Gary Neal Hansen

Theology. It's good for you.

  • About
    • Speaking
    • Contact
    • Home
  • Books
    • Love Your Bible
    • Christmas Play
    • Kneeling with Giants
    • Review Crew
  • Library
    • Join
    • Login
  • Blog
  • Lenten Prayer Class log in
    • Lenten Prayer Class Info
    • Class Info: Your First Sermon
      • Your 1st Sermon — Course Login
    • Advent Lectio Divina Class Info!
      • Lectio Divina Class Log In
    • “Pray Like a Reformer” Class Info
      • Pray Like a Reformer Login
  • Christmas Play
  • Love Your Bible
  • Kneeling with Giants
You are here: Home / Archives for Thankfulness

From Gratitude to Obedience: Can We Get There from Here?

November 24, 2014 by Gary Neal Hansen Leave a Comment

You’ve probably heard the joke about the fellow who asked for directions only to be told “Sorry. You can’t get there from here.” In the Reformed tradition we think gratitude leads us to obey God’s expressed will. But as a comment in last week’s post on the life of gratitude asked “…it seems like a stretch to […]

Filed Under: Bible, Theology Tagged With: Gratitude, Ten Commandments, Thankfulness, Thanksgiving, Westminister Larger Catechism

What Does The Life of Gratitude Look Like? (Heidelberg Catechism, Q93)

November 21, 2014 by Gary Neal Hansen Leave a Comment

Thanksgiving is coming next week! I love having a day that almost requires me to say “Thank you!” to God and to people around me. I want my whole life to focus on giving thanks. What does a thankful life look like? If you have been here before you know that I often post about […]

Filed Under: Bible, Heidelberg Catechism, Theology Tagged With: Decalogue, Gratitude, Ten Commandments, Thankfulness, Thanksgiving, Two Tables, Two Tablets

A Free Gift! Now That’s Something to Be Thankful For

February 27, 2014 by Gary Neal Hansen Leave a Comment

Nothing sparks gratitude in my heart like a free gift. Well, maybe not just any free gift. Lots of things are given away because people don’t want them — take a look at your local Goodwill drop-off station. Then there are those gifts that seem free but you know they have a hidden price — […]

Filed Under: Prayer, Theology Tagged With: Benefactors, Diaries, Diary keeping, Gratitude, John Beadle, Journal keeping, Journals, Thankfulness

Lessons in Thankfulness: Teachers

February 18, 2014 by Gary Neal Hansen Leave a Comment

Restored Schoolhouse, Donald Lee, used under cc license

When you are a kid, your teacher makes a world of difference in your life. I have some vivid memories of the horror that was first grade. I was a bright kid, but I had a teacher whom I can’t help but remember as a not-so-green version of the witch from the Wizard of Oz. […]

Filed Under: Prayer, Theology Tagged With: Diaries, Diary keeping, Gratitude, John Beadle, Journal keeping, Journals, Teachers, Thankfulness

One Key Step toward a Life of Gratitude

January 24, 2014 by Gary Neal Hansen Leave a Comment

In 1656, English Puritan John Beadle published a book on keeping a journal as a spiritual discipline: The Journal or Diary of a Thankful Christian. To his knowledge and mine, his book was the first on the topic. Ever since, I suppose, Christians have fallen into two camps: Those who like to write in journals and those […]

Filed Under: Prayer, Theology Tagged With: Diaries, Gratitude, John Beadle, Journal keeping, Journals, Praying with a pen, Puritans, Spiritual disciplines, Thankfulness

  • 1
  • 2
  • Next Page »

Theology. It’s good for you.

I'm a Church historian by trade. My writing, speaking, and teaching explores the Christian past to equip today's disciples. Join me here for regular posts on the best of theology, spirituality, community, and ministry. read more…

Recent Posts

  • A Children’s Sermon on Luke 1:26-38 — The Annunciation
  • I’m in a play! “The Memorandum” by Vaclav Havel
  • A Children’s Sermon on Matthew 5:38-48
  • A Children’s Sermon on Matthew 2:13-23 — 1st Sunday in Christmas Season
  • A Children’s Sermon on Matthew 11:2-11 — Advent 3

Search the site

Need a new and manageable way to dig into Scripture?

Find out how it can be a joy again--or maybe for the first time. Love Your Bible: Finding Your Way to the Presence of God with a 12th Century Monk is a modern introduction to an ancient, prayerful, Christian practice called lectio divina. Click the button to subscribe to my weekly(ish) newsletter with all my new articles and announcements. As my way of thanking you, I'll send you the ebook version for free.

Get my book!

Archives

Let’s connect on social media…

  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter

Search the site

  • Community for Mission
  • Letters to a Young Pastor
  • Christianity as a Second Language
  • Role Models for Discipleship

© 2023 garynealhansen.com · Rainmaker Platform