blessings, blessings, blessings

Friday, February 4, 2011 (7:18 a.m.)

Blessed God,

Blessings, blessings, blessings abound! Everywhere I turn Dearest Lord I am reminded of Your great and wonderful blessings.

Thank You Lord. Thank You for working in and through me to break former patterns. Thank You that old diseased ways of thinking are giving way to new and much healthier ones. Thank You that the blessings You provide us each and every day keep us coming back to You for more.

This morning, in just thinking about blessings I find myself in the midst of Jacob’s final one to his sons (Genesis 49). His remarks concerning each of them may seem harsh. Ah, but he was honest. They weren’t perfect. Neither was he. But he wanted to give them helpful direction before he left them.

Thank You Lord. Thank You that we have so much we can learn from parents of the Bible. As well as our own. Thank You that You don’t call any of us to be perfect. Just accepting of Your forgiveness and willing to make the changes necessary to take us into even deeper relationship with You.

Thank You Lord that You are so good. So loving. So kind. So forgiving. What an awesome, wonderful God You are. Full of blessings.

In describing the strengths and weakness of all his sons, Jacob had this to say regarding Joseph (vs. 22-26), “Joseph is a fruitful vine, a fruitful vine [also read ‘a wild colt’] near a spring, whose branches climb over a wall. With bitterness archers attacked him; they shot at him with hostility. But his bow remained steady, his strong arms stayed limber, because of the Mighty One of Jacob, because of the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel, because of your father’s God, who helps you, because of the Almighty, who blesses you with blessings of the heavens above, blessings of the deep that lies below, blessings of the breast and womb. Your father’s blessings are greater than the blessings of the ancient mountains, than the bounty of the age-old hills. Let all these rest on the head of Joseph, on the brow of the prince among his brothers.”

Lord God, thank You for the reminder that ALL our blessings come from You. Joseph was ever faithful to You. Thank You for his example. Thank You Jacob’s spelling out of the things You are to us. “Mighty One. Shepherd. Rock of Israel. Your father’s God, who helps you. The Almighty, who blesses you with blessings…

Oh most dear and precious Lord. Blessings abound. Help us use them wisely. For Your good and Your glory. Thank You so very much Dearest Lord. I love You. Amen.

(445 words ~ 9:08 a.m.)