Psalms 50: 16-23

16 But God says to the wicked: “Why bother reciting my decrees and pretending to obey my covenant?
17 For you refuse my discipline and treat my words like trash.
18 When you see thieves, you approve of them, and you spend your time with adulterers.
19 Your mouth is filled with wickedness, and your tongue is full of lies.
20 You sit around and slander your brother— your own mother’s son.
21 While you did all this, I remained silent, and you thought I didn’t care. But now I will rebuke you, listing all my charges against you.
22 Repent, all of you who forget me, or I will tear you apart, and no one will help you.
23 But giving thanks is a sacrifice that truly honors me. If you keep to my path, I will reveal to you the salvation of God.”

isn't this really what we are all like?? but we surely do not consider ourselves wicked... but we talk about people.. we tell casual lies.. sometimes we get caught up in 'religion' rather than worship.. sometimes we follow the rules but spend no time alone with God... how is that a relationship?? anyone that we have relationship with.. we spend time with.. therefore.. we obviously would need to spend time with God to stay in a healthy relationship with Him....

sometimes we do approve of thieves... we steal from the government.. through taxes.. through government programs.. we try to get all we can get even if we don't necessarily need it.. we feel we deserve it...

and God had remained silent... or did He? did we just ignore His gentle prodding that our actions are wrong...

but the great thing about God is... in the end.. He says.. repent... meaning there is another chance to get it right...

give thanks.. that is what He is really looking for... thankfulness for our lives.. even though they may not be what we want them to be.. they are not what someone else is surviving either... if we keep His path.. He will reveal to us salvation... and I don't know about you.. but I am trying to make that train!!

I think that God hand picks each of our trials... we cannot handle someone else's... or another person's could be too light and we would not even recognize the weight of it... and some days.. while I feel like I am just surviving till this storm passes... I know that it could truly be worse... and even in the heavy days.. the days that we are burdened for a long time about a situation.. even in those days.. rise up and praise God for His ultimate mercy and goodness... without it.. we would have no hope...