also beneficial. Our attitude does, in fact, impact our circumstances. Being thankful won’t change events that have occurred, and it won’t prevent trials and suffering from coming our way. But when we lead with a spirit of thankfulness and joy, we change our relationship to our circumstances. We see them in a different light. We see them in the context of the big picture of God’s faithfulness. This isn’t simply a matter of choosing to be a “glass half full” person or to “always look on the bright side of life.” It’s a matter of choosing to see God at work in our lives, no matter how bad our circumstances get. It’s a matter of wrapping ourselves in His presence when life threatens to overwhelm us. It’s a matter of staying in constant contact with Him during trials and never losing sight of the awesome privilege of being able to do so. Maintaining a spirit of thankfulness will not only impact our lives, but it will also impact the lives of others in our orbit. Nothing speaks louder about the life-changing potential of the Christian faith than a believer who remains faithful and thankful when things go bad. First Thessalonians 5:18 doesn’t say we should be thankful for all circumstances, but rather in all circumstances. There are many things that happen that I’m not glad about. But I am glad that, despite the tragedies, God is still on the throne, and He is still in control of all circumstances that surround my life. Reflection question: What would being thankful in all circumstances look like in your life? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — The audio production of the podcast "Greg Laurie: Daily Devotions" utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known." All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie. Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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