WEBVTT 00:00:00.160 --> 00:00:03.439 Thank you for listening to the Kelowna Christian Center Podcast. 00:00:03.600 --> 00:00:08.080 Our desire is that today's message will be fresh and encouraging to you. 00:00:08.320 --> 00:00:13.679 For more information on KCC and how to connect, visit us at KCC.net. 00:00:14.480 --> 00:00:15.279 Oh my. 00:00:15.439 --> 00:00:16.559 I missed my cue. 00:00:16.719 --> 00:00:17.600 I was too busy. 00:00:17.920 --> 00:00:20.800 Hi fiving everybody, and welcome back. 00:00:21.039 --> 00:00:24.399 Those of you who have been away for a little while, welcome back. 00:00:24.559 --> 00:00:27.519 We've got visitors here from Taiwan today. 00:00:27.679 --> 00:00:32.479 We've got them from all the way from like I don't know where Red Deer. 00:00:32.640 --> 00:00:34.399 It's great to have you here. 00:00:34.719 --> 00:00:36.240 Somebody from Red Deer. 00:00:36.399 --> 00:00:41.439 It's uh, you know, just Calgary and from Calgary. 00:00:41.600 --> 00:00:42.240 Way to go. 00:00:42.719 --> 00:00:45.600 It's here for the Albertans here in the house today. 00:00:45.840 --> 00:00:47.520 We love our Albertans. 00:00:48.719 --> 00:00:52.719 Um well this morning, it's so good to be in the church. 00:00:52.880 --> 00:00:53.280 You know what? 00:00:53.359 --> 00:01:00.640 I'm so grateful for Pastor Malachi and for the for the team here that just leads us in presence in the morning. 00:01:00.880 --> 00:01:01.439 You know what? 00:01:01.520 --> 00:01:04.480 People who are sensitive to know where God is taking them. 00:01:04.719 --> 00:01:09.760 Like it's it's uh a moment where you're just saying, heaven, heaven come down. 00:01:09.840 --> 00:01:12.079 That's a big prayer, isn't it? 00:01:12.560 --> 00:01:14.319 Heaven come down. 00:01:15.120 --> 00:01:17.840 Heaven come down, and that's the way Jesus taught us to pray. 00:01:17.920 --> 00:01:22.159 He said, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 00:01:22.719 --> 00:01:25.840 Let your will happen in this place. 00:01:25.920 --> 00:01:31.920 And that means, oftentimes that means saying, Lord, have your way in this place. 00:01:32.480 --> 00:01:37.599 And let help me to get out of the way so that you can actually establish your way in this place. 00:01:37.840 --> 00:01:39.760 So uh big prayers. 00:01:39.920 --> 00:01:43.760 We like the bold prayers in the at church today. 00:01:43.920 --> 00:01:44.799 Uh, welcome. 00:01:44.879 --> 00:01:50.400 Um, and I know I just said hi to Val Lalon, who's away for a little bit, and she's back here. 00:01:50.480 --> 00:01:52.879 Let's give her a hand as well on the family. 00:01:53.200 --> 00:01:55.359 So grateful to see everyone. 00:01:56.719 --> 00:02:10.639 Um today we've got a standalone message that's uh we're kind of sandwiched between our our last series on summer vibes and our new series coming up next week is our kickoff Sunday. 00:02:10.800 --> 00:02:25.599 If you haven't had a chance, go out in the lobby, grab one of these Sunday kickoff cards, and use this as a reminder for yourself, but also as an invitation to someone else to be able to make it out to church next Sunday. 00:02:25.680 --> 00:02:29.120 We're gonna launch our new series called Retelling the Story. 00:02:29.439 --> 00:02:36.400 Every culture, every organization has a story, and that story needs to be retold. 00:02:36.560 --> 00:02:38.639 That narrative needs to be retold. 00:02:38.800 --> 00:02:41.520 Oftentimes it's retold in song. 00:02:41.759 --> 00:02:43.439 We're not gonna do that. 00:02:43.759 --> 00:02:46.159 I'm not gonna be the one doing that, okay? 00:02:46.319 --> 00:03:02.080 I'm gonna be we're gonna be sharing it together, retelling that story and just uh reaffirming our values and what we believe and and the passions that are in our hearts and where we believe God is taking us in this next season that we're moving into. 00:03:02.639 --> 00:03:11.280 Uh we we're so we're in between those series right now, and so today I wanted to share on gratitude. 00:03:11.439 --> 00:03:15.360 This is more than just the message that you share on Thanksgiving. 00:03:15.520 --> 00:03:17.919 How many of you know that it's a good thing? 00:03:18.080 --> 00:03:20.719 Life is always better when you're grateful. 00:03:21.039 --> 00:03:23.919 Life is always better with people who are grateful. 00:03:24.159 --> 00:03:27.919 Life is always better when people around you are thankful. 00:03:29.919 --> 00:03:34.560 When the kids get up in the morning and they're like, wow, and you make breakfast. 00:03:34.719 --> 00:03:41.120 Thank you, Dad, for those Cheerios that you just poured the milk perfectly over those Cheerios. 00:03:41.280 --> 00:03:41.520 No. 00:03:41.759 --> 00:03:43.520 Thank you, thank you, thank you. 00:03:43.680 --> 00:03:47.439 It's the language that it needs to be in our heart. 00:03:47.599 --> 00:03:59.280 So today I'm going to flash back to that message on gratitude and start this new season with thankfulness in our heart. 