I want to give you three weeks notice to reflect upon an annual Thanksgiving tradition. Many families go around the Thanksgiving table and ask everyone to share "what are you grateful for this year"? So what are you grateful for this year? I remember my Grandmother always being grateful for her health and family. I was always grateful for my favorite soccer player (I know...I wasn't very deep!). Little did I know, this annual tradition was exposing us to one of the most powerful spiritual disciplines in the Judeo-Christian tradition: Gratitude. The Thanksgiving meal tradition that I rolled my eyes at in my ensuing teen years actually was offering me ancient sage wisdom on how to live a life of happiness and contentment. Gratitude is like a stick of dynamite that we treat like a birthday cake candle. Its explosive and transformative power lay firmly rooted in our theological and biological DNA as human beings. Today's message is the first in a 4 week sermon series on Gratitude. Our sermon is entitled: "The Transforming Power of Gratitude" and after re-reading Psalm 92 and 95, please use the following reflection questions to journey deeper with a trusted friend or in your own spiritual journaling:

1. Pastor Rob shared the story of Hailey Bartholomew and her Gratitude 365 Photo Project. Take just over 10 minutes or so to go onto youtube and watch her Ted Talk.
2. What in Hailey's story resonates with your life right now?
3. The theological and biological reality is that 'gratitude' has transformational power. How might you accept this 30 day Gratitude Challenge in a way that fits you (journaling, photos, a gratitude jar, or some other way)?

Blessings,
Pastor Rob

June 8, 2025

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