God’s Blessings in Our Lives

Psalm 103

“Bless the Lord, oh my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name. bless the Lord oh my soul, and forget none of his benefits; who pardons all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases; who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with loving kindness and compassion; who satisfies your years with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle.”

The past month God has blessed our family with two beautiful girls. Near the end of May our youngest son Elijah was married to Sierra near the home where she was raised in Kauai. Mark and I had the joy of meeting many of Sierra’s friends and family as well as seeing the beauty of the place where she grew up. We are very thankful for her good character.

Just a couple of weeks later our son Ezra and his wife Heather welcomed a new baby to their home, little Lily Grace. We are also very thankful for this little life made in the image of God.

Besides these big gifts of God to us, I daily find amazement in God’s countless blessings. Just last night I was rejoicing over the wonderful fellowship we have in our small group from church. So many friends and family make my life so rich. But also I see many of God‘s blessings in the beautiful plants that grow so abundantly here in northwest Washington. Flowers are always a fascination to me as to how in the world God makes them come up out of the dirt and be so complicated and colorful.

Let’s be noticing God’s goodness to us every moment of the day so that we can say with David of old, “Bless the Lord, oh my soul.”

Let God be God

With the very sad and uncalled for war currently raging in Ukraine and with ten of my family members having long term residence there, many people have asked me concerning the degree of my worry about them. Although all of them have now evacuated to European countries, my son continues to return regularly with needed supplies and encouragement from God’s word for the people who are unable to leave. Our grandson Mishael who has been living with us for the last couple of years was raised in Ukraine and for the past week and a half has been visiting friends there and helping with the war effort. Why is my life not filled with fretting and worry? It is not because I know that they are safe and will be just fine; in other words some kind of positive thinking gymnastics. No, my secret to a peaceful soul revolves around my confidence (from what God’s word says) that God is perfect and perfectly in control of all things.

Recently I watched a wonderful video on this subject that I hope will be an encouragement to you as well. If you want to skip the music at the beginning, go to 20 minutes in and you will find the great message concerning letting God be God. Click on the link below.

Let God be God

Ladies, remember that we have completed our Thursday morning studies for the summer. However, there will be some get-togethers coming up. So keep watching for info on that.

I’d love to hear your feedback on this video.

Basic Christian Living Part 2

“Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another;…” Romans 12:10

Romans 12:9-21 presents us with quite an exhaustive list of directives for our daily living. Just a small portion of these commands include —”Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them…Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight.” How in the world do we really live out these admonitions consistently? After a good look at this chapter of Romans, it seems evident that we must be renewed in our hearts and souls. We need to die to our selves and allow God to truly live through us. Always remember that the bliss of God’s ways can never be improved upon. Let’s discuss all of this Thursday morning as we conclude our Bible studies for the spring.

Ladies, since this Thursday morning will be our last time to study together until September, let’s plan to bring a sack lunch for ourselves and take time to enjoy it together as we linger to visit with one another.