Thanks Living: Unthankful

But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! 2 Timothy 3:1-5

Don't think being unthankful is a 'big deal'? Read these verses again.

Look at the list:

Lovers of themselves: friend; expresses experience-based love

Lovers of money: greedy

Boasters: empty pretender

Proud: with an overweening estimate of one's means or merits, despising others or even treating them with contempt, haughty

Blasphemers: speaking evil, slanderous, reproachful, abusive

Disobedient to parents: impersuasible, uncompliant, contumacious

UNTHANKFUL: ungracious

Unholy: impious, wicked

Unloving: without natural affection

Unforgiving: implacable, irreconcilable

Slanderers: prone to accuse falsely

Without self-control: given to or characterized by excessive indulgence

Brutal: fierce, savage

Despisers of good: hostile to virtue and to those that are good

Traitors: betrayer

Headstrong: rash, reckless, act without thinking

Haughty: to inflate with self-conceit, high-minded

Lovers of pleasure: characterized by luxury or sensual pleasure

RATHER THAN: it is opposed to something else and does away with it

Lovers of God: fond of God, i.e. Pious 

Having the form of godliness: appearance of respect of God

Denying: disavow, reject, abnegate, refuse

Power: strength, mighty (wonderful) work

Turn away: to shun, avoid

We all would have to agree that we do like people who exhibit these characteristics. And included in this list is "unthankful". So, it is a big deal. 

Unthankful. Ungrateful. 

Not feeling or showing pleasure, relief, or gratitude.

Careless, cruel, heedless, inappreciative, rude, self-centered, thoughtless, unappreciated, unappreciative, ungracious, ungrateful, unmindful.

Unthankful. 

This is an attitude that makes us bitter and open to all the other characteristics lists in 2 Timothy 3:1-5. Look at the list again. If one is truly thankful, than that sets self aside. And to me, this list looks like the focus is on "me, myself, and I".  Perhaps beginning with changing the attitude of "unthankful" to "thankful", the entire list would change to characteristics of true lovers of God. 

Thanks Living, is important as it is one of the foundations for truly loving God and respecting and honoring God. 

My prayer is that I have a thankful heart and attitude.

Thanks Living: If I am mindful...

And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.  Colossians 3:17

Whatever: everything (anything) whatsoever

Word: the act of speaking

Deed: the idea of working; doing

Do all: whatsoever

Name: relying or resting on the name of Christ, rooted (so to speak) in his name, i. e. mindful of Christ

Give thanks: to be grateful, i.e. (actively) to express gratitude 

Father: one who imparts life and is committed to it; a progenitor, bringing into being to pass on the potential for likeness

Through: of one who is the author of the action as well as its instrument, or of the efficient cause (because the possibility both of glorifying God and of giving thanks to him is due to the kindness of Christ)

If I am mindful of Christ, then my attitude and action will be done in accordance with His will. And my heart-set and mind-set will be filled and overflowing with gratitude to God, the Father. 

If I am mindful...... 

There are times, when being mindful of Christ is easy, and then other times, not so much. During those "other times", my focus changes from Christ, to ME—and that is a dangerous occurrence. For when "Me, myself, and I" take the lead, I not only am telling God He doesn't know what He's doing, I am setting myself up for disappointment, discouragement and heartbreak. 

If I am mindful......

Creating a habit of relying and being mindful of Christ—how exactly is that done? First and foremost, I must acknowledge that God is real, and that He sets the standard. I must accept God as Lord and Savior. Then as I begin to know God, learn who God is, learn His ways, learn His characteristics, then that solid unwavering trust is developed and then the desire to obey Him impacts my actions and attitudes. 

If I am mindful—

That means, when I get frustrated with someone, I stop and pray—that creates a change in attitude. Then I must act on that change in attitude! 

That means, when I don't want to do something, I stop and pray —that creates a change in my attitude with then will translate into action. 

That means, when "Me, myself, and I" want to make the decisions, I stop and pray—that creates a spirit of humility allowing God to once again become "number 1" and my attitude and actions will change in accordance with His will. 

If I am mindful—

That means, each and every actions and attitude must first be "approved" by Christ. If Christ disapproves—there must be a change on my part. 

If I am mindful—

I will not only have the desire, but the determination to act and respond Christ-like in each and every situation. 

If I am mindful—then I'll want to express my gratitude to God by having the right actions and attitude. That means that Thanks Living is to be evident in each chore, in each interaction, in each and every thought. 

If  I am mindful........ 

Another post on Colossians 3:17: http://createapositiveday.blogspot.com/2015/06/do-all.html