How have you done with the commitment to rely on the Holy Spirit to remember God's grace and reward when you've been tempted to envy?  I realized this morning as I was taking Emmy to school we face a limitless supply of things over which to envy others.   I drove past a beautiful green yard (all yards are green right now, right?) with NO visible dandelions or other weeds.  My first thought was, "I wish I had a yard......" then I caught myself right in the middle of the thought and said, "God, thanks for blessing those folks with such a beautiful yard."   I took another moment to focus on THE blessing of life--knowing Jesus as Savior and Lord, and thanked God for His grace and gift.  Later, I drove up behind a late model Subaru Forester.  I was driving my 2001 Subaru Forester, and the envy demon almost got me, but before it could, I thought, "God, thanks for blessing that person with a great car, and thanks that I have a car that faithfully gets me from point A to point B. 

You may be thinking, "Man, Chris talks to himself and God a lot!"  Yes.  I do.  That's because God's word tells us as we think in our hearts so are we.  In other words, we can fill our hearts and minds up with envious thoughts and be filled with sin.  Or we can fill ourselves up with thoughts of gratitude to God for the gifts others have as well as the gifts He's given us and be filled with the life that is truly life.

What have you been thinking about today when you see other's blessings, when you experience others who are brighter, better looking (by whose standard?) or more humorous than you, or who just seem to have been in the right place at the right time more than you?  Do you say, "God, I thank You for the blessings You've given them."  Or do you whine and complain?  As so many have said, "We can't control what happens to us in life, but we can control the way we respond to what happens."  Today, I have resolved to celebrate what God is doing, saying, and showing in and through me, as well as those around me.  Speaking of that, one of the best blog posts I've read in a long time was on Perry Noble's blog on Wednesday.  You can read it at www.perrynoble.com. It's titled "I'm Sorry Your Life/Church Is so 'Normal'."

Take some time right now to talk with yourself and God about how you've responded to other people's possessions, qualities and luck so far today.  If you've envied them, repent.  If you've celebrated them, rejoice!

Let's pray.  Heavenly Father, Thank You for ALL the gifts and blessings You give to each of us every day, especially for Jesus!  Fill us with Your Holy Spirit that we may recognize all of our own blessings, and celebrate everyone elses'.  This we pray in Jesus' name.  Amen.