praise and hope

this was in my prayer box today, a prayer of thanksgiving:

"thank you lord and everyone who has prayed for my son. he found out today he was able to keep his job!!I just pray he finds the right direction in his life and chooses it wisely. He has been through a lot in his young years and a lot this past month and a half. He acts before he thinks and I pray he learns from all of this. thank you..."

I love these prayers, one, because it shows that people remember where Grace comes from! Their faith has saved them and they are glad! The opposite end of this is a prayer I received from a friend of mine who is going through a real hard time now. She has fears and insecurities about what lies ahead. I wish I could predict the future and say with accuracy: "it's going to be all right!" Unfortunately, I can only pray with her with all the faith I can muster and HOPE that all will be well. 

This morning I stepped outside at 5 a.m. Here in Minnesota, it is dark until about 7:30 a.m. It was cold out, about 22 degrees above zero. I looked heavenward and saw millions of stars so bright in the cold sky! I thanked God for this day, confident that all will be well, because today it is all about Him and I. I have given God my day and will see what transpires in it. 

Yesterday I passed a bell ringer and he was smiling and waving his bell as he wished all a happy holiday. I looked at him and replied, "and a very merry Christmas to you as well!" He nodded his head and wished another the same. His jovial manner was infectious and made me feel good about myself. Remember this today...that what you do makes all the difference for another. Look ahead to today with praise and hope.....may God be with you all!