00:03:59.520 --> 00:04:03.680 The Bible says when we come before God, we come into his presence with what? 00:04:04.319 --> 00:04:05.759 Thanksgiving. 00:04:06.000 --> 00:04:09.599 It's gotta be our it's gotta be our first go-to. 00:04:10.560 --> 00:04:12.080 Where's the thanksgiving? 00:04:12.159 --> 00:04:13.520 Where's the heart of gratitude? 00:04:13.680 --> 00:04:15.759 Where's the attitude of gratitude? 00:04:16.079 --> 00:04:18.879 And so today we're going to speak on that. 00:04:19.040 --> 00:04:21.680 So let's just bow our heads in prayer before we begin. 00:04:21.920 --> 00:04:32.800 Father, we ask that you would open up our heart to uh to be able to absorb everything that you would have for us this morning. 00:04:33.120 --> 00:04:37.279 Lord, if there needs to be a heart change today, we're open. 00:04:37.519 --> 00:04:40.079 If there needs to be a shift, we're open. 00:04:40.319 --> 00:04:43.199 And we ask that your word would make a difference in us. 00:04:43.360 --> 00:04:45.040 We would be changed by your word. 00:04:45.279 --> 00:04:47.360 We would be matured by your word. 00:04:47.759 --> 00:04:50.959 We would leave today better than how we came. 00:04:51.279 --> 00:04:53.759 In Jesus' name, amen. 00:04:54.000 --> 00:04:57.759 Turn to your neighbor and say, you're gonna leave better than how you came this morning. 00:04:57.920 --> 00:04:58.879 That's right. 00:05:00.240 --> 00:05:12.399 So today we're gonna talk, we're gonna talk about the story of uh comes out of Luke chapter 17 about the the ten lepers. 00:05:12.879 --> 00:05:25.759 Now, this is a story often uh often retold, and I'm sure you've heard the story before, but virtually it's there are ten men who had a skin disease known as leprosy. 00:05:26.560 --> 00:05:44.000 And uh leprosy was a disease where there was a numbness and uh and uh desensitivity to extremities, parts of the body, and eventually uh it they would, if not taken care of properly, they would get infected, and it was a nasty, nasty disease. 00:05:44.480 --> 00:05:49.680 The wounds would eventually die, the the extremities would eventually die, fall apart. 00:05:49.839 --> 00:05:58.560 People would have to wrap their hands up in claw in in clean cloths, and just to to show some semblance of dignity. 00:05:58.879 --> 00:06:05.279 And the people at that time, the men had positioned, they were told to be outside of the city walls. 00:06:05.439 --> 00:06:13.680 They were they were told to be in a certain location, and they were told to be in a certain location because leprosy was highly contagious. 00:06:14.079 --> 00:06:21.680 And by law, if you had leprosy, um you had to keep this distance away from and be within this select colony. 00:06:21.759 --> 00:06:30.079 So Jesus is walking down the road, and he's they'd heard of him coming, this group of ten lepers. 00:06:30.240 --> 00:06:36.079 So from afar off, the scripture says, afar away, they yell out to Jesus. 00:06:36.720 --> 00:06:39.759 They yell out to him, knowing that they can't come close to him. 00:06:40.000 --> 00:06:47.360 In fact, a lot of the lepers, the only time they would be able to go into a city is if they were to be checked by the priest. 00:06:47.439 --> 00:06:56.160 And the priest would be the one who would assess their condition, see if they actually had a healing, see if they actually continued to have leprosy. 00:06:56.319 --> 00:07:01.759 And he would give them a clean bill of health at the end of the end of the inspection. 00:07:02.240 --> 00:07:08.240 And when they would walk into a city, oftentimes people would yell out, unclean, unclean, unclean. 00:07:08.399 --> 00:07:16.879 They would sometimes have to carry bells around their uh garments just to be announced that they were coming so that people could part the way. 00:07:17.040 --> 00:07:24.560 Uh, kids would be sheltered by their parents uh just to not see the disfiguration that leprosy caused. 00:07:24.800 --> 00:07:32.480 And I remember reading this story to my kids, and it was in a story, an illustrated story manual uh book. 00:07:32.800 --> 00:07:51.759 And it was one of their favorite stories because the Bible says, the Bible shows them, and it shows them with like pieces like all wrapped up and bandages everywhere, and they were showing the disfiguration of the individual, and the kids were asking questions like why are they so wrapped up? 00:07:51.920 --> 00:07:53.279 And I was able to share it with them. 00:07:53.439 --> 00:08:06.000 It was just becomes quite graphic as a story, but they yell out to Jesus, they say, Jesus, have mercy on us, have mercy on us. 00:08:06.399 --> 00:08:19.279 And Jesus, he doesn't pray uh a regular prayer, he doesn't pray anything specific, he doesn't go to them, he just yells back at them and he says, Go show yourself to the priest. 00:08:19.600 --> 00:08:21.839 In other words, go see the doctor. 