Blessings by Shalene Kearney

I was going to quit duplicating my own posts in the blog and the team blog, but today's post was one that I think bears duplicating. So it's being duplicated here. :)

Howbeit thou art just in all that is brought upon us; for thou hast done right, but we have done wickedly: Neither have our kings, our princes, our priests, nor our fathers, kept thy law, nor hearkened unto thy commandments and thy testimonies, wherewith thou didst testify against them. For they have not served thee in their kingdom, and in thy great goodness that thou gavest them, and in the large and fat land which thou gavest before them, neither turned they from their wicked works. Behold, we are servants this day, and for the land that thou gavest unto our fathers to eat the fruit thereof and the good thereof, behold, we are servants in it: Nehemiah 9:33-37 (KJV)

How often have you thought about all the blessings in your life? All those people and things that you have been given by the Lord? I don't think about them as blessings often enough. Oh, I think of them as blessings everyday, but that's still not often enough. I don't think about them as blessings that I need to give genuine thanks for every day.

The Lord has been merciful to all of us! Not one of us has gotten what they deserve, and yet we've been given so much that we don't deserve. Our blessings come so abundantly that we forget that they don't come free. We are to give thanks to Him that "giveth and taketh away" because He can and very likely will take it away, if we don't turn from our sinful ways and turn back to Him. Just as the Jews were made servants in the land that they had been given, we too can have our blessings removed if we don't take the time to thank Him for His provision.

We that believe that Christ is our saviour and have confessed with our mouths that He is Lord, cannot have our salvation taken from us, but what a dreadful existence this earthly life would be, at least for me, if I did not have the blessings of a loving family, a warm home, food to eat, the sun shining on my face each morning, warm clothes, the laughter of my children, not to mention all my material possessions; and there are SO many more. So today, I implore you, take the time to really notice all the blessings in your life, and thank Him for them. It's so little to ask really. And show Him that your thanks are sincere, by allowing the Holy Spirit to move within you, and to keep you from your sinful tendencies.

--Lord, I know that I am a sinner, and I know that You love me anyway. I know this not only because Your Word tells me so, but because of the innumerable blessings you've bestowed upon me. We both know that this life You've given to me has not been all roses and sunshine, but even my trials have been blessings; and I thank you for them as well. Help me to recognize each and every blessing you shower on me today, and help me to be even slightly worthy of them. I ask this in Jesus' Holy Name.
Amen