IT MUST BE SAID: Cultivating Gratitude!

I Had A Single Grain Of Gratitude
And I Sincerely Wished For More
So I Put It In A Pot Of Care
And I Placed On A Sunny Shelf
Near My Entrance Exit Door!

I Told A Friend About My Desire
To Have Gratitude Blooming Richly In My Sphere
And I Was Shocked To The Max
At The Words That She Spake
And I Wondered If Cultivating This Friendship
Had Been A Sad Mistake!

She Bitterly Said:

What Do You Have To Be So Grateful About!?!
Your Life Is As Hard Is Mine!
Breaking Up Fractions To Know How To Live
Is A Task That I Roundly Despise!

I Don't Know What It Is That You Want To Be So Grateful For
When Each Day Is As Hard As Every Other
When Money Is Tight
When Health Is No Delight
And Just Looking At Another Person
Is Reason For Them To Pick A Fight!

I Replied:

Aren't You Glad You're Alive!?!
Aren't You Glad You Don't Have Cancer!?!
Aren't You Glad You Have Eyesight
And Your Legs Are Still With You
And No One Has To Push You Around
And In Your House There Is Still Reason For Laughter!?!

The Look I Received Was Chilling To Say The Least
And We Parted With No Words Of Affection!
I Went My Own Way
And To The Living God Said My Grateful Prayers
And Sought To Understand Why Words Of
Thanks And Gratefulness
Were So Hard For Some Of Us To Say!

The Scenario Is Not Real
But The Concept Is Very True
And All We Have To Do
Is To Look Critically Around Us
And We Shall See The Living Proof:

People Discontented With What They Have
Which Is More Than What Someone Has Or Some Other
But A Lot Less Than That Friend
This Brother Or Another!

Discontent Is An Offshoot Of Pride
And A Great Family To Greed
And Believe It Or Not
The Rich Want The Health Of Poor
Who Want The Wealth Of The Rich
Who Want The Peace And Rest Of Those 

Who Have Not Tasted Runaway Success!

We Ask For What We Want!
We Get What We Need
And Then We Blame God
For Not Really Knowing Each Heart
How To Feed!

Ingratitude In The Young Is Ugly!
Ingratitude In The Old Is A Disgrace
And We All Need To Do A Serious Think
About What Would Be The Outcome
If The Lord God Almighty
Loving King Blessing Faithful True
Were To Deal With Each One Of Us
According To Our Practice Of 

Not Returning Words Of Thanks And Prayers Of Gratitude!

We Beg Too Much

And

We Say Thanks Too Little!

Almighty God Does Not Owe Us Anything

But We, Ingrates That We Are

Owe Almighty God Everything!

Thank You, Dear Lord

For Your Untold, Unknown

Unexpected, Unappreciated

Daily Blessings Generously Showered Upon Me!

Thank You, Dear Reader

For Your Being A Part Of This Community!

Thank You, Dear Friend

For Your Kindness Today!

Thank You, Brother, Sister

For What You Do And Say!

Thank You, Mother, Father

For Teaching Me Truth And Right
And, Again
Thank You, Dear Lord

For Giving Christ Jesus Unto Me And My King

And For Guiding Me To Walk Ever 

In The Life-Giver's Light!

Thank You, Lord, Thank You!

I Beseech Of You A Boon!

Please Bless Me To Say "Thank You, Lord!"

Evening Morning Night And Noon!

Life Is A Gift!
Show Gratitude To The Giver ... Today!
Shower Him With A Generous Gift Of

Your Heartfelt Thanks

Willing Praise And Believing-Heart Prayers!

Memory Hall: Gratitude!

One Day I Made A Visit To That Memory Hall!
He!

She!

It Is Human
Living
Christian
Sighted
Hearing
Walking
Eating
Sleeping
Healthy Happy
Hopeful Hearing
And
A For-Real Ingrate
If I Know What One Is At All!
Behold A Laodicean Spirit!

Eyes To See: He's Blind As A Bat!
Ears To Hear: He's As Deaf As A Door Nail!
He Tastes And He Sees The Goodness Of
The Creator
The Savior
The Redeemer Friend
And, YetHe Finds No Reason
Sees No Need
Has No Desire
Shows No Willingness
To Approach Unto His Provider
Sustainer
Support
His Surety And Security
His Guardian Guide And Stay
And
Joy-Filled
Say:

Oh, Lord

I Bless You!

I Praise You!

To You, I Give Thanks!