00:08:22.480 --> 00:08:29.600 And the scripture says that as they as they went, they were cleansed. 00:08:29.839 --> 00:08:50.080 And in the illustrative book that I read to my kids, as they're running, it goes over like a few pages, as they're going, their bandages are coming off, and they're seeing new ear, new nose, new fingertips, new toes, new extremities are being formed. 00:08:50.159 --> 00:08:58.399 And I want to share with you today an important lesson is that you when they went is where they received their miracle. 00:08:58.639 --> 00:09:02.799 When they went in the direction of their faith is when they received their miracle. 00:09:02.960 --> 00:09:08.799 And it's important to notice that when they moved in the direction that way, that's when their miracle followed them. 00:09:08.879 --> 00:09:14.240 And today, in your life, what are you believing for in faith? 00:09:15.519 --> 00:09:19.039 Just like a little sub-message here. 00:09:19.679 --> 00:09:24.399 Because I believe that this lesson, this story actually has more to speak to us. 00:09:24.639 --> 00:09:29.759 As they moved in the direction of their faith, they actually received their miracle. 00:09:30.159 --> 00:09:37.519 And I want to say that you may be believing for things, you may be believing for healing. 00:09:37.759 --> 00:09:41.519 And I'm saying to you, start moving in that direction. 00:09:42.639 --> 00:09:44.480 Start pushing that way. 00:09:44.799 --> 00:09:48.799 Start looking at your condition, saying, okay, Lord, what do I need to do? 00:09:49.039 --> 00:09:50.799 What where do I need to start? 00:09:51.039 --> 00:09:52.480 Where like what does it need? 00:09:52.639 --> 00:09:54.559 What does it start with for me? 00:09:54.879 --> 00:09:59.360 Does it mean getting healthy, eating right, exercising? 00:09:59.519 --> 00:10:02.720 Does it mean getting in the word, getting the word in me? 00:10:03.039 --> 00:10:08.960 Where does it start with me and start moving in the direction of your miracle? 00:10:09.200 --> 00:10:10.720 That's what they did. 00:10:11.759 --> 00:10:19.279 They went to the, they started running to the priest, and as they went, all ten of them were healed. 00:10:20.720 --> 00:10:34.480 Now one of them, the scripture says, one of them, when he saw that he was healed, he came back and he praised God in a loud voice. 00:10:35.279 --> 00:10:37.600 He praised God in his loud voice. 00:10:37.840 --> 00:10:42.320 He threw himself at Jesus' feet and he thanked him. 00:10:43.759 --> 00:10:46.720 And the scripture says he was a Samaritan. 00:10:47.279 --> 00:10:54.559 He was the one that was an outsider, an outcast, one that should never have been in proximity of a Jew, a Jewish teacher. 00:10:54.639 --> 00:10:57.120 He shouldn't have even been touching the Jew in that day. 00:10:57.279 --> 00:11:03.519 The cultural division in that day was such that a Samaritan and a Jew didn't cross paths. 00:11:03.679 --> 00:11:14.720 But he threw himself at Jesus and with a loud voice thanked him and just showed that his attitude of gratitude towards him. 00:11:15.919 --> 00:11:20.720 And Jesus' response was this: Were not all ten of you cleansed? 00:11:21.600 --> 00:11:23.519 Where are the other nine? 00:11:24.720 --> 00:11:28.799 Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner? 00:11:29.200 --> 00:11:34.399 And then he said to him, Rise and go, your faith has made you well. 00:11:34.879 --> 00:11:37.120 He was full of gratitude. 00:11:37.279 --> 00:11:40.080 And I just have a question for you today. 00:11:40.480 --> 00:11:46.240 Do you think that Jesus thought the other nine were thankful for what he had done for them? 00:11:49.279 --> 00:11:58.879 Do you think Jesus knew, thought, that the other nine were thankful for what he had done for them? 00:11:59.919 --> 00:12:07.759 It appears that he recognized the gratefulness of the one because he showed he was grateful. 00:12:08.879 --> 00:12:11.840 Gratitude has an expression. 00:12:13.919 --> 00:12:16.559 An expression of gratitude. 00:12:16.799 --> 00:12:20.159 When you say expression, expression. 00:12:20.559 --> 00:12:24.000 There's an expression of a thankful heart. 00:12:24.159 --> 00:12:26.240 How many of you are thankful today? 00:12:27.039 --> 00:12:28.960 There are a lot of people who are thankful. 00:12:29.200 --> 00:12:33.039 How are you expressing gratitude? 00:12:34.159 --> 00:12:36.559 How does it make itself known? 00:12:36.799 --> 00:12:40.320 Because gratitude is not known until it's shown. 00:12:41.279 --> 00:12:47.279 It's not known until you express it in some form or fashion. 00:12:47.519 --> 00:12:51.039 It's something that we say, but is it something that we do? 00:12:51.840 --> 00:12:53.200 The Bible says this. 00:12:53.360 --> 00:12:55.600 I will give thanks unto the Lord. 00:12:55.840 --> 00:12:56.399 I will. 00:12:56.879 --> 00:12:59.039 It becomes a part of what I choose. 00:12:59.279 --> 00:13:00.720 I make it my choice. 