Choosing Your
Destiny through
Thanks
got thanks?
Pastor Mark
Schwarzbauer PhD
Thanksliving
(not a misprint).
Pastor Mark Schwarzbauer PhD
Family Worship Center
I Thessalonians 5:12-22
16Rejoice always, 17pray
18
without ceasing, in
everything give thanks;
for this is the will of God
in Christ Jesus for you.
I Thessalonians 5:12-22
19Do not quench the Spirit.
20Do not despise
21
prophecies. Test all
things; hold fast what is
22
good. Abstain from
every form of evil.
Part One:
Choosing Your
Destiny
Choosing Your
Destiny of Joy
got joy?
Pastor Mark
Schwarzbauer PhD
Choosing Your
Destiny through
Thanks
got thanks?
Pastor Mark
Schwarzbauer PhD
Choosing Your Destiny Through Thanks
Choose your destiny
through thanks…
because it affects not only
WHERE you arrive but
also HOW much you
enjoy the journey.
Part Two:
Choosing Your
Destiny
Through Thanks
I Thessalonians 5:12-22
16Rejoice always, 17pray
18
without ceasing, in
everything give thanks;
for this is the will of God
in Christ Jesus for you.
Choosing Your Destiny Through Thanks
• Secular studies show how
an attitude of thanksgiving
promotes personal success.
(They are finally catching
up to what the Bible has
taught for millennia).
Choosing Your Destiny Through Thanks
• “Drs. Blaire and Rita Justice
reported for the University of
Texas Health Science Center,
"a growing body of research
shows that gratitude is truly
amazing in its physical and
psychosocial benefits." Ibid
Study on Gratitude
• 1. Randomly assigned 3 tasks.
• 2. Group 1 journaled 5 things
they were thankful for that
week (not daily).
• 3. Group 2 journaled 5 daily
hassles that displeased them
that week.
Study on Gratitude
• 4. Group 3 (neutral)
journaled 5 events or
circumstances that affected
them but weren’t told
whether to focus on positive
or negative.
Study on Gratitude
• “Ten weeks later, participants
in the gratitude group felt better
about their lives as a whole and
were a full 25 percent happier
than the hassled group. They
reported fewer health
complaints, and exercised an
average of 1.5 hours more.” Ibid
Study on Gratitude
• Emmons did another study
showing DAILY journaling
of thankfulness was even
more effective reaping
rewards of greater goodwill
to others.
Gratitude study amongst adult
onset neuromuscular disorders.
• Those who jotted down their
blessings nightly reported
more hours of sleep, feeling
more rested and more
optimistic than the control
group.
Gratitude study amongst adult
onset neuromuscular disorders.
• Their spouses noticed the
differences too.
• Their personal choice of
nurture overrode nature.
Old saying
“If you've forgotten
the language of
gratitude, you'll
never be on speaking
terms with
happiness.”
Dr. John Gottman at the
University of Washington
after two decades of studying
marriage concluded “unless
a couple is able to maintain a
high ratio of positive to
negative encounters (5:1 or
greater), it is likely the
marriage will end.”
The Most
important
destination
is your spiritual
destination of
Christ likeness.
I Thessalonians 5:12-22
16Rejoice always, 17pray
18
without ceasing, in
everything give thanks;
for this is the will of God
in Christ Jesus for you.