I want to encourage you, to have an “attitude of gratitude”, yes even in the mist of these tough times.  You may be thinking: “You don’t know how bad things are in my life.”  And perhaps you are right, I may not know the specifics of your circumstances, however, I do know a God who does!  God knows everything you are going through right this very moment.  That alone is something to be grateful for; you are not alone.  God will never leave you or forsake you, trust him to see you through and guide your steps.

Be encouraged, I want to share with you some things you can do, when times are really tough!  Be thankful…. yes, be Thankful! I want to challenge you to make a “gratitude list”.  This is a list where you write down the things you are thankful for, big and small.  Sometimes it is the small things that mean the most to us.  After you write this list, I want to challenge you to read it completely through once a day, preferably before you start your day, or right before you go to bed.  By doing this you are setting your mind in a place to be thankful for all that God has blessed you with, and not what you do not have in your life at the moment.  Giving attention to what you have to be thankful for will allow you to consider “how well off” you really are.  Keep adding to your list as you remember things to be thankful for.  Soon you will realize that your new “attitude of gratitude” has helped shape the way you see things everyday.  You will find yourself filled with joy rather than despair.

I pray for you now in Jesus name, that you will find peace in the mist of hard times, knowing that there is a God who loves you and will bless you despite what is happening in our economy.  To get you started: you can be thankful that you have a computer and can tap into this site for prayer and encouragement, knowing that someone truly cares for you and is faithfully praying for you…now you finish your list……