00:13:00.960 --> 00:13:04.559 I will choose to give thanks unto God. 00:13:04.799 --> 00:13:06.799 So what does that look like? 00:13:07.759 --> 00:13:12.399 It's a point in time where I think today, I just want to help you move the needle. 00:13:12.960 --> 00:13:16.559 Assess your attitude of gratitude today. 00:13:16.960 --> 00:13:21.440 And if you come in, you're like, well, I'm a seven out of ten. 00:13:21.679 --> 00:13:23.039 I'm like, just move that needle. 00:13:23.200 --> 00:13:26.799 My job today is to say, I'm gonna move you from a seven to an eight. 00:13:27.279 --> 00:13:31.840 And those of you who are an eight to a nine, and those of you who are a two, you know who you are. 00:13:31.919 --> 00:13:33.840 You know you twos in the house today. 00:13:34.080 --> 00:13:35.759 I'm gonna move you to a nine. 00:13:35.919 --> 00:13:38.480 I'm gonna like, I'm gonna push you. 00:13:38.639 --> 00:13:40.960 I'm gonna get you to move that needle. 00:13:41.279 --> 00:13:45.679 Assess, assess that your heart, assess it. 00:13:46.000 --> 00:13:48.559 Are you communicating? 00:13:48.720 --> 00:13:53.600 Are you expressing the gratitude that's truly in you? 00:13:55.519 --> 00:14:00.559 One of my challenges sometimes is my personality type. 00:14:00.639 --> 00:14:05.200 Oh, it's such a good personality type to have. 00:14:06.320 --> 00:14:10.240 Is that I really have to think about who I really am. 00:14:10.720 --> 00:14:21.279 Because I can get in the company of teachers and I become a teacher, and I get into a company of like young people, and they're like I become a young person. 00:14:21.360 --> 00:14:23.200 It's just the way is the way it works. 00:14:23.440 --> 00:14:26.159 I become, I surround myself with pickleball players. 00:14:26.320 --> 00:14:28.720 I play pickleball, and I get into it. 00:14:28.879 --> 00:14:38.879 Like it's like I enjoy the company, I become the company, but I need to be, if I'm not around grateful people, I still need to choose gratitude. 00:14:39.519 --> 00:14:41.840 I still need to be expressing it. 00:14:41.919 --> 00:14:45.360 So gratitude, being grateful, is an attitude. 00:14:45.440 --> 00:14:50.720 It's an attitude of recognition that you're blessed beyond what you deserve. 00:14:50.960 --> 00:14:55.679 It's an attitude of being blessed with everything and entitled to nothing. 00:14:56.960 --> 00:15:00.960 Gratitude is an attitude towards God, people, life. 00:15:01.120 --> 00:15:03.759 And it carries with it these expressions. 00:15:03.840 --> 00:15:08.639 Now you might be thinking, well, Brody, uh, you're asking me to be grateful for everything. 00:15:08.799 --> 00:15:11.919 And I'm not saying you need to be grateful for everything. 00:15:12.080 --> 00:15:20.399 In fact, the scripture says in 1 Thessalonians chapter 5, it says, give thanks in all circumstances. 00:15:20.639 --> 00:15:24.240 It doesn't say give thanks for all circumstances. 00:15:24.480 --> 00:15:31.840 It says, but in the middle of difficult circumstances, you can still find an opportunity to give thanks. 00:15:33.279 --> 00:15:37.200 So my challenge is when you wake up in the morning, you know what? 00:15:37.279 --> 00:15:38.960 You might have a big day ahead of you. 00:15:39.120 --> 00:15:43.519 You might have some people that you're gonna meet with who aren't out for your best interest. 00:15:43.919 --> 00:15:49.519 And you might be saying, Okay, where am I gonna start today with gratitude? 00:15:50.000 --> 00:15:55.039 Where am I gonna start in my situation with gratitude? 00:15:55.519 --> 00:15:57.200 Maybe not for my situation. 00:15:57.360 --> 00:16:09.679 I'm not grateful for injustice, I'm not grateful for betrayal, I'm not grateful for these things that have happened to me, perhaps the the pain and the hurt or the sickness. 00:16:09.840 --> 00:16:14.320 I'm not grateful for that, but I'm grateful in it that God is with me. 00:16:14.799 --> 00:16:19.200 I'm grateful in it that God has brought a company around me. 00:16:19.440 --> 00:16:25.519 I'm grateful in it that I'm not alone and I've been given every tool to be able to walk through. 00:16:26.000 --> 00:16:29.039 I'm I've got the gratitude in my heart. 00:16:29.279 --> 00:16:32.480 It's good for your soul to find gratitude. 00:16:33.360 --> 00:16:39.919 When you're in the valley to give thanks, when you're in the struggle to give thanks, when you're confused, you give thanks. 00:16:40.080 --> 00:16:41.519 It's good for your soul. 00:16:41.679 --> 00:16:49.279 So today, uh we're gonna move through, we're gonna move through, and we're gonna be better when we go through. 00:16:49.519 --> 00:17:04.720 I think uh of times when, you know, when I when I married Natalie, and everyone gets concerned when I use Natalie as an example because they feel so sorry for her in the pointing her out, but I'm I'm just saying this nicely here. 00:17:04.799 --> 00:17:08.720 You is that when I married Natalie, she she was perfect. 