Your Hope-Filled Perspective with Dr. Michelle Bengtson podcast

Episode Summary: 

Christmas is often described as the most wonderful time of the year, but for many, it doesn’t feel that way. Whether because of grief, loneliness, financial strain, or painful memories, the holidays can intensify sadness instead of joy. Today on Your Hope-Filled Perspective, Jessica Van Roekel and I want to talk about what we call a ‘Blue Christmas.’ Together, we’ll explore why it’s important to give ourselves and others permission to grieve during the holiday season, how God meets us in our pain, and ways to navigate December with compassion and hope.

Quotables from the episode:

• For some, Christmas brings laughter, lights, and loved ones. But for others, it’s a season that magnifies loss, heartache, or isolation. If you or someone you know is struggling this Christmas, you’re not alone. On today’s episode of Your Hope-Filled Perspective, Jessica Van Roekel and I will share how to give space for what we call a ‘Blue Christmas’—a time when we acknowledge that the holidays can be hard, while also discovering God’s gentle presence and the hope He offers, even in the midst of sorrow.
• I wanted to acknowledge that while Christmas is often referred to the most joyous time of year, it isn’t for everyone, and it’s important for us to acknowledge our thoughts and feelings, but simultaneously continue to put our hope in God.
• Often, Christmas is portrayed as magical, joyous, and full of peace. But for many, that’s simply not the reality. Grief, depression, loneliness, or broken family relationships can make Christmas feel heavy.
• And pretending everything is fine when it’s not only deepens the ache. God invites us to bring Him our honest emotions. Think about the Psalms—David poured out his sorrows, and yet found hope in God’s presence.
• Let’s name some reasons people might struggle at Christmas:
  • Grief from losing a loved one.
  • Family estrangement or broken relationships.
  • Loneliness, especially for singles, widows, or those far from family.
  • Financial hardship that makes gift-giving stressful.
  • Mental health battles like depression or anxiety.
  • Unmet expectations.

• Christmas can amplify those pains. Lights and carols may remind us of what we don’t have. But Jesus came into a world of darkness. Isaiah 9:2 says, “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light.” His presence is especially near to the brokenhearted (Psalm 34:18).
• Sometimes we pressure ourselves to “put on a happy face.” But it’s okay to grieve at Christmas. Lament is part of worship.
• Jesus Himself wept (John 11:35). If the Son of God cried at loss, then tears are holy too. Giving yourself permission to be real is not a lack of faith.
• We can also set boundaries. Maybe we can’t attend every party. Maybe we create new traditions that feel gentler for our souls this year.
• Sometimes the best gift is presence, not presents. Just sitting with someone, listening, or sending a simple “thinking of you” note can mean the world.
• And don’t say, “You should be happy, it’s Christmas.” Instead, validate their feelings. Romans 12:15 says, “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.”
• Another practical tip—invite them into your traditions in small ways, without pressure. Even a quiet cup of cocoa together can bring comfort.
• At the heart of Christmas is Emmanuel—God with us. That truth doesn’t change, whether our Christmas is merry or blue.
• We can both acknowledge sorrow and cling to hope.
• One way is through Scripture meditation. Even reading Luke 2 slowly and remembering that Christ entered a broken, chaotic world can remind us we’re not alone.
• Some practical things that help:

• • Create a memory box or light a candle in honor of a loved one.
  • Simplify expectations. You don’t have to do all the traditions.
  • Prioritize rest and self-care.
  • Spend time with safe people who encourage your heart.
  • And when emotions overwhelm, breathe a prayer like: “Lord, hold me in this moment.” God doesn’t require eloquence—He wants our honesty.
• Friend, if you’re facing a Blue Christmas, know this: You are not broken because you feel sorrow. God sees you, loves you, and promises to draw near.
• He is “Immanuel—God with us.” That’s the real miracle of Christmas. Whether your Christmas is filled with joy or tears, His presence is your anchor.

Scripture References:

• Psalm 42:11 “Why, my soul, are you downcast? Put your hope in God…”
• Matthew 1:23 “They will call Him Immanuel, which means ‘God with us.’”
• Ecclesiastes 3:4 “a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance”
• Isaiah 9:2 “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light.”
• Psalm 34:18 His presence is especially near to the brokenhearted.
• Romans 12:15 “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.”

