Blessings

January 18, 2016

My Devotion

My Heart

Blessings

Teresa Jenkins

Blessings crown the head of the righteous…Proverbs 10:6

I remember a song growing up in church that was sung often in the “song service” on Sunday morning.  “Count Your Blessings.”  I can still hear my mother’s voice singing that song.  Her voice was beautiful.  As a child when I heard that song, I didn’t understand the words, “when upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed,” but I did understand blessings, except I didn’t get that it is “upon the billows of life” that we are given blessings of the greatest value.

Some people have the illusion that the Christian life is paradise, once you become a Christian no more pain, no more struggle, life is supposed to become easy street, Jesus did say that He came to give life more abundant.  Quickly that illusion turns to reality and the bills don’t get magically paid, relationships go through trials, sickness and death still come.  Bad things still happen to good people. 

The abundance Jesus promised us was not the wealth and prosperity of this world, but that through anything God’s blessings would prevail over whatever this world would try to do to us. 

This is why Paul wrote in his letter to the church of Colosse, (while he was in prison) “Set your mind on things above, not on earthly things.  For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.  When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.” Colossians 3:2-4  We are such now thinkers this instruction is so hard to follow.  We do not know how to think on things above, what God has for us no one can even begin to imagine.  But that is no excuse.  Paul also told us that we walk by faith not by sight.  “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived” –the things God has prepared for those who love Him. These are the things God has revealed to us by His Spirit. 1Corinthians 2:9-10

You know that nagging feeling that sometimes comes to the surface of our thoughts that says, there has to be something more, that empty feeling that nothing you try fills that void.  That is what God is trying to reveal to you and me.  He has given us a hunger for all the things He has prepared for us.  Some of those things are for here in this life, but most are waiting for us when we reign with Him.  We cannot imagine with our human mind all that God has for us, but in the meantime He pours out His blessings on us in the midst of our troubles and trials of this life to help keep our minds on things above.  Life can get so bad down here, but we have this hope like an anchor that holds us firm in every storm we face.

Count Your Blessings

When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

Refrain

Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, see what God hath done!
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

Are you ever burdened with a load of care?
Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly,
And you will keep singing as the days go by.

Refrain

When you look at others with their lands and gold,
Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold;
Count your many blessings. Wealth can never buy
Your reward in heaven, nor your home on high.

Refrain

So, amid the conflict whether great or small,
Do not be disheartened, God is over all;
Count your many blessings, angels will attend,
Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end.

In HIS Time

Teresa