My Heart Is Grateful

For The Great Gifts

Some Of Which

- Prior To Their Receipt -

Held In My Eye

No Position

No Rank!

Father,

I Will Not Be An Ingrate!

My Heart

My Head

My Hand

My Home

Are All Daily Blessed Immeasurably

By And Because Of You

And

In The Gallery In My Mind

I Shall Hang Memorials

Of

Your Goodness

Your Greatness

Your Blessings

Your Benefits

Your Gifts Of Loving Care!

You Are The Holy God

And

It Is You That I Fear!

I Appreciate You!

I Love You!

I Bless You!

I Need You More Than I Did Yesterday!

I Desire To Live On The Golden Shore

So That I Will Be Close

The Lord Jesus Christ

Who Did My Sin And Shame

Death And Damnation

Did Bear!

Oh, God Eternal

Mighty To Save

In Gratitude For Your Goodness

Greatness

And

Gifts Of Sacrificial Love

I, By Wisdom

In Faith

For Love

Give Unto You, Myself

And, Thereby

Brand Myself A Willing Slave:

I Serve You With A Heart Of Love!

Lord, You Give!

I Get!

I Gain!

In Gratitude

I Give You All Glory

Honor And Praise!

I Choose To Walk In Your Wise Ways!

Lord,

Help Me To Never Take

Your Blessings Upon Me

As Your Duty

And

My Right

For

Such A Gross Attitude

In The Heart Of Me

Does Nothing But My Soul Blight!

I Desire Your Heart To Delight!

I'm A Sinner, Saved!

I'm A Child Of The King!

I'm A Faithful Servant

And

A Student Awed By Your Majesty

By Your Glorious Self!

Help Me To Not Stifle My Conscience

But

To Remember With Gratitude

- Always -

From Whom My Blessings

My Help

My Certain Aid Comes

So, That

In The Day Appointed

I Shall Walk In Peace

In The Glade Of Joy

In The Home Of The Blessed

Where All Is Love

Joy

Peace And Rest!

I Worship You!

I Know I Am Blessed!

Brethren,

Since It Is A Fact That You Are Human

You Have A Memory Hall!

The Living God Owes You Nothing

But
You Owe The Living God Your Life
Your Service
Your Prayers
Your Worship
Your Praise!

Please Take Out The Remembrances Of 

The Blessings Of God Upon You
And
In Soul-Gratitude
Have The Occasional Service Of Song
Service Of Thanksgiving
To And For
The Living God Holy

Who Gives You Gladly
Grandly

And
Gloriously Of
His Great Grace!
Take The Time!
Life Is Not A Race!

Remember This ...

Ingratitude 

Is 

Not Fit Attire For
Nor Upon
A True Christian!

Almighty God 

Is 

For You!
Do Not Overlook His Goodness 

By Taking It As Your Right!

You Have No Right To God's Blessings!

They Are A Gift!

Almighty God

By Christ Jesus

Under The Agency Of The Holy Spirit

Works ... In Your Behalf 

Every Single Moment Of

Every Single Day

So

Show Some Gratitude

And
Do A Solid For The Lord Today: 

Give

Almighty God

Some Willing Praise!!

P raise God From Whom All Blessings Flow!
R each Out And Touch God! Enjoy The Glow!
A lways Say Thank You! It's A Desirable Trait!
I gnore The Naysayers! Don't Suffer Their Fate!
S eek The Lord: He Is Waiting To Be Found, And
E xpress A Joyful Hallelujah

Because

Almighty God's Mercies 

And 

Blessings 

Upon You
Do Daily Abound!

Have You Given The Father

His Son

The Holy Spirit

Aka Our Great God

Aka The Godhead

Due Praise Today!?!

If Not,

Now Is Acceptable Time!

Go On! 

Get To It!

LOVE GIFT: Gas-Lighting: Adoration: Appreciation?!

When Someone Gives You

A Gift

Let Some Appreciation Show!

Do Not Be An Ingrate!

They Do Not Owe You Anything!

Your Gratitude Is Their Reward!

Let Them Know! 

* * * * *

She Was So Kind To Me!

I Am Getting Her A Gift To Say "Thanks!" 

Whoo Hoo! 

How Special!

... Give God A Gift, Too!

What Did You Say?! 

I Didn't Stutter! 

I Said You Should Give God A Gift, Too!

He Is Kind To You Every Moment Of 
Every Single Day!

We Give Gifts To Those Who Give Us Gifts

And They Give Us Gifts In Return

And Gifts Given Are Given

Time And Again

With Us Always Expecting 
A Package Bearing Our Names! 

