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Hillary and Amy are back together for this special Thanksgiving podcast about gratefulness, especially in this time of busyness and materialistic pursuits.

Main Points Covered:

• Purpose of Gratitude:
  • Protective aspect: Romans 1:18-32
    • Ingratitude breeds spiritual decline
    • Gratitude has a spiritually protective aspect
  • Psychological Benefits:
    • Gratitude changes brain chemistry and improves mental health.
    • Philippians 4:8
  • Perspective orientation: Philippians 4:11-13 I have learned to be content whatever the circumstance.
    • Be aware of the impact of social media and video games.
    • Discontentment with reality.
    • Hillary’s word of the year for 2021 was gratitude. She spent the year grasping onto gratitude, even during times of despair.
  • Contentment comes from relying on the strength and nature of God, and the telos of ourselves and our lives
• Bad times:
  • What’s one thing you’re thankful for today?
    • Can’t always be the food
    • Something new each night
  • When things go wrong it’s important to go back to what we know of God and whose we are
• Good times:
  • Divine Hiddenness
  • Gratefulness in the simple/common “Let us believe that God is in all our simple deeds and learn to find Him there.” A.W. Tozer (The Pursuit of God)
  • “The power of finding beauty in the humblest things makes home happy and life lovely.” Louisa May Alcott
  • “Every leaf speaks bliss to me Fluttering from the autumn tree.” Emily Bronté (“Fall, leaves, fall”)
  • Enchantment-focused
    • Enchantment is being able to see God in the simple things, from which gratefulness naturally flows.
  • Projects:
    • Gratefulness pumpkins for each person
    • Let kids help prepare the meal
    • Gratitude comes with perspective
    • Gratitude journal

Resources Mentioned:

Mama Bear Apologetics (book)
Mama Bear Apologetics Guide to Sexuality

Unfamiliar Vocab:

Problem of Evil
Divine Hiddenness

Scripture Mentioned:

Romans 1:18 – “The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness.”

Philippians 4:8 – “Finally brothers and sisters whatever is true whatever is noble whatever is right, pure, lovely admirable if anything is excellent of praiseworthy think about such thing.”

Philippians 4:11-13 – “I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”

Quotable Quotes:

“Gratitude breeds gratitude which breeds gratitude which breeds contentment.” – Hillary

Questions or ideas? Send us an email at askthemamabears@gmail.com.

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