77. Nurturing Gratefulness This Thanksgiving

Mama Bear Apologetics

Hillary and Amy are back together for this special Thanksgiving podcast about gratefulness, especially in this time of busyness and materialistic pursuits.

Main Points Covered:

• Purpose of Gratitude:
  • Protective aspect: Romans 1:18-32
    • Ingratitude breeds spiritual decline
    • Gratitude has a spiritually protective aspect
  • Psychological Benefits:
    • Gratitude changes brain chemistry and improves mental health.
    • Philippians 4:8
  • Perspective orientation: Philippians 4:11-13 I have learned to be content whatever the circumstance.
    • Be aware of the impact of social media and video games.
    • Discontentment with reality.
    • Hillary’s word of the year for 2021 was gratitude. She spent the year grasping onto gratitude, even during times of despair.
  • Contentment comes from relying on the strength and nature of God, and the telos of ourselves and our lives
• Bad times:
  • What’s one thing you’re thankful for today?
    • Can’t always be the food
    • Something new each night
  • When things go wrong it’s important to go back to what we know of God and whose we are
• Good times:
  • Divine Hiddenness
  • Gratefulness in the simple/common “Let us believe that God is in all our simple deeds and learn to find Him there.” A.W. Tozer (The Pursuit of God)
  • “The power of finding beauty in the humblest things makes home happy and life lovely.” Louisa May Alcott
  • “Every leaf speaks bliss to me Fluttering from the autumn tree.” Emily Bronté (“Fall, leaves, fall”)
  • Enchantment-focused
    • Enchantment is being able to see God in the simple things, from which gratefulness naturally flows.
  • Projects:
    • Gratefulness pumpkins for each person
    • Let kids help prepare the meal
    • Gratitude comes with perspective
    • Gratitude journal

Resources Mentioned:

Mama Bear Apologetics (book)
Mama Bear Apologetics Guide to Sexuality

Unfamiliar Vocab:

Problem of Evil
Divine Hiddenness

Scripture Mentioned:

Romans 1:18 – “The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness.”

Philippians 4:8 – “Finally brothers and sisters whatever is true whatever is noble whatever is right, pure, lovely admirable if anything is excellent of praiseworthy think about such thing.”

Philippians 4:11-13 – “I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”

Quotable Quotes:

“Gratitude breeds gratitude which breeds gratitude which breeds contentment.” – Hillary

Questions or ideas? Send us an email at [e-mail].

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