November 22, 2025 • 28 mins
Gratitude isn't just a positive response when something goes right; it's a spiritual posture. Let's talk about it!
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:04):
Hello everyone, and thank you so much for joining me
for Daily Spark with Doctor Gandela. I'm your host, Doctor Angelo,
but's Jester. You guys know who I am, and you
know what I like to do on my shows. Say
it with me. I want to enlighten, inspire, and empower
you to become your best self. No scripture reminds us
that the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches,
(00:27):
but a tiny spark can set a great forest on
a fire. And that's what we want to do today.
We want to get you fired up about our topic. Today.
We'll be talking about the power of a thankful heart.
So you know what I'm gonna tell you to do.
Go get comfy, get cozy, get your coffee or get
(00:49):
your tea because we are about to get started. Hello everyone,
and thank you so much for joining me today here
on Daily Spark with Doctor Antela. I want to thank
you in advance for spending time with me here today
because you could have been anywhere and you chose to
spend it with me, and I thank you for doing so.
So today we are talking about the power of a
(01:11):
thankful heart. Now I know that my sparkers out there
in the world. You guys automatically are walking around with
a thankful heart. But this is just a gentle reminder
to stay in that space. But let me ask you this.
Can you believe that we are where we are in
(01:32):
the calendar year, that we are already here? It seems
like in just a blink of an eye we have
zipped through the calendar year all ready. I cannot believe
that this time of year is already upon us. The
air is cooler, the days are shorter, and there's a
(01:54):
gentle shift that invites us to slow down and reflect. Now,
I must admit that this time of year is my favorite.
I love the end months of the year. So today's
episode is one that sits close to my heart. The
(02:15):
power of a thankful heart. You see, gratitude isn't just
a polite response when something goes right. It's a beautiful posture.
It changes how we see God, how we see ourselves,
and how we move through life. A thankful heart doesn't
(02:39):
wait for everything to be perfect. It finds peace in
the middle of the process. So go ahead and get
your cup of coffee or your cup of tea now,
because we are about to settle in and talk about
how gratitude can unlock joy, how it can deepen our
(03:04):
faith and can bring calm to even the busiest of seasons.
Gratitude as a spiritual anchor. Let's begin with a thought,
what if gratitude isn't just about something that we feel,
but it's something that we practice. First. Thessalonians chapter five,
(03:29):
verse eighteen says, if thanks in all circumstances, for this
is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. That means
gratitude isn't conditional. It's not only for the days when
life is going well, but it's also for the days
(03:52):
when we're just trying to hold it all together and
quiet as it's kept. There are more people experiencing those
barely hanging on moments than perhaps they would like to
talk about. So what are some ways that we can
(04:13):
process this, that we can understand it, that we can
help move ourselves through it. Understand that gratitude reinforces and
refocuses the spirit from within us. It helps with what's missing,
and it helps us better understand what's working. We also
(04:39):
need to understand that gratitude as a spiritual anchor is thankfulness.
Thankfulness trains your heart to recognize God's fingerprint in everyday life.
When we start to see how God is touching our
lives or touching the lives of those that we are
(05:03):
interacting with, then it becomes easier for us to not
only recognize it, but to express it, to feel it,
to hear it, to see it, to smell it, to
taste it, to just intuitively understand that God is always
(05:25):
with us, and that we can operate in this presence,
in this feeling, in this vibration always. Another way that
we can understand gratitude as a spiritual anchor is understanding
that a grateful soul attracts peace because it acknowledges that
(05:49):
God is present. When we start to understand that when
we are going about our day that we are truly
not alone, Holy Spirit is right there with us, helping us,
steering us, keeping our head aligned with purpose, and also
(06:11):
keeping us aligned with that which protects us. When we
understand that as a spiritual anchor, we are able to
connect with God on an everyday timeline in an everyday way,
and yet have an eternal connection, then we truly understand
(06:35):
how we can experience and express the days and the
moments that we have in the way in which we can.
When we shift from complaining to appreciating, our whole atmosphere changes.
