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We should always be quick to remember the blessings in our life. The best
way for us to forget the trials that are in our path is to focus on the
good things that are before us. If we take time and count the many good
things that we have, we will soon find the few bad things are not even
worth mentioning. Many times we choose to forget how abundantly blessed
we truly are and instead of giving thanks to God for His sustenance, we
come to Him with our murmurings and our complaints. That is not how God
wishes for us to lead our life. He wishes for us to have a praise filled
attitude proclaiming God's goodness; seeing the good that surrounds us. Be
encouraged to change the way you see things if you find yourself constantly
looking at the bad. Be thankful for the many good things in your life and
you will soon find the Joy that was lacking before. (Exodus 16:9)
I hope this message encourages and inspires your heart to see that you are
abundantly blessed. Be quick to focus on the good when you are tempted to
murmur or complain. See that you are highly favored and blessed by God Almighty.
NAME THEM ONE BY ONE
It was a typical Indiana spring day. Outside the house, it was raining.
Inside the house, it was raining. Water slowly dripped from the ceiling,
reminding me that when you replace your own roof, there's nobody to get
mad at when it leaks.
I should be a pretty good roofer, I spent two summers roofing when I was
in college. Of course that was in West Texas, where rainfall averaged 16.5
ounces a year (prior to last year's drought). Could it be that I was a
really bad roofer all along and just never had my work tested?
I opened the closet, took out my wife's green raincoat and my Indiana Jones
hat, and headed outside. I stood under the edge of the garage, looking
sternly up at the spot where the leak was, hoping that if I stared at it
long enough and hard enough it would stop. It didn't.
Out came the ladder, and up I went. I began squirting sticky black roofing
cement into the roof valley, pressing it into place with my finger. As I
worked, the rain continued to fall. Eventually, a perfect rain channel
formed down the back of my coat, funneling all the water that hit my back
directly down into the back of my pants.
And then it happened. As I stood there in the rain, I heard the bells at
the nearby retirement home begin to chime. And as the notes played, the
words to a great old hymn came into my mind: “When upon life's billows you
are tempest tossed...”
I began to smile as the song continued: “When you are discouraged, thinking
all is lost.”
“Here it comes,” I thought. The bells sang, “Count your many blessings,
name them one by one. And it will surprise you what the Lord has done.”
I stood on the roof, soaking wet, my hands covered with tar, grinning and
singing, “Count your blessings, name them one by one, count your many
blessings and see what God has done.”
And so I did...
It was 75 degrees outside instead of 35. I had some extra roof cement in
the garage. The water could have leaked one foot away, onto the computer.
I did actually have an hour of unscheduled time available (softball
practice was rained out). All in all, as roof leaks go, it was a pretty
small one. And the bells reminded me of that.
You may read this and say, “Well, Mark's just one of those saccharine-
sweet smilers, a guy who always sees the glass as 'half-full'.” Wrong!
My glass is completely full, and runs over every single day with blessings.
And while there are days that I'm too pig-headed or self-centered to see
it, most days I am amazed at what I have. And even though I don't know you,
my guess is that your days are mostly pretty good too.
“Count your blessings, name them one by one. And it will surprise you what
the Lord has done.”
By Mark Phillips
Read and meditate on these scriptures:
Psalm 86:4-7 “Rejoice the soul of Thy servant: for unto Thee, O Lord, do I
lift up my soul. For Thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and
plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon Thee. Give ear, O LORD,
unto my prayer; and attend to the voice of my supplications. In the day of
my trouble I will call upon Thee: for Thou wilt answer me.”
Joshua 1:9 “Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be
not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee
whithersoever thou goest.”
Psalm 27:1-2 “The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?
the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? When the
wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh,
they stumbled and fell.”
Psalm 62:5-8 “My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from
Him. He only is my rock and my salvation: He is my defence; I shall not
be moved. In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength,
and my refuge, is in God. Trust in Him at all times; ye people, pour out
your heart before Him: God is a refuge for us.”
All of these scriptures can be found in the King James Version Bible.
Today's Selected Poem: YOU STILL HAVE HOPE
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/enpoem62.htm
Today's Selected Testimony: THE FAITHFULNESS OF GOD
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony48.htm
In Christ’s Service,
Dwayne Savaya
God’s Work Ministry |
