From the desk of Steve Shultz:
Graham Cooke shares a short yet potent reminder about the "Art of Gratitude." This is my favorite part of his article: "It is part of our DNA as human beings that we be grateful."
God designed us to be grateful and thankful people - to Him and to each other. Be blessed as you read Graham's article and you'll also be blessed by his featured products we've included right below.
Blessings,
Steve Shultz
Graham Cooke:
"The Art of Gratitude - It's Not Just for the Thanksgiving Weekend"
It's in Our DNA
In all things, we must give thanks. It is part of our DNA as human beings that we be grateful. If I eat a great meal in a restaurant, I want to thank the server and the chef. It's just natural! If someone gives us a beautiful sweater for Christmas, we want to say thank you.
If someone scores a touchdown for our team, what are we doing when we stand up and cheer? We are showing our appreciation. If someone wins a gold medal, or overcomes a daunting deficit to win, we jump up and down. We are thankful to be a part of that historic moment.
"In everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus," Paul said in 1 Thessalonians 5:18. Intimacy has a voice, and we need to be vocal in our praise and gratitude. Thanksgiving is not just for the Thanksgiving weekend; it should be an everyday occurrence.
I believe that real intimacy with God cannot be hidden. It transforms us. To get there, however, we need to press into communion and praise. We have to live with a heart captured by God.
Appreciation is often a tool God uses to draw us closer to Him. When we enter His presence, He usually tells us something He loves about us. He is very good at being grateful - and we need to follow the Holy Spirit's lead in that.
Thankfulness is the Door to God's Presence
God's blessing should propel us into thanksgiving - our excitement over what He is doing must manifest itself in gratitude. Thankfulness is a test we need to pass every day of our lives. Whether life is good or bad, we always have something to give thanks for.
Many Christians have been conditioned to think that they enter God's presence with prayer. But Scripture is clear that thankfulness is the door to His presence - "Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him, bless His name," says Psalm 100:4.
Whatever happens, we must thank God for the set of circumstances we are in. I'm not saying that we must thank God for something horrible that has happened - Christians are not called to be masochists. However, we can thank God that He is always with us.
Rejoicing in God gives us the opportunity to hear Him. When we enter His presence with thanksgiving, we open more of ourselves to His voice. When we want to know God's will for a situation, we begin by giving thanks.
Thankfulness Helps Us to Remain Happy
Probably two-thirds of the rest of the world would change places with us in the west - in a heartbeat - no matter how poor our lifestyle. To many, we are rich beyond their wildest dreams. Count your blessings; there are so many things to give thanks for.
If we struggle with being grateful to God for what He has given us, chances are we will be ungracious to people in how we live our lives. It is disciplines like gratitude, thanksgiving, praise, and worship that keep the presence of God fresh and alive in our hearts.
This is a fundamental spiritual truth that can re-shape and re-ignite our personal time with God. By entering His presence with praise, not petitions, we learn how to adore God. Our hearts become full of constant, continuous worship. We are people called to be happy in God; if we don't have joy in our relationship with Him, how can we expect anyone else to?
As a Christian, who would you rather be represented by - the most miserable swine on earth, or the happiest person in the world? This is the very choice God faces! Nobody wants to be represented by someone who is glum and miserable.
Thankfulness helps us remain happy in God.
Graham Cooke
Brilliant Book House
Email: office@grahamcooke.com
About Graham Cooke: Graham Cooke is part of the pastoral leadership team of The Mission in Vacaville, California, working with senior pastor David Crone. Graham is a popular conference speaker and is well-known for his training programs on the prophetic, spiritual warfare, intimacy with God, leadership, and spirituality. A thinker and a strategist, Graham is also a builder with a particular desire to produce finances and resources to help the poor. He financially supports and helps to underwrite church planting, leadership development, evangelism, and health and rescue projects in many countries in the third world. Graham has written several popular books, including Approaching the Heart of Prophecy and Developing Your Prophetic Gifting.
March 19-21, 2009
Limitless Possibilities
The Mission
6391 Leisure Town Road; Vacaville, California
Contact: conference@grahamcooke.com or 707-359-2104
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Graham Cooke |
Graham Cooke is part of pastoral leadership team of The Mission, formerly known as Vacaville Christian Life Center, working with senior pastor David Crone. He has responsibility for Insight, a training program within the church and for the region. He is a popular conference speaker and is well-known for his training programs on the prophetic, spiritual warfare, intimacy with God, leadership, and spirituality.... (more)
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Graham Cooke |
"I was there when Graham spoke this message. I must tell you that it was a life-changer and it's changed not only the way I view God...It's changed the way I view others who are somewhere between being 'my enemy' or simply being a Christian person that speaks against or betrays me. What a paradigm-changing word! The Scripture is clear that it is HIS KINDNESS THAT LEADS US TO REPENTANCE. Graham tells many stories of God's kindness to him, no matter what he does or has done .... (more)
You May Also Call Us With Your Order- 8am to 4pm- Pacific Time, Monday-Friday
1-866-354-5245 (USA) -OR- 1-541-926-3250
(Outside the USA) |
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