In this world we are usually going to be able to look around and see someone who has it a little easier, someone who seems to have at least one less thing to worry about, someone who appears to "have it all."

But if we really open our eyes, we are going to see a whole lot of people who have it harder, who have a lot more things to worry about, and who wish they could get a break in life.

"Looking around" should never be the criteria we use for wanting more or being thankful for what we have.

"Looking around" keeps us earthly in all our ways.

"Looking around" rarely leads to long-lasting thankfulness.

So, on this particular Thanksgiving morning, I'm looking up.

Literally, I'm leaning my head back and looking up.

When I do this small thing, my mind rushes with enormous thoughts of His love, His patience with me, His Son, His promises, His Presence, His plans for me...........

And everything around me washes away.

My sadness.

My grief.

My worries.

My struggles.

They fade away and in their place is only Him.

And I find my heart filled with thankfulness.

True thankfulness.

Because I know and believe that HE IS MY EVERYTHING.

So I can smile and I can love.

I can be excited about life, because I know I live for Him and Him alone.

I can "give thanks in ALL things."

Last week, I had a little health scare.

It ended up being an ocular migraine and lingering fatigue from mono (which I didn't even know I had.)

It took all week to really pull myself back together.

I worked during the day and pretty much rested every evening.

I'm still laying pretty low, and I think the new me will for a while.

But spiritually, I don't want to rest.

Spiritually, I want to grow and help others know Him better.

I can do this!

And for that reason alone I am thankful this morning.

I may be resting more physically, but I am determined to continue to run spiritually!

I want to be able to say what Paul says in I Cor. 9,

Don't you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize?

So run to win!  All athletes are disciplined in their training.

They do it to win a prize that will fade away,

but we do it for an eternal prize. 

So I run with purpose in every step!

To be truly thankful, I believe we have to know the One to Whom all thanks goes.

To be truly thankful, I believe we have to live for Him.

To be truly thankful, I believe we have to remember that

"neither life or death can separate us from His love."

We need to remember that "he hears our cries and lifts us out of pits."

We need to put our trust in the "God of Hope" so that we can "overflow with Hope!"

This morning, you may find yourself having a hard "earthly day,"

but I hope you'll lean back and look up for just a few minutes and think about Him.

When you do, I believe great things will happen.

And you will find yourself feeling truly thankful.

Thankful today for each of you,