Christian Family Services Ministry

11-1-2014 – So what have we learned? Humility is a precursor to experiencing gratitude. Without humility appreciation is pointless. Gratitude towards the Father precedes expressions of appreciation towards man. Gratitude is the antidote for narcissism and addiction. Without expression of appreciation gratitude is unimportant.

10-30-2014 – Third, one most prove the value of the of the deed or effort. Otherwise the person may reject the praise as unimportant or insincere.

10-29-2014 – Second, it is best to elaborate on the specific task or effort. This assures the person that recognition has been earned. Never should one be praised and corrected at the same time. This act totally negates any expression of appreciation.

10-28-2014 – First, public recognition is important though not always possible. By expressing appreciation one exhibits humility and genuinely acknowledges the importance of others.

10-25-2014 – To properly express appreciation in a manner that may lead to acceptance by another three things are necessary.

10-24-2014 – It is not a matter of saying ‘thank you,’ for rarely will those words acknowledge the work or effort the person has devoted.

10-22-2014 – So in what manner does one express appreciation to others? This may be somewhat more difficult than one thinks.

10-18-2014 – Thus humility in our relationship with the Lord forms the foundation for experiencing gratefulness towards others. Yes, even for our enemies for it is through their persecutions that we discover the true value of material, and spiritual things.

10-14-2014 – Gratitude and expressions of appreciation to the Father allows us to behold His glory in all things. When e express this appreciation to Him and to the ones He uses we discover something far more valuable than silver of gold.

10-9-2014 – Paul proclaims that he had learned contentment in what ever state whether, plenty or famine. This contentment rests in the knowledge that the Lord is the provider of good or ill and means it all for good for those who love the Lord.

10-8-2014 – From this mountain he falls into despair and depression. The conclusion of which led to knowing God more intimately than ever before.

10-4-2014 – I Kings 19 recounts for us the story of Elijah, a great prophet of the Lord. Elijah had just concluded several great miracles. Challenged 850 prophets to a deadly contest won, destroying their idol, their rule, and their life. Brings and end to a 3 year drought and famine (which was still being talked about in Jesus time), and engaged in a 28 mile foot race with a horse and chariot and won!

10-1-2014 – Another form of expression of gratitude is faith. Herein most of us stumble. Specifically with gratitude over horrendous experiences. It is easy to believe in the good things but how does one rejoice in the bad? It is in the depths of despair that one really discovers God.

9-30-2014 – Another form or expression of gratitude is obedience. Psalm 119 is replete with verses connecting praise with acknowledgment, understanding, and meditation on the laws, statutes , commandments, testimonies, judgments, and precepts of the Lord, These attributes form the backbone of manners in which gratitude is expressed in our life.

9-25-2014 – The book of Psalms if replete with praise to the Almighty for his great deeds on a very personal level. These Psalms teach us how to express proper appreciation to the Lord of Host. Giving thanks to the Lord is accomplished by recounting His wondrous deeds.(Ps 9:1). “I will praise you, O Lord with all my heart’ I will tell of all your wonders. I will be glad and rejoice in you. I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.”

9-20-2014 – So how does one express appreciation? Again we turn to scripture and particularly to Jesus and we see our example. None of those who Jesus healed told Jesus thank you. Rather they praise God for what Jesus did. That is the key the praise and glory is given to God for what others might do for us.

9-17-2014 – That is the key for just as faith without works is dead, so gratitude without expressions of appreciation is dead.

9-16-2014 – It is here that one learns the core to the blessings brought about by gratitude. For each item that you become aware of there must be a corresponding expression of appreciation.

9-15-2014 – Then one day the Lord reminded me of the other things I need to be thankful for; the abuse, neglect, the terror from ages four to ten brought about by going from one foster home to another. Yes even these things because it eventually built character and empathy with others who had suffered as well.

9-13-2014 – I started recounting the amount of money my parents spent raising me. The physical things for which I had never ever thought of like the diapers changed, the warm clothing, the long nights when my mother stayed up rocking me because of the pain I was in and most important the song she sang over and over again that even to this day rings in my heart; “I come to the garden alone while the dew is still on the roses….”.

9-11-2014 – The next step is listing those things that others provide for me; parents, authority figures, teachers, friends.

9-8-2014 – A reminder of these ‘miracles’ in my own life becomes a continual reminder of His presence, and power in my life. (I am abbreviating what I have written at length in other material). These observations lead from the great to the smallest everyday interventions on His part.

9-5-2014 – The Lord becoming my father when I lost mine in divorce at four. Directing me to join the military, which turned out to be a lifelong blessing, saving my eyesight not once but twice!

