THANKSGIVING PRAYER

"Dear Heavenly Father, I'm grateful for so many things and on this special day I want to take some time to tell you what I'm thankful for: 

I'm grateful for the gift of life. Without you I wouldn't be here. Without you nothing would be here. Without you nothing would be at all.

I'm grateful for my parents.  Even if they weren't perfect, or completely functional, they loved me the best they could, and they worked hard to make sure that I had enough to eat, that I was clothed and that I had a place to sleep. I'll never know all that they did for me, like the things they did for me when I was a baby or not paying attention or too selfish to notice.  Please help me to be a grateful child and encourage me with the hope that I will see them again in your company, where I'll be able to say thank you over and over again.

I'm grateful for my friends. Dear Father you show your love for me through my friends in ways that I sometimes overlook. They give me advice, they listen to my pain, they celebrate with me, they help me laugh and they care about me.  Please help me to be a good friend in return.

I'm grateful for my family. Yes; I know that all families are comprised of different kinds of people. But I'm thankful that, even with their uniqueness, I'm part of a family that has helped to make me the person I am. I know that they love me. Help me to be a good and loving family member who helps others in my family when and where I can.

I'm grateful for my work and calling in life, dear God. It's not always a bed of roses, but I praise you that I have a sense of your purpose for my life. Help me to remember that all work done with excellence and purpose out of a loving heart is worthy in your site. And please help me to be a blessing to everyone with whom I come in contact.  Help them to know that I am your follower and that they can count on me.

I'm grateful, God, for all the things that I know many people in this world don't have. I'm grateful for food and clean water that is easily available and clothes and heat in the winter and air conditioning and screens in the summer. I'm grateful that I can go to the doctor and get a check up and medicine and other treatment to preserve my health. Help me to be grateful, and help me remember that I can help those who have less by being generous as one small way of thanking you.

I appreciate all the things you created.  I’m grateful for the color of orange autumn leaves against the deep blue sky, for the smell of the sidewalk after a thunderstorm on a hot summer afternoon, for the way that the frost makes awesome patterns on windows in the winter, for the amazing sight and smell of flowers in the springtime.  I'm also grateful for the beach, the mountains and sunsets and my favorite foods and so many other things that I easily take for granted.

Most of all, dear Father, I'm grateful for your presence in my life and if I remember to pay attention I can see your invitation to meet you in every moment of the day. I know that it is you who turns my mind to thoughts of gratitude. And when I'm tempted to focus only on my problems and worries and fears; thank you for reminding me of your love and care for me as an individual.

I know that I'm not always as thankful as I should be, but today I am. Today I will try to be grateful all day, since you are generous all day long, every day, to me.

And lastly, I thank you for Jesus, my Savior and your one-and-only son, who you gave to bring me back into your ‘forever’ family.  May I serve him with all the strength you give me until you come to take me home or I go to be with you in eternity. Amen and hallelujah."

My version of a prayer originally published in America Magazine

Twenty Principles for Making Prudent Decisions

1. Research the subject as thoroughly as possible.
2. Consider the information you have assembled.
3. Seek out Godly counsel but sift it carefully.
4. Follow your convictions.
5. Decide what you really want to do but don’t let emotion rule.
6. Listen to the Holy Spirit and your conscience.
7. What does your experience teach you about this decision?
8. Pray for wisdom and direction.
9. Don’t react, but act boldly.
10. Persist with your plans and do not give up too quickly.
11. Develop an action plan.
12. Execute your plan.
13. Adjust your plan as necessary.
14. Own your decision and do not blame others for bad outcomes.
15. Establish a time frame for evaluation of the decision to be made – urgent vs. important.
16. Prioritize options.
17. Ask yourself if this is the core decision that needs to be made first which will unlock the other smaller decisions that follow.
18. How will you measure the correctness of your decision – based on outcome or process followed?
19. Remember failure is not fatal but it is inevitable when you are doing anything.
20. Lead your decision.  Remember that not making a decision is actually making a decision – don’t procrastinate.

"If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you."  ~ James 1:5 NIV