Dear MICHELLE,
The gun sounds as the race begins. iPray eVotionals exhorts the runners on the path of a prayerful lifestyle. It's the glass of water held out around each month's turn. It's for the runner who can use a quick and easy quench in order to finish strong.
iThank God for That
(Approximate reading time: 12 Minutes)
Just to change it up a bit... this month we are visiting Stage 3 at the GodInspired Studios.
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| We now return you to your regular scheduled program already in progress... |
Announcer:
I'm your announcer, NueKree Chure and you are watching the iTHANK GOD FOR THAT Game Show!
(Music, Camera scans applauding Audience)
In a society that seems to offer thanks conditionally...
Voiceovers of past contestants:
"I'll be happy and thankful...
...IF this is something I want or need."
...IF this is something I don't already have."
...IF I can immediately see the worth."
...IF I think she deserves it or has earned my gratitude."
NueKree:
This is the only gameshow where CHOOSING gratitude breeds JOY!
(Audience applause)
Say hello to your host: Youcan Change
Youcan:
Thank you NueKree Chure.
(Music fades, camera focuses on stage)
Our 3 contestants are playing for the grand prize. They will have 30 seconds to say why they should win and then answer one question from each of our 3 judges. The contestants have no idea what these questions will be. According to their answers a decision will be made whether they are able to win! If they win, they will receive the grand prize; a gift worthy of gratitude that leads to an OVERjoyed life! Say hello to our judges...
(Camera focuses on each judge as they are announced)
Judge Fairly, Judge Rightly and Judge Not.
(Audience Applause)
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| Contestant #1... |
Youcan:
Now let's meet contestant #1. NueKree?
(Audience applause, Camera on Contestant #1)
NueKree:
Contestant #1 is a restaurant manager. He lives with his wife and daughter in a bungalow in Marina Del Rey, California. Say hello to Acknoll Edge!
(Audience applause, Camera on Youcan)
Youcan:
Acknoll, why do you think you should leave here with the grand prize?
Acknoll:
While it sounds nice that we live in a bungalow not far from a busy street in Marina Del Rey, I know that I could be a very joyful person if we lived up on the hill in a bigger home and away from the busy streets, or if we moved away from busy California all together, like to the country side. The perfect designed grand prize for me would be money. I think I should win the grand prize of money because I need it to move into a better home!
Judge Fairly:
Acknoll, have you ever forgotten to thank someone for a birthday or Christmas gift?
Acknoll:
Ummm, thank someone for a gift? Well, yes I guess I have. Come to think of it I never opened that pack of thank you cards my wife bought several years ago for me to thank everyone for the gifts they brought to my milestone birthday party.
Judge Justly:
Do you think gifts are often taken for granted and seldom acknowledged?
Acknoll:
I'm not sure what these questions have to do with why I think I deserve the grand prize of money but I suppose people don't always acknowledge the gifts they have in their life.
Judge Not:
Acknoll, what does this statement mean to you? "We have been blessed with so much that we have lost the good sense to be grateful and satisfied."
Acknoll:
I suppose it means that one is able to be desensitized to the point of not recognizing that what they have is good and special.
Youcan:
It's time for the judges' feedback. Judges?
Judge Fairly:
After much consideration we have decided that you, Acknoll, have a case of, "The grass is always greener" syndrome. We believe that your lack of gratitude towards the gifts in your life has led to an unsatisfied downward spiral. We believe that Acknoll's answers reflects what is going on in his heart. Ecclesiates 5:10 says "Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless." Said another way, discontentment in what you have. People like you have lost sight of the blessings right in their own lap. If you lived up on that hill then you would see another location that you would perceive as better. We think there is hope for you and you have a good chance in winning. Acknoll Edge just needs to acknowledge James 1:17; that "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." Acknoll, you need to ask God to change Your perspective to His perfect and unchanging perspective. "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Matthew 6:19-20. "But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." Matthew 6:33. Thank God first, thank God now. Then the grand prize of an OVERjoyed life will be added to you. This will overflow into every part of your life... including that pack of unopened thank you cards. |
Contestant #2...
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Youcan:
Let's meet Contestant #2. NueKree?
(Camera on Contestant 2)
NueKree:
Contestant #2 describes herself as "worthy." Say hello to Atta Tude!
