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Gratitude is Like Gravy

Steve Irwin, Worship Pastor

2020 has been an interesting year (to say the least) with more challenges than any of us could have ever anticipated. Looking back at our lives, even before COVID, we can easily recall the times and circumstances that bring us to our knees.  Whether it's our health or finances, relationships, losing friends, or struggles in our marriage and with family, there will always be something that causes us to stop and wonder what is happening, how did I end up here?

Sometimes we reach out for help, for good counseling, and at times we are met with just what we need.  Other times, we sense our need for something more, but are left without knowing the answers. Either way, we have to choose how to move forward, how to prevail when problems and troubles are more than we can handle.

We're coming into the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, both of which usually include a really wonderful meal with family and friends, along with the other fun festivities. Everyone is usually trying their best to cook and make all the fixings just right.  We don't want the turkey to be over cooked and turn out too dry, the stuffing, dressings and casseroles have been carefully watched--even the mashed potatoes gotta' be perfect! And all that served HOT to the table all at the same time.

Inevitably something is gonna' fall short of our expectations.  The turkey ends up being dry or the fixings aren't quite right… you name it. I have the solution: it's called "Gravy"!  Turkey too dry?  Throw some gravy on it!  Aunt Kathy's Green Bean Casserole is lacking that special something?  Give it some gravy!  You didn't put enough butter on your dinner rolls, no problem--"Gravy!"  I'm telling you, there ain't nothing on your plate that gravy can't fix!

Sometimes our lives can look like that plate of food.  Things just aren't going the way we carefully planned and we need a "Gravy" fix! Well I have that solution too: it's called "Gratitude"! Yep, I say "Gratitude is like Gravy."  Start covering your problems with Gratitude.  Begin to give Thanks to the Lord for all the good that He has done in your life, start counting your blessings, start to outwardly acknowledge the goodness of God that you've seen over your family, your children, loved ones and friends. Next thing you know your life--the things on your plate--begin to taste much better because gratitude is like gravy.

And if "Gratitude is like Gravy" then the "Bible is our Cookbook" with all the ingredients and instructions you need for gratitude. Its pages are full of all the best recipes for each occasion. Let's look at one of my fave's:

Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude.
Colossians 2:6-7 (NASB)

What a great inheritance we've received in Christ Jesus!  We get to walk in it!  Be rooted in it!  Built up by it!  Now let's also be overflowing with gratitude for it!

I have also found this quote helpful:

"Thankfulness is the beginning of gratitude.
Gratitude is the completion of thankfulness.
Thankfulness may consist merely of words.
Gratitude is shown in acts."
 Henri Frederic Amiel

Well I don't know about you, but my plate is usually full--full of amazing and wonderfully challenging hard stuff!  So yeah!  Could someone PLEASE pass the GRAVY!

1 Comment


Mike Lombardi - November 23rd, 2020 at 3:46am

Great message Steve ! If you are a Christian we have so much to be grateful for, even under these very hard conditions; Christ took upon himself the Sins of the World and we should be eternally grateful for that.. Have a great Thanksgiving.

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