And the winner is....

GRATITUDE! Yep! I'm back to that old theme. Gratitude is the foundation upon which we build our lives; fulfilled lives. Think of someone you know who always sees the glass half empty. They may make more money than they have ever made in their lives, have a nice house and cars, a family, a good job, but they are unhappy because they are always waiting for the ax to fall. They are always waiting for bad news. And when bad news comes, they think, "AHA! See? I was justified in thinking the worst would happen."

Now think of the person you know who sees the glass half-full. Some people might accuse them of being unrealistic. Not at all! It's just that they CHOOSE to focus on the good rather than the bad. When some thing bad happens to them, they look for the silver lining. Sure, they experience disappointment, just like the "realists". But they learn that life is not all heart-ache and disappointment. They find stuff to rejoice in even at the worst of times!

But how do they do that? What if you've been a half-empty bloke your whole life because you thought it was the "realistic" viewpoint? What if you want to change that habit, that attitude now? How do you change an attitude of skepticism to a positive outlook?

You start with gratitude. Think of all the things you are grateful for. I'm working on my list today too.

I'm grateful for a cup of coffee and a quiet house to do grant research and a computer with internet connection.

I'm grateful for the word of God.

I'm grateful for encouraging friends and not-so-encouraging family. Because the Bible says "faithful are the wounds of a friend" and a "brother was born for adversity." My family tells me stuff about myself that I don't want to hear sometimes. It can be pretty brutal at times, but I'd rather they were honest with me than have them lie to me. This way, I can grow and mature, as painful as it is at times.

I'm grateful for good health.

I'm grateful that God promised to supply all my needs according to his amazing riches.

I'm grateful that God calls me friend, even though I don't deserve it.

I'm grateful for good words and honest teaching from guys like Ed and Mark Gungor. I caught Mark on TBN last night while flipping through the channels. It was good to laugh.

And now comes that part that I sometimes have to live by faith, though I don't know how or when or any details:
I am grateful that God has already prepared a home for me in Portland and that he is making a way for me to go to grad school, because he said, "those he calls he also equips." And he told me not to worry about tomorrow or what I'll eat or drink or wear. My heavenly Father already knows what I need and he won't abandon me. I am grateful that
the creator who keeps the planets and stars spinning in space also cares about me. He is opening a door that no man can shut. He will open the heavens and pour out a blessing that no man can contain.

Gratitude is like a pair of prescription glasses which help us see the glass half-full because we change our focus from what is not there (or lack) to what is there (abundance). You can call them rose colored glasses if you want. But seeing the world as rosy doesn't seem to be a bad thing to me. Now where did I put those glasses again?