ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE

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And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan. (Luke 17:15-16).

Someone sent me a video of a man chatting with his listeners on Skype. First, the man offered them a million dollars each and they jumped at it. Next he asked if they were offered one million dollars and would not wake up the next day, would they accept? The answers were no. He went further and tempted them with an offer of ten million dollars and they still answered in the negative. In other words, he went on, waking up each morning is worth ten million dollars cash, and they answered in the affirmative. He then concluded that waking up each day is worth ten million dollars worth of gratitude, and that each day promises another opportunity to live and prosper. 

I couldn't agree less with this logic. We owe so much to God for waking us up every morning into the land of the living! Gratitude is an attitude, a predisposition, an inclination, a mindset. It has nothing to do with one's goodness, kindness or generosity, but stems from a propensity to appreciate benevolence when received, big or small. It is a state of thankfulness emanating from the heart and is unsolicited. King David sang, "What shall I render to the Lord for all His benefits toward me? I will take up the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord." (Ps.116:12-13)

The tenth leper returned to Jesus to show his gratitude when he saw that he was healed (Luke 17:15). He had a grateful heart. And it had nothing to do with his faith in the kingdom of God for he was a Samaritan, an unbeliever. The remarkable thing is that the healed Samaritan leper returned glorifying God. His miracle grew his faith in the Son of God. 

Expressing gratitude to God has great benefits. The leper with a grateful heart received certain blessings for showing gratitude. First he received the grace of salvation that Jesus gives to the lost. He came to know Jesus more as Lord and Saviour (vs.15a). Next he glorified God with a loud voice and fell down in worship (vs, 15b). The zeal for God's worship had consumed him.Perhaps like blind Bartimaeus he became a follower ofJesus thereafter. Thirdly, he got more blessings than the other nine who did not return to show gratitude; Jesus gave him total wellness.' And he said unto him, "Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole" (Luke 17:19 KJV). Our heart of gratitude multiplies God's blessings and brings wholeness to our lives.

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MIRIAM - From grass to grace 
 Miriam is a transformation account. It is the story of the refinement of a plain village girl from raw to high quality. Her latent potential in the worship of God was discovered by a dedicated missionary who proceeded to mould the ordinary lump of clay into a refined vessel most fit for the use of The Master, an icon to her generation.


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