Being Blessed

Mama made sure my diaper was changed and I was fed. For that reason, I’m sure the first word I learned to say was Mama. If I was anything like my three sons, my next words were no and mine. I was born self-centered, only concerned about getting. Now that God is my provider, not Mama, I do well to understand that my blessings depend on my giving, not getting.

Give, and you will not have to worry about receiving. You will receive a full measure, packed down, shaken together, and spilling into your lap. The measure you give determines the measure you will receive. — Luke 6:38

Ten Thoughts to Ponder

1. As long as I love the Lord and I’m striving to fulfill God’s purpose for my life, I can be comfortable not knowing the future.
2. If I’m not looking, I’ll miss seeing the good purpose God has for allowing my pain.
3. I wonder why I wonder and wonder and wonder. Suddenly the light dawns, and I don’t have to wonder anymore.
4. The most important aspect of prayer is gaining confidence that God knows what he is doing.
5. Learning is finding a way to connect the dots when they have no numbers to show how they should come together.
6. We haven’t learned until something changes in what we think.
7. The greatest challenge to learning is thinking I already know.
8. The process of getting there is more important than the prize, because there is no prize without the process.
9. Spiritual blessings of faith, hope, and love will not meet the world’s standards for blessings.
10. People who think God doesn’t know their thoughts should think again.

Questions for Further Thought

• How do God’s blessings differ from what the world values?
• What kinds of giving does God respect most?