I have noticed a very disturbing trend developing in our country!  Men, women, boys and girls of all ages are looking for someone else to blame!  It really does not matter the issue – big or small.  Most of us are not willing to step up and take responsibility!

We don’t want to take responsibility, but we will huff and puff about how “somebody” else should have taken responsibility.  We want to stand back at a distance and sling mud, rather than get in there and do some work to get rid of the mud!

Many of us are waiting on someone else to do what we should be doing!  We have become lazy, apathetic, stubborn and resistant to the change that would bring amazing growth to our own lives.  Stop looking at everyone else and what they are or are not doing and take a good and honest look at yourself.  What in your life needs to be worked on?  What changes can you make that would make a difference in you and those around you?  I have been taking a look at myself and can tell you that I have a lot that I am working on and need to work on!

God has an incredible plan for all of our lives!  God wants to do some amazing things in and through each one of us!  It is time for us to stop pointing our fingers, placing blame and dodging responsibility.  Step up and step out!  A lot of the frustration that you live with and blame on others everyday is in reality caused by you and your wrong reactions or inaction!  Step up to the plate and deal with the stuff that the Spirit is revealing in your life.  Step out of your comfort zone and allow the Spirit to take you to some new places so that you can experience some new experiences!

God has given you two eyes!  Put the “judgmental eye” on yourself and put the “grace eye on others!”  Take responsibility for you – no one else is going to, so you might as well!  And by the way – you will be glad that you did!

I have been thinking a lot lately about how I need to be thankful!  A few weeks ago, I did something for someone and they were very thankful!  It really was not a big deal.  My action was a very small thing, but it really seemed to make a big difference in this person’s life.  They were really thankful and wanted to express it, so that they made sure that I knew they were thankful again and again.

There are many times that I will go out of my way to do something for someone and they fail to show one ounce of thankfulness.  It is really not a big deal!  I don’t do the things I do for a thank you, but it is always nice when I get one, especially when I get one and you can tell that the person really does mean it!

I think that I miss a lot of opportunities to express my thankfulness!  I am trying to get better!  I am trying to pay attention, but I have a lot of messed up habits to work through and get over.  The important thing – is that I am trying!   And I encourage you to try!

Take some time in the upcoming week to thank about all that you have to be thankful for!  We live in a free country and should be thankful for the men and women who gave their lives so that we can enjoy the freedoms that we often take for granted.  Notice in your everyday life – all of the things that other people do to make your life better and take some time to say:  “THANK YOU!”