We were in Grand Junction, Colorado for several days, and we had reservations at the KOA so we could park our RV.  Once settled at the campground, we would unhitch the Jeep and drive around the area.  It was great. 

The site at the campground surprised us.  We had paid for a premium site, but this one was beyond the other campgrounds we had visited.  It was a premium site with table and 6 chairs, a big BBQ grill, a fire ring and park bench type seat on paving stones rather than gravel.  We enjoyed our first evening there by sitting at the table outside in a cool breeze, sipping coffee and just talking.  What a blessing this site was since it had been a long day of travel.

The picture above shows the premium site, but there is something missing — if you know what it is, identify the missing component in a comment!

In our Christian life, we enjoy so many blessings from our God and His Son, Christ Jesus, that we can’t even begin to count them.  They are myriad and they surround us each moment of each day.  The world sees some of these blessings as what we are due, but in reality, we are due nothing from God since our forefather Adam sinned and ruined man’s communion with his Creator.

The gift of a new day.  Of breath.  Of sight, hearing, smell, taste and touch.  Of beauty in flowers, trees, sunshine, rainbows.  Of mountains, meandering rivers, canyons carved by water.  Of the beauty of a newborn baby, a toddler’s expression of amazement at learning new things, a child’s sense of accomplishment at school or sports.  Of strength to continue even when difficulties arise, of the strength that the presence of God brings to us throughout our days.

His blessings are not confined to the material world; rather, God’s preeminent blessing to His children is His Son, our Savior and Redeemer, who atoned for our sin with His death on the cross.  As a result of His life, death and resurrection, we have the assurance of eternal life with God and with our Lord, no matter what situation surrounds us here on earth.

Sometimes God provides a premium site for us to use, other days we may have a gravel site with no extra stuff.   Do we thank Him for both?

How often do we forget to thank Him for the blessings, while we are certain to run to Him when we are sick or when problems engulf us?  When we have enough money to do what we want, we take credit and think it is because of our hard work at our job or our savvy in investing.  (Think of the parable Jesus taught as recorded in Luke 12 about the rich man who had this world’s treasures but who had nothing in his heavenly account!)

Rather, the thankful heart, the heart of gratitude for God’s blessings, would remember that God not only gives us the job to do to earn our money but He also gives us the strength and ability to do so. 

Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.  I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.

Philippians 4:11-13

Thankfulness and gratitude are attitudes that the Christian should exhibit throughout the day.  Thank Him for what He has done for you through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Consider the humiliation of our Lord when He left heaven and came to the world that He created, leaving His glory in heaven and coming as a baby into a sinful world. Consider all that He suffered throughout His life, the ridicule and harassment by the authorities, the constant clamor of people who wanted Him to heal them even though they would not even say thanks,  culminating in condemnation and execution even though He had led a perfect life and had not committed any crime. 

Of course, the reason Christ had to die was so that He could satisfy the justice of God by paying for your sin and mine.

This thought alone should result in our singing praises to Him throughout the day. 

Thank God for all things, good and bad, big and little, significant and insignificant.  All things are under His control and the Christian is in His hand. 

Blessings to you and may you give thanks to our God and Father and to His Son, our Lord and Savior, through the Holy Spirit on this day.

Father help me remember to thank You throughout the day.  Forgive me when I have accepted your blessings without so much as a “Thank You”.  Forgive me when I have taken credit for blessings that You have granted to me.  Give me a heart that is thankful and full of gratitude for all Your many blessings.  Through Christ my Lord, I pray.