00:17:13.119 --> 00:17:15.359 I'm starting off well, hey? 00:17:15.839 --> 00:17:18.799 And in her mind, I was perfect. 00:17:19.519 --> 00:17:21.039 I was perfect. 00:17:21.599 --> 00:17:25.839 And as time goes on, you realize I'm not perfect. 00:17:26.400 --> 00:17:27.440 She realized that. 00:17:27.599 --> 00:17:33.920 Brody has errors, he has flaws, he has bad habits, he has weak spots, blind spots. 00:17:34.079 --> 00:17:37.119 Brody is Brody's not perfect. 00:17:37.359 --> 00:17:47.119 And as she went on, she realized, and in those situations, I I looked at those situations, that didn't diminish the value of our relationship. 00:17:47.519 --> 00:17:56.559 In fact, over time, when she began to see my weaknesses, my vulnerabilities, and we got to work through it, our relationship actually got stronger. 00:17:56.720 --> 00:18:08.720 And I believe there'll be a time where you're going through a difficult situation and you're giving thanks in the difficult situation that you'll look back at it and be thankful for that difficult situation. 00:18:10.000 --> 00:18:19.279 Because that difficult situation actually created in you a stronger and more intimate relationship, either with God or with others. 00:18:19.519 --> 00:18:20.720 So we move through. 00:18:20.799 --> 00:18:25.119 So let's talk about different ways that we express gratitude. 00:18:25.359 --> 00:18:30.880 And uh, I'm just gonna call out the guys here to pull out your phone, it's okay. 00:18:31.119 --> 00:18:32.799 Take notes today. 00:18:33.119 --> 00:18:35.279 Five notes, five main points. 00:18:35.359 --> 00:18:48.880 I'm talking to the guys because sometimes guys have a tough time like uh expressing themselves and moving to that next layer, moving to that next place. 00:18:49.119 --> 00:18:53.279 So today, in our hearts, we want to, I know I believe we want to do better at this. 00:18:53.440 --> 00:18:56.880 Um, number one, smile more often. 00:18:57.119 --> 00:19:02.640 Turn to your neighbor, smile, come on, smile often. 00:19:03.680 --> 00:19:12.960 Smiling sends a message from your face to another person that you're happy, grateful. 00:19:13.519 --> 00:19:17.200 You've got some type of thankful spirit in you. 00:19:17.519 --> 00:19:18.160 Smile. 00:19:18.559 --> 00:19:20.319 It's an easy thing to do. 00:19:20.480 --> 00:19:21.920 We all can smile. 00:19:22.160 --> 00:19:28.480 All of us have this like inventory of expressions that we can choose. 00:19:28.720 --> 00:19:33.039 One of those expressions can be smiling. 00:19:33.599 --> 00:19:52.799 Now, sometimes I understand that life is sober and life is serious, and you're gonna sit down at a very intentional business meeting, perhaps at one point in the week, and you're gonna sit down and you know those people are after you, and you're gonna sit down and you're gonna smile, and it's gonna throw everything way off. 00:19:53.359 --> 00:19:55.440 Thank you for joining with me today. 00:19:55.599 --> 00:19:56.559 This is so great. 00:19:56.640 --> 00:19:58.480 We can have this meeting together. 00:19:58.799 --> 00:20:01.680 I'm appreciative that you everyone got together. 00:20:01.759 --> 00:20:03.839 Now let's get down to business. 00:20:05.440 --> 00:20:06.960 How does that work? 00:20:07.839 --> 00:20:10.880 See, it works because it's in principle. 00:20:11.279 --> 00:20:12.880 Principle smiling. 00:20:13.200 --> 00:20:23.119 It's it's a place where you're telling, I will, I will choose to project gratitude, thankfulness. 00:20:23.279 --> 00:20:26.559 If we look for it, there's a face in our inventory for it. 00:20:26.720 --> 00:20:31.359 So I want you, I want to show you people, uh, faces of people who are smiling. 00:20:31.440 --> 00:20:33.839 I have a picture of them on the screen here. 00:20:34.160 --> 00:20:35.279 Look at that. 00:20:35.839 --> 00:20:44.000 When you smile, you pass on something that is in like you can't communicate it. 00:20:44.319 --> 00:20:45.119 What is it? 00:20:45.279 --> 00:20:58.880 It's a difference between someone walking through with like a serious face, versus someone walking in smiling, showing, showing an expression of gratitude. 00:20:59.119 --> 00:21:04.240 I believe there's more gratitude in us than shows through us. 00:21:04.880 --> 00:21:19.200 I actually believe that you get uh that your your your face can actually like deceive you, deceive what your heart is actually believing. 00:21:19.839 --> 00:21:25.759 That there are things that are in you that you're actually grateful for that your face isn't getting. 00:21:26.240 --> 00:21:32.559 Like there's some people who just are serious all the time, and they have to stop and say, you know what? 00:21:32.720 --> 00:21:35.119 I'm not, I'm actually grateful. 00:21:35.920 --> 00:21:37.680 I'm actually thankful. 00:21:37.920 --> 00:21:42.480 So I should actually share that and choose to smile. 00:21:43.039 --> 00:21:46.480 Choose to not be deceived by your heart. 