Gratitude

Reflections, Course-Corrections and Deep Gratitude…

/ pastorlynnmalone / Leave a comment

It is early Sunday morning. I love the early morning hours. They are the best time for me to pray, reflect, read and give thanks. Sometimes I write. Sometimes I don’t. Trust me. Coffee is better at 4:00 a.m., than at 8:00 a.m.

This morning is different than most mornings. It is different, first, because I’m breathing different air than usual. Vanessa and I were able to slip away to Hot Springs, AR for a little R & R over the holiday weekend.

I’m drinking coffee in a rented house. I tell you, this Vrbo thing is nice. You can actually rent someone’s home when you’re on vacation! As nice as it is, I’m not sure I could rent my home to perfect strangers. Seriously, someone you don’t know poking around in your personal space? A bit frightening to me, but here I am doing it in someone else’s home. Go figure?

As I reflect this Sunday morning, I am reflecting again on how fleeting life is. Even these moments of reflection seem to be fleeting, too.

It is different, secondly, because I am holding a tension between sorrow and joy this morning. Not that there isn’t always some sorrow and some joy resident in our lives, but this morning the contrast is particularly striking.

The Paradox of Life and Death

The news is filled with reports from the hill country of Texas and the flash flooding from the Guadalupe River. The sudden loss of life. The tragedy of families searching for loved ones. The tales of heroism. The heart-break to hear of little girls missing in the midst of it all. My heart is broken for those little girls and their families, and also for the Camp Mystic staff who was responsible for their safety. These past two mornings have beef filled with prayer for all of them. Those prayers continue this morning.

In the midst of the deep sorrow, I am also experiencing deep joy at having a few hours to connect (re-connect) with our daughters. Kelsey and her husband, Matt, spent a couple of nights with us here in Hot Springs, and Brittney and our grandson, Lincoln spent yesterday and last night with us. They are our little girls, and I am grateful (eternally so) that we’ve not experienced the horror of losing one of them. While my heart sinks at what I sense those families in Texas are experiencing, I give thanks to the good Lord for our children and the blessings He has poured out on our family.

The devil wants to make me feel guilty for being so grateful, but I refuse to succumb to his tactics. We hold life and death in tension constantly, and this morning is no different. As the Book of Common Prayer (and the Methodist funeral liturgy) reminds us:

In the midst of life, we are in death; From whom can we seek our help?

The answer, of course, is that we find our help in the name of the Lord. As challenging as it sometimes is to do, I hold the tension between life and death by grace and with gratitude, trusting that the Lord will give us strength to face whatever life brings our way.

Missing Annual Conference

I’m also reflecting this morning on Annual Conference. Yeah, I know right? But I must be missing Annual Conference. I’ve had two dreams this week that I was Annual Conference. It’s probably because my Facebook newsfeed has been filled with former colleagues who were attending Annual Conference, and who have been sharing their “new appointments” on their Facebook pages. That reality has brought both good and bad memories. Again, with the paradox (irony?) that is life.

I must say that I haven’t missed Annual Conference very much since I surrendered my credentials in the United Methodist Church. I’ll admit that first June in 2020 was different, but it would have been different anyway because of a little thing called Covid. Beginning in 2021, though, I connected with the Evangelical Methodist Church, and have attended their iteration of Annual Conference since then…until this year.

Due to circumstances beyond my control (that whole life and death thing again), I was unable to attend this year’s “Journey” session. I missed Annual Conference, literally. I suppose, through my subconscious, I’m missing it figuratively, too.

What do I miss? I miss the collegiality. I miss the friendships. I miss the fellowship. I miss the laughter over meals shared. I miss the worship. I miss the singing. I miss the work of Annual Conference. I miss the slipping away to the book store (or to the mall, or the coffee shop, or the golf course, or wherever) when there was a boring report session. Yes, there is much I miss about Annual Conference. The quiet mornings of this weekend have been moments of reflection on that loss.

The quiet mornings of this weekend have also brought me joy as I’ve reflected on the goodness of God since I left the United Methodist Church in 2019. It was a pain-staking decision to surrender my credentials that year, but let’s just say there are many actions the denomination has taken since that time that have affirmed our decision.

There were other options open to me in 2019, one of which was the path of “retirement.” Honestly, if I’m asked by someone now about my situation, and I don’t want to get involved in a whole conversation, I will simply say, “I retired.” It’s easier than having to go through a long explanation about “surrendering orders,” and all that.