9-4-2014 – For me I discovered Psalm 136 was a great outline. The first eight verses reviews what the Lord has done that all of us experience. The next verses reveal what God had done for Israel. It is here that I write beside the text specific things done for me; being born a twin, 2 months premature on the verge of death and mother begging the Lord for healing.

8-21-2014 – So one begins by making list focusing first what God had done, individually, personally, then what mankind has given.

8-16-2014 – So where does one begin in the endeavor to acquire gratefulness? First one has to recognize what has been given and received from God, parents or guardians, friends and even enemies.

8-14-2014 – Again, Paul tells us in Rom 6:16 “if you yield yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin which leads to death or of obedience which leads to righteousness.” The slavery of addiction—and who would deny the heavy burden of addiction, is the result of disobedience.

8-9-2014 – This is the implicit warning in Colossians 2:20 ff. Paul clarifies for the reader that abstinence (humanistic attempts to heal addiction), lack any value in restraining indulgence.

8-8-2014 – Addiction is not a sin—addiction is the consequences of sin. This explains why one cannot stop the addiction until the root sin is discovered and repentance occurs. If one fights the addiction it becomes stronger, and if perchance one conquers it then it will break out in other areas.

8-6-2014 – Addiction is a malady of the heart. Effective treatment means getting to the root of the problem and employing the cure that is most effective with the problem.

8-5-2014 – How would you respond, if having pneumonia you went to a doctor and he told you just to take a bath, and you will get well? As if cleansing the outside of the body would cure the inside. Yet, how frequently we try to cure heart problems with cognitive behavior or spiritual problems with radical emotional changes.

8-1-2014 – We understand that certain medicines may effect one type of illness and yet not effect others. Thus, while one type of antibiotic may destroy bacteria in the lungs it has no effect on infection of the kidneys.

7-30-2014 – This experience of the spirit flows like a mighty river washing away prejudice, pride, and pretense. When gratitude is exercised, it acts as a protective cover shielding one from the addictive forces of the world. Gratitude, like faith is dead without works. The works of thanksgiving are charitable, unmerited acts towards others. How does this effect the spirit of man? Perhaps a comparison helps.

7-29-2014 – Thanksgiving should be a state of mind that we exist in which reflects the joy experienced by seeing the sacrifice the Father made in giving His only Son for our sins.

7-26-2014 – Gratitude may be offered on an event-by-event basis but it loses much of its impact on the spirit of man when offered in this manner.

7-25-2014 – Gratitude is not focused on “what is not” but on “what is.” It is not focused on losses, but on one’s gains through those losses. This quality does not focus on one’s afflictions, but rather on the results of those afflictions. The depth of gratitude is determined by humility. The greater the humility, the deeper the gratitude. Levels of gratitude are attained through sacrifice. Thus, the greater the sacrifice, the greater the level attained.

7-23-2014 – It is not how many gifts God has given, rather how one feels, what one does, and how one expresses thanksgiving for those gifts received.

7-18-2014 – Gratitude is achieved by choice, never by duty. As one examines the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual gifts that God has bestowed, expresses thanksgiving to God in each of these areas for these gifts, then our gratitude batteries recharge.

7-16-2014 – Thanksgiving and gratitude are forms of worship expressed to God the Father through Jesus Christ. Gratitude’s initial expressions are towards God. Overflowing thanksgiving towards God results in a variety of attitudes towards His creatures.

7-15-2014 – The Lord’s approach to treatment is different. The person changes from the inside out. The behavior is not the focus of attention, nor is it the central problem. As anyone who is an addict, or who has lived with one knows the addict pleases only him/herself. Even when doing for others the addict’s actions are motivated by “what can I get out of it.” Nine of the ten lepers that Jesus healed had this problem. Cleansed on the outside, they still bore the attitude of ingratitude, which resulted in little faith.

7-10-2014 – This change is imperative if the addict is to find peace. Whereas, most treatments for addiction tend to modify the outward behavior or mental imagery, they have little effect on the spirit-soul of man. As attendance at any 12-step meeting will reveal, rarely does the addict change his personality. Rather the lifelong nature of the “illness” is emphasized.

7-9-2014 – Gratitude is manifested in an outward expression called thankfulness. It originates in the heart. Giving is a result of the inward attitude of gratitude and an outward expression of thanksgiving.

7-8-2014 – The characteristic of gratitude is the central truth by which the addict changes. Gratitude is an inward attitude directed toward the Lord, expressing appreciation for all benefits received from Him. It is experienced in the spirit of man.