00:21:46.720 --> 00:21:54.319 So maturity and wisdom says this I won't let my face say something different than my momentary mood. 00:21:54.720 --> 00:22:05.039 I'm going to walk in, I'm gonna come in after work, I'm gonna see my wife, see my Kids and show my gratitude through my smile to my family. 00:22:05.519 --> 00:22:09.359 Not carrying the weight of the world, carrying these things on me. 00:22:09.519 --> 00:22:13.039 I'm going to move forward with thankfulness. 00:22:13.359 --> 00:22:16.079 Number two, speak up. 00:22:16.640 --> 00:22:18.480 Say, speak up, speak up. 00:22:18.640 --> 00:22:19.440 Yeah, that's right. 00:22:19.599 --> 00:22:20.319 Speak up. 00:22:20.640 --> 00:22:23.920 Thanksgiving has its own vocabulary. 00:22:24.480 --> 00:22:30.559 It has its own vocabulary where we could all benefit from broadening our vocabulary. 00:22:30.960 --> 00:22:32.559 Broadening our vocabulary. 00:22:32.720 --> 00:22:33.920 Look at different ways. 00:22:34.079 --> 00:22:36.640 Maybe you've been told to just say thank you. 00:22:37.599 --> 00:22:43.680 Maybe you've just been told to say words of uh appreciation and thankfulness. 00:22:43.759 --> 00:22:48.319 And it just comes out of your habit, your tradition. 00:22:48.720 --> 00:22:59.759 But I'm asking to actually choose to find new vocabulary to show thankfulness and appreciation and gratitude. 00:23:00.000 --> 00:23:05.359 The Bible, these saints, he would call them salutations. 00:23:05.759 --> 00:23:09.680 So he would say things like this may the Lord bless you and keep you. 00:23:09.920 --> 00:23:13.279 May his face shine upon you, may he be gracious to you. 00:23:13.440 --> 00:23:15.200 Like that was a salutation. 00:23:15.279 --> 00:23:22.319 That was like, hey, may you prosper, may you be in health, even as your soul prospers and is health, and in health. 00:23:22.480 --> 00:23:23.839 It's salutations. 00:23:24.000 --> 00:23:26.720 It's saying, you know, God is good. 00:23:27.039 --> 00:23:28.559 His mercy endures forever. 00:23:28.720 --> 00:23:30.480 His mercies are new every morning. 00:23:30.799 --> 00:23:32.160 He's faithful to you. 00:23:32.240 --> 00:23:35.680 You're saying these things out of your spirit. 00:23:36.000 --> 00:23:37.200 They're new words. 00:23:37.359 --> 00:23:42.480 There was one that I loved in Deuteronomy chapter 11, verse 1. 00:23:42.640 --> 00:23:47.440 It says this may the Lord increase you a thousand times. 00:23:48.319 --> 00:23:49.599 I love that. 00:23:50.000 --> 00:23:58.240 Now that might be weird if you go to work one day and the person you're working beside, hey, may the Lord increase you a thousand times. 00:23:58.480 --> 00:24:00.000 It may be really good. 00:24:00.319 --> 00:24:07.599 But it may be, but you gotta find that vocabulary that works for today with the people that are around you. 00:24:07.839 --> 00:24:12.240 Uh Caden and I had a the opportunity to spend some time together this week. 00:24:12.559 --> 00:24:16.960 And my son, my oldest son, he's 11. 00:24:17.359 --> 00:24:19.920 And uh I was having a conversation with him. 00:24:20.000 --> 00:24:42.960 He was helping me pick up some food from our for our uh food center from the Mediterranean market, and so we were loading up literally like pasta sauce and pasta and loading up the vehicle full of all these items, and I was just driving, and I took the opportunity while we were driving to uh to stop and actually reach deep. 00:24:43.680 --> 00:25:04.960 Reach a little deep deeper instead of saying, Hey Caden, I love you, instead of saying those things, I just reached deeper, and I just began to share with my son how much he meant to me, how how important he was to me, how much I loved him, how much I cared for him, and God's call on his life. 00:25:05.119 --> 00:25:12.160 And I just began to speak that into his life, and of course he's sitting in the front seat, kind of like, oh yeah, this is kind of weird. 00:25:12.640 --> 00:25:14.400 Like, but it's not weird. 00:25:14.480 --> 00:25:20.720 It was this, it's real, but I'm just like, I'm speaking into his heart. 00:25:21.839 --> 00:25:26.559 Something that's new, something that's fresh, something that's real and authentic. 00:25:26.880 --> 00:25:29.359 And it came out of my spirit. 00:25:29.599 --> 00:25:36.880 So, how much better can we do by broadening our speech, but broadening it to speak out? 00:25:37.039 --> 00:25:38.000 And there's power. 00:25:38.160 --> 00:25:41.200 The Bible says there's life and death is in the power of the tongue. 00:25:41.440 --> 00:25:42.960 Speak blessing. 00:25:44.559 --> 00:25:45.599 Speak blessing. 00:25:45.680 --> 00:25:49.119 That's our choice to speak blessing and to encourage. 00:25:49.359 --> 00:25:59.519 So I get to have you as my son, I get to have you as my wife, I get to come to this church, I get to sit beside you, I get to. 00:25:59.839 --> 00:26:02.559 There's a blessing, a thankfulness that's in our heart. 