Ed Costanza, reminiscing about the hospitality of the Big Sandy congregation, expresses gratitude for the warmth. Paul continually expressed gratitude to those congregations who welcomed him, singling out individuals who had served him. The words “grace” and “gratitude” have the same etymology. In a comparative study of people who kept a journal, those who were encouraged to register grateful entries demonstrated a healthier disposition over those who registered complaints and those who recorded nothing. As we exercise Christian gratitude, we affirm the good things that happen to us, enabling us to see a giver outside of ourselves. Grateful people tend to come to success earlier in life and pass the generosity onto other people, reciprocating the goodness which had originally been given to them. As we rise in the morning, we need to take stock of all the favors God has shown us, giving thanks in our prayers. Gratitude allows us to celebrate the present, magnifying the pleasures we receive from our relationships and our possessions, sustaining the sense of newness. Grateful people are more stress resistant, enabling them to weather trauma. Grateful people have a higher sense of self-worth. In order to become grateful, we need to (1) keep a gratitude journal, (2) be grateful for our current state- even the negatives which may be disguised blessings (3) use visual reminders to prevent forgetfulness and murmuring, and (4) sing psalms of gratitude, giving sacrifices of praise.

Apple orchards * Attitude of gratitude * Attitude journal * Auction * Charis * Colossians 3:16-17 * Deuteronomy 28:47 * Exodus 20:8 * Evil report * Failed marriages * I Timothy 2:1 * Flea beetles * Gaius * Giver outside of themselves * Good will * Grace * Gratitude journal * Gratitude * Gratifying * Gratia Gratis * Hebrews 12:28;13:15 * Hospitality * Numbers 11:18; 14:26-42 * Priscilla and Aquila * Profit and loss * Psalms of gratitude * Psalm 118:24-28 * Red Sea * Reciprocity * Robert Emmons * Romans 1:1-12; 16:3-23 * Scarcity rather than abundance * Showing joy * Taking stock * Timeline of eternity