SIDE A SIDE B: Grateful Beginnings

Notes and reflections on the second talk of the “Side A Side B” preaching series at the Feast Valle Verde May 2, 2021

Are you hoping for a new beginning?

Isaiah 43:18-19

Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.

It took 40 years for the Israelites to travel from Egypt to the promised land. They had victories and miracles along their journey but at the same time, they also experienced challenges and difficulties. Taking a long time to reach the promised land made them feel hopeless and discouraged. But the Lord reminded them that He’s making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland. God is preparing them for a new beginning.

We can’t help but see ourselves from these Israelites. In the middle of the pandemic, most of us are anxious and in despair. We are desperate to go back to where our world used to be before Covid-19 surged globally. We wish to be in control of the future. But,

just like the Israelites, we are reminded that God is making a way for our own desserts and wastelands. Let Him speak to our hearts, awaiting that better things are coming. Look forward to the new beginnings.

God is doing a lot of surprises! Amidst our circumstances, He is inviting us to be grateful for the new beginnings. Be grateful in the past, even when it hurts. Be grateful for today, holding on to His promises that never fails. At the end of every ending is a new

beginning! As we look hope to start anew, be thankful – grateful beginnings are rising!

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NLT

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

God’s will in us is to rejoice, pray and give thanks with frequency. This is easier said than done, but believe that God has no prompts that we can’t fulfill, no matter how difficult it may be. The truth is, it is only by His grace alone that we can make it. Keep connecting with God even when we feel far away from Him, even when we don’t feel like it. Then, we may lately realize that in our relationship with God, it is always us who ran away and hide, not Him. Come back and be close to Him again – rejoice, pray and give thanks unceasingly.

Indeed, man wishes to be happy even when he so lives as to make happiness impossible. – Augustine of Hippo

How ironic that people are trying their best to be happy, but their ways on how to attain it are mostly in vain. If we want to be happy, choose to be grateful! This is the real key to happiness. Give thanks in all circumstances. We all have the choice!

Thank Big, Think Big.

In being grateful, we open up the possibility of receiving more blessings. Remember, if He moved mountains in the past, He will do it again. If He had tremendously blessed us before, He’ll extremely bless us again. Gratitude creates a vacuum in the universe. The more we thank our loving Father, all the more He will willingly give His blessings to us. Did you notice that the same is true with us? Observe that the more someone give thanks to us for any good deed we had done, the more likely we feel compassionate to give them more. If parents desire to give their all to their children, how much more our Heavenly Father would greatly give us?

Being grateful is not only a way of thinking nor invalidating our reality. Gratitude is a way of blessing! How?

Grateful givers gain.

The Gratitude Effect

Harvard Medical School reports that people who express gratitude are more optimistic and feel better about themselves personally.

The Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence concluded that expressing gratitude completes a feeling of connection with other people.

Paul Zach, a professor at Claremont Graduate University, states that neuroscience shows that Recognition has the largest effect on Trust, especially when it’s tangible, unexpected, personal and public.

Several studies already proved that being grateful results to a positive disposition in life. These include being more optimistic, feeling better, feeling of connection, and a highly developed trust from the people around them. It releases good energy vibes that

significantly improves relationships and outlook towards the future.

UC Berkeley used fMRI scans to show that people who wrote Gratitude Letters had a better activation in the medial prefrontal cortex than those who did not write the letters.

Aside from the prefrontal context’s function to one’s higher cognition and social behavior, it is also considered to contribute to the brain network for mood control. In other words, an enhanced stimulation of the prefrontal cortex connotes vast sensations

as “on high” with drugs. Writing Thank You notes uplifts an encouraging mood and promotes recognition and trust from others. If we want to gain a multitude of blessings, being grateful is definitely a must!

Studies by the Cicero group, published in Forbes, found that people who are on the receiving end of Gratitude have a 33% increase in their Innovation and a 22% increase in Work Results.

Being grateful meaningly affects people’s performance. An act of gratefulness boosts a favorable attitude and bear good fruits in all aspects of our lives. It’s not New Age, it’s Science. Be intentional in showing gratitude.

Check your programming! Make a choice to make it your programming.

1 Chronicles 16:34 NLT

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.

Give thanks in all circumstances, not only because of granted desires, blessings and miracles, but because God is good! There are some instances wherein difficulties test us, may it be a business, relationship or worst, a life ended. However, God is not

finished with us yet. A transformation has just taken place. God’s nature is good. His heart is always good. His faithful love endures forever. We just need to trust in Him.

Endings - blessings in disguise – are something we are to be thankful for.

What are you grateful for? What is God asking you to begin? God accepts us as we are. We may feel that our offerings are small, but God will make it big. Miracles begin withour five loaves and two fish. Are you ready for His miracles?

Will you choose to see the blessing? Thank big, think big. Thank more!