From trash to Treasure

"Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Have you ever heard the saying, "One man's trash is another man's treasure"? It simply means that what one person thinks is rubbish, another person may think is precious. It's all in how you look at things I suppose. Unfortunately, I think it's the same with God's blessings. What one person views as a gift from God, another person may not even take notice of. Take, for instance, opening your eyes this morning. Did you immediately thank God for the blessing of another day? When you reached for your morning coffee, did you thank Him for the the money that let you buy it? When you turned the ignition in your car to go to work and the car started, did you thank Him for your job and the car that took you there? And when trials come, do you thank Him for being there through it all? When the storms come, do you thank him for being your refuge?

God didn't have to give us any of these things. He chose to. Out of His great love for us, He chose to give us the good things we have. And, out of that same love, He chose to be with us in the bad times we go through. They are all blessings...depending on your point of view. Are you looking at things with your mind or your heart? Matthew 5:8 says, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God." To see your blessings, you have to see God. And to see Him clearly, we have to be pure in heart and the only way we can be truly pure in heart is to give our lives to Jesus and ask Him to do the cleansing work. Psalm 51:10 says, “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”  

If you're not seeing the blessings in your life, glasses aren't what you need. It's a relationship with Christ you desire - a pure heart, a cleansing from the inside. Proverbs 23:7 says, "As a man thinks in his heart, so is he." The heart is the center of who we are and what determines our actions and our attitudes. Thank God that being pure doesn't mean being perfect though. That's something none of us will ever be able to do. It simply means focusing on and following Christ with all we have (all our heart) and being grateful (a thankful heart) for all He has done... especially the small things, for "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much." Luke 16:10. Smile, give thanks, and watch how "trash" turns into "Treasure". 

Heavenly Father, thank You for the all the things you have given us out of your great love. Not because of anything we have done or could ever do have You have done this, but because of your great love for us. What a blessing to have a Father who gives good gifts to his children. May we acknowledge all You have done, be grateful for it and sing your praises from the rooftops Lord. May we keep a song of praise for You on our lips as we say thanks for all You have done and continue to do in our lives. In your precious name we pray Jesus, Amen.

Happy Running!!!

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Give thanks with a grateful heart- Dan Moen

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAo2iZ9vWHg