Truth:  Grateful hearts drive away grumpy attitudes.  Who would you rather hang out with at home, work, church or any other place with people?  As for me, I would much rather hang out with smiling, positive people who are grateful for all God as done and is doing in their lives and they are not quiet about it!  I’m discovering, as I mature, that among the extremely grateful believers I know and love, their humbled gracious attitude comes from times of suffering. 

It seems suffering are indeed teachable moments in God’s Kingdom.  Those who have suffered the most in their lives are the very ones who are most grateful to God for getting them through it.  Wait, what?!  Yes, it’s true.  Until you are at the end of your rope, hanging on, asking and trusting God for help, you might not know what pure, from the heart, gratitude is.  “I can’t thank you enough!”, says David.  He has been through battles, betrayals, dysfunctional family relationships, sometimes being on the run from his enemies.  He called out to God, asked God to forgive and help Him in and through these trials and suffering and God did. 

David writes another song of thanksgiving to God.  We can almost hear David shouting his praise from the rooftops.  “I give you all the credit, God”, “You put me together”, “I can’t keep quiet about you”, “I can’t thank you enough”! 

What is our attitude quotient today?

Worship and Wisdom, Psalm and Proverbs

Psalm 30, The Message

A David Psalm

30 I give you all the credit, God—
    you got me out of that mess,
    you didn’t let my foes gloat.

^2-3 God, my God, I yelled for help
    and you put me together.
God, you pulled me out of the grave,
    gave me another chance at life
    when I was down-and-out.

^4-5 All you saints! Sing your hearts out to God!
    Thank him to his face!
He gets angry once in a while, but across
    a lifetime there is only love.
The nights of crying your eyes out
    give way to days of laughter.

^6-7 When things were going great
    I crowed, “I’ve got it made.
I’m God’s favorite.
    He made me king of the mountain.”
Then you looked the other way
    and I fell to pieces.

^8-10 I called out to you, God;
    I laid my case before you:
“Can you sell me for a profit when I’m dead?
    auction me off at a cemetery yard sale?
When I’m ‘dust to dust’ my songs
    and stories of you won’t sell.
So listen! and be kind!
    Help me out of this!”

^11-12 You did it: you changed wild lament
    into whirling dance;
You ripped off my black mourning band
    and decked me with wildflowers.
I’m about to burst with song;
    I can’t keep quiet about you.
God, my God,
    I can’t thank you enough.

TRUTH:  God, I can’t thank you enough! 

In the background I hear an old song of thanks playing in my mind and it makes me smile.  “My Tribute” by Andrae Crouch

How can I say thanks
For the things You have done for me?
Things so undeserved,
Yet You gave to prove Your love for me;
The voices of a million angels
Could not express my gratitude.
All that I am and ever hope to be,
I owe it all to Thee.

To God be the glory,
To God be the glory,
To God be the glory
For the things He has done.

With His blood He has saved me,
With His power He has raised me;
To God be the glory
For the things He has done.

Just let me live my life,
Let it pleasing, Lord to Thee,
And if I gain any praise,
Let it go to Calvary.

Proverb 14:27-35, The Message

The Fear-of-God is a spring of living water
    so you won’t go off drinking from poisoned wells.

²⁸ The mark of a good leader is loyal followers;
    leadership is nothing without a following.

²⁹ Slowness to anger makes for deep understanding;
    a quick-tempered person stockpiles stupidity.

³⁰ A sound mind makes for a robust body,
    but runaway emotions corrode the bones.

³¹ You insult your Maker when you exploit the powerless;
    when you’re kind to the poor, you honor God.

³² The evil of bad people leaves them out in the cold;
    the integrity of good people creates a safe place for living.

³³ Lady Wisdom is at home in an understanding heart—
    fools never even get to say hello.

³⁴ God-devotion makes a country strong;
    God-avoidance leaves people weak.

³⁵ Diligent work gets a warm commendation;
    shiftless work earns an angry rebuke.

WISDOM:  God’s Wisdom is at home in an understanding, grateful heart.  Awe, (healthy fear), of God is a spring of LIVING water.  To God be the glory!

Abba Father,

We, like David, cannot thank you enough!  You have helped us all our lives.  You saved our souls, dear Jesus.  We had troubles and you helped us through them.  We have been betrayed by people who said they loved you and us, and you helped us see truth.  We have been slandered and you brought truth to light.  We were brought low but You brough us out of suffering and filled us with peace and healing.  You lifted us up when we were down. 

You picked us up and put us back together when we fell under the load of worry and confusion.  Yes, you provided wisdom in place of confusion.  You provided for our needs at just the right time.  You provided miracles of physical and emotional healing.  You have always given us all we needed for the missions you asked us to join you.  Yes, you provide where you guide.  You have protected us at times when we didn’t even know we were being attacked. 

You are God, and we are not.  There is NO ONE like You!  Why would we trust anyone else but You?  I am humbly grateful for all you have done, are doing now and will do until we see you face to face in all your glory.  Wow.  Just Wow.  There are truly not enough words to express my gratitude!

In Jesus Name, Amen