Can something challenging lead to Thanksgiving? This is the Daily Disturbance podcast with Anthony Von Gieman. Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year. Ralph Waldo Emerson this week we've been looking at how to turn a burden into a blessing.
I suggested the following ways thus far. Number one, See all that knocks at your doors right as a gift. Number two, Allow the burden to transform you. Let it strengthen you.
Number three, look at the new things that can now replace the old. And now the fourth idea. Let your burden be an opportunity to give thanks. To give thanks.
As mentioned, I recently launched a new show we produced where we feature change makers. This is on Television Signal play Signal TV TV5. Peggy Topiano is one of them. CEO of Progressive Laboratories.
One of the main things that struck me is how her business losses and tragedies major fire, for example during the pandemic, relationship challenges and even personal health crisis. Cancer survivor led her to one decision and now a habit. Being grateful. That's it.
Grateful Tuesdays is a personal and team commitment that focuses her efforts on literally giving back. Especially to those who are unable to return the favor. Myself and I have had the privilege of helping out with grateful Tuesdays. And it is true, givers actually get so much more in return.
The attitude of gratitude thank you Binky for the privilege to help. To those who have had life changing encounters with God, being thankful and giving him praise and worship are spontaneous responses over and above sacrifice, right? Paying him back or ceremonial activity. As the psalmist declared in Psalm 69 I will praise the name of God with a song.
I will magnify him with thanksgiving. This will please the Lord more than an ox or a bull with horns and hoofs. Do you have an attitude of gratitude or is it just one of platitude, of servitude? Someone once observed that when we go to church, we are thankful and blessed.
When we hear a great message, right from the preacher, the pastor, the priest, we are thankful and blessed. It inspires us. But, but, but the same person said we should bear in mind that when we give God thanks and praise and worship, it is not us, but it is he who is blessed. We give a smile on God's face.
If you can't receive just yet the blessing, give him praise that will bless him. Besides, an attitude of gratitude in practical terms makes you feel better. What did Dalai Lama say? Choose to be optimistic.
It feels better. He makes a lot of sense and you know the process, right? Thoughts lead to feelings, right? And if you feel better, feelings lead to Actions that are also better and results that are better.
Thoughts, feelings, actions, results. I love how my son Donnie starts most, if not all, of his vlogs right on YouTube. What's up, people of the world? And the positivity is contagious.
Margaret Trudeau. We can choose to wake up and grumble all day and be bitter and angry and judge others and find satisfaction in others doing bad instead of good. Or we can wake up with optimism and love and say, just what is this beautiful day going to bring me? Think through this thought with me, okay?
If God is in control. Think about it, guys. If he's in control of all things, then nothing touches you and me that hasn't gone through his permission first, right? And if he loves me and you, as he has declared in His Word and through Christ, the word of the flesh, the word come alive.
If he loves me, then he wants what is best for me. And so if he's in control of all things, loves me, and only allows what he best for me, then everything I am going through, the good, the bad, and the ugly, has something of value to offer me. And yes, you. Romans 8:28.
All things. We know that all things, not some things, not just the good things, not just the bad things, all things. God works for good, for those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. When I'm pursuing God's purpose, when I love God by His grace, because of Christ in me, because he gave me that love in the first place, then everything that I go through will work for my good.
And again, I quote Ambrose Beer's optimism, the doctrine or belief that everything is beautiful in including what is ugly. You know, we hear this a lot, right? You got this. You can do it.
You have what it takes. It really sounds good and encouraging, but in reality, we don't always get it right. We don't always have it in us. We don't always have the confidence to overcome it.
We don't always end up, you know, in a fair situation where all is just. No fair. Solana will sometimes declare when she refuses to accept the disciplinary action here at home. And I don't have the complete formula, okay, for turning everything, including the messiest of mess ups into a positive ending.
But I can tell you this. Being thankful and believing that good is behind even the biggest of burdens will surely truly help. Let me close with Isaiah 40:31. But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not be faint. Embrace the burden before you.
Be thankful with the hope that he who allows it is good and wants what is best for you. That is yet another way to turn that burden into a blessing, my friend.