Bless the Lord

Church. It usually makes me think. Usually I'm thinking about whatever it is during the sermon, hence I don't normally learn a whole bunch during the sermon. It's during Sunday school that I learn something, sometimes. Well today I got thinking about life. Today, I'm talking to you. Yes, you. The one sitting there reading this post. Did you go to church today? If you did, did you have to drag yourself out of bed to do so? Did you complain about doing so? Well think of it this way. At least you can go to church. There are people in other countries who can't go to church, or if they do they risk torture or death. Did you drive to church today? Did you see other nice cars, and wish you had one? Did you despair over the price of gas? Think of this, some people can't afford a car or gad. Some people have to walk everywhere, and some people do walk miles to get to church. Did you pass by nicer, bigger houses than your own and wish you lived in one of them? Think of this, some people live in shacks, sheds, or even cars. Did you have dinner tonight? Are you full? 923 million people are hungry right now, and one child every five seconds dies from hunger. Kinda eye-opening right?
Everyday we all find faults with things in our life. School sucks, work sucks, my car doesn't work, we're in an economic recession, gas is expensive, we're in a war, people are dieing everyday, etc. etc. As humans we always pick the faults out in everything. The media does it, we do it, everyone does it, including myself. Wouldn't life be so much better if we find the good in everything? When you have to wake up at 5:00 in the morning, guess what, you're awake aren't you? You didn't die in your sleep. When you have a ton of homework, guess what you're getting an education. Some people can't even read. It gets hard when you hit the big problems. When you're diagnosed with cancer and have only a couple years to live, count everyday as a blessing. When you have that unplanned pregnancy, think about all the people who are trying and trying to have a baby, but remain childless. When you get in a car accident and lose all feeling in your legs, and can't walk, guess what you're alive. You get to see another day, you get to see the sun shine, you get to smell the flowers, you get to listen to music, you get to laugh, you get to kiss and be kissed, you get to hug and be hugged, you get to love and be loved. Life may throw you lemons, but pick up those lemons, make lemonade, and offer some to life and say "You can't bring me down."
I would love to end on that note, but there's a deeper message going on here. God loves us. He created us when He didn't have to. He sent His son to save us so we can have eternal life, when He didn't have to. So if God loves us, why do people get cancer, why do people die, why are babies born with down syndrome? Why? I honestly don't know. Maybe it's to bring us closer to him. Remember the blind man in John 9. He was blind from birth, and when asked why this was so, Jesus replied so that work of the Lord may be displayed. Jesus healed him by spitting and making mud, and putting it on his eyes, and he saw. When bad things happen, God will be able to shine through us. He never gives us any obstacle we cannot handle. He doesn't let Satan tempt us with anything to us that we cannot overcome if we have the willpower. Look at Job. God knew he would be able to handle everything: the death of his children, loss of his fortune, and physical harm to himself. He allowed it to happen, and Job was still a godly man when it was done. "The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away, blessed be the name of the Lord."
I think that's a better ending than my lemon analogy-thing.
Remember bless the Lord everyday in every way for everything.