Recommended Resources:

Episode Summary:

While Norman Rockwall paints pictures of the holiday season as times of cheerful family togetherness, many feel unseen, especially during the holidays. Maybe you’re walking through this season feeling like no one really sees you. Maybe you’re single and longing for companionship, grieving the loss of a loved one, or feeling disconnected even in a crowd. The holidays can be a stark reminder of what we feel is missing in our lives. We see others celebrating with their families, opening presents, and engaging in joyful traditions, while we may feel forgotten or left behind. But even when the world seems to overlook you, God never does. Join me as we into a topic that touches so many hearts, especially during the holiday season: Finding Hope and Purpose When You Feel Invisible.

Quotables from the episode:

• Loneliness isn’t just about being physically alone. It’s about feeling unseen, unheard, or unimportant. And during the holidays, this feeling can be magnified. We see families gathering, couples exchanging gifts, and social media flooded with highlight reels of happy moments—but what if you feel left out of that joy?
• There are many reasons why people feel overlooked during the holidays. Some have lost loved ones and feel their absence more acutely this time of year. Others may be estranged from family or struggling with difficult relationships. Some are facing financial hardship, making it hard to participate in the celebrations around them. Still, others feel overlooked in the workplace, in friendships, or even in ministry, wondering if what they do truly matters.
• Friend, just like He saw Hagar, He sees you too. No situation is too small or too big to escape His loving gaze.
• Maybe you feel invisible in your workplace, like your efforts go unnoticed. Maybe you feel unseen in your own family, where your needs seem to take a backseat to everyone else’s. Or maybe you’ve been crying out to God for an answer, and it feels like the heavens are silent. I want to assure you that God is not distant. He is near, and He sees every part of your heart.
• The enemy wants us to believe we are forgotten, but that’s a lie. The truth? God has always had His eye on you.
• God sees every detail of your life. He sees your silent tears and hears the prayers you can’t even put into words. He knows the longing in your heart and the dreams you’ve tucked away. You are not invisible to Him.
• I have to wonder if perhaps Jesus felt the same way when He asked His closest disciples to stay awake with Him in the garden, and yet they slept. Yet in that place He poured out His heart to His Heavenly Father.
• Throughout Scripture, we see God’s attentive love. Jesus noticed the outcasts—the woman at the well, the lepers, the woman with the issue of blood, the blind man begging on the roadside. He saw the ones society ignored, and He still does today.
• When you feel unseen, remember this: Jesus stops for the one. He stops for you.
• Even Jesus experienced feeling forsaken when He cried out on the cross, “My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?”(Matthew 27:46). But God had not abandoned Him, just as He will never abandon you.
• Even in our darkest moments, God is working behind the scenes. He is near, even when we don’t feel it.
  • Anchor Yourself in God’s Word – Fill your mind with Scriptures that remind you of God’s deep love for you.
  • Shift Your Focus – When we focus on what we lack, we feel emptier. But when we focus on God’s presence and His promises, our hearts find peace. Start by playing uplifting praise and worship music, then consider starting a gratitude journal, writing down ways God has shown up in your life, comforted you, or helped you feel seen.
  • Reach Out – Sometimes, we isolate ourselves when we feel unseen. I encourage you to take a step—send a text, call a friend, or join a community where you can encourage others too.
  • Spend Time in His Presence – God is enough. Sit with Him. Talk to Him. Let Him fill the spaces where you feel unseen.

• One of the beautiful ways we can reflect God’s love is by helping others feel seen. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 reminds us that God comforts us so we can comfort others. When we encourage others, God blesses us as well.
  • Notice the unnoticed – Look for those who may feel left out and extend kindness to them.
  • Speak life – A simple encouragement can make someone’s day.
  • Be present – Sometimes, the greatest gift is simply being there for someone.

• God sees us, and He invites us to see others the way He does.
• My friend, if you feel invisible today, remember this: You are fully known and fully loved by the God who created the universe.
• God is the God who sees you, and He loves you deeply. Hold onto hope.

