God is good, God is great...

Today I had breakfast with an old high school friend. That in and of itself is a great, worthwhile way to spend an early morning. I love catching up, and I value greatly friendships from high school. Although I have changed a lot since then, it's a gift to be able to have that kind of history with people. It's refreshing and encouraging to be with friends like that. Plus, IHOP breakfast is yummy!

But as I was silently praying over my food when we received it, I began pondering why I do that. Granted, it is a very worthwhile thing to do. I just have been thinking today about being intentional with my time, thoughts, actions and material things. There is and should be room for spontaneity, but it has been an exercise for me to really dig down and figure out WHY I do certain things. Some of them have been kind of boring and obvious, such as why I keep water on my nightstand at all times (for when I wake up in the middle of the night and feel parched). Some have been kind of weird and maybe morbid, such as why I MUST make my bed every morning (in case something happens to me and I do not return to my room, it makes me feel better to know that my bed is at least made and clean).

Anyways, so I have been exploring stuff like that. And I think saying grace before eating can, like many other religious things, become a thoughtless habit that you just mindlessly do every day. But for a lot of Christians, I know it means a lot and it is an important part of gathering together in fellowship during meals or praising God before we eat alone. It is a powerful testament of thankfulness for the food in front of us. It is an outward sign of God's control over our hearts and lives and our dependence on His grace and gifts. It is a response to the gift of nourishment (or stomachaches...depending on what we're eating) and a cry of a thankful heart.

But then I started thinking, "what if we lived our LIVES with that kind of attitude??" If I looked at everything I have and do, from a morning chai tea at Starbucks, to the gas to fill my car, to the random gentlemen I meet in line at Mars, to the shoes on my feet to get from place to place, to a bright sunshine, to to eyes that can see pretty well, to a secure job doing what I love, to the "options" I have for dinner. And even instead of just THINKING about those blessings...vocally praising God for them. To make every day from start to finish, an extended "grace" for everything we have received. The world could be changed. I'm certain of it. Attitude is everything.

I spend too much time thinking about what I have lost and what I don't have. God has convicted my heart to turn that around big time!

Bless us, O Lord,
and these Thy gifts
which we are about to receive
from Thy bounty,
through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Thank You, Lord for the gifts (ALL the gifts) from Your bounty.