It is no secret that I have a passion for encouraging people to base their life on gratitude. Paul put it like this, "Give thanks in all circumstances." (1 Thessalonians 5:18a).

Let me point out that Paul didn't say to give thanks “for” all circumstances. Obviously, we don't give thanks for cancer or heart attacks, arthritis or blindness, Alzheimer's, or terrorist attacks. But we can give thanks "in" all circumstances because God is with us, come what may. And when we realize that and embrace that and reach out to God in faith, he will give us strength and see us through. We can count on that. And that is cause for great thanksgiving. 

There is an old legend that tells about a man who came one day to the barn where Satan stores the seeds that he scatters across the earth. The man noticed that the two most abundant seeds in the barn were the seeds of bitterness and discouragement. He asked Satan about those seeds. "Oh, yes," came the reply, "bitterness and discouragement; they are, without question, my most effective seeds. Why, these seeds will grow almost anywhere." 

Then, with a solemn look on his face, Satan said, "However, there is one place where the seeds of bitterness and discouragement will not grow." "Oh?" said the man, "and where is that?" Satan answered, "They will not grow in a heart of gratitude." 

Let us pray: God of love, we come to you with hearts full of love, souls full of trust, and minds full of thanksgiving. Your lovingkindness is as far-reaching as the stars, your care for us as deep as the sea. Help us to turn with childlike trust. Open our eyes to the wonders of Your Word and send us on our way with hope and courage. Watch over those traveling. Teach us that we never journey beyond your loving care. Through the amazing grace of Jesus Christ. Amen. 

In the book of Acts, we learn that the early church was called “the Way.” That term “the way” is rooted in the Hebrew Scriptures. It was a technical term used to describe a way of living in harmony with God. It was a path, a way you could choose to follow or not.

Jesus picked up on this when he claimed, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” In essence, he was saying this: If you want to live in harmony with God, if you want to live as God created you to live, if you want to live in a way that will truly allow you to experience life, then I am the way. This is the way. The way that I live.

So the early church was a movement of men and women who were trying to live the way Jesus lived. And we still are.

In his book Velvet Elvis, Rev. Rob Bell put it this way: “As a Christian, I am simply trying to orient myself around living a particular kind of way, the kind of way that Jesus taught is possible… I’m convinced that being generous is a better way to live. I’m convinced forgiving people and not carrying around bitterness is a better way to live. I’m convinced having compassion is a better way to live. I’m convinced that pursuing peace in every situation is a better way to live. I’m convinced being honest with people is a better way to live.”

Today, many of us are still trying to follow the “Way.” We don’t always get it right. But when we do, it is truly beautiful.

Let us pray: God of Grace, we want to live life to the fullest. We want to be healthy and whole. We want to make the most of the time we have—and we know that we need you. Today we thank you for the life and teachings of Jesus. We thank you for a path—for a way of life. We humbly ask your guidance and wisdom as we seek to follow; in Jesus' name. Amen.

There’s an old story about a man who was shipwrecked on an island for 10 years. During that time he kept himself sane by creating an entire town, including a house, a grocery store, a movie theater (with only imaginary movies, of course!), and a church at each end of his Main Street. He did this all out of palm branches.

When he was finally rescued, he was asked why he made two churches. Pointing to the first one he said, “That’s where I went, even though I sat alone, to remind myself that I am part of a body of Christ that extends around the world. That church was my spiritual home, my bedrock, my hope, and my salvation.” Pointing to the other one, he said, “That’s the church I wouldn't be caught dead in!”

Sometimes we do that, don’t we? We divide the world up neatly—determining who’s in and who’s out.

In a way, our theological or even political differences can help us articulate what we do believe and what we stand for. However, they can be sinful when they lead us to deep division, animosity, or hate. Hate corrodes the soul. This type of division can also destroy a sense of neighborhood or community. We see the way it impacts even our nation and the larger world.

In John’s first letter he writes, “Whoever says, ‘I am in the light,’ while hating a brother or a sister, is still in the darkness.”

Later, John continues, “God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.”

Let us pray: Loving God, sometimes it is hard to love people who see the world differently than we do. Grant us your grace that we might show grace. Keep us from the hate that hardens, and instead help us to be witnesses to your love and mercy. We especially pray today for all those whose love leads them to even sacrifice for the sake of others. We particularly lift up the men and women who are in the military and their families. We pray for peace-keepers and aid workers, for diplomats and ambassadors of all sorts. Protect them and lead them, that even as they serve, they would know your grace and love. We ask in the name of the One who came not to be served, but to serve others. Amen.

Today, I am deeply grateful for those of you who have supported the Dial Hope Foundation with a financial donation. Hope reaches others because of you. Thank you!

There’s an apocryphal story about an old married couple. The wife said, "Why do you keep talking about the mistakes which I made in the past? I thought you had forgiven me?" The husband replied, "I have forgiven you; I just wanted to make certain that you don't forget that I have forgiven you!”

That’s funny! But it’s not really forgiveness, is it? It’s bookkeeping. Keeping track and holding on to the past mistakes and failures of others will only weigh us down. There is no way to heal and move on unless we truly let go.

Writing about God’s forgiveness of us, God’s love for us, and our ability to share those same gifts with others, Franciscan theologian Richard Rohr puts it this way: “I really cannot imagine a larger and more spacious way to live… Forgiveness might just be the very best description of what God’s goodness engenders in humanity…”

May you come to see the ability to forgive and let go as a gift. It is not so much about the other person. It is a gift to yourself!

Let us pray: We remember today, O God, that you have forgiven us, and that there is nothing we could ever do to separate ourselves from your love in Christ. We turn over to you now those events of the past that have hurt us… We turn over the people who have wronged us… Even still, we know that there are some people who might continue to hurt us. In those cases, give us the courage to ask for help if we need it and to keep strong boundaries, and then to let go. As we forgive, as we let go, may we experience a lightness and your healing grace. We ask in Jesus' name. Amen.

A few summers back, our family went out to see the giant Sequoia trees of California. They are truly spectacular! Some of them grow as much as 300 feet tall and are as old as the time of Christ. We were told that, strangely, these towering trees have unusually shallow root systems that splinter out just under the surface of the ground. They stay shallow in order to absorb as much of the surface moisture as possible. You would think that would be their weakness. You would think that storms with heavy winds would bring these giants crashing to the ground. But they don’t, because the trees grow in clusters. Their roots intertwine, providing tremendous support.

Friends, family, and communities of faith all function for us in this same way, don’t they?

In his book Can You Drink the Cup?, Henri Nouwen writes, “In community, we say: Life is full of gains and losses, joys and sorrows, ups and downs—but we do not have to live it alone. We want to drink our cup together and thus celebrate the truth that the wounds of our individual lives, which seem intolerable when lived alone, become sources of healing when we live them as part of a fellowship of mutual care.”

Today, may we give thanks for the friends and family in our lives who, like the mighty Sequoias, undergird us with strength and hope.

Let us pray: God of Grace, we thank you for the people who you have brought into our lives that make the journey a little more beautiful. And today we especially pray for those who feel lonely and forgotten. May they know your presence with them. Surround them with your love and care. We ask in Jesus' name. Amen.