Many blessings get overlooked in our everyday lives
Numbers 6:24-26 The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.
This Bible verse is considered to be a universal blessing throughout the Christian world. It is often used at the closing of a sermon or at the end of a Christian ceremony.
Is it just said and heard as we continue in our busy lives? Or does it become a thought-provoking message of its own?
Most people feel blessed in many areas of life to the point that we come to expect it. As a result, so many blessings get overlooked while we go about our everyday lives. If we did not live in the great land of America, where we enjoy countless freedoms that are just everyday expectations, we might realize how blessed we really are. America is the land of plenty, whether we be rich or poor and we enjoy the blessing of freedoms that are nonexistent in other parts of the world. But as we become complacent in this luxury, there are factions that seize the opportunity to erode and curtail these God given freedoms.
These efforts are often sly and unobtrusive as they ease the door closed. Our lifestyle changes and suddenly we have lost a freedom that we recently took for granted. And we accept that because we are blinded by complacency, instant gratification, and the easy way. America, we must remain diligent at all times!
Colossians 4:2 tells us to, “Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving.”
Stay alert and be thankful for the many blessings that make our day. I would count my blessings, but I don’t have enough fingers and toes! Yet it is uplifting to think about how you have been blessed in ways that you don’t even realize.
Matthew 26:41 reminds us to, “Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
I can hear my dear sainted Mama talking about the blessings we had received, of course like many young sprouts, I didn’t pay much attention. I thought that was just how old folks did, but as I matured, I could see more clearly and I began to enjoy counting my own blessings. I also come to know that they are too numerous to count. I think we should always give thanks for God’s blessings and be on constant alert to safe guard threatened loss of them.
1st Peter 5:8 Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. My desire is that we all continue to enjoy our blessings, be thankful for them, and be diligent in our efforts to keep them.
Showers of Blessings
The mornin’ sun broke ‘crost far mountain peak,
Critters stirred forth, its warmth to seek,
At cabin’s door I stopped to speak,
“Thank You Lord, for the blessings.”
The sweet caress of your young bride’s sigh,
The plaintive sound of a baby’s cry,
The sparkle in a young child’s eye,
All a part of God’s blessings.
Family times an’ friendships were there,
When early morn brings crispy air,
With Mama’s Bible an’ then her prayer,
An’ we thanked the Lord for the blessings.
Then my thoughts took a wanderin’ turn,
Back to the days of youthful concern,
An’ relished the memories return,
An’ said, “Thank You Lord for the blessings.”
.Ahhh those carefree days of gleeful fun,
From early morn ‘til day was done,
Only to find that life has just begun,
So Thank You Lord, for the blessings
An’ as days slowly became years,
There was lots of laughter an’ some tears,
But we muddled on an’ faced our fears,
All the while saying, “Thank You Lord for the blessings.”
Being a part of God’s domain,
Listening to loved ones joyful refrain,
Relishing a sudden summer rain,
We are thankful for the blessings.
To see sunrise an’ sunsets glow,
Sweet scent of rain as gentle winds blow,
The soft whisper of a winters snow,
Lord, thank you for the blessings.
The beauty of valleys from canyons on high,
The gurgling creeks as water flows by,
The flight of geese in an autumn sky,
Help us say “Thank You Lord for the blessings.
With ups an’ downs, an’ all arounds,
Sometimes bad, yet good often rebounds,
As you are encouraged with the sounds,
Of folks saying, “Thank You Lord for the blessings.”
Then the years bring you from young to old,
An’ you count your friends as solid gold,
The richness of life will soon unfold,
An’ you say, “Thank You Lord for the blessings.”
The questioning glimpse of fancied love,
The peace symbol of the flying dove,
The quiet assurance of God above,
Oh Lord, we say thank you for the blessings.
The banter an’ laughter of friends you have known,
A preacher’s sermon, God’s love to intone,
A whispered confidence to you alone,
Brings words of Thank You Lord for the blessings
With old dogs an’ great horses you rode,
Them ranches an’ good bosses you knowed,
As you lived the life in the Cowboy Code,
Always giving thanks to your Lord for the blessings.
You relive those days through countless hours,
Counting those blessings that come in showers
An’ you are thankful that the Lord empowers,
Each one to receive, Showers of Blessings!
© Ol’ Jim Cathey
Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
God Bless you and God Bless America!