Scripture References:

• Genesis 16:13 Hagar called God, El Roi, “The God Who Sees Me.”
• Psalm 139:1-3 “You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.”
• Matthew 27:46 “My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?”
• Isaiah 49:16 says, “See, I have engraved you on the palms of My hands.”
• Zephaniah 3:17 tells us, “The LORD your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.”
• Proverbs 11:25 “Those who refresh others will be refreshed.”

Episode Summary:

If you have ever been in a place where you just feel like you've hit rock bottom, I’m glad you’re here. Last week we talked to Julie Seals who was born with Spina Bifida, had her leg amputated, lost her father, became addicted to drugs, lost custody of her son, and ended up in Federal Prison for trafficking illegal drugs. But God was not done with Julie! This episode is part 2 of Julie’s story, and I promise you will be encouraged that God can turn your biggest messes into something beautiful!

Quotables from the episode:

• I was sitting in prison sitting on the metal bunk bed and crying and I forgot that the night before I crossed the border I had cried out to God and said, "I'm done. I need you, come into my life and change everything." And all I was looking at were my current circumstances. And in comes this group of women doing prison ministry. And one of them looked at me crying on my bunk and she marched over and sat down on my bunk. And she said, "Did you know that Jesus loves you very much. And I said, "Not me!" And I'm crying. And she kept insisting that no matter what I did, no matter what had happened, that Jesus Christ loved me and that if I would repent of my sin and turn towards him and ask him to be my Lord and Savior, he would make me a brand new person.
• I felt hope rise in my heart as this woman was speaking. And that evening, as all the other inmates were off eating dinner, I stayed behind at my prison bunk and I got down on my knees on that cold hard cement prison floor and I was weeping and I asked Jesus Christ to become my lord and my savior and forgive me or everything I had done wrong, and I felt freedom. I literally, I felt chains, invisible chains break off my chest and tears of repentance turned into tears of freedom and joy. I thought I was going to do life in prison when I got up from that prayer but all of a sudden, I had this realization that I was a free woman on the inside and I had joy real joy for the first time in my life.
• All of a sudden, I had the Holy Spirit living in me and the joy of the Lord and the Holy Spirit was now going to take me through the challenging journey of dealing with my past and realizing oops, I made a whole bunch of mistakes that got me here. So now we move forward in strength and in power and in victory with hope.
• I read the Word every day, and I spoke the Word out loud every day over my life and circumstances. And as I did, my faith in God’s Word became unshakeable.
• The One who rescued me from addiction and darkness saw my great grief. And He loved me so much that when I was cut off from society, living in a razor-wire-enclosed cage, He gave me what can only be described as a miraculous message.
• Other inmates began to notice that one-legged lady who passionately loved Jesus was working hard to keep her heart pure. Those inmates came to me and started asking me about this Jesus that I loved so much. They were noticing that I was a new person, and even in federal prison, facing a life sentence, I had crazy, ridiculous joy. I smiled constantly. I laughed often. The joy on the inside of me was so infectious that everyone around me wanted some of it.
