Grateful Living
The Origin of our Thankfulness
By Karen Young
A good story captivates! It can expose our feelings, help us sort through our convictions, and sometimes help us face our doubts and failures. Some have the power to move and teach us.
The world and our pride tell us to put on a good story front, to show our best sides in front of our friends, to post our most flattering pictures on social media, to portray as much order and beauty as possible to make our stories look and sound good, so that we will look good.
But often, they are the raw and honest stories that offer hope in hard times - love that overcomes trial, right that wins over wrong, and gratitude for what has been played out through the story.
The Bible is a story of redemption from beginning to end. It is an incredible journey of ups and downs culminating in hope, sacrifice, and redemption, finally winning.
Since gratitude is the focus of this section of Refresh and Jesus is the lasting source of our gratitude, it follows that if you have been rescued, you have an important story to tell.
The best stories are centred on the hope and gratitude we live out amidst our imperfect stories. We hope living out this consistent, genuine gratitude amid our imperfect lives will influence others to follow Jesus.
What are you thankful for? What things put a skip in your step or a song in your heart? Perhaps it’s family and friends, the generosity of others, or the home that you live in.
A person who is content with who they are in Christ overflows with gratitude even when life is imperfect, allowing God’s beautiful story of redemption to shine through. It’s up to each of us to decide.
A good story captivates! It can expose our feelings, help us sort through our convictions, and sometimes help us face our doubts and failures. Some have the power to move and teach us.
The world and our pride tell us to put on a good story front, to show our best sides in front of our friends, to post our most flattering pictures on social media, to portray as much order and beauty as possible to make our stories look and sound good, so that we will look good.
But often, they are the raw and honest stories that offer hope in hard times - love that overcomes trial, right that wins over wrong, and gratitude for what has been played out through the story.
The Bible is a story of redemption from beginning to end. It is an incredible journey of ups and downs culminating in hope, sacrifice, and redemption, finally winning.
Since gratitude is the focus of this section of Refresh and Jesus is the lasting source of our gratitude, it follows that if you have been rescued, you have an important story to tell.
The best stories are centred on the hope and gratitude we live out amidst our imperfect stories. We hope living out this consistent, genuine gratitude amid our imperfect lives will influence others to follow Jesus.
What are you thankful for? What things put a skip in your step or a song in your heart? Perhaps it’s family and friends, the generosity of others, or the home that you live in.
A person who is content with who they are in Christ overflows with gratitude even when life is imperfect, allowing God’s beautiful story of redemption to shine through. It’s up to each of us to decide.
Posted in Grateful Living