Notes from Nancy Leigh Demoss Radio Program "Why be Thankful?"

Developing a grateful Heart
1) Yeild all your rights to God

• all rights and control of those rights
• all expectations

2) Confess and repent of any ungratefulness that God has revealed in your heart
3) Week of thanksgiving

• for a week do not ask God for anything but to say thanks to God and others for everything

4) Count your Blessings

• name them one by one
• count up past mercies

5) Take stock of your gratitude accounts

• are there any people that you owe a debt of gratitude?

6) In everything give thanks to God
7) Keep up to date in expressing gratitude to God and to others

• thank you notes, emails, in person, calls
  
• in every circumstance you can whine or worship (nancy leigh demoss)

"A Colloquy on Rejoicing" from The Valley of Vision

Remember, O My Soul,
It is thy duty and privilege to rejoice in God:
He requires it of thee for all his favours of grace.
Rejoice then in the Giver and his goodness,
Be happy in him, O my heart, and in nothing but God,
for whatever a man trusts in,
from that he expects happiness.

He who is the ground of thy faith
should be the substance of thy joy.
Whence then come heaviness and dejection,
when joy is sown in thee,
promised by the Father,
bestowed by the Son,
inwrought by the Holy Spirit,
thine by grace,
thy birthright in believing?

Art thou seeking to rejoice in thyself
from an evil motive of pride and self-reputation?
Thou hast nothing of thine own but sin,
nothing to move God to be gracious,
or to continue his grace towards thee.
If thou forget this thou wilt lose thy joy.
Art thou grieving under a sense of indwelling sin?
Let godly sorrow work repentance,
as the true spirit which the Lord blesses,
and which creates fullest joy;
Sorrow for self opens rejoicing in God,
Self-loathing draws down divine delights.
Hast thou sought joys in some creature comfort?
Look not below God for happiness;
fall not asleep in Delilah's lap.
Let God be all in all to thee, and joy in the fountain that is always full.

On Christ the Solid Rock I stand!

I wanted to share one of my favorite songs with you because it says so much and is whats on my heart today. "My Grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." 2 Corinthians 12:9.

"Will Not Be Moved" by Natalie Grant

I have been the wayward child

I have acted out

I have questioned Sovereignty

And had my share of doubt

And though sometimes my prayers feel likeThey're bouncing off the sky

The hand I hold won't let me goAnd is the reason why...

[Chorus:]

I will stumble

I will fall down

But I will not be moved

I will make mistakes

I will face heartache

But I will not be moved

On Christ the Solid Rock I stand

All other ground is sinking sand

I will not be moved

Bitterness has plagued my heart

Many times before

My life has been like broken glass

And I have kept the score

Of all my shattered dreams and though it seemed

That I was far too gone

My brokenness helped me to see

It's grace I'm standing on

[Chorus]

And the chaos in my life

Has been a badge I've worn

Though I have been torn

I will not be moved

[Chorus]