Counting My Blessings

I started off the month with good intentions of expressing my gratitude to the Lord for His blessings via Facebook posts. Unfortunately, life crowded in, and I sadly fell behind. So I’d like to use this post to collectively express my gratitude.

We all have much to be grateful for, don’t we? But it’s easy to allow the enemy to distract us from gratitude. I can’t help but remember the ten lepers who were healed by Jesus, yet only one returned to say “thank you.”

It’s also easy to say “I’m grateful for (fill in the blank),” but failing to remember the source of all blessings. We should be more than just grateful, but grateful to the Lord.

Though I could expound for days the blessings I’ve experienced from our heavenly Father, I’ll do my best to keep it brief for your sake.

Grateful to the Lord For These Blessings

God’s Presence through the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. There is no greater blessing than this. He is my Shelter, my Strength, my Song, my Salvation, my Shepherd, my Guide, my Refuge, my Strong Tower, my Help, my Comforter, my Advocate, my great High Priest, my All in All, my Friend, the Lover of my Soul, the Living Word, my Redeemer, my Hiding Place, my Maker, my Lord, my Savior, my King, and so much more! Oh, Lord God, thank You for Your presence in my life!
People. I’ve always been a loner and introvert, but when it comes to being grateful, it’s always the people God has placed in my life which top of the list right below my gratefulness for the Lord’s presence. Thank You, God, for bringing these wonderful people into my life.

I’m so blessed to have my husband in my life. He is truly my other half (and better half), my sweetheart, my helper, and my best friend. I’m so grateful that he is the one God gave me as we journey through this earthly life.
My mom is such a blessing to me. I love our weekly phone chats. She is full of such common sense, and helps keep me grounded. So much of who I am is because of her influence.
My sons–though I confess to being biased–are simply the best. They’re both such caring, gracious, and altruistic people, and make my mama-heart swell with pride in who they are.
My daughter-in-love is such a treasure. Her walk with the Lord inspires me to live better, and I’m blessed to have her as the mother of my grandchildren. She truly is an answer to a long-spoken prayer.
And of course, I can’t fail to mention my grand-children. They fill my heart with love and joy. They put a spring in my step and a song in my heart.
My siblings will always be special to me. There is a bond there that nothing can sever.
My church family, not only locally, but literally around the globe are such a blessing and source of encouragement to me. Among this number are such prayer warriors, such encouragers, such defenders of the faith! I look forward to spending eternity with you!
My reader friends keep me going in what the Lord has called me to do. You keep me from despair and discouragement. Thank you for your encouragement, your kind words, your help in getting my books ready and helping me spread the word. Thank you for reading the books and for letting me know how much you enjoy them. I went into this whole writing thing with the hope of blessing others, but I’m the one who’s been blessed.


Heritage and Legacy of Faith. I’m so grateful for my Christian heritage, for my grandparents, who prayed for me and demonstrated to me what living for Christ looks like. I’m grateful to be born in a country where faith can be practiced and expressed without fear of persecution that so many brothers and sisters around the world experience. Thank You, God, for this treasured blessing. May I never take it for granted.
Health. Though I, like each of us, have my fair share of health issues, my brain functions, I can see, and I can move around. Thank You, Lord, for my health.
Material Blessings. At first glance this might seem a rather shallow and superficial thing to mention, but may I never be guilty of not thanking the Lord for even the smallest of blessings. For a roof (though sometimes a leaky one) over my head, for the clothes on my back and in my closet, for clean water, for electricity and fuel that keep us comfortable, for indoor plumbing, for food in our cupboards and in our stomachs, for all this and more, I’m grateful to You, Lord.

Though there are so many other blessings for which I’m grateful, I’ll pray them to the Lord rather than list them here. My prayer for everyone reading this post is that you and yours will have a blessed day of Thanksgiving to the Lord. And may we all be aware of the needs of others around us, and do what we can to meet those needs.

Live loved and blessed,

Cathy

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