00:26:02.799 --> 00:26:03.440 Amen. 00:26:04.000 --> 00:26:04.640 Amen. 00:26:05.680 --> 00:26:08.000 Number three, show honor. 00:26:08.640 --> 00:26:13.680 This is another way we express gratitude is by showing honor. 00:26:13.920 --> 00:26:18.480 Showing honor is not a sign of weakness, it's a sign of strength. 00:26:18.799 --> 00:26:24.640 The Bible tells us, show honor to our mother and our father, to show honor to those around you. 00:26:25.039 --> 00:26:27.599 The Bible actually says it this way in Romans 12, 10. 00:26:27.680 --> 00:26:30.799 It says, outdo one another in showing honor. 00:26:32.079 --> 00:26:37.519 Look for ways to challenge each other in honoring each other. 00:26:38.400 --> 00:26:42.720 Like I love to see people honoring one another. 00:26:42.960 --> 00:26:49.599 Everything is better when people are honoring each other, when they're lifting other people up. 00:26:49.759 --> 00:26:59.599 And especially in the society that we're living in today, it's it's the inclination is to actually hold back in giving honor. 00:26:59.839 --> 00:27:08.319 In actuality, like the the language of today is oh, you know, so-and-so, my boss, you know, he's the same, he's just like me. 00:27:08.400 --> 00:27:10.720 He puts his pants on one leg at a time. 00:27:11.039 --> 00:27:13.680 Or um, you know, no one is better than anyone. 00:27:13.759 --> 00:27:16.960 It's everyone's bringing people down to this place of equality. 00:27:17.119 --> 00:27:18.400 Have you heard that word lately? 00:27:18.799 --> 00:27:25.920 Just like equality, and we're removing the opportunity to lift up and honor. 00:27:28.960 --> 00:27:39.920 We're bringing parents down and grandparents down and great-grandparents down and bosses down, and people who have gone before us and established organizations that have given you a job. 00:27:40.559 --> 00:27:51.519 So to walk in and say thank you for sacrificing and building and having an idea and going out on a limb for me so that I could have work today. 00:27:51.759 --> 00:27:52.559 Thank you. 00:27:52.799 --> 00:28:05.759 If you do that today, if you do that now in today's culture, it's like you're brown nosing or sucking up somehow, and it's like, oh, you're you're finding a way to get close so that you can get something out of the situation. 00:28:06.000 --> 00:28:09.680 But I'm telling you today, it's better with honor. 00:28:10.400 --> 00:28:12.000 It is better to honor. 00:28:12.240 --> 00:28:18.000 In fact, the Bible says that there are even people in your lives who you should show double honor to. 00:28:18.880 --> 00:28:50.960 And you know, this is a the Bible says, do it to those who are teaching the word, preaching the word, and like it's me saying that today, and it seems a little self-serving, but I'm talking about you going downstairs and finding the children's workers who are working with your kids and saying, Hey, thank you so much for speaking into the lives of my kids, going to the grandparents like who have your kids with them, and saying, thank you for speaking into the life's truths and principles and life's life lessons that I can't do on my own. 00:28:51.200 --> 00:28:58.559 Thank you, uh Jen and and uh Natalie for leading us in worship today and leading us into the presence. 00:28:58.720 --> 00:29:00.319 Thank you, Pastor Malachi. 00:29:00.720 --> 00:29:11.599 Like, thank you, Pastor Malachi, for leading us in a place where you're challenging me to open the doors to the freedom so God can move in, to break out of the box. 00:29:11.759 --> 00:29:13.599 It's giving double honor. 00:29:13.680 --> 00:29:19.200 Like, let's look for ways to apply not just honor but double honor. 00:29:19.680 --> 00:29:24.640 Like double down on honor, double down on it. 00:29:25.119 --> 00:29:30.079 So it because it's better for you when you're lifting other people up. 00:29:30.960 --> 00:29:36.880 It goes against culture today, it goes against what people will expect. 00:29:37.039 --> 00:29:42.319 But I'm challenging you today, if you struggle with this, I want to just ask you this question. 00:29:42.480 --> 00:29:48.880 Would you rather live in a community that honors or doesn't have honor? 00:29:49.519 --> 00:29:55.200 Would you rather live in a neighborhood where people honor one another or where there's a lack of honor? 00:29:55.359 --> 00:30:02.640 Would you rather live in a city where people honor each other or where people just disregard each other? 00:30:02.960 --> 00:30:12.000 Would you rather live in a nation where people honor each other, or would you rather live in a nation where there's dishonor towards one another? 00:30:12.240 --> 00:30:14.240 I want to live where there's honor. 00:30:14.480 --> 00:30:16.559 Everything is better with honor. 00:30:16.799 --> 00:30:17.440 Amen? 00:30:18.000 --> 00:30:18.640 Amen. 00:30:19.839 --> 00:30:22.400 Number four, share your blessings. 