Choosing to Quit

Yup! I quit! Call me a quitter if you want, but the reality is I didn’t quit ministry. I simply quit the United Methodist Church. (If we’re being honest, the UMC left me long before I left it.) I had no idea if it was the right decision then, but time has proven that it was a course-correction in my faith journey, and for that course-correction, I give thanks.

Had I chosen to “retire” in the UMC, I would now be limited by the same Annual Conference (that I loved so dearly) as to where I could preach the Gospel, or even attend as a worshipper. If a family member passed away, and that person’s funeral was in a congregation that disaffiliated from the UMC, I couldn’t (with integrity) participate in their funeral without fear of punishment (financially held hostage would be a better characterization). I’m not always sure what Jesus would do, but in that case, I’m pretty sure.

Yeah, I know…sour grapes and all that. I shouldn’t be chewing gum that I’ve chewed before, but the reflections of this weekend have been a reminder of the tensions in life. I’ve been both filled with sorrow and filled with joy…filled with grief and filled with anticipation…filled with heartache and filled with gratitude. In the midst of it all, there is grace–God’s grace. It is only by His grace that the tension is bearable.

So, I’m just going to hold on to Him. Won’t you join me?

Until next time, keep looking up…

Happy Thanksgiving, Y’all…

/ pastorlynnmalone / Leave a comment

Gratitude is a powerful, transformative attitude that can change the way we experience life. It is more than a polite “thank you” or a seasonal expression of thanks around Thanksgiving dinner; it is a deep, heartfelt acknowledgment of the goodness, grace, and provision of God in all things.

In a world that often encourages comparison, entitlement, and dissatisfaction, gratitude seems to be a rare virtue. And yet, the Bible teaches us that gratitude is not optional for the believer—it is essential. In fact, as we read in 1 Thessalonians 5:18, “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” Gratitude is not just a nice gesture, but a command from God, a key part of His will for our lives.

So, why is gratitude so important? How does it impact our relationship with God, with others, and with ourselves? And how can we cultivate an attitude of gratitude, even in challenging circumstances?

God’s Will for Us

The apostle Paul, writing to the church in Thessalonica, reminds us that gratitude is not optional but is the will of God. The will of God in our lives, according to this verse, is not simply that we perform religious duties or follow rules, but that we have a heart of thanksgiving, regardless of our circumstances.

Gratitude is a central part of our spiritual life because it aligns us with God’s heart and helps us acknowledge His goodness. To give thanks is to recognize and celebrate the ways God is at work in our lives, whether in times of abundance or scarcity, joy or sorrow. When we are grateful, we are turning our eyes away from what we lack and focusing on the many ways in which God is present with us, sustaining us, and blessing us.

Paul doesn’t say, “Give thanks for all circumstances,” but “in all circumstances.” There’s a difference. We may not always be thankful for difficult circumstances or suffering—none of us would claim to be grateful for pain, loss, or hardship. But we can still give thanks in those circumstances, trusting that God is with us, that He is faithful, and that He can work even in the darkest moments of our lives.

Gratitude is a response to God’s presence, no matter what life brings our way. It’s an act of faith that says, “I may not understand why things are happening the way they are, but I trust that God is good, and I will thank Him for His constant presence and provision.”

It’s About Perspective

Gratitude has the power to shift our perspective. The apostle Paul knew this well. He wrote to the Philippians from prison, a place of confinement and hardship, yet he spoke often of joy and thankfulness. In Philippians 4:6, he says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” Even in a time of suffering, Paul models a posture of thankfulness.

When we focus on gratitude, we shift our attention from the negative, from what’s missing, to what is present. This shift doesn’t deny the reality of our struggles or minimize the pain we might feel, but it helps us to see beyond the immediate challenges and to focus on God’s faithfulness, His provision, and His love. Gratitude helps us to remember that, no matter what is happening around us, God is always good, and He is always at work in our lives.

Remember the Israelites in the wilderness? When they were faced with hunger, they complained and doubted God. But God, in His mercy, provided manna from heaven, daily bread for His people. Instead of responding with gratitude, the Israelites often grumbled and longed for the comforts of Egypt, forgetting the great things God had already done. Their lack of gratitude caused them to forget the goodness of God and to live in a state of discontentment.

