Another sunrise

Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings. (William Arthur Ward)

Ordinary opportunities are often overlooked - we just don't see them. We might not know what we have missed until someone else actually points it out. Stop for a moment to consider your body. There are times when I just look at those tiny hairs on my arms, standing almost upright, goosebumps forming because of a cool breeze passing over the surface of it. I am amazed that God created us with all those tiny muscle fibers that actually make that hair stand on end - a tiny muscle for each one. Then I look at intricacies of the eye - outwardly appearing one way, but inwardly a maze of blood vessels, tiny receptors, and nerve endings. Ordinary opportunities to miss the very thing that bespeaks the tender care God took in creating each and every fiber of our being - missed until we stop to notice. There are likely things in this day you and I have missed, but when we stop to notice, it might just bring us to a place of thanksgiving.

You made my whole being; you formed me in my mother’s body. I praise you because you made me in an amazing and wonderful way. What you have done is wonderful. I know this very well. (Psalm 119:13-14)

All God does in our lives is amazing and wonderful. We just might not notice all the wonder in what he is doing. We don't know how many times he kept us from stumbling - but his Spirit helped us avoid the fall. We may not realize how much his Word within us bolstered us throughout the day - but through whatever came our way, we stood strong. It is in 'noticing' that we begin to appreciate the amazing ways God watches over every aspect of our lives - from our very creation to our very next step. There are times we want to exclude God from some area of our lives, but he made us with all of our 'areas', so how is it we think we can exclude him from any of them? God can take what we see as 'common' or 'ordinary' and use it for the extraordinary - but do we notice when he does?

Ward also reminded us, "Opportunities are like sunrises. If you wait too long, you miss them." God doesn't look for our enthusiasm as much as he looks for our appreciation of what he has done in and through us each day. He looks for a grateful heart - because he knows a grateful heart has really begun to realize the blessing of grace. Don't miss today's opportunities to take notice of his grace. You may never get the same opportunity back again. Just sayin!