INPUT ARTICLE: Article: The Bible tells us that we should keep an open line of communication with God at all times, thanking Him for all He does. Not only will this help strengthen your relationship with God, but if you're constantly looking for things to be grateful for, you'll be more likely to find them. In 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, the Bible says: "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." In addition to maintaining a general spirit of gratitude, try to remember to stop and praise God for the big, life-changing events that come along. Be humble about even the biggest blessings, because as the Bible reminds us in James 1:17, "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father."  Major blessings might include things like meeting the love of your life, getting a major promotion, finding out that you're expecting a child, or receiving an unexpected, meaningful gift. A prayer of thanks after a blessing might be something like: "Heavenly Father, I am so humbled that you have blessed me with the gift of a child. I thank you with my whole heart. Please protect my unborn baby and give me wisdom to be a good parent. Amen." While it's important to remember to thank God for major blessings, you should also pray any time something small makes you think of Him. For instance, you might say a short prayer of thanks because you caught a glimpse of a gorgeous sunset, or after you got a really nice compliment from a stranger when you were having a bad day.  Psalms 7:17 says: "I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds." For instance, if you see one person doing a kind act for another, you might say a short prayer like, "Father, thank You for allowing me to see people showing each other the same love You have for us." Even when you're having trouble counting the blessings in your life, you can always be grateful for God's love. In fact, in 1 John 4:16, the Bible says that God IS love. No matter what else is going on, that's always something you should try to appreciate.  In Psalms 118:29, the Bible also says: "Give thanks to the Lord for He is good, His love endures forever." For instance, you might pray something like, "Dear God, I'm having a hard time today, but I know that You are watching over me. Thank You for Your unconditional, unfailing love, and please help to uplift my spirit. Amen." Even if things are going well, you can still pray to God to thank Him for loving you.

SUMMARY: Thank God continuously throughout your day. Offer a special prayer of thanks after major blessings. Say a quick prayer after small blessings, as well. Give thanks for God's love even when you can't find another blessing.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Serving underhand, crouch your body down as if you were going to bump. Have your right foot slightly in front of left. Make sure you're not standing up straight. Say you are right handed. Hold the ball out in front of you in your left hand. Pick a patch on the ball to hit. Make your right hand into a fist. Swing your arm back to shoulder height, and propel it forward like a pendulum. Some people prefer to hit it on the part of their arm where they bump it, because it can give more control, but it doesn't give as much power. Do what works best for you. Crouch, aim, and propel. That was easy, right? Make sure you don't bounce, throw the ball before, then hit it (you'll take out a ceiling light). You just need to hold onto it.

SUMMARY: Position. Hands and arms. Do this move.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Just pack some pants, T-shirts and jackets.   A board game. Puzzles. Books. Toys (If they're a child or a child at heart.)

SUMMARY: Pack some clothes. Pack some toiletries and pajamas and a small alarm clock to wake you up early to help the person. Bring a gift basket and medication for the person. Bring some entertainment for you and the person such as: Information for clothes and toiletries can be found in the first section.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: The best way to attract birds to your area is with food. The blue jay's diet mainly consists of plants, vegetables and nuts, though they also eat some insects. You will draw quite a few blue jays to your area if you offer a variety in a large platform feeder. Some of the blue jay's favorites include:  Peanuts (preferably shelled) Black and striped sunflower seeds Elder berries Cherries Dogwood Acorns Suet Make sure the feeding area that you offer the jays has plenty of perching available. You want a nice, large, open shelf – not an enclosed area. If you notice it’s covered in food or that part is inaccessible due to an obstacle of sorts (like a branch), adjust the shelf to make it easier for the birds to munch. If you really care about them you can clean off the sides of the house. You should clean up any left over berries, nut shells, egg shells, feces or dead insects on the bird perch or house to keep it clean. Blue jays prefer oak woodlands, though they can be found just about anywhere. However, if you want the best odds of getting blue jays, oak is the way to go.  Beech trees are a solid second as they too have nuts blue jays love feasting on. What’s more, having trees around will provide the blue jays shelter should they need it from inclement weather (which is especially important in winter). It’s good for nesting, too. Blue jays are some of the most intelligent birds out there and, in general, have great memories. If you only stock food intermittently, they'll likely find somewhere else to go that's more reliable. Keep the peanuts coming and you'll be logged into their brains as a good, consistent food source. Blue jays are generally quick to move. If the food disappears, they won't likely wait for it to show up. To keep the same ones around, you'll need to be on top of your blue jay game.

SUMMARY:
Offer the blue jays their favorite foods. Keep their perch clear. Consider planting an oak tree. Keep the food stocked.