How often do we fall into the same pattern? Being a “glass half-empty” guy, I tend to focus on what’s wrong, what’s lacking, and what’s unfair, and I can miss the countless blessings God has already given me.

Gratitude realigns our focus and helps us see the blessings we have, no matter how small or how hidden they may seem in the moment.

It’s About Relationships

One of the most profound impacts of gratitude is on our relationships—both with God and with others. In 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, Paul writes about the importance of rejoicing, praying, and giving thanks. These are not just individual acts; they are communal expressions of worship and devotion that strengthen the body of Christ.

When we are grateful to God, it deepens our relationship with Him. Gratitude is an expression of trust in God’s character and goodness. It acknowledges that we recognize His work in our lives and that we are dependent on His grace. This kind of gratitude fosters intimacy with God, drawing us closer to Him in love and worship.

Gratitude also strengthens our relationships with others. Think about the power of a simple “thank you.” A word of thanks can build bridges, restore relationships, and create a culture of kindness and appreciation. When we are grateful, we are less likely to take people for granted. We are more inclined to see and affirm the value in others, recognizing the ways in which God has worked through them to bless our lives.

The opposite of gratitude is entitlement. Entitlement says, “I deserve this. I have a right to it.” Gratitude, however, says, “I have received something good that I didn’t earn, and I am thankful.” When we live with a sense of gratitude, we become more humble, more patient, and more generous. We no longer take for granted the things we have, and we are more willing to share with others.

Jesus, of course, is our ultimate example. In the Gospels, we see how Jesus expressed gratitude to His Father, even in moments of distress. When He healed the ten lepers in Luke 17:11-19, only one of them returned to thank Him. Jesus was deeply moved by this man’s gratitude and said, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.” The act of thanksgiving not only brought physical healing but also spiritual wholeness.

It’s NOT About Circumstances

Gratitude is never contingent on our circumstances. This is especially true when we face difficult or painful seasons in life. Paul’s command to “give thanks in all circumstances” is not just for the good times but for the hard times as well. In fact, gratitude can be most powerful in times of suffering.

Consider the example of Job. After losing everything—his wealth, his health, his children—Job said, “The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” (Job 1:21). Job’s words are a profound testament to the power of gratitude in the midst of tragedy. He did not understand why he was suffering, but he chose to acknowledge God’s sovereignty and goodness, even in his pain.

Gratitude in every season of life is a choice, a discipline, and an act of trust. It acknowledges that, while life may not always make sense, God is still good, and He is still worthy of our thanks. When we choose gratitude in hardship, we align ourselves with God’s heart and demonstrate our trust in His faithfulness, even when we cannot see the way forward.

Growing Gratitude

Gratitude, like any virtue, must be cultivated. It does not come naturally, especially when life is difficult or when we feel overwhelmed. But there are practical ways to develop a heart of gratitude:

  1. Practice daily thanksgiving: Start each day by thanking God for the blessings in your life. Even on tough days, there is always something to be thankful for.
  2. Count your blessings: Keep a gratitude journal where you write down the things you’re thankful for. This helps you focus on the positive aspects of life, even during difficult seasons.
  3. Express gratitude to others: Take the time to thank those around you—family, friends, colleagues, and even strangers. Gratitude is contagious and can strengthen your relationships.
  4. Pray with thanksgiving: In your prayers, focus on what God has done for you. Thank Him for His provision, His love, and His faithfulness.

Gratitude is a powerful force that transforms our hearts, our relationships, and our lives. It aligns us with the will of God, shifts our perspective, deepens our relationships with God and others, and helps us to trust God in all circumstances.

As we cultivate an attitude of gratitude, we reflect God’s goodness to the world around us. Let us choose to give thanks in all circumstances, knowing that this is the will of God for us in Christ Jesus.

May our lives be marked by a spirit of thanksgiving, not just when things are going well, but in every season, trusting that God is good, His love endures forever, and His faithfulness never fails.

Happy Thanksgiving, y’all, and until next time (whenever that might be), keep looking up…

Thanking Who?

/ pastorlynnmalone / Leave a comment

Happy Thanksgiving! That’s simply enough said, and no, we haven’t slipped right past Thanksgiving and gone to Christmas (the store merchandising notwithstanding). I’ve noticed many instances on TV and radio reminding us to be thankful. And, we need reminding. What I’ve also noticed is that we need to be reminded who it is we’re really supposed to thank.

