Give Thanks

Every morning, I spend an hour with the Lord, but not for any religious reason. That is, it’s not a liturgy. I just enjoy the time spent one-on-one, and I believe all the rest of the day’s hours are better because of it. Much of that time is spent saying thank you. The benefits I receive is nothing to boast about, because the greater God’s gifts are, the more I am responsible for their effective use (Luke 12:48).
I’m thankful for God’s gifts.
If I got what I deserved, I’d be homeless and starving, so I’m most thankful for his love and mercy. I’m even thankful for the pain and suffering, the tests and trials that have been unavoidable, because those have given me strength and prove my faith. I’m thankful for family and friends, people who encourage me and somehow see God’s hand at work in my life.
Most of all, I’m thankful for my very best friend.
He knows all my thoughts and desires. He hasn’t missed a mistake I’ve made, but he loves me like a favorite son and is making me more like him.
Beloved, we may be God’s children, but we don’t yet know what we will become. But the more of him we see, the more we’ll want to be like him, for we shall see how great he really is. —  1 John 3:2