Count Your Blessings

Often, I forget how blessed I am.  I forget that God provides for my daily needs, well, daily.  I forget that I don't have to worry or fret about what we'll eat, how we'll pay bills, when events will take place.  It's already taken care of.  I just forget that those things take place not in my time but in God's. 

But, I AM, we are, blessed.  Abundantly.  We have a home that gives us shelter.  We have a vehicle that gets us where we need to go.  I have a job that pays the bills (and God often stretches my paycheck in miraculous ways). We have friends and family members and a church family who are so very precious to us.  My co-workers are gems, and I genuinely enjoy being with them during the day.  Our Bible study group is a group I think of as friends who have become like family, and I look forward to Monday nights because I know we'll be with people we love and who love us.

I hesitated before writing this.  I don't want it to seem like I'm boasting in any way.  I give God ALL the glory for what He has done and continues to do.  But, I've felt a pressing need to tell you how God has been working through our loved ones lately, even some whom we haven't known for very long.  It's a testament to men and women who listen to what God is saying to their hearts and who act on it.  I hope it will point you to the true Giver.  To the One who gives us all we need and more.  Read closely, Friends, but not too closely.  Instead, open your hearts to what God wants to say to you.  If anything, I pray that you only read what God would have you read.  Nothing more.  His story.  Not my own.

Let's begin...

*A little over two weeks ago, on a bright (and INCREDIBLY) foggy morning, The Husband and I went to our church.  I sang on the praise team that morning (which means helping lead in worship both services), so instead of sitting through both services, we chose to sit through the second one.  And by sit, I mean we listened to the sermon and didn't just participate in the praise and worship aspect of it as we did during the first service. Anywho.  Our pastor was speaking on how Jesus responded to those who tried to trap Him.  One such instance (Luke 20:20-26) was when spies were sent by the pharisees.  These men asked if the Jews should pay taxes to Caesar.  This was a HUGE hot-button issue back then--Caesar (whose image was on the coin of that day) claimed he was a god, which was abhorrent to the Jews.  If Jesus responded that they should pay the tax, the pharisees would have cause to arrest Him for agreeing that Caesar was a god and for not obeying God's command to serve no other god but Him.  If He responded that they shouldn't pay the tax, they would arrest Him on grounds that He spoke against the Roman ruler.  It was a lose-lose situation.  But our God is greater than those who stand against Him.  Read how Jesus responded.  He knew their treacherous hearts and knew that His response would make a statement to all who heard.  Our pastor pulled out a $100 bill and showed it to us.  He asked what the value was.  He crumpled it up, stepped on it, and smoothed it out.  He asked again how much it was worth?  We all knew the value stayed the same.  All throughout the message that morning, he wove in stories of people.  People without a voice.  People that the world sees as invaluable.  The unborn children being aborted every day.  Women forced into sexual slavery throughout the world (and in our own backyards where human trafficking is happening all around us...). Men and women on the streets with signs asking for help who we refused to look in the eye.  It simply breaks my heart.  Our pastor asked us to remember the value that God places on EVERY human life.  Every life is precious to Him.  He sent His son to die so that not ONE would be lost.  At the end of the sermon, our pastor asked if there were any pregnant gals in the congregation.  I raised my hand.  He looked at me, smiled, and said that unborn children are precious to God.  He walked over to us and handed us the $100.  His gift to us for our child.  I cried as I sang the last song of worship.  I cried because God knows our struggles, hears our prayers, and answers in miraculous ways.  I heard later that the money was from his own wallet.  That He felt God telling him to give us the money and that he didn't want to at first :).  But God continued speaking to His heart, and he obeyed joyfully. What a blessing he was to us that day. 

*Yesterday morning, after waiting and praying for weeks, The Husband got a part-time job offer from a gal who owns a company called Meal Masters.  She's a Christian gal who teaches others (not just those who live nearby) how to plan, purchase, and prepare a month's worth of meals in just a few days (she even has a book of paleo recipes) all on a small budget.  The meals get stored in the freezer throughout the month and get pulled out as needed.  We met her about a month ago at her home for a "tasting" of some of the meals she has in her recipe books.  Yum!  But, I digress.  A friend of ours does some work for her, and she highly recommended The Husband's IT skills.  It's a small role in the company for now (updating the website mostly), but we're hoping and praying that God is preparing a bigger role for him.  This first month is like a test to see how he does.  Would you pray that if it's God's will, that The Husband would do an excellent job and that the company would continue to thrive?  I appreciate you!

*Yesterday afternoon, after a long day at work, we arrived home to a large box on our doorstep.  My name was on it!  What was in this box, you ask?  Bath and skin goodies from my parents!  Remember that bath gel I received as a Christmas present that smells exactly like almond extract?? They gave me four more and a jar of body lotion!  I'm SET for a long time :)

*Last night, after showering with my new bath gel, we headed to Bible study.  We arrived to laughter and lots of tasty foods to munch on.  I love that we like those guys and gals so much that fellowshipping with them for almost an hour never quite seems like enough.  I headed to the table where the food sat (because I'm hungry ALL THE TIME), and started visiting with a girl who's pretty new to the group.  She's a sweet gal who lived in South Africa for quite a while before moving here.  I'm sure she's had experiences some of us could never imagine.  She has a heart for the poor, the needy, who roam the streets.  She has a heart for God.  This sweet gal, who I met not a month ago, handed me a beautiful envelope.  She told me that The Husband and I had been on her heart and that she had been praying for us all week.  She said this was something she felt led to do.  I opened the envelope, saw the money neatly tucked inside, and read her sweet words in the card.  Y'all, this girl, who barely knows us, gave generously to us out of her abundance.  I was overwhelmed.  I hesitated a few beats and told her we couldn't accept such a generous gift.  I felt guilty for taking it. She said that she has more than she needs, and she knew God wanted her to do that for us.  Her gift of prayer, her smile, her kind words would have been sufficient, but God took it a step further.  I, in my pride, wanted to say no.  My gratitude to Jesus for how He continues to amaze me allowed me to step past my pride and accept with joyful thanksgiving.  Her gift was out of love (for God and for us).  How could I dismiss or reject that?  So, thank you, Sam :)

The instances I just recounted show the hands and feet of Jesus clearly at work.  Part of me doesn't understand it, doesn't see how we deserve such generosity, doesn't even want to accept it.  But, I do know that God loves us.  Provides for us.  Over and over again.  Just when I forget, He reminds me.  In a BIG way.  And, I praise Him.  Again and again.

Last night, The Husband and I fell asleep both feeling the kicks of our baby (y'all, I'm little terrified at HOW active this wee one is, haha!).  How precious are those little hands and feet (and elbows) shoving and kicking away! Those little bumps reminded me how precious we are to God.  So precious.

These people, who have been the hands and feet of Christ, are amazing.  Not because of what they give, but because of how they do so, how they listen to God's small voice, see a need, and act.  I never want my heart to stop breaking for those around me who are in need.  Never.  I want to do something about it and not turn a blind eye.  I have set my mind and heart to pray and listen for how God can use me.  There are sooo many needs, but there are also plenty of ways to help.  I just need Him to point me in the right direction :)

I know that there are others out there struggling.  Trying to make it through the day.  I want you to know that God loves you, and He desires a relationship with you.  Please don't turn away.  Don't turn a blind eye to the Creator who sent His son to die so that we might NEVER be separated from Him.  Seek Him out, and I pray you will find Him in a big way.   He's a big God, and He's kinda hard to miss...