00:30:22.720 --> 00:30:24.559 I'll be done shortly here. 00:30:26.000 --> 00:30:27.680 Share your blessings. 00:30:28.000 --> 00:30:33.839 This is a way to give gratitude, to express gratitude, to share with each other. 00:30:34.960 --> 00:30:37.519 Sharing, you know, what simple sharing is caring. 00:30:38.720 --> 00:30:49.440 Sharing values, values another person, sharing call, it shows gratitude if for another person, towards another person. 00:30:49.680 --> 00:30:57.279 It also shows value in that the fact that you know I didn't do all this for like I didn't build KCC. 00:30:57.440 --> 00:30:59.839 KCC is 37 years old. 00:31:00.480 --> 00:31:07.680 This pulpit I stand on today is the pulpit that was built on the shoulders of many other people who went before me. 00:31:08.160 --> 00:31:18.880 Board members, elders, pastors, uh, you know, those who sacrificed givers and donors and and others, people with a generous, generous heart. 00:31:19.039 --> 00:31:22.319 They didn't, I just didn't make this for myself. 00:31:22.559 --> 00:31:25.839 They went for me and they shared it with me. 00:31:26.640 --> 00:31:31.920 They said, here you go, run with it, way to go, come on, you can do it. 00:31:32.079 --> 00:31:40.240 And then I'm looking to the next generation saying, All right, come on, you guys, go with it and share the blessing. 00:31:40.559 --> 00:31:41.599 Share the blessing. 00:31:41.680 --> 00:31:43.759 It's what will keep the church moving forward. 00:31:43.839 --> 00:31:49.039 It will keep it allow us to continue, to continue making a difference in our community. 00:31:49.279 --> 00:31:50.720 Share the blessing. 00:31:50.960 --> 00:31:59.839 Psalms uh, it says in 1 Timothy, command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 00:32:00.000 --> 00:32:10.400 It's this generous, grateful spirit that we carry in ourselves that says, thank you for doing what you've done and sharing with us so that we can share with others. 00:32:10.640 --> 00:32:11.279 Amen? 00:32:12.400 --> 00:32:19.200 Lastly, here, in uh our last point is sing praise to God. 00:32:20.160 --> 00:32:23.359 A way to express gratitude is to sing. 00:32:25.599 --> 00:32:31.440 Singing praise is an expression of thanksgiving, it's a form of praise. 00:32:31.920 --> 00:32:35.839 And I'll tell you why this is so important and why this is so valuable. 00:32:36.079 --> 00:32:40.400 The Bible says what's in the heart of a person comes out of their mouth. 00:32:40.640 --> 00:32:44.559 The abundance, out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth will speak. 00:32:44.799 --> 00:32:47.279 And the issues of life are in the heart. 00:32:47.519 --> 00:32:50.960 So if you have good things in your heart, good things will come out of your mouth. 00:32:51.119 --> 00:32:53.359 If there's evil in your heart, evil will come out. 00:32:53.519 --> 00:32:56.240 If you put garbage in, garbage will come out. 00:32:56.480 --> 00:33:08.160 So sing praises to God is actually a lesson where we say, Lord, there's something in my heart, out of the abundance of the heart, my mouth will speak. 00:33:08.400 --> 00:33:11.920 And you do it through words and song. 00:33:12.400 --> 00:33:15.599 A way to do it is you sing praise to God. 00:33:16.079 --> 00:33:34.240 And you might not be the greatest singer, or you that might mean that you just like throw on your perfect Spotify list and just follow our KCC Spotify playlist and just say, all right, I'm gonna throw it on and I'm just gonna sing on my own in the car or wherever I am. 00:33:34.400 --> 00:33:38.640 But there's a point in time where you sing praise to God. 00:33:39.359 --> 00:33:41.279 You sing, express that. 00:33:41.440 --> 00:33:44.640 The scripture says it's good to sing praise to God. 00:33:44.880 --> 00:33:56.079 It's pleasant to sing a song of praise, it's where we actually start our service, it's why we do it because it opens up our heart to receive the blessing from Him. 00:33:56.640 --> 00:33:58.160 So this is how we do it. 00:33:58.319 --> 00:33:59.519 We have a choice. 00:34:00.079 --> 00:34:05.519 Going back to the lesson of the ten lepers, we have a choice. 00:34:06.319 --> 00:34:22.639 And statistically, here 90% of them will walk away without giving thanks, and only 10% come back and actually choose Thanksgiving and choose grateful heart, choose a grateful heart response. 00:34:22.880 --> 00:34:24.559 And we have a choice today. 00:34:24.719 --> 00:34:26.159 How are we going to respond? 00:34:26.320 --> 00:34:29.760 Are we gonna be like the other nine and keep going on our way? 00:34:29.920 --> 00:34:32.000 And I'm sure that they were grateful. 00:34:32.320 --> 00:34:34.800 No longer any more leprosy, amen. 00:34:35.039 --> 00:34:35.679 It's great. 00:34:35.760 --> 00:34:43.119 They I'm sure they were thankful, but only one went and expressed the gratitude back to Jesus. 00:34:43.360 --> 00:34:45.840 And Jesus, in fact, was looking for it. 00:34:46.000 --> 00:34:47.679