Do You Ooze Gratitude?
Now, I know “ooze” is typically used to describe less-than-favorable circumstances, but I love how it captures the essence of slow, steady, outpouring. So, for better or worse I’ll ask again, do you ooze gratitude?
St Paul’s second and last letter to his spiritual son, Timothy, provides a list of sins and shortfalls indicative of the “last days.” (2Tim. 3) The list includes being ungrateful. Perhaps you know this intuitively. Maybe you remember being “ungrateful” to someone or for their gift and can remember the sorrow introduced. Maybe you can bring to mind someone who was ungrateful to you – and can still feel the sting from being taken for granted.
Interestingly enough, social scientists are researching and writing about the relational and even health benefits to those who ooze gratitude (my words, not theirs). It seems they are discovering there is a direct and immediate correlation between living in gratitude and being “happy.”
I’m happy for the discoveries, but not because I didn’t know what the Scriptures were proclaiming for, oh, say, thousands of years now! When we receive with gratitude and give graciously, we are blessed by the God who is, in His essence, grace-full.
Gratitude doesn’t just make an occasional cameo Biblical appearance – rather it is woven into the very fabric of the stories, the theology and the history that is the Bible. Its practice or lack thereof is as old as the story of the first two conflicted brothers, Cain and Abel of Genesis 4. It’s a constant refrain of the Psalms. It is integrated into the Lord’s Supper, sometimes called “The Eucharist” (which means, “to give thanks”).
Sunday will be a time to ooze gratitude – and that’s a good thing.
Pastor Karl
Other Thoughts:
- Please be generous and gracious in your summer giving. We’re entering the “slow season” (don’t care for that name) but are in need of continuing ministry and institutional functioning. If you cannot be in worship, go online to PeaceNaples.org to watch the message and donate your gift. (We’ve partnered with PayPal to assure online giving is secure.)
- Sunday Fellowship Brunches will continue through the summer! “Corey the Brunchlady” will be off this Sunday and a few more in July, but Tony Mount has stepped in to provide (in his words) a “Southern Breakfast” this week to include biscuits and gravy! You can’t get this great a brunch for $5 anywhere else but Peace!
- New summer Sunday format: For June, July and August, our Bible study time becomes, “Coffee with Pastor Karl” in open forum discussions! Bring your questions/concerns about the Bible, Peace, our Early Learning Center – virtually any subject matter will provide fuel for prayer and conversation! We’ll meet in the Fellowship Hall from 9:00 – 9:45AM.
- Congregational Meeting June 17th at 11:15AM to include mid year updates on vision/mission progress; financial status and seeking of congregational approval for refinancing and consolidation of our loan(s).