(Audience applause)
Youcan:
Atta, why do you think you should leave here with the grand prize?
Atta:
I have a right to attain that grand prize, which for me would be an all expense paid vacation. I claim it. I shouldn't have to take 30 seconds to explain why. The fact that I live in a house with kids that don't appreciate me is enough.
Judge Fairly:
Atta, do you remember the last kind gesture or act of service done for you?
Atta:
No. Just the other day I noticed my rosebushes were looking horrible, my gardeners should be going out of their way to make me happy! What about how slow the service is at the deli down the street? It's torment just to wake up knowing that it's another day of enduring other's iniquities. I seriously can't remember the last time I noticed anything done right by anyone.
Judge Justly:
Atta, can you think of something recently done for you where a "thank you" was not your first response?
Atta:
What are you saying? If someone does something for me that should have been done for me, I need to act like it's something special? Last night my husband stopped on his way home to get dinner for all of us, because I ASKED him to! It's his responsibility. Am I supposed to run up to him and say thank you? Now if he would have brought home a gift certificate to stay at the Hyatt for a week, then maybe I could thank him.
Judge Not:
Atta, What does this statement mean to you? "We live in a society where an attitude of entitlement is the norm."
Atta:
To me it means I need a vacation! I deserve it and I think I should win it.
Youcan:
It's time for the judges' feedback. Judges?
Judge Justly:
After much consideration it is our assessment that you are reaping a harvest of entitlement. Your children don't appreciate you because like you, they think they deserve it all and more. It does not shame you to admit that your husband stopped to pick up some food for dinner without a hint of gratitude. We are convinced that a vacation would not foster an OVERjoyed attitude in Atta Tude, but she could still win the grand prize. Atta, people like you miss the mark because of a misdirected value system that leads to an ungrateful, self centered attitude of entitlement. Living in a constant state of entitlement torments your spirit. Do you want to be set free from this torment? "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved--you and your household." (Acts 16:31) Humble yourself and recognize what we deserve on our own and what we receive with Christ. "...Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions... it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God" Ephesians 2:3-5 & 8. You have to first want to be set free. If you do then God will sanctify your heart! "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws." Ezekiel 36:26. As God sanctifies your heart you'r attitude will change. "Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others." (Philippians 2:3-4) Getting up in the morning will no longer be a torment but instead you will choose to sing "This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it... You are my God, and I will give thanks to you; you are my God; I will extol you. Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!" (118:24 & 28-29) Choosing to plant seeds of gratitude will lead to the grand prize of an OVERjoyed life. If you do not want to change then nothing will change and you will stay in bondage. "Don't be under any illusion: you can not make a fool of God! A man's harvest in life will depend entirely on what he sows." Galatians 6:7 Atta, since "nothing is impossible with God." (Luke 1:37) you could win the grand prize. |
| Contestant #3... |
Youcan:
Let's meet Contestant #3. NueKree?
(Camera on Contestant 3)
NueKree:
Contestant #3 is 29 and lives with his parents. Say hello to Wur King!
(Audience applause)
Wur:
I'm single. Everyone I meet has problems. I keep having to find new jobs because I don't get paid enough for what I can do. I need joy more than anyone here, my grand prize would probably be a life where things did not have to involve work.
Judge Fairly:
What can you do at your job?
Wur:
I show up for starters! The last job I had I was told that there was room to advance. After 2 weeks I was still being bossed around and being told to run around and exert unnecessary energy. They had problems with my performance and so it wasn't worth another day.
Judge Justly:
What about your friends?
Wur:
Drama! In fact it's not worth the effort. I'd rather play interactive games on the net where I don't have to really deal with people face to face.
Judge Not:
What does this statement mean to you. "Work hard with gratitude."
Wur:
Oh that's easy. It's an oxymoron!
Youcan:
It's time for the judges' feedback. Judges?
