The Potter’s House Podcast

Episode: Walk It Out Wednesday: Gratitude and Thanksgiving | Pastoral Panel
Date: December 2, 2025
Host: The Potter’s House | Panel: Pastor Don, Pastor Cora, Dr. Val, Dr. Oscar Williams, Pastor Gorgeous, Sister April

Episode Overview

In this special Thanksgiving Eve episode, the pastoral panel from The Potter's House of Dallas gathers to discuss the concepts of gratitude and thanksgiving. With honesty, warmth, and biblical wisdom, they explore how gratitude and thankfulness serve as both a mindset and an action—especially relevant during seasons of loss, hardship, and transition. Through personal testimonies, scriptural insights, and real talk about family pain and healing, this conversation encourages listeners to transform their spiritual posture as they head into the holiday season.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Difference Between Gratitude and Thanksgiving

[03:15] Dr. Val:

• Gratitude is the inward feeling or state of joy and appreciation; a posture of the heart.
• Thanksgiving is the outward expression—what you say or do to display your gratitude.

“Gratitude is that inward feeling… it’s a state of being. But thanksgiving is the expression, the outward expression of that gratitude. It's when you open your mouth and say, 'Lord, I thank you.'” (Dr. Val, 03:15)

[05:00] Dr. Oscar Williams:

• Thankfulness is often transactional—responding to a specific moment or blessing.
• Gratitude is about relationship and remains even when specific transactions or blessings are absent.

“Thankfulness is transactional. … Gratitude encompasses all of your thank you’s into one… I am grateful not because of the transaction, but because of the relationship.” (Dr. Oscar Williams, 05:00)

[07:59] Pastor Gorgeous:

• Thankfulness is a reaction; gratefulness is a cultivated mindset that lasts beyond single moments.

“So thankfulness is a reaction. Gratefulness is a posture... Gratefulness is a cultivated mindset that lives beyond the moment.” (Pastor Gorgeous, 07:59)

2. Living Gratitude During Seasons of Pain and Loss

[09:11] Dr. Oscar Williams:

• Expressing gratitude in all things, not just the good, is a spiritual command (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).
• The challenge: finding thanks in seasons of grief and loss (personal testimony of losing his mother after Thanksgiving).

“It’s easy when it’s a good thing to give thanks. But if it’s a bad thing… you have to find a way to give thanks, because this is God’s will for your life as a believer.” (Dr. Oscar Williams, 09:11)

• Mindset Shift: Focus on what was gained rather than what was lost.

“If I focus on the loss, I’ll dismiss the gain. … I choose to look at the things that I gained and not the things that I lost.” (Dr. Oscar Williams, 11:30)

3. Trusting and Challenging the Word in Difficult Times

[15:41] Dr. Val:

• Psalms 107:21-22 speaks of the “sacrifice of thanksgiving”—sometimes you must praise despite circumstances.
• Thankfulness is a conscious choice to trust that God will “lift the burden.”

[15:49] Pastor Cora:

• When facing emptiness (e.g., loss after divorce), challenge God’s Word to manifest:
  “If your word says your love never fails, show up for me.”

“Challenge the word to be for you what it's called to be.” (Pastor Cora, 17:41)

4. Power of Gratitude & Praise in Spiritual Warfare

[19:26] Pastor Gorgeous:

• Prayer, supplication, and thanksgiving go together (Philippians 4:6-7); the “with” in “with thanksgiving” is crucial—thanksgiving unlocks peace.
• Gratitude and thanksgiving are weapons for warfare that surprise and confound the enemy.

“When you respond with thank you instead of fear... it surprises the agenda of the enemy.” (Pastor Cora, 21:20)

[23:02] Pastor Gorgeous:

• Sometimes God’s presence is in the fire or pain, not outside of it. Avoidance leads to family conflict and internal tension.

5. Gratitude and Neuroscience: The Power of Spoken Words

[24:43] Dr. Oscar Williams:

• Affirming language releases dopamine and serotonin, scientifically supporting the scriptural truth that “death and life are in the power of the tongue.”
• Using affirming words can rewire negative thought patterns and reinforce faith.

“When you speak affirming language… you help reverse the language of the enemy.” (Dr. Oscar Williams, 24:43)

6. Transformation, Light, and the Butterfly Analogy

[27:15] Pastor Don:

• Transformation—like a caterpillar becoming a butterfly—is painful and often happens in dark, cocoon seasons.
• “You are the light” in darkness, placed by God to be the answer, not just to endure.

“You do not have to be afraid of the darkness because you’re the answer to the darkness. That’s why he put you there.” (Pastor Cora, 29:46)

• The butterfly, once transformed, should not return to “crawl” where it once struggled—don’t stay in places meant only to be passed through.

