#sam crabtree

If God is sovereign, and every good gift is from above, then not praising the good in others is kind of a sacrilege and soul-sickness.

Practicing Thankfulness: Cultivating a Grateful Heart in All Circumstances by Sam Crabtree [REVIEW]

Corrie ten Boom said that when people would honor her, she knew that God was really the one who deserved all the glory and credit, so she would imagine each honor as a huge bouquet of roses. She would picture herself taking in their scent and savoring it for a moment before handing it up to him, the rightful recipient. Smell the roses and hand them up. Receive praise as an advance deposit on the "well done" eventually coming from God himself.

The elementary desire to be commended is not wrong. The desire to be commended becomes perverted when we desire to be praised for the wrong things, or when the desire to be praised is elevated above the glory of God in the good we do, or when we accept praise without the glad admission that the good we do is done in the strength that he supplies. (The One supplying the strength deserves the glory.) ...Similarly, it is not wrong per se to desire: - to be noticed, if we are letting our light so shine that when people see our god works they glorify our Father in heaven (Matt. 5:16). - to avoid the anger of someone, if you are not cowardly but are courageously and faithfully leaving vengeance to the wrath of God (Rom. 12:18-19). - to be well thought of, if we are approved by God (Rom. 14:18). - to receive recognition, if we are recognized for having genuine faith (1 Cor. 11:19). - to feel important, if we recognize we are making an important difference as instruments on the Redeemer's hands (1 Cor. 15:10). - to be respected, if we are respected for fulfilling our God-given office in God-given strength (2 Cor. 8:16). - to avoid conflict, if our peacemaking is not at the expense of principle (2 Cor. 13:10-11). - to be looked up to, if we are esteemed highly because of our work in the Lord (1 Thess. 5:12-13). - to have a good reputation, if our good name (which is better than great riches) reflects The Name (2 Thess. 1:11-12). - to enjoy friendship, if friendship is first and foremost with God and all other friendships are for God (Heb. 6:10-12).

Striving to affirm others puts us in the practice of looking at them positively--that is, looking for evidence of God's work in them. Affirmation changes us before it changes them. It is one of the more beautiful features that God has designed into this fallen world, namely, that no one can sincerely benefit another without benefiting himself. Look out the window: what are those heavens out there doing? They're declaring the glory of God. But worship is aroused only in those who have eyes to see it! And now look at your neighbor, your spouse, your child, your parent, your coworker, your pastor. Do you see God's glory there? The image of God is present in all humans, but is often missed by those not looking for it.

Love does not look first to correct.

Be on the outlook for those things that are beautiful and call them beautiful, those things that are right and fitting and call them right and fitting, those things that are appropriately attractive and healthy and call them attractive and healthy.