What A Shame! 

There Is Problem With That! 

Actually ... 

It Is Quite Mercenary

For It Is Done With Intent! 

You Give To Get! 

You Live In The Land I-Expect!

Let's Raise Up Our Eyes A Bit!

Let's Think About God For A Minute! 

A Gift From Almighty God Is Not Owed For!

It Is Truly Free! 
That Gift Is Love ... Given

With No Hope Of Repayment

For

It Is A Blessing Received From The Eternal God

Given Graciously For Our Good

For

It Is He Who Created Us

AND

It Is He Who Gives Us Our Necessary Food!

I Agree With You!
We Have Really Bad Attitudes!

If I May Be So Bold
It Is Just Like That Lady

Asking For Advice

That I Read About

Who Is Grossly Offended 

Because Her Husband

INTERRUPTS HER

Twenty Times A Day

To Say To Her:

"I Love You!"

AND

Though Their Relationship Is Considered
Good Cooperative Loving 

Giving Faithful Kindly Helpful
AND

Committed 

She is Concerned That

He May Be Gaslighting Her!

Let's Forget About Her! 

That's Exactly How We Think Of The Living God!

Wait A Minute!

What Is Gaslighting?!

The Five Dollar Interpretation Is:

Manipulating You Into Doubting Your Self

Your Sanity

Your Reality

Aka

Mind Control!

That Is Sick!

God's Love Cannot Ever Do That!

If You Really Want To Get Ridiculous

It Is Actually Man

Gaslighting God

Compliments The Benighted Manipulations Of

Satan The Fraud!

We Try To Remake God Into Our Fallen Image

AND

We Take Almighty God's Gifts For Granted!

We Take The All-knowing God For Granted, Too!

We Take The Ever-Present God's Gifts As Our Due

AND

Often Look At Him Askance

Wondering

Why Is There Only One Gift?!

Only A Small One?!

Where Is The Big(ger)(gest) One?!

Why Is One Not Two And Three?! 

Gratitude Is Always Appreciated

BUT
Not Rumblings Of Discontent

About Gifts Not Good Enough 

Big Enough 

Costly Enough

Powerful Enough 

Fast Enough

Important Enough

Showy Enough!

We Need To Tell Our Jesus:

Lord, 

You Are Blessing Enough And More!

You Are Giving Enough!

I Have Some In Store

For Your Gifts Are Sure!

Please Keep Me Forever Safe

Inside Your House!

You Are The Key To Me!

I Am At Your Door!

Enter My Heart's Door! 

Because ...

If The Lord Had Not Of His Blessings Given Unto Us

Our Lives ... By Now

Will Have Been Truly Spent!

Let's Take A Moment To Say:

Thank You, Lord!

The Gift Is Appreciated!

The Multitudinous Gifts Are Appreciated!

You, Lord

Are Greatly Loved

And

Truly Appreciated!

I Appreciate Your Love!

I Love You!

Help Me To Love You More And More

Even If

No More Of Your Magnificent Gifts

Were For Me

In Store! 

I Am Grateful To You

For Thinking On Me

For Blessing Me With Your Bounty

For The Life To Me Given

That I've Often Carelessly Misspent!

I Love You!

I Give You, Me!

For My Ingratitude

I Sincerely Repent!

I Listening, Lord!

Please Help Me To Really Appreciate

As I Daily Labor

All That You Have Set Before Me

In The Here And Now

And

All That I Read About

In The Living Oracle Of Truth

That I Hope For

And

In The Fullness Of Time

Expect To Gloriously Experience

- The Ultimate In Gift-Receiving -

Home With You

In The Beautiful Land!

In Jesus Christ's Holy Name

I Pray And Humbly Plead!

AMEN.

**--**--**--**

Give Almighty God 

Some Love Now ... TODAY! 

HAPPY SABBATH + PRAYER: Oh, That Man Would Praise The Lord!

Oh, Lord To Trust You
In Every Sphere Of Life
To Find In Your Service
The Transport Of Delight
To Live For The Master
To Walk Faithfully With My God
To Have A Ready Word Of Blessing For My Brethren
And
The "Get Thee Behind Me, Satan!"
For That Known-Damned Fraud
Is The Desire Of My Life
Whenever I Open Wide From Peaceful Sleep
My Bright And Seeing Eyes!

My Father,
I Love You!
You Are The Holy God True!
You Are The One That Makes Me Live!
You Are The God Who, To Me
My Daily Bread Gives!

