Monday, September 9, 2013 - 5:45 pm

Yesterday, Pastor Kip returned from his sabbatical and brought with him a message on gratitude, from Luke 17:11-19. Jesus healed ten men of leprosy, a disease which would have alienated them from their families, their friends, their communities, their place of worship - not to mention the physical suffering they were going through. I'm sure all ten were thankful that they had been healed, yet only one came back to Jesus to show his gratitude. The other nine were just going to do what Jesus had instructed them to do, but unlike them, the one who returned realized that there was a step which was missing, without which gratitude is incomplete. The power of gratitude is only experienced when it's expressed. When we don't communicate our gratitude it communicates ingratitude and an attitude of entitlement. That feels like rejection, and it can push a person out of a relationship. We need to verbalize our thanks, let people know they are appreciated. We need to do the same with God. There's a type of healing that only comes when we go back, thank God, and express our gratitude to Him. I want to be the kind of person who will express my gratitude to God and others, showing by my life that I'm truly thankful rather than just hiding it inside.