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We should always be quick to see the many blessings that are in our life.
So many times we focus on the negative report, we focus on what we lack
and we think on what we wish we had instead of being thankful and
appreciative for all that God has graciously given to us. We don't see our
cup as half full, instead we see it as almost empty. We forget of all the
things that we have to be thankful for and we focus more on the temporary
trial that is before us. What we must quickly realize and understand is
that our perspective will lead to either our joy or our misery. It is
within our hands to focus on the good or focus on the bad. (Psalm 34:1-4)
(Deuteronomy 30:19-20)
We can either look at that challenge and declare that we will come out of
it better, wiser and stronger than we were before it or we can admit
defeat and give up right where we stand. For me it's never even been a
question. I declare with my words that I am more than a conqueror through
Christ who loves me. Through His death and resurrection all blessings
abound towards me. Every good and perfect gift will God give unto me and
with my words I will declare that I will be victorious no matter the trial,
no matter the challenge and no matter the circumstance. It is within my
ability to believe God and stand on His eternal promises.
(Romans 8:35-37) (James 1:17)
No man can be defeated without his own permission and that is why I
encourage you to be determined to have a joyous outlook on life. Be
thankful for every blessing and with your words declare that you are
getting better every day in every way and show God with your words and
with your actions that you trust Him in every area of your life. When you
do, you will find yourself rejoicing even in the midst of the storm
because your assurance will be just that clear.
I hope this message encourages and inspires your heart to always have a
positive outlook on life and see the many blessings that you do possess.
COUNTING LITTLE BLESSINGS
Newly divorced, I was waiting tables at a little diner in Ponca City,
Oklahoma, barely scraping by. My three-year-old son, Scott, had chronic
asthma and the medical bills were overwhelming me. Worry undermined my
thinking. My faith in myself and God was crumbling. “Why am I going through
this?” I asked the Lord. “Why aren't you helping me?”
One day my good friend Bea came over and sat at the kitchen table with me
as I recounted my woes: “Scott isn't getting better. I've brought him to
the best doctors I can afford. He's taking five different medications, but
they don't seem to do any good. The landlord is raising our rent. I can't
work any more hours. I'm so tired I can hardly open my eyes in the morning...”
Scott sat on the floor at his toy piano, pounding out a perfect rendition
of “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.”
“Wow, would you listen to that,” Bea exclaimed. “That kid's got talent!”
“Lord knows he's had lots of practice, stuck inside all day. He can't go
out and play like a normal kid,” I said, sighing.
“Do you hear yourself?” Bea said. “It can't be all bad. When things are
rough, you have to look for the little blessings. Don't you have any happy
moments?”
Her words felt like ice water on my face. Easy for her to say, I thought.
She has a husband and a healthy daughter. What do I have? “It's hard to
keep the faith when things stay bad for so long,” I offered, sounding as
lame as I felt.
We sat for a moment while Scott played a song he'd made up. Finally Bea
spoke. “Try something for me these next few days. Get a notebook, and
every evening after you tuck Scott in to bed, write down just one little
blessing.”
I nodded. Bea rose to go.
What a stupid idea, I thought after she'd left. How can keeping a “happy
list” pay the bills or make Scott well? What good will this do?
And yet for the next few days, almost in spite of myself, I began looking
for blessings---little ones, to be sure; anything to make me feel hopeful
once more. Driving home from another long shift at the diner, I saw a short
line for gas at the local station. Back then, in the '70s during the oil
shortage, that was a real rarity. What good timing, I thought pulling in.
At work a customer passed on some magazines I'd wanted to read. Bea's
right, I thought as I wrote in my spiral notebook that night. It isn't all
bad news. Soon I was writing in my journal whenever I could snatch a free
moment.
10/24 Scott and I are having our oatmeal by the fire this morning. He slept
well last night and is full of talk.
11/1 Got a five-dollar tip today at the restaurant. I'm used to seeing
coins on the table! I'll use the money for Scott's birthday.
The more I wrote, the more my attitude shifted. When I read over my
journal entries, I could see how every new challenge turned out to be a
blessing in disguise.