What we focus on grows, and if we focus on
(06:59):
God's goodness, peace begins to grow too. So even if
you're walking through a valley, whisper your gratitude, Say Lord,
thank you for walking with me. Because sometimes the blessing
isn't in what's fixed, but it's in what's felt. Seeing
(07:22):
God in the small things, that's right. We can see
God in the small things if we choose to have
the eyes to see it. Sometimes we overlook the everyday
miracles just because we're waiting for the big ones. But
(07:42):
God is in both the smile of a child, the
sunrise through the window, the unexpected text from a friend.
All of those those are reminders that God is near.
Psalm one hundred and seven, Verse one says it this way,
(08:06):
give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His
love endures forever. Notice it doesn't say give thanks only
when you feel like it, but this is an invitation
to see His goodness no matter what is happening. Far
(08:27):
too often we think that God is only in the
good times with us. We forget that when we are
experiencing a physical low in our life. God is also
there with us, reminding us that if we stay focused
on Him, we will get through this. So many cultures
(08:50):
remind us that we have to have both the good
and the bad to appreciate each in its experience. Now,
though I experience life in beautiful southern California, every day
is still not a sunshiny day. Though you may experience
(09:12):
life in beautiful Atlanta. Maybe you are in the city
of Baltimore, Chicago, Dallas, I know, Milwaukee, New York, Boston, Seattle.
Maybe you're listening in New Zealand, Australia, Nigeria, South Africa, Germany,
(09:42):
or the parts of the UK. It doesn't matter if
you are listening on the radio in real time or
you are catching the rebroadcast. I want to remind you
that if you are listening to this in real time
(10:02):
or you've caught this in some future tomorrow, God is
always with you. God is with you when you smile,
when you laugh, when you are sad, when you have
tears of joy or tears of sadness, holding your hand
and reminding you that you will get through this, over this,
(10:28):
or to simply pause and enjoy it. But always remember
that the power of a thankful heart is available and
is an option for all of us. Gratitude, you know,
has a way of turning ordinary moments into sacred ones.
(10:48):
When we take a moment to say grace over our food,
to be thankful for the meal before us, those moments
are sacred. When we stop in the morning, or in
the afternoon, or perhaps in the evening and that thank
God for the day that will unfold, that is unfolding,
(11:10):
or the day that is about to conclude. When we
turn those moments into prayerful moments, then we are communicating
with God in that is a sacred moment. When we
take the time to light a candle before we say
a prayer, especially for those other people that are in
(11:31):
our lives, those on the sick and shut in list,
those that we know that are going through perhaps financial
or physical hard times right now. When we light that
candle or perhaps the incense, then that becomes a sacred
time because as you do it, you are connecting directly
(11:54):
with God. Another thing that our way that we can
connect with those small things is understanding that thankfulness strengthens
our awareness of divine provision. So many times we forget
that that parking space that we found in the front
that we were able to drive right into. Ooh, that
(12:18):
was blessing. That was a blessing, right that. That was awesome.
Someone else, poor person, has been driving around looking for
a parking space, and there you are, right in there.
I hope that when you get that, especially when it
comes to the holiday season, when you're able to pull
right into that parking space up front near the door.
(12:40):
Oh heavens yes, you better say thank you God. After
that someone else wishes that they had been able to
do that, and not that the other person isn't also
that apple of God's eye, but it was just your
turn to receive that upfront parking space. Be thankful. There
(13:01):
are so many ways that we can be thankful. There
are so many times in our day that we could
pause and say thank you God. I want you to
make that something that you decide that you're going to
start doing. You'll be surprised at the number of times
you'll be able to do that. It's going to be beautiful.
(13:26):
It's going to be beautiful because it's going to be
a reminder for you of all the good things that
are actually, in real time happening to you. So let's
create a new habit if we will, starting this week,
each night, write down three things that you're thankful for.
(13:49):
They don't have to be big. Maybe it's a warm meal,
a good laugh, or the sound of the rain outside.
Over time, you start to notice that your spirit begins
to expect goodness instead of waiting for the disappointment. My
(14:12):
morning ritual is to write down three things that I
am grateful for before I start my day. So together,
let's start each night until the end of the year.
