three stories here
Story one: The nine
Leprosey- what is it
- Hands and feet - Leprosy bacteria attack the nerves in the hands and feet and cause them to become numb. a person may get cuts or burns on the numb parts and not know it, leading to infections which cause permanent damage. fingers and toes may be lost to infection. serious infections in the fee may require amputation. Paralysis may cause the fingers and toes to curl up permanently.
- Eyes - leprosy bacteria attack the nerves around the eyes causing the loss of blinking reflex (which protects the eye from injury and moisten the surface.) The eyes become dry and infected, and blindness may result. Because of numbness of the eye, the person cannot feel dirt or scratches in the eye.
- Face - damage to the internal lining of the nose causes scarring and eventual collapse of the nose
Their real problem....spiritual disease
Ungrateful....not thankful
Angry with God that they were sick...deserved better
Anytime we think that we deserve more, we are not thankful
Entitlement is the enemy of gratitude
Sense of Entitlement-we are familiar with this
Mullennials on 60 mins.
We have created a culture of of entitlement
Doting parent... told them you are special... no winners or losers... expect everything in life.
Priorities are simple...I come first
Want to roll into work at noon with ipod and flip flops and still rise to position of CEO by Friday
We have created a perfect storm
They don't know how to work, much less be asked to stay late or work weekends
We have put them in a situation where they must perform as professionals, but we have not given them any of the tools.
Life has its cold realities
You're not always going to be well. You won't always get the promotion. You may not even get the job.
Life isn't fair.
Joy is not found in things going your way, it is found in your hard work and in appreciation of what you do have
These guys thought they deserved better.....
They were going to get their life back...thank you? Thanks for what? All the years of torture?
It's not just selfishness.....
Spiritual pride
We are alive, but not awake
Not awake to what is important
The bus in Yellowstone
Salvation army kettle.....what do you think when you walk by....
It's an invitation to be thankful....
Thank you God that I am not out there in the cold ringing a bell.
Thank you God that I have food on my table.
Story two: The one
Gratitude
Didn't deserve anything
appreciative
Joy
He didn't want the life that waited on the other side...tho a leper, he was already alive, because he was grateful.
Didn't need to be pronounced clean. He was clean.
What he wanted was behind him......Jesus
Bill Fulton wrote about gratitude:
gratitude, has to do with having enough.
That;s something that's hard for us to recognize.
We're culturally conditioned to always want more.
No matter how much we have, we want more.
No matter how successful we are, we want to be more successful.
We're conditioned to want more.
And when you always want more, it's hard to be grateful.
If you're always dissatisfied, it;s hard to be thankful for what you already have.
Gratitude is a way of seeing that what we have is enough.
The apostle Paul said in Philippians 4
I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13I can do everything through him who gives me strength.,
every thing necessary has been provided for me already.
I have enough
Someone has said that Christianity is a new way of seeing.
We're not somehow special people
We're not better than everybody else.
It's just that we see things differently now.
We see that God has provided everything we need.
God has provided enough.
And that "enough creates in us a heart of thankfulness.
The love of God was poured out in Jesus and people experienced enough.
Enough love.
Enough forgiveness.
Enough acceptance.
If we can stop looking at what we don't have and see what we do have, we will have enough. We will be thankful.
Story three...Jesus
Did Jesus need the thank you
Do you need a thank you?
It's always a blessing
The power of "thank you"
Gratitude - a sincere thank you
Fills us with joy
Warms the heart of the receiver.
When we say thank you, we complete the circle.
We are reconnected
How about this for a prayer
Thank you Jesus. Thank you Jesus. Thank you for:
Thank you one and all. For every handshake, for every hug. For every act of kindness. For every talent and treasure give. For works of mission. for works of love.
Our series "give thanks" is over. but I invite you to live lives that are thankful every single day. Because God has given us enough. And it is all good
This morning I would like to thank all of our volunteers here at Woods chapel who serve within the walls of this church, and those who stretch their service across the world. thank you for helping direct traffic in the parking lot, for teaching our children about God, for sorting through donations, for baking a dish, for sharing your musical gifts with us and for all the work you do behind the scenes. Thank you for serving the homeless, for hanging insulation and sheetrock, for leading classes and Bible studies, for supporting our youth, and for taking time out of your day to visit with someone in need.
We have over 875 people who volunteer their time, talents and services to the ministries of Woods chapel. You volunteer on the hottest day in the summer, the coldest day of winter and still continue to serve our church and our community and the world in which we live. You endure pain, cuts, bruises and exhaustion all for the love of Jesus Christ and our church. some of you are over 50 and some of you are so your that you have yet to attend your first day of school.
Today, November 25, 207, I, Missy Nance, want to thank you for doing God's work. Thank you for helping Woods chapel Church fulfill its mission of "connecting people to Jesus Christ!" No matter what you do, be it big or small, I thank you. Thank you for your time, talents, generosity, love and care.
May Good Bless you Always.
Your Sister in Christ, Missy Nance
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