Why is it that one person will meet interesting people with fascinating stories to tell and the next person will stand in the same room, bored and disappointed?   Some people expect nothing to go right, and they are right, nothing will go well for them.

Much of the way things around us are is dependent on how we want them to be.  If we dream lofty dreams and expect to achieve them, we are well on the way to success.  If we are suspicious of others and doubtful of our own abilities, we will probably find the failure we are looking for.

When Jesus saw the woman at the well, he saw a woman who was worthy of His time and His compassion.  When He saw the wild man possessed by demons, He saw a soul in need of His healing power.  When He saw the children running about on the Galilean hillside, He saw the purity of their hearts and the potential of their lives.

This is the lesson that Jesus is teaching us: we need to look beyond outward appearances and see the person within.  When I am tempted to give up on someone, I ask myself, "Is this person worth saving?"  Jesus died for them too.

There are those who look for others to fail just like the Chief Priests watched Jesus to find something they could accuse Him of.

Some of them were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal him (the man with the shriveled hand) on the Sabbath.  Mark 3:2

The man who looks for faults will find faults. If we expect people to be rude, we usually find the waitress with an attitude.  The opposite is true also.  Expecting to find fairness and friendliness will often lead to positive encounters.  The direction of your thoughts guides the direction of your life.

Help us, Lord, to recognize that the beauty and bounty around us are gifts from your hands.  May our hearts overflow with gratitude and thankfulness.

Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom.  One generation will commend your works to another; they will tell of your mighty acts.  They will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty, and I will meditate on your wonderful works.  Psalms 145:3-5

The unthankful heart discovers no mercies;

But the thankful heart will find, in every hour,

Some heavenly blessings.