I won't make it ask you to do it forever,
but if you do good for you, well, let's have
a seasonal challenge. Shall we each night write down three
(14:36):
things that you are thankful for, and you'll be amazed
at how blessed you truly are. Alrighty, everyone, it is
time for us to take a very short burrow break,
but don't worry, we'll be back.
Speaker 2 (15:04):
What are you discovery?
Speaker 3 (15:06):
Not just as sir? What would it look like if
we listened more? Could the right voice, the right set
of words bring us all just a little closer, get
us to open up, even push us further. It could
(15:26):
if we took the time to listen the most inspiring
minds the most compelling stories, download audible and listen for
a change.
Speaker 2 (15:35):
Hi everyone, doctor Angela here. Did you know that Daily.
Speaker 1 (15:38):
Spark is now on Facebook. That's right.
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You can visit with me at Facebook dot com, forward
Slash Daily's Spark with Doctorchanngela.
Speaker 1 (15:47):
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I'd love to know which interview did you find the
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to you, and I want you to be able to
talk to me. Simply visit Facebook dot com, forward slash
Daily Spark with Doctor Antela.
Speaker 1 (16:09):
And we are back. Thank you so much for joining
me for Daily Spark with Doctor Adela. I'm your host,
Doctor Antela. That's chester we are talking about the power
of a thankful heart. Let's jump back into that conversation.
Gratitude can be a difficult season for some, but gratitude
(16:30):
can also be one that once you get into the
habit of being grateful, it will start to come easier
to you. So let's look at things from an honest perspective,
shall we. Let's peel back a few of those lovely
layers of yours. Gratitude feels easy when everything is going right.
(16:55):
But when life is lifing, sometimes it hurts when prayers
haven't been answered. Sometimes it's hard to have that same
attitude of gratitude. But that's because we're expecting God to
(17:16):
be like a human being. That's when gratitude becomes something
that we need to understand as a spiritual strength and
not a weakness. Romans eight, verse twenty eight tells us,
and we know that in all things God works for
(17:37):
the good of those who love him. Even the hard
seasons are fertile ground for growth. What seed have you planted?
Have you planted a seed that can take on the
rougher terrain. You know, not every seed must be planted
in the same type of soil. Some seed some things
(18:00):
can grow in a more clay like soil. Others can
take a little sand in the mixture. Others it must
be incredibly rich soil. Others it can just be everyday ground.
So as we plant the seeds of those things in
(18:21):
our lives, as we are in preparation mode of planting
those things that will bloom in spring, but also harvesting
now those things that we planted in the spring, we
are in a dual cycle. Though often people only think
(18:44):
of the fall as a time of harvest. It is
a plan. It is a time of planting, of sewing
as well. We must be aware of what we are
putting in the ground, so that anytime we harvest, we
are reaping what is the most bountiful, the most glorious,
(19:05):
the most beautiful, the most pictorious version of what God
has in store for us. So I have to remind
you that gratitude doesn't ignore pain, but it does reframe it.
Out of a painful situation. Once you have gotten to
(19:28):
a point where you can kind of gather yourself, you're
able to see more clearly. Ask yourself, what lesson did
I learn? What lesson did this teach me? If you
can't name one thing, then you're not ready to move on. Yet.
Every broken heart has taught us a lesson, Every unqualified
(19:49):
applicant has taught us a lesson. Every great hire has
taught you a lesson. Every trophy that you have won
or that you have awarded to someone else has taught
you equal lessons. Gratitude doesn't ignore the pain, it reframes it.
(20:12):
And boy, now that I am this age, I have
so many lessons to share with those of you that
are that age, and yet I am still growing and learning,
which means that I too am a student for those
that are able to teach me. Gratitude is understanding that
(20:35):
at any time, we are ever learning and growing and
also teaching at the same time. Gratitude in a different
season also lets us understand that when we thank God
in the middle of the struggle, we declare that faith
still leads the story that we are not allowing the
(21:00):
difficulty to take away our praise, to take away our joy,
our happiness, or our focus, that we will continue to
move in the direction in which God has placed us.
