Looking for My Heartsong

Give thanks to the Lord,

for he is good;

his love endures forever.

~ Psalm 107:1

That seems simple and straight forward enough, doesn't it?  God is good.  All the time.  His love is, was, and always will be there for me.  I should thank him for it as often as he loves me.  In other words....all of the time, in all things, without ceasing.

So, why is it so hard sometimes to be thankful?  Why, even when I am purposely looking can I sometimes not see his faithful goodness?  

This purposeful looking and expecting definitely helps but sometimes the eyes of my heart are just not seeing.  Or is it that I don't know where to look?  It is possible that even as far as I've come in my journey that I have missed or maybe forget all the ways that God is faithful and good?

Today is one of those days where life is not bad, nothing is wrong, but I can't seem to see a single blessing that isn't the same old ones that seem trite and a bit of a cop out.  So, today  I searched in scripture for reminders.  And in the Word, I found reasons for thanksgiving:

• God's goodness and love echoed and repeated over and over in Psalm 107:1, 1 Ch. 16:34, and 2 Ch. 20:21.  
• I am reminded 4 times in Psalm 107 to thank God for the wonderful deeds he's done for men.
• Psalm 56:3-4 reminds that he protects. When I am afraid, I will trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid.  What can mortal man do to me?
• God has provided my salvation as Romans 7:24-25 reminds, What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?  Thanks be to God - through Jesus Christ our Lord!
• God takes care of our daily needs, Matthew 14:19 -20.
• He gives faith, hope, and love.  We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction. 1 Th.1:3-5
• Grace
• Healing
• Victory over sin and death

Faced with such faithfulness how can I not see things to be thankful for?

And what should my thankfulness look like?

Sing and make music 

in your heart to the Lord,

always giving thanks

to God the Father

for

EVERYTHING...

~ Ephesians 5:19-20

Heavenly Father, may my thanksgiving be a heart-song that is always pleasing to your ears.

For the Joy Dare...

88.  A gift in my hand:  A stone spearhead given to me by my grandmother.  She found it in her yard after a rain.  We spent a summer learning about it, reading books on local tribes and visiting museums and even "pestering" archaeologists at a local dig.

89.  A gift I walked by:  The corner cupboard that was a Christmas gift from the husband that reminds me he loves me enough to make the long trip to get it and to struggle to get it into the house...just because I admired it.

90.  A gift I sat with:  A little boy on the bus born with just a bulb of flesh where his ear should be.  A device protruding from his skull allows him to hear, but socially he is "different."  The other kids are not nice when he comes near.  And near he goes.  He wants to be friends.  His brilliant smile never dims no matter what comes his way.  Each moment is joy for him.