• I was hurting. My mom was gone. She was dead, I was like just desperate, broken, I didn't think anybody, there was nobody for me there. And as I looked at that computer screen, I didn't see a patent because on that computer screen were written different scriptures from the Psalms and encouraging things that talk about how God heals the brokenhearted. He binds up their wounds. He sees us. He saves our tears. I started screaming for the other ladies, the other inmates. I'm like, God's talking to me on my computer! I read this love letter from God, who saw me in this 40 acre cage prison and came to me in my moment of desperation to let me know he saw me. He loved me and he was right there beside me in my most broken place.
• It was God himself speaking to me, one little one-legged, ex -addict federal inmate inside of a federal prison locked away from society. That God who rescued me, gave me joy and saved my soul came to me in that dark moment to tell me and remind me that he loved me and that there was still hope for my future.
• At a time where you felt lost and unseen, you no longer had your mother or your father or anyone else around you. Right. God made sure that you knew that he saw you and he was with you. Friends, if that is not an encouragement to you, Julie has been sharing how the seemingly impossible happened time after time after time again, but her heart was surrendered.
• One of the things that drew me to you and your story is your perspective. You wrote in the book, life is so good. Now friends, what I want you to know is this was her perspective sitting in federal prison. “Life is so good. I had a great job. I had a new leg. I was clean and sober and healthy. For the first time in 17 years, it mattered not to me that I was on the wrong side of the razor wire fence. I was sober, happy, and even in prison, I was free." That's an incredible statement, that you could find freedom within the razor walls of prison.
• Forgiveness is like a chain around our neck or unforgiveness is and if we are able to let go and especially towards our self. You know, I had so much shame, I had so much guilt and at times it was tormenting and in those moments what I learned is that I needed to stop looking inward at myself and at what I had done. I had to stop looking in the rearview mirror at my past and simply look up to the Savior who forgave it all and washed me clean.
• I made up my mind I was going to replace my old stinking thinking with God's thinking and I was in my Bible probably up to five hours a day. It was like Jesus boot camp…I would get index cards and I would write the scripture on an index card and I was on the bottom metal bunk of a two, bunk, metal bunk bed. And I taped like wallpaper all the way around my bunk bed on the inner little ledge and every day at lunch I would not eat lunch I would come to my room sit on the bed and I would start at one place and I would go through every single card and read every single scripture out loud speaking it out loud over my life.
• I've been out of prison for 23 years and I've been married to my prison chaplain husband for 19 years. We are prison ministers, we're ordained ministers and 11 years ago my husband drove me to the Jacksonville, Florida International Airport and my son at the age of 20 years old got off a plane and came running to his mama arms wide, open, and full forgiveness. Not only is he saved, not only is he a Christian, but his moment of giving his life to Jesus happened exactly the way I prayed. When he told me about it, he said, "You're going to think this is weird, mom, but..." And it was exactly what I prayed.
• This is the favorite part of my story. And the part of my story that gives me probably the most joy. God delivered me from the pit of prison so that I could spend the rest of my life going back in. When I was in prison, I told God, I made him a promise, and I said, "If you let me out of here, I will spend the rest of my life going back in," and telling inmates who are hopeless, who think that they have messed up beyond repair, who think there is no way out of their situation that Jesus died to set the captive free and make them a new creation and that there is hope in him. And God let me do that. 

