Here’s my message today: If you want to receive more blessings in 2012, you need to be more thankful for blessings you received in 2011. Because gratitude is a magnet.
Let me ask you a few questions.
Did you have food on your table last year? Thank God. (From the way I see you, you had too much food.)
Did you have clothes to wear last year? Thank God.
Did you sleep well at night last year? Thank God.
Did you have work last year? Thank God.
Did you earn money last year? Thank God.
Did you have friends last year? Thank God.
Did you serve God last year? Thank God.
Open your eyes to see that you were swimming in an ocean of blessings last year.
I looked back at last year and couldn’t help but say, “Wow.”
I can’t say anything else. Because when I think of the year, I feel overwhelmed at what God has done in my life.
Choose: 2 Weeks Or 40 Years? There are two ways of living on earth:
You can grumble or you can be grateful.
Both habits are powerful. (I’ll explain in awhile.)
Do you know how long the Israelites travelled from Egypt to the Promised Land? The Bible says it took them 40 Years. I find that weird. Do you know how quickly it should have been?
The distance from Cairo to Jerusalem is only 391 kilometers. That should have only taken the Israelites 14 days to travel from Egypt to Israel. But why did they take 40 years?
Let me tell you one major reason: They followed the grumbling path instead of the grateful path.
And the grumbling path is much longer than the grateful path.
40 years longer…
Think about it. They were rescued from 400 years of slavery. But they weren’t grateful. They saw 10 mind-boggling miracles, from water turning into blood, and a staff turning into a snake, and frogs leaping out of the lake… But they weren’t grateful. They crossed the red sea on dry land. But they weren’t grateful. A pillar of fire accompanied them by night and a pillar of smoke accompanied them by day. But they weren’t grateful.
I don’t know about you, but I want to enter the promised land quickly. And the way to do that is to learn to be grateful.
What do you have that you did not receive? … Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! (1 Corinthians 4:7-8)
Marriages Can’t Be Strong Without Gratitude
Do you know why married people have affairs? It’s not because of sex. It’s because they grumble instead of being grateful.
Your spouse has 90% of what you need.
But because you’re not grateful for that 90%, you search for that missing 10% in a mistress. Someone fresh. Someone prettier. Someone more affectionate. Someone who smells nice.
But when you go home, your wife smells ofpaksiw.
She isn’t affectionate because she’s tired, taking care of the kids the entire day.
So you have an affair. At first, it’s exciting. It makes you feel wonderful.
But one day, you’ll wake up and realize you’re holding Miss 10% in your arms. You’ve lost your Miss 90% to get Miss 10%.
Gratitude Attracts Blessings
I know some people who can’t be grateful today.
They’re waiting for something big to happen for them to be grateful.
Some people say, “I’ll be grateful if I win the Lotto…” Or “I’ll be grateful if I get promoted…” Or “I’ll be very grateful if I have a baby…” Or “I’ll be grateful if I marry someone like Brad Pitt, or John Lloyd, or Bo Sanchez…” (I apologize for my hallucinations.)
Don’t wait to be grateful. Be grateful now!
Why? Because both grumbling and gratitude are a magnet.
Grateful people get more of what they’re grateful for.
If they’re grateful for happiness and love and friendships, they’ll have more happiness and love and friendships. If they’re grateful for financial blessings, they’ll have more financial blessings.
In the same way, grumbling people get more of what they grumble about.
If you grumble about your problems, you’ll have more problems. If you grumble about lack, you have more lack in your life.
Be grateful.
And receive more blessings this 2012.
May your dreams come true,
Bo Sanchez
Starting the year with gratefulness and much love for everyone. Welcome 2012:)
Sliced American bread