Thanksgiving-ImageI was watching Dancing with the Stars earlier this week (don’t you dare judge me), and there was a segment in the program where the finalists were giving thanks, but only Sadie Robertson gave thanks to God. The entire segment was a “thank you” to America, to the fans and viewers. Now, it’s appropriate for them to thank the viewers and fans. After all, without the viewers and fans, there would be no Dancing with the Stars, but thanking other people doesn’t capture the nature or intent of Thanksgiving.

Soon after watching DWTS, I saw a commercial advertising a holiday special hosted by reporter Robin Roberts entitled “Thank You, America!” According to the promo, this will be a special night shining “a light on the American spirit of gratitude,” and an evening that “recognizes ordinary people doing extraordinary things in their communities.” I’m certain it will be a nice, feel-good program for this Thanksgiving Thursday that will tug at our heart strings, and it’s appropriate to give thanks to others, and celebrate the good things they’ve done. But, again, I’m kinda’ thinking the program won’t capture the nature or intent of Thanksgiving.

I’m a little uncertain about what Thanksgiving is becoming, but may I offer a reminder about what Thanksgiving originally was? For us in the good ole’ U. S. of A., Thanksgiving goes all the way back to 1621, and the pilgrims giving thanks to Almighty God for a great harvest, and for the preservation of their lives. George Washington, in 1789, made a public proclamation saying “it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor?” He recommended and assigned Thursday, the 26th day of November 1789 to be a day of Thanksgiving. And, may we never forget President Lincoln’s proclamation of October 1863, when in the midst of Civil War he proclaimed:

“It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently, and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American people. I do, therefore, invite my fellow-citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next as a Day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens. And I recommend to them that, while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners, or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty hand to heal the wounds of the nation, and to restore it, as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes, to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility, and union.”

 In every instance, the call was to remember God—to stop, to think, to give thanks TO God. It’s easy for us to think about family. Most of us will be going to be with family, or family will be coming to be with us, and we’ll be appropriately grateful. It’s also easy for us to think about food because most of our tables will be filled with turkey and dressing and all the trimmings, and pumpkin pie and sweet potato pie and pecan pie, and fresh baked rolls, and we’ll be  appropriately thankful. It’ll be easy for us to think about football, waiting anxiously for the Detroit Lions and the Dallas Cowboys to play their respective games, because they, too, have become Thanksgiving traditions, and we’ll be appropriately grateful that we can enjoy a lazy day of family, food and football. These are things we have, and the focus is appropriate. But our greatest focus today should be on God.

Psalm 100 is on my mind early this morning:

1 Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth!
2     Worship the Lord with gladness.
    Come before him, singing with joy.
3 Acknowledge that the Lord is God!
    He made us, and we are his.[a]
    We are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving;
    go into his courts with praise.
    Give thanks to him and praise his name.
5 For the Lord is good.
    His unfailing love continues forever,
    and his faithfulness continues to each generation.

The Psalms (the Hebrew song book) are filled with songs of thanksgiving. No less than 15 psalms have “thanksgiving” in the title, and a full 24 of the psalms give specific command to “give thanks.” Psalm 100 is one that includes both. Why did the ancient Israelites have so many songs about thanksgiving? The songs were reminders. So often throughout the early books of the Old Testament, God was always reminding the people that when they made it to the promised land, got settled there, got comfortable, were warm and well-fed, not to forget Him. God would say, “Don’t forget the reason you’re where you are. Don’t forget to ‘give thanks’.”

Psalm 100 is one of the songs the people would sing as they were going into the Temple. It served to set the attitude of the people’s heart as they went into worship. It was a reminder that when you come to worship, bring this attitude…have this attitude within you. It certainly gives the indication that gratitude was a matter of choice. Gratitude is a decision of the will, and if a decision of the will, the choice resides squarely with us. Psalm 100 is a reminder that God is good, God is merciful, God is faithful; that when we are in the ease and comfort of life, when it becomes so easy to forget, remember that we have God, and more importantly, God has us. I do believe that was the nature and intent of any of the early Thanksgiving holidays.

I kinda’ sound a little ungrateful, don’t I? I think I may even come across as a little whiny about the continuing secularization of our culture. I’m sorry if I do, but it just seems to me that someone ought to say something, and if someone ought to say something, it might as well be me. So, HAPPY THANKSGIVING, but please remember that our first thanks is to God.

Until next time, keep looking up…