Scripture References:

• Psalm 18:16-19 “He reached down from heaven and rescued me; he drew me out of deep waters…He led me to a place of safety; he rescued me because he delights in me.”
• Isaiah 61:1 “The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me, for the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted and to proclaim that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed.”

Episode Summary:

If you think your life is too far gone, or if you’ve made too many mistakes for God to redeem, you’re going to want to listen to today’s conversation: a Sacred Scar Story.

Julie knew she could spend the rest of her life in prison if she were caught crossing the border with four pounds of methamphetamine duct-taped to her waist. But life had become so overwhelming, so painful, that she no longer cared if she lived or died. So, she crossed over the border. And with her arrest as a drug smuggler that day, her years of running from responsibility -and from God - came to an end.

Through one miraculous event after another, God transformed Julie from drug dealer to Hope Dealer. In her book, All My Hope, Julie wrote “It takes courage to live beyond regrets, but the good news is that God wanted to take my mess and turn it into a miracle.” Join us on the podcast as we talk about Finding Hope After Addiction, Loss, and Imprisonment.

Quotables from the episode:

• I want you to know that nothing you face is impossible with God. NOTHING. The blood of Jesus has never lost its power.
• God takes our mess and turns it into a message for the world. You see, what looked like a loss was really a game, because when my leg was amputated, it was one thing that did actually send me spiraling further into addiction. In that spiraling, I ended up at the foot of the cross in the arms of Jesus. And it was in that place where I was so done with the pain and the suffering and the dumb decisions and the addiction that I was so desperate, I cried out to God to become the center of my life, or I was going to lose everything. I had lost a leg; you would think that was a lot. But I was on the way to losing my very soul and my very self.
• You don't realize that you're stepping into a trap of the enemy that is going to consume you and steal your identity and your very soul.
• Sin is enticing because sin feels good for a moment.
• My first use of drugs took me on a journey straight to hell on earth.
• Addiction runs rampant in my family on both sides. And so that first line of meth, it just had me hooked. Addiction took me further than I ever wanted to go and made me someone I never wanted to be because I ended up liking the feeling that I got when I snorted that meth so much that I would do anything. I would tell any lie, I would deceive my parents, I would tiptoe into their bedroom at night and steal $50 bills out of my dad's wallet while he slept, I would do anything for that feeling. And then that feeling doesn't last forever. I would mix it with alcohol and try to get this euphoric feeling and it was like chasing my tail. And meanwhile, I'm slowly like becoming more and more depraved.
• Addiction made me lose all of any sense of morals that I may have had, even as a non -Christian, even as somebody who wasn't living for Jesus.
• I felt the presence of God there, and in that moment and I believed in God I knew he was real and I even understood that he could see me and I think it's that little seed of faith right the Bible says that we are all born with a measure of faith and so with that measure of faith I believed in God and he was chasing me and in that moment, I felt like God told me you can't have one foot with me and one foot in the world. Well, I didn't even have one foot with him yet. That voice made me stop and really think, “Okay, I'm living this way, But God is calling me to a life with him.”
• Nobody ever starts off using a substance thinking, “Oh I want to become an addict.”
• That's the grip that addiction has. It's like an invisible hand around your throat. There's only one thing that can break the grip of addiction, and that is the love and the power and the blood of Jesus.
• After I lost my leg to amputation, and I just was getting more and more into a world of darkness and desperation. I took my little boy, and I moved across the country because I thought that if I could get away from the things that or hard and start over in a new place, that everything would change. The only problem was I was still there, and I was my biggest problem, but I didn't know it yet.
• When you're in addiction, there's all those wrong people and you flock together.
• I went home from that doctor's appointment in Mexico and I fell on my knees in this home that overlooked the ocean. And it was in that moment of desperation that I see all this time I had thought I was a victim of life and circumstances. I felt sorry for myself and poor me, all this stuff happened to me. And in that moment when I was so broken, it was like the Holy Spirit himself descended into my living room and pulled the blinders off my eyes. I understood in this holy moment that I was not a victim. I was a sinner in need of a savior. I realized in this holy moment that I was not a victim of life, but a sad or addiction. I was a sinner in need of a savior.
• I fell to my knees after that appointment in my home overlooking the ocean and in my strung-out depraved desperation when I felt the Holy Spirit descend in the living room I cried out to God, and I said “I can't meet you halfway. I can't stop drinking. I can't stop doing drugs. I need you to become the center of my life or I'm going to be lost forever.”
• Other inmates began to notice that the one-legged lady who passionately loved Jesus was working hard to keep her heart pure. Those inmates came to me and started asking me about this Jesus whom I loved so much.
• The joy on the inside of me was so infectious that everyone around me wanted some of it. Even the correctional officers started asking me about my experience with Jesus!
• It takes courage to live beyond regrets, but the good news is that God wanted to take my mess and turn it into a miracle.
• You will also need to be courageous, because life on earth is hard. You will experience loneliness, loss, temptation, rejection, and attacks. But do not fear, for I will be with you!
• When we’re determined to not allow our faith and our dreams to be crushed by regret, grief, and sorrow, God will be able to use our grief and sorrow to make us strong and increase our faith in Him.
• I would leave you listener with the perspective that when you think you are at rock bottom that is the place where Jesus if you cry out to him will come sweeping in because it was in that prison that a prison ministry volunteer walked in and told me that Jesus Christ loved me, died for my sin, and would make me a new creation, and it was in that prison that I put my hope in Jesus and became free on the inside for the very first time in my life. Rock Bottom is the place where Jesus will come rushing in and change everything. 

Scripture References:

• 2 Corinthians 5:16-17 “So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now! This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!”
• Hebrews 13:8 “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”
• 1 Corinthians 13:33 “Bad company corrupts good character.”

Episode Summary:

In this episode of Your Hope-Filled Perspective, my co-host Rev. Jessica Van Roekel joins me to explore the heart issue behind grumbling and complaining and how it reflects a lack of trust in God’s provision and plan.

Grumbling is self-focused and rooted in unmet expectations, comparison, stress, and a scarcity mindset, leading to drained joy, strained relationships, and a disconnection from God’s presence.

In contrast, lament allows us to honestly share our pain with God while trusting His sovereignty.

