Count Your Blessings

"Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, see what God hath done,
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
and it will surprise you what the Lord hath done."

Don't ya love old hymns? I do. The words are often so simple and true like in this simple hymn.

Lately, I have been catching myself feeling overwhelmingly blessed. I'm not going to lie. My life is pretty good! I definitely have my trials and hard times, but it all seems to be overshadowed by all of the blessings God has given to me. Or maybe I have just chosen a different focus.

I think about the people in my life. I have the best family in the world; that can't be argued. My parents are amazing role models in everything from their spiritual walks to their day-today lives. I can come to them with anything and I know they always have my back. My siblings aren't so bad either. My sisters are two of my best friends and I could not be more happy to be living in the same city as both of them (for the first time in 10 years)! My bubba is one of the most caring people I know who wouldn't hurt a fly unless it was to protect one of his sisters. Told ya, best family award goes to me!

It seems that wherever God puts me in my life, that He has continually blessed me with wonderful friends and support. I am very much a people person and I strongly believe in the power of encouragement, as I wrote in a blog a while ago. I wouldn't be where I am or be doing all that God has me doing right now if it weren't for the constant encouragement of the people around me.

As I have started this new journey to New Orleans, it has been so difficult not being with my constant support system of family and friends. Yet not a day goes by that I don't hear from so many friends and my family as well.

My life in New Orleans so far has been more than I could have ever dreamed of. The transition in to my new job is still going smoothly. I have met such wonderful people here already. And the Friendship House is just a heap of blessing.

So why? Why am I so blessed? I hope you weren't looking for a deep, theological explanation because I am a pretty simple person. Why has God chosen to bless me? Because He loves me. It is still hard for me to comprehend at times. That God loves me so much that not only would He give me this wonderful life with all of these wonderful things going on, but that He would think of me 2000 years ago when He sent His son to die so that I can be with Him forever. Not for me, but for His glory. Now that is what I call a blessing.

So now I remind you to count your blessings. Think of the positive instead of the negative. Think of the good things in life instead of the bad. Think about what God has done instead of the things you want Him to do. At times it is so much easier to count your misfortunes, but these are the times I encourage you to count your blessings. God has done so much for us and He deserves our praise.

"And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus" -Philippians 4:19

"Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because of this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing." -1 Peter 3:9

"He will receive blessing from the Lord and righteousness from the God of his salvation." Psalm 24:5