Gratitude in a difficult season also shows us that God
often grows our resilience through gratitude. I know, I can
(21:23):
just feel that someone is saying, doctor Angela. I remember
that there was a time frame where everything I thought
I could do that I could do it myself and
I didn't need anyone, And boy was I wrong. I
needed to ask for help and shift my paradigne there
(21:43):
and reach out to those that not only were willing
to help, but those that are so happy that I
asked because they were looking for someone to assist. You
will be surprised at the number of people that are
wanting to help an individual, an organization and association, a club,
(22:05):
and they just don't know who, where or when. But
when you open your mouth and you are thankful and
you talk to the right people, then God has a
way of lining everything up beautifully and it's a beautiful
(22:26):
thing to see because you are in a place, especially
if you're the person that brings those two people together.
You're in a place now where you're like, Okay, I
did hear God say that? And this is exactly what
was supposed to happen. So sometimes your gratitude it isn't
even about you. It's about helping your friend, a coworker,
(22:48):
family member, someone that you have any type of association with.
Sometimes that is where you find your gratitude because you
were able to help someone else help someone else. So
it doesn't matter how it happens. There's a moment that
we can give a whuhah for Jesus. Let's make sure
(23:08):
that we do so. If this season has stretched you,
take heart. You are still being shaped and still being guided.
But most importantly, you are still being blessed in ways
that you may not see yet. So as we take
time to reflect over our days, over our weeks and
(23:33):
also look forward to our upcoming months. There is a
ripple effect of thankfulness. Gratitude doesn't just change you, it
changes the people around you. A thankful heart radiates peace,
it softens conflict, it invites connection, and it reminds others
(23:56):
that goodness still exists in the world. Colossians three point
fifteen says it like this, Let the peace of Christ
rule in your hearts, since as members of one body,
you are called to peace and be thankful. I love
(24:16):
that and be thankful. It reminds you, no matter what
you do, be thankful for we are one body. Be thankful.
See gratitude. It's contagious because it's spread by hope. When
(24:37):
you express thankfulness, you reflect God's character. That's right, you
reflect God's character. When you express thankfulness and thankfulness, that
thankful spirit. It invites harmony into your relationships and the environment.
So reach out to someone this week and simply say,
(25:02):
did I thank you for that thing you did the
other day? Or thank you for going with me, for
calling me, for waking me up, for bringing that thing
I needed, for not bringing that thing that I didn't need,
you know, whatever, it was right? Just being thankful to
that person, thank you for sitting with me. Thank you
(25:26):
for not talking yesterday, but just allowing me to breathe
with you. Sometimes that is really important. Sometimes you don't
want to talk, and you don't want to hear anyone
else talk. You just want to sit in silence and
knowing that your friend is there to hold your hand
(25:49):
and just breathe with you. Boy, does that speak volumes,
especially when there's a lot going on as we deal
with someone who perhaps has been taken to the hospital.
You don't know what's going on. You don't need to
know what's going on. All you need to know is
(26:09):
that you need to be there for your friend or
for your family member, and you sit and that's what matters.
There's so many ways that we can say thank you.
There are so many ways that we can express gratitude.
So again, if you are that friend, or you are
that coworker, make sure you let someone know. Or perhaps
(26:33):
it's even someone from Afar. They weren't able to come,
but they sent a resource. They expressed something to you,
like they shipped something overnight to you. They gave to
a go fund me account. They then mode you some
money whatever it was right cash app they were taking
(26:54):
care of business for you. However it is, but they
were doing something that no one else could do. And
even though they were not physically there, their resources showed
up for you. Make sure you thank them, let them
know how they've impacted you and how you are so
incredibly thankful. And as you continue to practice your thankfulness,
(27:17):
you'll notice that gratitude opens doors that may have been
previously closed, doors of opportunity, doors of restoration, and doors
of peace. Thank you everyone for spending some time with
me here today on daily' smark with doctor Angela. I
hope that I have once again enlightened, inspired, and empowered
(27:38):
you as always. May the Lord continue to shine his
face upon you, but you receive his grace and his
mercy in all that you do. Until next time, everyone,
remember that you are blessed in the Lord. Have a
great day everyone, Bye bye
Hello everyone, and thank you so much for joining me
for Daily Spark with Doctor Gandela. I'm your host, Doctor Angelo,
but's Jester. You guys know who I am, and you
know what I like to do on my shows. Say
it with me. I want to enlighten, inspire, and empower
you to become your best self. No scripture reminds us
that the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches,
(00:27):
but a tiny spark can set a great forest on
a fire. And that's what we want to do today.
