Posted: Nov 21, 07 11:15pm

Psa 23:1 A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

Today is a national holiday in America. It is Thanksgiving, a traditional day of observance of our abundant blessings from God. Whether all is well with our soul, as we reflected on in yesterday's devotion, today is a day we pay tribute to the Lord, our Shepherd who makes us lack for not one single spiritual blessing. We are in our right minds. The majority of us have someone to celebrate the day with, if just by card or Internet. Some are blessed with family gatherings. Some have a charitable outreach place of fellowship that provides a meal. Above all, we are never alone. The Lord is with us and we shall not want.

On this day, the Lord would ask you a question. For those of us who have struggled with mental health issues, we have asked Him ceaseless questions such as, "Why, Lord? Why me?" Today He says to us, "Today, be with Me. A national day of thanksgiving and what are My people giving thanks for? My child, when your life was in a rut, when answers and guidance was not coming to you, did I not open up the gates of glory and pour out blessings upon you as you began to praise and thank Me for what you had?"

A difficult question for me when I realize the anger and hurt I felt toward Him for allowing mental illness to fall upon me so many years ago. So today, I honor Him, and I hope that you also will give Him a few moments of your time to express to Him what you are grateful and thankful for.

Gracious God, I am not a demonstrative person but when I come before You, the living and only eternal and true God, then, and only then am I free to say who I am and all I will or shall be in You.

I am grateful that You have uniquely created me.

I am grateful You have called me into Your Kingdom.

I am grateful that I am assured of eternal life.

I am grateful that I do not have the fears and hesitancies that come from being apart from you.

I am grateful for hearing Your voice and being a chosen listener.

I am grateful for mental. physical and spiritual health.

I am grateful for the experiences and wisdom and gifts You have bestowed on me.

I am grateful that I need none but You, but am thankful for the others You place in my life.

I am grateful for a creative mind that is always active and learning new things.

I am grateful for the Internet and its endless potential so that I may go into all the world.

I am grateful for a quiet life.

I am grateful for a moderate life.

I am grateful that I do not just know but experience Your love each day.

I am grateful for the few that You place in my path that have their minds fixed on You and on You alone.

I am grateful for kindness by strangers,

I am grateful that You never fail or forsake us.

I am grateful this year for being one of great accomplishment.

I thank You Lord, not for what You just bless or give to us, but that we might give back to You. That is awesome when we can do that through our intimacy with the Holy Spirit and Your Beloved Son who enables us. Amen

Have a blessed Thanksgiving, all.