Racial Reconciliation & I'm Grateful

ABC Messages featuring Pastor Ben Poole

Last Week I’m an Optimist. I’m an optimist because of God’s Word not people’s behaviors. Romans 8 Lots of stuff happened this week. One of the young African American pastors I follow posted something on Instagram that made sense to me so I’m going to share it. Mike Todd- From Tulsa Ok. It fits with last weeks message. Here is what I think about Racial Reconciliation. Or more so what God says about it. Revelation 7:9 After this I saw a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb. They were clothed in white robes and held palm branches in their hands. And they were shouting with a great roar, “Salvation comes from our God who sits on the throne and from the Lamb!” 11And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living beings. And they fell before the throne with their faces to the ground and worshiped God. 12They sang, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and strength belong to our God forever and ever! Amen.” In the Kingdom of Heaven there will be different shapes, sizes, And color. God loves variety. Every tongue and nation. Are HIS KIDS. Jesus paid for them with his blood. My darker skinned brothers in Christ. Are my brothers. I’m an optimist when it comes to Racial reconciliation because God’s Word says it will happen. And I see it happening in the Kingdom of Heaven that is here and know in this Church. STAY POSITIVE—2 I’M GRATEFUL Sound negative—Tired of negativity—Complaining almost become art form. FB answers My Tervis cup is supposed to be 24 oz, but it doesn't actually hold 24oz!! It is less, apparently those marks on the cup are just an approximation! Whatever!! Here's one I'm annoyed by as soon as it gets warm. My auto ice maker isn't fast enough. (So many things wrong with this complaint.) When the same person complains that people are underestimating Covid-19 and how deadly it is, then later that same day complains about too many people are over reacting (both complaints were prompted by moments that inconvenienced that individual) I had a friend that when we would go out to eat and would complain about the food being too hot. All he had to do is wait a second and it would cool off. Kids “I’m bored” There’s nothing to eat. I knew a woman that where she worked at they would give each of the employees $500 as a Christmas bonus. Which at the time was a really good amount. Each year she would complain that they weren’t really giving her $500. The reason that she said this was because taxes were being taken out of it. She never got the concept that it was a “ bonus “. People with a corvette or Porsche etc....that says their car can't park on the grass How cold it is outside, and how hot it is within the same week. 🤦🏻‍♀‍ DQ Ice Cream is too cold. Too much food at the All You Can eat restaurant. Too Hot without AC too Cold with it. My son complaining that the booger HE smeared on the wall was too disgusting for him to clean up. My daughter refusing to eat her food then crying when someone else eats it. My husband complaining that I side seat drive when I’m clearly saving us from certain death. 😂 Me complaining about my husband being in a bad mood when I’m in a bad mood because only one of us is allowed to be in a bad mood at a time and I was in a bad mood first. 😆 Complain weather—Too hot—Too Cold—Dry—Rainy (S. Cal—Too perfect) Restaurant: Serve food, wait on you, clean dishes—wanted different.  Closet—touch everything, nothing to wear. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- By nature, I’m not grateful—Want more, Want better, Want it now. Like that? Obsessed with developing a heart of gratitude I’m going to choose gratitude—Tragedy is most won’t. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11 Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. 12 As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy h met him. They stood at a distance 13 and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!” Luke 17:11-13 Lev 13: Wear torn clothes, Cover lower face, Unclean! (I stink!) Eats away at flesh, Oozing sores. Wake up missing finger/rat. Years since they’ve been touched or hugged Original Social Distance 14 When [Jesus] saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed. 15 One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. 16 He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan. 17 Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? 18 Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” Luke 17:14-18 3 STATEMENTS THAT WILL HELP YOU CHOOSE GRATITUDE • I KNOW EVERY GOOD THING I HAVE COMES FROM GOD. Every good and perfect gift is from above… James 1:17 Mom’s encouragement, My Dad gratitude—Life is good! Anything good we have comes from God! I worked for it—Who gave you’re the abilities you have? God is a giver of good things! ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- • God gave Noah a plan for the ark—Ability to build—Save his family. • God gave Israelites bread from heaven in the morning and fire by night • God gave David a stone to kill Goliath. Jonah a fish to swallow—shore. • God gave the Virgin Mary the faith to obey and give birth to Jesus. • God gave the Wise men a star to lead them. • God gave the world—the Prince of Peace, lamb of God—Savior. • God gives you—a peace that passes understanding—Holy Spirit to convict, strengthen, encourage. Gives you his Word to guide you. • Given you health to bless you. Friends love you. Life to enjoy. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- God is completely good. God will never not be good. God is constantly good. God could never be less than good. God is unchangeably good. Everything our God does is good. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- • I WILL NOT LET WHAT I WANT ROB ME OF WHAT I HAVE. Better what the eye sees than the roving of the appetite. Eccl 6:9 Gratitude turns what we have into enough. Not happy people who are grateful—Grateful people who are happy. 3 meals a day Job—minimum wage 3x Bed, Clothes wear Upgrade things, Health, Friends Car to drive or bus ride Worship freely ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Developing nation—Have something I don’t have—X is enough! Gratitude turns what we have into enough. Not happy people who are grateful—Grateful people who are happy. …For I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all this through [Christ] who gives me strength. Phil 4:11-13 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- • I’LL TURN EVERY BLESSING I HAVE INTO PRAISE. Every blessing I don’t turn to back to praise turns to pride! 4 I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. 5 I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you. Ps 63:4 Complaining… about finding restaurant that’s open on Easter Sunday. Then we thought we lost Issac. Sitting in the hospital etc. Then seeing him move on the ultra sound. GRATEFUL BLESSED, Best News in that moment. Only thing that changed—my perspective! Pretend you lost what you have and get it back: House, Friends, Car, Job ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tired of my car—thankful! House is so small—AC House is always a wreck—kids! Don’t like my job Always busy with kids—healthy! Church is getting to big… 2 Let all that I am praise the LORD; may I never forget the good things he does for me. 3 He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. 4 He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies. 5 He fills my life with good things. Ps 103:2-5 • I KNOW EVERY GOOD THING I HAVE COMES FROM GOD. • I WILL NOT LET WHAT I WANT ROB ME OF WHAT I HAVE. • I’LL TURN EVERY BLESSING I HAVE INTO PRAISE.