We want to get you fired up about our topic. Today.
We'll be talking about the power of a thankful heart.
So you know what I'm gonna tell you to do.
Go get comfy, get cozy, get your coffee or get
(00:49):
your tea because we are about to get started. Hello everyone,
and thank you so much for joining me today here
on Daily Spark with Doctor Antela. I want to thank
you in advance for spending time with me here today
because you could have been anywhere and you chose to
spend it with me, and I thank you for doing so.
So today we are talking about the power of a
(01:11):
thankful heart. Now I know that my sparkers out there
in the world. You guys automatically are walking around with
a thankful heart. But this is just a gentle reminder
to stay in that space. But let me ask you this.
Can you believe that we are where we are in
(01:32):
the calendar year, that we are already here? It seems
like in just a blink of an eye we have
zipped through the calendar year all ready. I cannot believe
that this time of year is already upon us. The
air is cooler, the days are shorter, and there's a
(01:54):
gentle shift that invites us to slow down and reflect. Now,
I must admit that this time of year is my favorite.
I love the end months of the year. So today's
episode is one that sits close to my heart. The
(02:15):
power of a thankful heart. You see, gratitude isn't just
a polite response when something goes right. It's a beautiful posture.
It changes how we see God, how we see ourselves,
and how we move through life. A thankful heart doesn't
(02:39):
wait for everything to be perfect. It finds peace in
the middle of the process. So go ahead and get
your cup of coffee or your cup of tea now,
because we are about to settle in and talk about
how gratitude can unlock joy, how it can deepen our
(03:04):
faith and can bring calm to even the busiest of seasons.
Gratitude as a spiritual anchor. Let's begin with a thought,
what if gratitude isn't just about something that we feel,
but it's something that we practice. First. Thessalonians chapter five,
(03:29):
verse eighteen says, if thanks in all circumstances, for this
is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. That means
gratitude isn't conditional. It's not only for the days when
life is going well, but it's also for the days
(03:52):
when we're just trying to hold it all together and
quiet as it's kept. There are more people experiencing those
barely hanging on moments than perhaps they would like to
talk about. So what are some ways that we can
(04:13):
process this, that we can understand it, that we can
help move ourselves through it. Understand that gratitude reinforces and
refocuses the spirit from within us. It helps with what's missing,
and it helps us better understand what's working. We also
(04:39):
need to understand that gratitude as a spiritual anchor is thankfulness.
Thankfulness trains your heart to recognize God's fingerprint in everyday life.
When we start to see how God is touching our
lives or touching the lives of those that we are
(05:03):
interacting with, then it becomes easier for us to not
only recognize it, but to express it, to feel it,
to hear it, to see it, to smell it, to
taste it, to just intuitively understand that God is always
(05:25):
with us, and that we can operate in this presence,
in this feeling, in this vibration always. Another way that
we can understand gratitude as a spiritual anchor is understanding
that a grateful soul attracts peace because it acknowledges that
(05:49):
God is present. When we start to understand that when
we are going about our day that we are truly
not alone, Holy Spirit is right there with us, helping us,
steering us, keeping our head aligned with purpose, and also
(06:11):
keeping us aligned with that which protects us. When we
understand that as a spiritual anchor, we are able to
connect with God on an everyday timeline in an everyday way,
and yet have an eternal connection, then we truly understand
(06:35):
how we can experience and express the days and the
moments that we have in the way in which we can.
When we shift from complaining to appreciating, our whole atmosphere changes.
