"I AM GRATEFUL!"

  How easily we seem to get caught up in the negative aspects of our daily
lives so that we reserve our prayers or conversations with God for the times when we want him to do something for us. And because He is our loving Heavenly Father, we are confident that even in the darkest hours of the night when our problems seem more than we can bear, God will be there for us like no one else will. And after the conversation is over and our requests or relief has been granted, we blithely return to the business of life until the next time that we need God's help. Imperfect, ungrateful children that we are, we often take God's loving care for granted and we fail to give thanks for the abundance of blessings that our Father has so liberally sprinkled throughout our lives. No matter what your circumstances may be, you are still much loved, much blessed child of God.

He blessed you when He caused you to be. He blessed you by awakening you
from your sleep this morning--so many other did not. He blessed you to
experience the glory of this brand new day and with the ability to choose to use it to make choices that will lead to a happier, healthier, more
productive life. He blessed to to see your loved one's faces and with the
ability to see and appreciate the awesome beauty and variety and majesty of his creation all around you. He blessed you to hear in the sweetness of a bird's song the promise of Spring, the season of new beginnings and of hope. He blessed you with the incredible machine that is your physical body ("I shall laud you because in a fear-inspiring way I am wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful, as my soul is very well aware."--Psalms 139:14) And if in any way your body has become damaged, have no fear, for the condition is surely temporary. Trust in God and BELIEVE with all your heart that the day is coming when you will be made whole again. But the greatest of all the blessings from God is his provision of a means of forgiveness for the sins of humankind.