So Much, So Much, So Much, to be Thankful For

So Much, So Much, So Much, to be Thankful For

Even though my dear friend Princess Ruby is with the Lord, singing and rejoicing, I can still hear her singing,"We have so much, so much, so much, to be thankful for!”

Sometimes we forget that. I know I do.

Sometimes, we get our eyes on the problems and circumstances in our life.

Sometimes we get our eyes on the things we want or don't want.

Sometimes we get our eyes on people who seem bigger than they should be and have a control over us, because we have put hope in them.

Sometimes we get our eyes on our hopes and dreams and how life did not turn out the way we had thought it would.

Sometimes we get our eyes on politics and begin to be deceived into thinking it would save us.

There is so much turmoil, fighting, struggle, rebellion, revolting, rejection and hurt in this world.

This is always true. More than ever I see that there are a lot of hurting people with no hope, no direction, no confidence, no Savior. Maybe their hope is in their job, family, vacation time, material things, homes, cars, traveling, finding that perfect person, doing whatever they want to do and not having to work for it, having their political candidate win.

When I look back on my life, I see a lot of disappointments, pain, laughter, joy and special memories of my children when they were young. Our swings in the back yard used to have children swinging on them every day. Now they are empty most of the time. This is kind of sad. I miss those days. There is more behind me than in the future. My life is almost over. I don't know what the future holds. I do know there will by pain and sorrow mixed with joy. But I can't put my hope in these things.

All these hopes, desires, dreams and people will fail us. They will crumble and fall and not lift us up. The bigger they become in our lives, the farther we will fall when they don't measure up!

There is a hope and Salvation that is a sure foundation! That hope is Jesus. He is our Light and our Salvation. He is our hope, peace and joy. Jesus is the Prince of Peace. Only He can give me true lasting joy! Jesus is my treasure. He can never be taken away from me. His love is everlasting. Because He loved me, He died for me and because I trust in Jesus for my Salvation I have His peace, assurance of Salvation and a hope for the future.

So I put my hope in Christ. I fix my eyes on Jesus, The Author and Finisher of my faith. I don't focus on those things that don't give hope. I can rest, knowing He has it all in the palm of His hands. My past and future are all part of His Story and He is not finished yet.

The best part is, I know the end. Jesus wins!

So, I can look up and fix my gaze on Jesus and remember, I have so much, so much, so much to be thankful for!

May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins (Colossians 1:11-14).