What we focus on grows, and if we focus on
(06:59):
God's goodness, peace begins to grow too. So even if
you're walking through a valley, whisper your gratitude, Say Lord,
thank you for walking with me. Because sometimes the blessing
isn't in what's fixed, but it's in what's felt. Seeing
(07:22):
God in the small things, that's right. We can see
God in the small things if we choose to have
the eyes to see it. Sometimes we overlook the everyday
miracles just because we're waiting for the big ones. But
(07:42):
God is in both the smile of a child, the
sunrise through the window, the unexpected text from a friend.
All of those those are reminders that God is near.
Psalm one hundred and seven, Verse one says it this way,
(08:06):
give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His
love endures forever. Notice it doesn't say give thanks only
when you feel like it, but this is an invitation
to see His goodness no matter what is happening. Far
(08:27):
too often we think that God is only in the
good times with us. We forget that when we are
experiencing a physical low in our life. God is also
there with us, reminding us that if we stay focused
on Him, we will get through this. So many cultures
(08:50):
remind us that we have to have both the good
and the bad to appreciate each in its experience. Now,
though I experience life in beautiful southern California, every day
is still not a sunshiny day. Though you may experience
(09:12):
life in beautiful Atlanta. Maybe you are in the city
of Baltimore, Chicago, Dallas, I know, Milwaukee, New York, Boston, Seattle.
Maybe you're listening in New Zealand, Australia, Nigeria, South Africa, Germany,
(09:42):
or the parts of the UK. It doesn't matter if
you are listening on the radio in real time or
you are catching the rebroadcast. I want to remind you
that if you are listening to this in real time
(10:02):
or you've caught this in some future tomorrow, God is
always with you. God is with you when you smile,
when you laugh, when you are sad, when you have
tears of joy or tears of sadness, holding your hand
and reminding you that you will get through this, over this,
(10:28):
or to simply pause and enjoy it. But always remember
that the power of a thankful heart is available and
is an option for all of us. Gratitude, you know,
has a way of turning ordinary moments into sacred ones.
(10:48):
When we take a moment to say grace over our food,
to be thankful for the meal before us, those moments
are sacred. When we stop in the morning, or in
the afternoon, or perhaps in the evening and that thank
God for the day that will unfold, that is unfolding,
(11:10):
or the day that is about to conclude. When we
turn those moments into prayerful moments, then we are communicating
with God in that is a sacred moment. When we
take the time to light a candle before we say
a prayer, especially for those other people that are in
(11:31):
our lives, those on the sick and shut in list,
those that we know that are going through perhaps financial
or physical hard times right now. When we light that
candle or perhaps the incense, then that becomes a sacred
time because as you do it, you are connecting directly
(11:54):
with God. Another thing that our way that we can
connect with those small things is understanding that thankfulness strengthens
our awareness of divine provision. So many times we forget
that that parking space that we found in the front
that we were able to drive right into. Ooh, that
(12:18):
was blessing. That was a blessing, right that. That was awesome.
Someone else, poor person, has been driving around looking for
a parking space, and there you are, right in there.
I hope that when you get that, especially when it
comes to the holiday season, when you're able to pull
right into that parking space up front near the door.
(12:40):
Oh heavens yes, you better say thank you God. After
that someone else wishes that they had been able to
do that, and not that the other person isn't also
that apple of God's eye, but it was just your
turn to receive that upfront parking space. Be thankful. There
(13:01):
are so many ways that we can be thankful. There
are so many times in our day that we could
pause and say thank you God. I want you to
make that something that you decide that you're going to
start doing. You'll be surprised at the number of times
you'll be able to do that. It's going to be beautiful.
(13:26):
It's going to be beautiful because it's going to be
a reminder for you of all the good things that
are actually, in real time happening to you. So let's
create a new habit if we will, starting this week,
each night, write down three things that you're thankful for.
(13:49):
They don't have to be big. Maybe it's a warm meal,
a good laugh, or the sound of the rain outside.
Over time, you start to notice that your spirit begins
to expect goodness instead of waiting for the disappointment. My
(14:12):
morning ritual is to write down three things that I
am grateful for before I start my day. So together,
let's start each night until the end of the year.
I won't make it ask you to do it forever,
but if you do good for you, well, let's have
a seasonal challenge. Shall we each night write down three
(14:36):
things that you are thankful for, and you'll be amazed
at how blessed you truly are. Alrighty, everyone, it is
time for us to take a very short burrow break,
but don't worry, we'll be back.