7-7-2014 – The addictive person is a self-absorbed person. His existence has been centered in “getting” for himself. By changing direction from how much can I get to how much can I give, the covetous person is able to set aside addiction. How does one come to the point where they are willing to give instead of get? By experiencing gratitude.

7-5-2014 – A major indicator of a lack of gratitude in ones life is the presence of addiction. How is addiction and lack of gratitude intertwined?

7-3-2014 – Reviewing the results it always seemed people just did not get it. There was some improvement but it seemed to me most of the things they were asked to write about gratitude seemed so shallow.

6-28-2014 – Gratitude in a very real and practical sense is the antidote to addiction. Over the years I developed several methods to attempt to get individuals to grasp the importance of acquiring the quality for gratefulness in their life.

6-25-2014 – So the question arises why is it necessary to express appreciation? Simply, appreciation is also an expression of faith. Whether belief in the divine or the profane. A simple expression of gratefulness encourages deeper faith and discourages narcissism.

6-20-2014 – This also is so much like mankind though Jesus healed a great many men frequently they failed to give the Lord praise. Interestingly there is not a biblical example where a woman fails to praise the Lord for her healing!
6-18-2014 – But the most amazement expressed by the Son of God was the lack of gratitude on the part of man when healed from disastrous illnesses. Can you imagine being sick unable to walk or move for 38 years. Jesus comes along and heals the man. Not only does he not thank the Lord but in the next breath turns Jesus into the authority’s who want to kill him?

6-17-2014 – There are few things that amazed the Lord. Circumstances like the Roman Centurion who understood authority and realized that healing did not require anything but the word of God. Jesus, in contrast was amazed at the ignorance of His own disciples who though seeing miracles day to day still found the breath of those miracles astounding.

6-14-2014 – Notice please the number of miracles that Jesus performed throughout the Gospels yet the infrequency the healed expressed appreciation.

6-10-2014 – What is gratitude? It takes humility for a person to experience gratefulness because gratitude is acknowledgment of ones inability to provide for or accomplish a task. Without humility there is the lack of desire to express appreciation. We see it clearly in Jesus ministry.

6-6-2014 – I have observed a virus infecting many of us. It may be observed in this manner. Ask a person what they are thankful for and this blank look crosses the persons face along with dead silence. It is as if the person went through labor, and delivered themselves, changed every dirty diaper all by themselves, provided all the food, clothing, and shelter all by themselves. I know in my mind this is a hyperbole yet I fear we just do not get it sometimes.

6-5-2014 – What is gratitude? How is it expressed effectively. To whom are we to be grateful, How does one most effective express of appreciation. No small endeavor.

6-3-2014 – A verse from the Bible the book of James keeps ringing in my heart; “Faith without works is dead,” over and over and then the key to the door of knowledge about addiction: Gratitude without expressions of appreciation is dead. Thus the beginning of a new essay. A Study of Gratitude and the Importance of expressions of appreciation. Mistakenly I thought it would only be a couple of paragraphs. I underestimated the endeavor.

5-31-2014 – That was the beginning of a journey which has constantly been on my mind. This weekend another part of the puzzle appeared. In answer to the question why is there so little change of attitude when items of gratitude are written, though some diligently work on the list. Sure there were some changes yet I expected much more.

5-29-2014 – An hour later in group therapy I gave my clients an assignment. You must write down 25,000 things that you are thankful about. Knowing they could not and would not write such an outrageous amount but hoping that perhaps a list of 25, or maybe 100 items would be penned by each member.

5-28-2014 – So I bent down and picked up another golden egg. The same thing occurred. The golden egg filled with wisdom, ‘The cure for addiction is gratitude.” I cried to the Lord “do not let me forget your words until I get to the office and write them down.”

5-27-2014 – I picked one up and put it in my left hand. It immediately broke apart and out flew words, “there are no tears in heaven.” At the same moment the refrain from the song “No Tears in Heaven.” How amazing.

5-23-2014 – As I am driving suddenly there appeared this beautiful cathedral type building with steps leading up to an entrance. The doors opened. Walking I observed the floor covered with golden eggs. The eggs were everywhere.

5- 20-2014 – Thirty – five years ago the Lord gave me a vision.. I remember it as clearly as if it were today. Working on the Substance Abuse Unit of Terrell State Hospital, having just left home to go to work the vision began. I had been seeking from the Lord the cure for addiction. Seeing the lives it destroyed. Knowing the deep emotional struggle that tore apart men’s souls there had to be answer.