Together, we discuss practical ways to combat a grumbling spirit, such as focusing on blessings, practicing gratitude, and seeking accountability. By shifting our perspective from what we lack to what we have in Christ, we can experience renewed joy, peace, and a deeper dependence on God, even in life’s challenges. Join us for How God Views Grumbling and Complaining & How to Cultivate a Grateful Heart.

Quotables from the episode:

• God has the standards but I sometimes like to superimpose my standards on it and so then I struggle with perfectionism which is really driven out of insecurity and fear of rejection and I find myself getting into this grumbling cycle.
• Sometimes when I'm in that cycle and then I choose gratitude, it feels a little fake. I don't know if I'm really truly genuine. And so I'm trying to understand that when God has called me to a new thing, it's going to feel a little not real at the moment or it's not going to feel as authentic because I'm starting a new   habit.
• It's just like any time we try to establish a new habit. It takes time. It takes practice. It feels awkward at first and there are some personality types that lend themselves more quickly to grumbling and complaining and I think there are some personality types that lend themselves to always seeing the good in every situation and I want to be more like the latter than the former.
• God's heart for you is good he wants you to trust him he wants you to let the love for him flow from a heart of gratitude for what he's done.
• It is not just that grumbling reflects a lack of trust in God, but it really disdains him. And that's what really convicted me, is the fact that when I complain, I'm really disdaining God's work in my life because our circumstances flux from good to, they could be better, to I don't want to be here. Why am I here? And so when we then start complaining and grumbling against God, it really disdains the work that he's doing. There's a passage in Psalms that says that everything that touches our lives has to pass through his hands first. And when I, when I cut my hand, like a bowl like this, you know, there's, I think of God's hand being cupped. And I'm thinking, what is he actually also preventing from hitting my life? Because when we, when we cup our hands and water runs through them, there is a pool of water that stays in our hands.
• When we grumble and complain, it reminds me of when we give a gift to someone and they don't receive it with a heart of gratitude. How hurtful that can be when our heart is for them.
• Yet when we grumble and complain, it's like saying, "Yeah, that wasn't good enough, God. That's what I wanted." And who am I to tell God what to do? In fact, but we also have to give space for our heartaches too. Psalm 62:8 says to pour out your heart to God.
• To look at Lament at first glance, it could look like grumbling and complaining. It's a fine distinction. Grumbling and complaining come from a heart of, I deserve this. So, grumbling and complaining is very self -focused, but lament is approaching God honestly, sharing our pain but recognizing that he is sovereign and his will be done and it gives the essence of I don't like where I'm at but I trust that your way is best.
• Grumbling and complaining is self-driven with a heart that is not trusting God's sovereignty. Whereas lamenting is sharing our heartache. It's telling our heartache to God with a surrender to his sovereignty. It's almost as if grumbling and complaining is talking bad about God and lamenting is just talking to God, inviting him in to soothe our heart too. And then David has written so many wonderful songs where really it teaches us how to lament. He starts out with like, "Oh, my life is awful God. Why did you allow this to happen? You said you were faithful." And then in the next verse he's like, "But you are faithful God. I'm going to praise your name. I'm going to trust you. You're steadfast and merciful."
• God desires us to grow in trust and dependence on Him, even during challenging times.
• There are common reasons we fall into grumbling, like unmet expectations, comparison, stress, and focusing on what we lack rather than what we have.
• Grumbling and complaining is speaking against God and is forming idols out of what it is we want and/or think we deserve.
• A grumbling spirit can drain our joy, disconnect us from God’s presence, and even negatively impact our relationships with others.
• Focusing on blessings, even small ones, can reshape our perspective, making it easier to find peace and joy in God’s presence.
• Keep a journal or ask a friend to hold yourself accountable in a loving way. Maybe even wear a rubber band on your wrist and flick it every time you notice yourself complaining in order to increase our awareness of how habitual this really is.
• Practice replacing each complaint with something to be thankful for. This helps to shift from a scarcity mindset to one of abundance in God.
• Ask God for help in changing your hearts and to help you see His blessings more clearly each day.

Scripture References:

• Philippians 2:14–15 "Do everything without grumbling or arguing…"
• 1 Corinthians 10:10 “And do not grumble, as some of them did—and were killed by the destroying angel.”
• 1 Thessalonians 5:18 “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
• Psalm 100:4 “Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.”

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