Speaker 2 (15:04):
What are you discovery?
Speaker 3 (15:06):
Not just as sir? What would it look like if
we listened more? Could the right voice, the right set
of words bring us all just a little closer, get
us to open up, even push us further. It could
(15:26):
if we took the time to listen the most inspiring
minds the most compelling stories, download audible and listen for
a change.
Speaker 2 (15:35):
Hi everyone, doctor Angela here. Did you know that Daily.
Speaker 1 (15:38):
Spark is now on Facebook. That's right.
Speaker 2 (15:41):
You can visit with me at Facebook dot com, forward
Slash Daily's Spark with Doctorchanngela.
Speaker 1 (15:47):
I want to know more about what you're thinking.
Speaker 2 (15:50):
I'd love to know which interview did you find the
most entertaining or the most informative. I want to talk
to you, and I want you to be able to
talk to me. Simply visit Facebook dot com, forward slash
Daily Spark with Doctor Antela.
Speaker 1 (16:09):
And we are back. Thank you so much for joining
me for Daily Spark with Doctor Adela. I'm your host,
Doctor Antela. That's chester we are talking about the power
of a thankful heart. Let's jump back into that conversation.
Gratitude can be a difficult season for some, but gratitude
(16:30):
can also be one that once you get into the
habit of being grateful, it will start to come easier
to you. So let's look at things from an honest perspective,
shall we. Let's peel back a few of those lovely
layers of yours. Gratitude feels easy when everything is going right.
(16:55):
But when life is lifing, sometimes it hurts when prayers
haven't been answered. Sometimes it's hard to have that same
attitude of gratitude. But that's because we're expecting God to
(17:16):
be like a human being. That's when gratitude becomes something
that we need to understand as a spiritual strength and
not a weakness. Romans eight, verse twenty eight tells us,
and we know that in all things God works for
(17:37):
the good of those who love him. Even the hard
seasons are fertile ground for growth. What seed have you planted?
Have you planted a seed that can take on the
rougher terrain. You know, not every seed must be planted
in the same type of soil. Some seed some things
(18:00):
can grow in a more clay like soil. Others can
take a little sand in the mixture. Others it must
be incredibly rich soil. Others it can just be everyday ground.
So as we plant the seeds of those things in
(18:21):
our lives, as we are in preparation mode of planting
those things that will bloom in spring, but also harvesting
now those things that we planted in the spring, we
are in a dual cycle. Though often people only think
(18:44):
of the fall as a time of harvest. It is
a plan. It is a time of planting, of sewing
as well. We must be aware of what we are
putting in the ground, so that anytime we harvest, we
are reaping what is the most bountiful, the most glorious,
(19:05):
the most beautiful, the most pictorious version of what God
has in store for us. So I have to remind
you that gratitude doesn't ignore pain, but it does reframe it.
Out of a painful situation. Once you have gotten to
(19:28):
a point where you can kind of gather yourself, you're
able to see more clearly. Ask yourself, what lesson did
I learn? What lesson did this teach me? If you
can't name one thing, then you're not ready to move on. Yet.
Every broken heart has taught us a lesson, Every unqualified
(19:49):
applicant has taught us a lesson. Every great hire has
taught you a lesson. Every trophy that you have won
or that you have awarded to someone else has taught
you equal lessons. Gratitude doesn't ignore the pain, it reframes it.
(20:12):
And boy, now that I am this age, I have
so many lessons to share with those of you that
are that age, and yet I am still growing and learning,
which means that I too am a student for those
that are able to teach me. Gratitude is understanding that
(20:35):
at any time, we are ever learning and growing and
also teaching at the same time. Gratitude in a different
season also lets us understand that when we thank God
in the middle of the struggle, we declare that faith
still leads the story that we are not allowing the
(21:00):
difficulty to take away our praise, to take away our joy,
our happiness, or our focus, that we will continue to
move in the direction in which God has placed us.
