Lucky?

I am so blessed. Unbelievably blessed.

I know I say those words often and don't stop to take account of how true that is-all the time. I am blessed no matter what is going on around me. I've been given so much and don't stop to thank my dear Lord for what he's showered upon me. I do not deserve the least of His mercies, and yet, He is kind and gracious to give me so much more than I could ask or think.

I'm blessed. He is too good to me.

James 1:17 says, "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no shadow or variation of turning."

Any and every thing I've been given is from God. It's always something He's given. I don't attribute enough to Him or I'll forget His mercies. There cannot be a moment of forgetting what God has done for me.

I read over Psalm 78 this evening and was struck by the repetition of the people of Israel forgetting what God did for them. It mentions how He punishes them or deals with them in His way, but it highlights His kindness and patience with His people.  There are so many times I'm on auto-pilot, just going through the motions, forgetting the goodness of my God. Considering Psalm 78, I pray I never go through what they do when they forgot God's kindness. One verse mentioned that while the food was in their mouths (food they'd desperately needed and begged God for) they rebelled or complained and God struck them down. How quick they were to gripe! And they saw the mighty acts of God in Egypt and with the exodus and wilderness!

As I take this step of faith and move to South Korea,  I realize again and again that my mind and heart can only be on Christ and what He has done for me. He is worthy of so much of my time and attention, and yet I am forgetful to thank Him for what I have. He's given every good and perfect gift. Why are my eyes not on all these gifts? Oh Lord, give me eyes to see how richly you've blessed me at all times in my life!

Wednesday nights are a time I've come to treasure in my week. My home church has started meeting on Wednesday nights at Pitza 42 to visit and fellowship. This group of people have become to near and dear to me. I find it hard to think about being away from them for any length of time. I'm blessed to have brothers and sisters in Christ who encourage and challenge me. They have been like family in so many ways. The community we have has been rich and such a joy to experience in the body of Christ.

"What if we woke up tomorrow with only the things we thanked God for yesterday?"~Anonymous

Paul mentioned at least four times how he gave thanks to God for certain people. I never want to forget the blessings God has put in my life. Everything and everyone who crosses my path is a blessing-either in their coming into my life, or in their exiting my life. Proper perspective helps when deciding this. The main thing is to thank God for the blessings He gives me.