Blessings: How Do You Respond?

In this picture what catches your eye? Is it the beautiful flower in the center? Or is it the dead blooms behind and below it? In your life ... what catches your eye? What is it that you see?

BLESSINGS: how do you respond when people ask you about your blessings? Is the glass ½ full or ½ empty? Or are you just grateful that you’ve got water? After you've had a blessing for awhile ... does it get tiring? Is it just 'normal' and not really a blessing anymore?

I just heard a preacher say …

How do you know if you’re in a back-slidin’ condition? You don’t care about your blessings. You’re more interested in moaning and groaning about some other thing in your life than in praising God for the abundant blessings that He’s given you.

It got me to thinking about the things that I’ve complained about this week … or started to complain about. Here’s my list:

· Didn’t get enough sleep

· My husband didn’t understand me

· The grandkids are really cranky when they’re sick

· My body’s too fat

· My house is too messy

· My yard is too dirty (literally)

· My students don’t listen … enough

· I don’t have my own classroom

· Etc …. You get the idea

Ah compare that kind of thinking to a truly thankful and grateful heart that could and should say:

· Thank You God that I have a very comfortable bed and restful room and that I get plenty of sleep most nights

· I’m so thankful that my husband wants to understand me and has proved his love by working on our marriage for 31 years

· I’m very grateful that the grandkids are basically very healthy and are growing bigger and stronger everyday

· Thank You for helping me to control how much I eat and thank You that I am not struggling to find food for my family to survive

· I am so blessed to have a lovely home. Thank You for encouraging me to keep it clean for Your honor and glory

· Thank You that I have a yard

· Thank You for giving me a place to use my talents and for training me in new and creative ways to encourage young people to sing praises to you

· I’m grateful that I have a place to have class and that You have provided me with other teachers who are so easy to work with

· God You are amazing!

Today I prayerfully challenge you to look at your words and see if you are using your platform (the place where you can speak), your prosperity (the money and stuff you have), and your popularity (the people who know and love you) to speak thanks and praise to God. If not perhaps today would be a good day to talk to God and ask Him where you got off track, ask Him to forgive you and put you back on the right track. May the Lord bless your endeavors to serve Him faithfully.