Gratitude in a difficult season also shows us that God
often grows our resilience through gratitude. I know, I can
(21:23):
just feel that someone is saying, doctor Angela. I remember
that there was a time frame where everything I thought
I could do that I could do it myself and
I didn't need anyone, And boy was I wrong. I
needed to ask for help and shift my paradigne there
(21:43):
and reach out to those that not only were willing
to help, but those that are so happy that I
asked because they were looking for someone to assist. You
will be surprised at the number of people that are
wanting to help an individual, an organization and association, a club,
(22:05):
and they just don't know who, where or when. But
when you open your mouth and you are thankful and
you talk to the right people, then God has a
way of lining everything up beautifully and it's a beautiful
(22:26):
thing to see because you are in a place, especially
if you're the person that brings those two people together.
You're in a place now where you're like, Okay, I
did hear God say that? And this is exactly what
was supposed to happen. So sometimes your gratitude it isn't
even about you. It's about helping your friend, a coworker,
(22:48):
family member, someone that you have any type of association with.
Sometimes that is where you find your gratitude because you
were able to help someone else help someone else. So
it doesn't matter how it happens. There's a moment that
we can give a whuhah for Jesus. Let's make sure
(23:08):
that we do so. If this season has stretched you,
take heart. You are still being shaped and still being guided.
But most importantly, you are still being blessed in ways
that you may not see yet. So as we take
time to reflect over our days, over our weeks and
(23:33):
also look forward to our upcoming months. There is a
ripple effect of thankfulness. Gratitude doesn't just change you, it
changes the people around you. A thankful heart radiates peace,
it softens conflict, it invites connection, and it reminds others
(23:56):
that goodness still exists in the world. Colossians three point
fifteen says it like this, Let the peace of Christ
rule in your hearts, since as members of one body,
you are called to peace and be thankful. I love
(24:16):
that and be thankful. It reminds you, no matter what
you do, be thankful for we are one body. Be thankful.
See gratitude. It's contagious because it's spread by hope. When
(24:37):
you express thankfulness, you reflect God's character. That's right, you
reflect God's character. When you express thankfulness and thankfulness, that
thankful spirit. It invites harmony into your relationships and the environment.
So reach out to someone this week and simply say,
(25:02):
did I thank you for that thing you did the
other day? Or thank you for going with me, for
calling me, for waking me up, for bringing that thing
I needed, for not bringing that thing that I didn't need,
you know, whatever, it was right? Just being thankful to
that person, thank you for sitting with me. Thank you
(25:26):
for not talking yesterday, but just allowing me to breathe
with you. Sometimes that is really important. Sometimes you don't
want to talk, and you don't want to hear anyone
else talk. You just want to sit in silence and
knowing that your friend is there to hold your hand
(25:49):
and just breathe with you. Boy, does that speak volumes,
especially when there's a lot going on as we deal
with someone who perhaps has been taken to the hospital.
You don't know what's going on. You don't need to
know what's going on. All you need to know is
(26:09):
that you need to be there for your friend or
for your family member, and you sit and that's what matters.
There's so many ways that we can say thank you.
There are so many ways that we can express gratitude.
So again, if you are that friend, or you are
that coworker, make sure you let someone know. Or perhaps
(26:33):
it's even someone from Afar. They weren't able to come,
but they sent a resource. They expressed something to you,
like they shipped something overnight to you. They gave to
a go fund me account. They then mode you some
money whatever it was right cash app they were taking
(26:54):
care of business for you. However it is, but they
were doing something that no one else could do. And
even though they were not physically there, their resources showed
up for you. Make sure you thank them, let them
know how they've impacted you and how you are so
incredibly thankful. And as you continue to practice your thankfulness,
(27:17):
you'll notice that gratitude opens doors that may have been
previously closed, doors of opportunity, doors of restoration, and doors
of peace. Thank you everyone for spending some time with
me here today on daily' smark with doctor Angela. I
hope that I have once again enlightened, inspired, and empowered
(27:38):
you as always. May the Lord continue to shine his
face upon you, but you receive his grace and his
mercy in all that you do. Until next time, everyone,
remember that you are blessed in the Lord. Have a
great day everyone, Bye bye
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