HAVE A THANKFUL HEART

"Be thankful."  "Count your many blessings."  We hear these statements often at this time of the year, but do we have a thankful heart?  Are we counting our blessings?

Life may be tough right now.  Your husband's job may be in jeopardy or he may already be without work.  You may be concerned about your job or you may have a difficult boss or bad working conditions.  Some of you have serious and/or life-threatening illnesses in your family.  Some have children who have behaviorial problems and some are dealing with rebellious teens that are going against everything you have taught them.  You ask, "How can I have a thankful heart?  How can I count my blessings?"

No matter how bleak things seem, we always have many things for which we can be thankful.  Ask God to show you your blessings and to give you a thankful heart.

Let's make a list of our blessings and the things for which we are thankful.

     I am thankful for:  My Savior, Jesus Christ and for life eternal; Eddie, Paula, Kelly, Kaylee, Kam, Brent, Meredith, Case, Josh; my extended family; godly Christian friends; Christian upbringing and godly, Christian parents; my Sunday School class; our home; the beauty of the earth; good food; opportunities for service; good health, etc., etc., etc.

The psalmist says:  "Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation, Let us come before Him with thanksgiving and extol Him with music and song." (Psalm 95:1-2)

In Psalm 100, the psalmist says:  "Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.  Worship the LORD with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs.  Know that the LORD is God . . . . . . . . . Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His Name.  For the LORD is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations."

Prayer:  God give us thankful, joyful hearts full of gratitude.  Help us count our many blessings and help us focus on You, our Provider, our faithful God.