A newspaper reporter once approached Rudyard Kipling and asked, "Mr. Kipling, I just read that somebody calculated that the money you make from your writings amounts to over $100.00 a word." The reporter reached into his pocket, pulled out a hundred dollar bill and gave it to Kipling, and said, "Heres a hundred dollar bill, Mr. Kipling. Now you give me one of your hundred dollar words." Kipling pocketed the money, looked at the man, and said, "Thanks!"

For the Christian, gratitude is not based on the gifts that we receive from others. It is demonstrating a consistent thankful heart, regardless of our circumstances. We must learn to develop an attitude of gratitude. That is only achieved through trusting Gods promises, and relying on His strength. The Psalmist had much for which to be grateful, and in Psalm 118 he expressed his attitude of gratitude.

I AM THANKFUL THAT GOD IS FAITHFUL TO ME

(READ Psalm 118:1-7) I am thankful that God is faithful to mearent you? I am thankful that God created me uniquely. I am not just a Social Security number or a residential occupant to God. I am a child of the King, and He has remained faithful to me. Even though I may neglect my relationship with Him, He is still faithful. Even though I may be unfaithful or disappointing to God, He is still faithful. He has promised never to leave me nor forsake me. PRAISE GOD! How can I not be grateful for his enduring faithfulness? Let us develop an attitude of gratitude for Gods faithfulness.

(READ Psalm 118:13-14) If we are not careful, we may take our salvation for granted. Our worship and our service can become routine, and we can find ourselves just going through the motions day after day. We must be careful not to lose our first love, and fail to appreciate the great sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ. We must not be careless with our thanks, but we must have an attitude of gratitude to the Lord for our salvation. (READ 2 Corinthians 9:15)

(READ Psalm 118:19-24) Some of you have had your share of heartaches and sorrows and even life-threatening experiences, and you can testify to the fact that God has always made a way for you, and you have learned better than most of us how to give thanks to the Lord every hour of every day.

Here at Hardwick we recently heard Morris Hutcheson share a testimony about his youngest daughters battle with leukemia (and her victory!), and how his hearing impaired wife actually heard their grandbaby cry for the very first time in her life! Morris said: "For the first time in my life I was completely powerless to help my child. I also realized that God was a loving God and that whatever might happen, it was for a loving purpose and that nothing in my life was due to my making it happen, but because God allowed it to happen."

Then we heard Pat Youmans tell of her devastating experience as a young mother with four children under the age of eight. She received a phone call one night that her husband Buddy had been hit by a logging truck while riding his motorcycleand probably would not survive. Pat said, "God was in control and we praised and thanked Him daily for His goodness and kindness to our family. After seven months Buddy became fully conscious and tried to talk, but could not. The doctors said they could do nothing, because of damage to the vocal cords when a tracheotomy had been performed within minutes after the accident. Two days laterBuddy started talking. What a glory-hallelujah time we had rejoicing and thanking God!"

How do people such as these rejoice and give thanks in the midst of such calamity? Only by the power and love of Almighty God and a loving church family. They will probably both tell you that they did not come to these conclusions on the day that they received their news. But they developed an attitude of gratitudeCascais hotel rooms after many years of trusting God to make a way for them.

(READ Psalm 118:25-29) I am thankful that God still blesses mearent you? What are you specifically thankful for? Are you thankful for Gods faithfulness? Are you thankful for your salvation? Are you thankful for the many blessings you have received from God: your family, your church, your friends, your health? No matter how bleak our circumstances, we can always find something for which to be grateful, cant we?

Take the time right now to count your blessings. Spend time just giving thanks to the Lord for all that He has done for you and your family. Let us "Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name. For the Lord is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations." (Psalm 100:4-5) Let us pray for Gods strength and wisdom to help us develop an attitude of gratitude for Gods abundant blessings to come.