Today is the national day of prayer. Prayer for our nation and leaders top today's agenda. 

I found myself today praying and thanking the Lord for what he has done and is doing.

The Lord has blessed Cheryl and I beyond words. My prayer today, Lord I'm Grateful!

I chose the word grateful over thankful for a reason.  The word grateful means, a deep appreciation of someone's kindness with an expression of gratitude with passion.

I like that! Thats how I feel today. Grateful with passion!

For my family, our friends and our futures. My heart is filled with hope and a renewed passion for deeper relationships. 

I was reminded further how grateful I am when earlier in the week I was reading a blog written by my brother in law, who pastors a church in East Texas. In it, he always speaks of his family and their church activities which are always humorous, exciting and heartfelt. 

But this one particular blog I read captured my attention.  

He spoke of a sermon he had preached, It was a message on a Passion for the Lost. 

He says, "It is imperative that the American Church fulfill the Great Commission, and that, It is our responsibility to reach the lost." What a message! I couldn't agree more!

That my friend is the meaning of grateful. Passion! Passion! Passion! Not just sharing Jesus with others, but having a passion and concern for their eternity. 

When I read his blog, "I thought how grateful I am that Jesus is my Lord and Savior."  I'm grateful to be saved. I say that with Passion! I really am!

I think it is remembering that fact, that causes us to have a passion for the lost; being grateful and wanting to share the Lord.

Again, I'm passionately grateful!

Blessings,
Danny