I have learned something very important over the last year or so. If you have an attitude of gratitude, and remain thankful in all circumstances, good things happen.
 
I am here to tell you that God wants good things for you; He wants you to be happy. He is for you. 
 
Not too long ago I read Joyce Meyer’s book, Get Your Hopes Up! If you haven’t read it yet, I highly recommend it. It has truly helped me open the door and to be thankful and hopeful about my life.
 
On days when you don’t feel hopeful, or when you are down, sad, or depressed, just start thinking of all of the things you are thankful for. Start thanking God for every good thing in your life. Do this everyday. Even when you don’t feel like it, or even if you feel like you are “phoning it in.” Keep at it. As the old saying goes, “Fake it until you make it!”
 
Once you start down this path of thankfulness, of gratitude, you open the door for good things to come into your life. Trust me on this. I know it is true because it has worked for me. It is working for me!

On many days I don’t feel very thankful. But, I have gotten into the habit of listing all the things I am thankful for before I fall asleep each night. Right after I pray, I share with God everything I am thankful for. Now, not only are good things happening, but I am also realizing how truly blessed I am. And, now, I am truly grateful for my life, the people in it, and the things that have brought me to where I am.
 
So, I encourage you to have an attitude of gratitude. Once you change your perspective, once you start becoming a positive person, a grateful person, a thankful person, your life and circumstances will change for the better!
 
Why? Because, God loves you! And, He wants good things for you! Why not accept His gracious gifts?
 

Today I just want to share with you how important friends are in life. We were not made to journey through this life alone—that is why God made friends!  :)

Proverbs 27:17 tells us, “Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.” Our friends and our friendships are vital to our lives.
 
I have been so amazingly blessed to have some of the best friends a girl could ask for. I have friends who support me, pray for me, and love me. Even if we don’t see each other often, or talk that often, there are certain friends that I know will always have my back and do whatever they can to help me when I need it. (I hope you are each reading this blog and that you each know who you are!)
 
I hope I have been as good of a friend, as many have been to me. Some of my friends and I don’t always see eye-to-eye, some have different views on life, politics, religion, or other things. But, I believe a true friend looks past the differences and accepts their friends for who they are. They should care about them as people, as a human being. I mean, you became friends for a reason, right? There is something, some reason why liked this other person, right? That is what you focus on—not your differences. If you are willing to look past those things, you can help each other grow.
 
I believe that that is a big part of our lives—to help one another. I have a servant’s heart. I want to help other people. I might not always go about it the best way, but I want other people to have good, contented lives. I try my best to live by the golden rule: treat others the way you want to be treated. I want to be treated kindly. So, I try my best to be kind to others. This is a great way to make friends!
 
There are many Bible verses that impart the significance of friendship. Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 are some of my favorites, “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!”
 
So, today take some time out to just be thankful for your friends. A good friend is worth far more than any amount of money. 

We each have busy lives. We have families, jobs, homes to keep up-- responsibilities galore. It is so easy to get caught up in our lives. It is so easy to forget the most important part – God.
 
I am someone who likes to have a schedule. I like to have a set way to do things day in and day out. I realize that things can often change, and our priorities must change along with them. We must be flexible and fluid. I don’t mind that. Actually, I think it is a good thing to be able to shift gears. It keeps you on your toes and sharpens your brain. (At least, this has been my experience.)
 
But, I still have a basic schedule that I follow each day. I make time for Jesus. I have found that if you schedule time in your day for God, He will bless you for it. Each morning when my alarm rings, I hit the snooze button. I use my iPhone alarm, so this means I get 9 minutes until the alarm goes off again. Instead of going back to sleep, I spend those first 9 minutes of my day with God. I talk to Him, I thank Him, and I ask for His guidance and help. It is a great way to start my day.
 
Once I get to work, I start my work day be reading a devotional. I try to make that devotional my focus for the day. I pray throughout the day as needed or as things pop up in my mind. I scroll through Facebook during lunch and pray for my friends that have asked for prayer.
 
Then, before I go to bed each night, I read another devotional or my Bible, or both. And, finally, before I go to sleep, I pray again. I thank God for another day. I try to fall asleep counting my blessings, instead of sheep.
 
I make time for Jesus.
 
If you are a Christian, you want to spend time Jesus. When you are consciously looking for Him, you can find Him everywhere!

If your life gets so busy that you are forgetting about God, consciously put Him in your schedule. Make time for Him. You won’t regret it!