12/16 Because of Scott's worsening condition, another day-care center has
rejected him and my job is on the line. Must think of other work options.
1/5 Bea gave me the idea to clean houses. I can take Scott with me (making
sure he isn't near when I dust, of course), save on child-care expenses and
watch him while I work!
3/20 I'm paying bills I thought I'd never be able to pay!
“I told you so!” Bea teased one day, sitting at my kitchen table. “You can
focus on your troubles or you can focus on your blessings. It makes all the
difference in the world!”
Our lives improved so much that I was ready to face the challenge when our
doctor urged us to move farther west to a drier climate for Scott's asthma.
My one great sadness was saying farewell to Bea. On the day we left I
thanked her for all her help, struggling to find the words.
“You keep writing,” she said, “you hear?”
Scott and I settled in Colorado. For the next 10 years I wrote every day,
no matter what. And not just journal entries. I began to think of myself
as a writer. I tried writing magazine articles. In one, I described having
to put my dog, Shorty, to sleep. I sent it to a small Humane Society
magazine. They actually bought the piece! I took writing classes at the
community college and scoured the library to find more places to send
articles. Every so often I combed through my old journals for story ideas.
Scott's asthma steadily improved in the dry climate. By the time he
graduated high school he was a healthy six-footer, with a room full of
awards from piano, saxophone and marching band competitions. But that same
year I received a sad letter from Bea.
“My life, I'm afraid, is dreary now,” she wrote. “With my husband gone and
my daughter's diabetes, I wonder sometimes what has been the purpose of my
struggle.”
I know just what she needs, I thought. I dug out my old faded spiral
notebook. I put it in a manila envelope along with my son's senior picture
and a note that said, “A wise friend once told me, 'When things are rough,
you have to look for the little blessings.'”
A month later I received a small parcel from Bea: my old notebook with a
few pages attached to the back.
6/12 Today I took my hot tea to the garden and read. My flowers are in full
bloom and the yard smells so sweet.
6/19 The doctor says it would be fine for me to enroll in water aerobics.
I'm scared, but I'm going.
6/21 Made a new friend, Maude, in aerobics class. She goes dancing every
Wednesday evening at the senior center.
6/26 There aren't many men to dance with at the center, so all of us “old
widows” dance with each other. What fun!
6/30 I have never felt better. It must be the exercise and the “little
blessings.”
At the bottom she'd added a note: “I'm returning your journal in hopes you
will write about this someday and share it with others. I love you. Bea.”
Yes, Bea, I will.
...whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever
things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely,
whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there
be any praise, think on these things. Philippians 4:7
Blessings are upon the head of the just...Proverbs 10:6
By Lou Dean
Read and meditate on these scriptures:
Deuteronomy 30:15-16 “See, I have set before thee this day life and good,
and death and evil; In that I command thee this day to love the LORD thy
God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments and His statutes
and His judgments, that thou mayest live and multiply: and the LORD thy
God shall bless thee in the land whither thou goest to possess it.”
Philippians 4:6-7 “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer
and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto
God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep
your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
Hebrews 11:6 “But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he
that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of
them that diligently seek Him.”
Psalm 34:1-6 “I will bless the LORD at all times: His praise shall
continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the
humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. O magnify the LORD with me, and
let us exalt His name together. I sought the LORD, and He heard me, and
delivered me from all my fears. They looked unto Him, and were lightened:
and their faces were not ashamed. This poor man cried, and the LORD heard
him, and saved him out of all his troubles.”
Psalm 33:20-22 “Our soul waiteth for the LORD: He is our help and our
shield. For our heart shall rejoice in Him, because we have trusted in His
Holy Name. Let Thy mercy, O LORD, be upon us, according as we hope in Thee.”
All of these scriptures can be found in the King James Version Bible.
Today’s Selected Poem: MESSAGES TO REMEMBER
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/inpoem110.htm
Today’s Selected Testimony: GOD HAS A PLAN
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony169.htm
In Christ’s Service,
Dwayne Savaya
God’s Work Ministry |