7. Testimony of God’s Protection and Healing

[36:02] Sister April: (Testimony)

• Survived emergency surgery during pregnancy—told she might never have more children, but God provided.
• Encourages trusting God, even when unseen.

“Even though you can’t see what’s going on in your body, He can, and he will revive you and put you at the right place at the right time.” (Sister April, 37:14)

8. The Trap of Staying Stuck: Mindsets and Emotional Health

[38:33] Dr. Oscar Williams:

• Don’t stay in a mental prison of grief, hurt, or attention-seeking. You hold the keys to unlock your own freedom by choosing where to dwell.
• Manipulation can result from addiction to attention—seek authentic healing, not just sympathy.

“You are keeping yourself jailed because you have found a home where you should have been released from.” (Dr. Oscar Williams, 39:45)

[41:01] Pastor Cora:

• Dysfunctional behavior and the quest for attention can masquerade as grief—acknowledge and break free from unhealthy cycles.

9. Return to the Table: Community and Family Healing

[43:02] Dr. Val:

• The physical and spiritual act of gathering at the table is a key to emotional healing, communication, and family wholeness.

“If we could get back to the table... we can eradicate some of this unattention... get rid of some of these suicidal mindsets... clear up some of this stuff that’s going on in our conditions.” (Dr. Val, 45:02)

• The table is a place where all, even the broken, are invited and valued.

“Invite people back to the table in their broken state... Don’t judge me based off my past.” (Pastor Gorgeous, 46:07)

10. Gratefulness for Leadership: Honoring Bishop T.D. Jakes and Family

[48:23] Pastor Don, Pastor Cora, Dr. Val, Pastor Gorgeous, Dr. Oscar Williams:

• Deep gratitude for Bishop T.D. Jakes’ survival after a life-threatening heart attack and his continued ministry.
• Personal testimonies about Bishop’s personal care, prayer, and willingness to serve.
• Shout out to First Lady Serita Jakes and the entire Jakes family for their sacrifices and example.

“He is called to this. He has served this nation... faithfully and with a humble heart. We are grateful beyond thankful, grateful beyond.” (Pastor Cora, 51:21)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Outlasting Hardship:

  “Don’t change the turbulence, change me.” (Dr. Oscar Williams, 27:10)

• On the Table as a Place of Healing:

  “Go back to the table. That’s the prophetic word.” (Pastor Don & Dr. Val, 44:59)

• On Shifting Focus in Loss:

  “If I focus on the loss, I’ll dismiss the gain… I look at the things that I gained and not the things that I lost.” (Dr. Oscar Williams, 11:30)

• On Gratitude as Warfare:

  “When you respond with thank you… it surprises the agenda of the enemy.” (Pastor Cora, 21:20)

• On Growth and Transformation:

  “The butterfly… once it becomes a butterfly, it can never be a caterpillar again.” (Pastor Gorgeous, 32:00)

• On Bishop Jakes’ Impact:

  “We serve a God that knows how to give us a living witness.” (Dr. Val, 54:34)
  “Thankful for a house where you can come in broken and get healed.” (Dr. Oscar Williams, 65:28)

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Time | Topic/Quote | |-----------|---------------------------------------------------------| | 03:15 | Difference between gratitude & thanksgiving | | 07:59 | Posture of gratitude vs. reaction of thankfulness | | 09:11 | Giving thanks in everything, even loss | | 15:41 | Sacrifice of thanksgiving in grief (Psalms 107) | | 19:26 | Prayer and gratitude together unlock God’s peace | | 24:43 | Neuroscience & the power of affirming language | | 29:46 | Light in darkness: you are the answer | | 36:02 | Sister April’s testimony of God's protection | | 38:33 | Breaking free from mental and emotional prison | | 43:02 | Healing by returning to the table | | 48:23 | Gratitude for Bishop T.D. Jakes & family | | 54:34 | Care in ministry: Bishop’s prayer and personal example | | 65:28 | Gratefulness for a “safe house” at The Potter’s House | | 73:07 | Pastor Cora’s closing prayer of gratitude |

Closing Prayer & Final Reflections

[73:07] Pastor Cora closes:
A powerful, comprehensive prayer covering gratitude for blessings seen and unseen, for the strength to walk through valleys as light, for hearts to heal and minds to be renewed, and for all God has done, will do, and continues to hold back in protection.

Takeaways

• Gratitude is a heart posture; thanksgiving is our outward response.
• Struggles, loss, and family pain are real—use gratitude both as a weapon and healing balm.
• Grace, transformation, and support are found in community—gather at “the table.”
• Do not let your past, pain, or the need for attention imprison you—you have the keys to move forward.
• Honor and nurture your spiritual and family roots—be grateful for those who serve, lead, and inspire.

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