Declaring - my entry into the blogging world and....

Well- here it goes. Attempt #2 at blogging. This time around I hope to focus my thoughts more- instead of swimming randomly around in the great sea of blogs out there, thinking to write a little of this, a little of that, and giving up in the end, I'll focus on one main idea and see what branches out of it.
So- the main idea? Thankfulness.
The Word says in Psalm 107 to give sacrifices of thankfuless and to declare the Lord's good works. We all hear enough complaining every day. To have what someone else has, or does, or doesn't have to do- don't those thoughts plague you enough? They do me. But the Lord has SO RICHLY blessed me. Why do I still doubt, compare, and sulk?
Partly because I don't preach the Gospel to myself enough.
The Gospel- that I am utterly, hopelessly a sinner deserving of hell. But the Lord, in His immense grace, send His Son to take my punishment on Himself. Jesus Christ died, defeating my sin (and yours) on the cross, and rose three days later, defeating death. He is now seated in Heaven, interceding for me to God night and day.
Because of THIS Gospel- that nothing I have done or ever will do is good enough to earn my own salvation, AND that nothing I have done or ever will do is bad enough to negate Christ's sacrificial death- I live a life redeemed. I live an abundant life- filled with blessings from the Lord.
Sometimes those blessings look like blessings- a house provided for us to live in, a new job that was long prayed for. Sometimes blessings look like sanctification- painful relationships, confession of sins, learning and growing.
But all of this, in light of the Gospel, are lists and lists of things to be thankful for.

So instead of looking at this world and seeing what I wish I had or did- I'm gonna "set my eyes on Christ, the author and perfector of my faith". "Set your eyes on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. (Colossian 3 something, near the beginning)
I'm gonna aim to be thankful. To abound with thanksgiving. To Declare His works, His righteousness, His grace.