You Are The God Eternal
The Creator Of All I Survey
And
With A Heart Filled With Much Thankfulness
I Offer You
My Humble Worship
My Joyful Praise

And
My Necessary-Bread Prayers!

I Thank You, Father
For The Glorious Gift Of Salvation
That Cost You

Your Beloved Son
Who Made The Greatest Sacrifice
So That Sinful Man, Repentant
And Willing To Be From Sure-Hell Saved
By Faithful Acceptance Of The Gift
To Not Be Like The Wicked Satan
Forever Lost!

Oh, That My Kind
Will Praise The Lord
For His Goodness To The Children Of Men!

Oh, That Man Would Give Glory
To The Living Gid
And Seek His Holy Spirit
Not To Offend!

Oh, That I
Will Ever Look Up To My God
Accepting The Grace
The Mercy
The Forgiveness Of Confessed Sin
The Hand Of Provision
The Blessed Promise Of Salvation And Redemption Given
And Choose Ever

To Walk Wise
To Live Right
To Love Truth
And
Thence To Command The Blessing Of God
By Faithful Obedience To My Savior
My Lord And My God
Is My Humble Plea
In The Matchless Name Of Jesus Christ The Righteous
Who Condemned Sin Death And Hell
By Dying And Arising From Death
And
Commends The High And Holy
Heavenly Reward
By Ascending To The Throne Of Majesty
And
Interceding With His Blood
In The Most Holy Place Of The Heavenly Sanctuary
For My Brethren And Me!
Grant Unto Me A Willing Spirit

and

Keep Me Faithfully Working For The Kingdom!

Come Soon, Lord!
AMEN.

GIVING: Thanks!

I Could Live In The Elements!

I Could Live Out To Sea!

I Could Walk With That Damned Devil

AND

I Could Be Dead

Spiritually!

I Could Be Wise In My Own Eyes!

I Could Be Living Lavish By Lies!

I Could Be Working For Free For The Devil

AND

I Could Be Energetically

Denying Jesus Christ!

I Could Be Dancing With The Devil

I Could Have Shoes and No Legs

I Could Have Food But No Water

AND

I Could Be On The Street Corner Doing A Beg!

I Could Be On A Known Death Bed!

I Could Not Have Two Nickles To Rub Together

To Make A Thin Dime!

I Could Be Walking Forward Looking Backward

AND

Through Lack Of Faith

Be Ultimately Unable

To Cross The Separating Line!

I Could Be A Willing Sinner

I Could Be A Fake Saint

I Could Be Building Falling Bridges

AND

I Could Be A Self-Righteous Miscreant!

BUT ...

By God's Great Grace

AND

Jesus Christ's Sacrifice

AND

The Blessing

That Permitted Me

To Hear

AND

Heed

The Holy Spirit's Call

I Can

Give Heartfelt Thanks

Unto My Father In Heaven

By Whose Mercy

Today

I Have

Stomach-Filling Grub!

I Have Clean Water To Quench My Thirst!

I Have A Solid Roof Over My Head!

I Have Whole Shoes Upon My Two Able Feet

AND

A Clean Bed Upon Which I May Lie 

Without Fear Or Dread!

I Have Friends

AND

Family To Love Me!

I Have Faithful Friends

In The Body Of Jesus Christ!

I Have Work To Challenge My Mind

AND

I Have No Reason To Ever Behave

Like A Wild Horse's Behind!

I Am In Good Health

Which Is - Indeed - Great Wealth!

I Pray

AND

I Proselytize

AND

God Willing

No Matter How Much Christian-Killing

My Faith Will Never Be Placed

On An Old-Glory Shelf

AND

For This All

Almighty God Who Does

For Now

The Winds Of Strife Restrain

I Give You Thanks

With A Grateful Heart

Today

AND

I Beseech You

Please

Help Me To Never

Over Trivialities

Again

To Complain

AND

No Matter How Much I'm Goaded

Help Me To Never Jesus Christ's Holy Name

Profane!

Lord,

I Give You Praise

AND

I Give You Thanks

For

I Am Truly Blessed!

AMEN.

Prayer: Thank You, Lord

Thank You, Lord

For The Blessings Today!

Thank You, Lord

For Provision in All Ways!

Thank You, Lord

For Saving My Soul!
Thank You, Lord
I Don't Have To Set Dates
For By Jesus' Faith
I Will Have Right To Walk Through
Your Holy City's Bright Gates!
I Love You, Lord!
Amen.