Judge Not:
We think that Wur King's efforts to not be miserable is not working. What seems to be an ungrateful lazy attitude takes up all of his time leaving no room for a JOYfilled life. "One who is slack in his work is brother to one who destroys." Proverbs 18:9. Every time something gets hard or seems like too much effort, he seems to gives up. "All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty." Proverbs 14:23. Jobs requires work. Relationships requires work. He is living off of his parents as though he is a minor. "So I saw that there is nothing better for a person than to enjoy their work, because that is their lot. For who can bring them to see what will happen after them?" Ecclesiastes 3:22. Wur King seems to be settling for false internet realities over real abundance. "Those who work their land will have abundant food, but those who chase fantasies have no sense." Proverbs 12:11. Even Jesus was tempted to take the easy way out, recorded in Matthew 4:1-11. The truth of God's word could not stand against the enemies attacks. Wur King needs to be working new muscles that have never been used before. Next time he steps foot into a job he should battle apathy with this scripture, "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters" Colossians 3:23. Next time he meets a friend he needs to battle his urge to run away with this scripture, "Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor." Ecclesiastes 4:9. As well as "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." John 13:34. Working hard with gratitude will no longer be an oxymoron... but a reality! |
| Surprise Testimony... |
(Alarm sounds)
Youcan:
Audience, do you know what that sound means? It's time for our Surprise Testimony! NueKree Chure, who do we have here today?
NueKree:
Well Youcan Change, It's one of our first "iThank God for That" winners... Choo Sing!
(Audience applause, camera reveals Choo Sing on the big screen)
Choo Sing:
Hello contestants! Lost is the lesson of gratitude in suffering. It's just plain unthinkable. I should know! Before winning the grand prize of an OVERjoyed life it was ingrained into my head the thought that anything that hurts is to be despised. It gets in the way of my coveted happiness! I seemed to be blind to the good that comes from trials and tribulations; blind to how God can use that time to grow and mature me. Now I could always grasp gratitude for His presence in times of deep sorrow, but I had been guilty of resenting times of suffering until the judges reminded me of Luke 17:11-19 when Jesus healed 10 lepers. At the first commercial break my guard was still up and I was a bit skeptical that giving thanks was the answer. But I went back to the green room and read that scripture for myself. I couldn't believe the healing that Jesus just handed these men. I could imagine that ALL TEN were ecstatic beyond measure as they ran back to the city where they had been ostracized, eager to see the families they had been separated from because of this horrible disease they had to suffer. Can you imagine being on that path, each step not being fast enough to return you to the life you were forced to leave behind? Only one stopped in his tracks, turned around completely out of the way from his path home, and went back to Jesus to give him a message of gratitude. Is it not He that gives us the opportunity to be changed? The clincher for me was that the real healing did not come from being released from the physical suffering. Jesus said to the one, "Rise and go; your faith has made you well." I wonder how much healing the others ended up really receiving? It was then that I realized that being released from my suffering was not the key to winning the game, I wanted to be made well in my heart. I wanted to have the same faith to come to Jesus' feet no matter my circumstances and no matter how much I wanted to go on my own way! All I can say is listen to these Judges because I left the show a different person. I won because choosing gratitude really does breed joy!
(Audience applause)
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| Comercial break in 20 seconds... |
Youcan:
When we come back we will talk about how our contestants can, in their day to day lives, be joyful always. (1 Thessalonians 5:16) Give thanks in all circumstances (1 Thessalonians 5:17) Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction and faithful in prayer. (Romans 12:12) Be glad and rejoice before God. (Psalm 68:3) Receive with thanksgiving (1 Timothy 4:4) Sing joyfully to the Lord because it is fitting for the upright to praise him. (Psalm 33:1) Have a happy heart that makes faces cheerful and not bring on heartache which crushes the spirit. (Proverbs 15:13) How they can really allow the Joy of the Lord, His Joy and delight in them, His walking with them, his comfort, his support, his encouragement, his compassion, his Word as their strength. (Nehemiah 8:10) They will learn to stop complaining and grumbling (James 5:9) and to be anxious about nothing but in EVERYTHING be THANKFUL bringing their concerns to God and trusting Him with the results (Philippians 4:6) because CHOOSING to give thanks breeds Joy! Who will allow their life attitude to take a shift? Who will turn off the voice of discontentment and turn on the voice of gratitude? Who wants the grand prize of an OVERjoyed life? All of that, when we return to the
(Everyone) iTHANK GOD FOR THAT
Game Show! |
| iPray... |
iPray that you will foster a heart of gratitude not only at Thanksgiving, but all year round!
ALL FOR HIM,
Michelle Fozounmayeh
iPray eVotionals |
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