Things

I make myself ill thinking about it sometimes.

Things

As the thanksgiving shopping weekend approaches, we see all of our American commercialism in its glory.

Things we want.
Things we want bigger.
Things we want bigger than the other guy.

I am as guilty as anyone.

My girlfriend and I each have a house. Between the 2, we average 6 TVs. And, because there is a deal, we consider buying a flat screen for Christmas this year.
Seriously!!

I am thankful for the things God has provided for me. Even though I have to remind myself once in a while, I know everything I have comes from God.

It occured to me the other day that I could give up half of my monetary worth and still be 5 times richer than many families less than 20 miles away - 500 times more than families watching American wealth burn brighter than the stars, in the form of lights, so close they could walk there in 10 minutes.

We, as Americans, are so caught up in things. We say we are a richer country.

I don't see us as richer unless we are remembering and being thankful to God always for the things we have every day.

I thank Him that I have an ability. I thank Him that I have a job for which to use this ability. I thank Him for being able to gain experiences. I thank Him for being able to go to school. I thank Him for my parents being able to get by with 5 boys. I thank Him that they had a decent job to use their talents and abilities.

I thank Him for being born into the life I was in this country.

For those born here, that is incredibly important to remember. Any time someone born here takes credit for their life and the "things" they have; any time they want the glory for their own accomplishments, remind them of the one thing that started it all that they couldn't have possibly had any control over - they were born in this country through God's will.

Just as if you are a builder, and you take credit for the whole house even though the foundation was already established and all of the supplies are provided - how can you take credit?

Even if you were not born here, God gave you all of the tools to build on his foundation.

You were born into a family that had means.
You were sent someone with means.
You were given a gift or talent.

God gave you THINGS.

Luke said, "real life is not measured by what we own"
Also, in Job, "You really know everything don't you? And when you die, wisdom will die with you!"

Please remember how rich you are in this Christmas season. Give thanks for the "things" you have. Give thanks for the THINGS God has given you.

Pray for those who have less "things" but also pray for those whom have been given God's THINGS and fail to recognize them.