Count your blessings!

Warning!!!  This is a long post!!  HAHAH, Sorry, but I had to share!

There is an old song that I grew up hearing and singing that says:  “Count your many blessings name them one by one.  Count your many blessings see what God has done.”  I was reminded of this song this week in several ways.  Honestly, I was feeling very blue.  The Christmas season is upon us, and it used to be a very joyous time for me.  While our family was very poor growing up, God ALWAYS provided.  I remember the excitement that I used to have in putting up the tree and decorating, and the gifts.  I have to admit that between my twin sisters and I, I was a mastermind!  HAHAH, yes I admit it!!!  I would devise ways to find the gifts that our parents were hiding, and if they were wrapped, I perfected the art of unwrapping without leaving a trace!   HAHAHA   We would take turns watching the door while our parents were away, as we looked at what we were getting for Christmas.  I think the excitement came in trying to find the gifts and the sneakiness of finding out what we got.  Horrible, I know, but it’s the truth.  We all knew the sacrifices our parents made to give those gifts, and when they could not, we watched time and time again as God provided.  I remember one Christmas; we did not have a tree, food, or even gifts.  I was a little sad, but mom kept saying that God knew and he would give us what we needed.  We prayed and trusted.  Really, all we really needed we already had, a loving family.  Several days before Christmas, someone arrives with food, gifts, and a tree!  I will never forget that day.  There was so much joy in my heart.  While I was very thankful for those who brought the Christmas blessing, I was overjoyed with how God provided.  Again I say, time and time again, God always provided, yet somehow through living, those memories, those milestones, were forgotten and replaced with worry and strife and having  to multitask.  The Joy was lost.  I found myself this past week sitting thinking how I just wished the holidays would just move on quickly so that I could go on with my normal. 

So how was it that God reminded me?  Well he used my kids.  As we are homeschooling, I have lots of time with the kids, and we get to talk and I get to listen.  As I was stressing and busy, and just really wishing it was January, we stopped at McDonalds to eat.  I let the kids play for a little, then I called them to sit down and eat.  My kids are normal kids, they are loud, rambunctious, yet very loving and sensitive.  As we ate, Ruthy, our oldest, asked me a question:  “Dad, how do you hear God?”  Now it did take me a second to process what she was asking, but it was not a total surprise, as she has always asked these kinds of questions.  It was just that my mind was so full of all the things that I had to get done, that it took me a sec to get out of my own little world and enter back into hers.  I thought for a minute and explained to her how Rhesa and I heard God and how biblically God has spoken to others.  Dreams, appearing directly to them, and the sense of peace that you get when you know He is asking something of you.  I proceeded to give her examples of my own life, especially when I was in college.  Now I do not share the following so that you can say, “oh look at him!”, rather I share so that you can see what God has done.  I shared one story in particular, something that I had not honestly thought of in a long time.  While in college, I had taken out loans and had gotten a refund that was for books or whatever I needed.  Well, I really needed a car.  I did not have a whole lot, but enough to buy an old car that could get me most places.  I still lived at home with my parents and we only had two cars, one that my dad used to go to work, and one my mom used to cart the four of us still living at home, around.  It truly was a need, one that I was not sure how I would fill, until I got this refund.  Then something strange happened, I sensed God saying that that money was not mine.  WHAT?  I had the opportunity to buy my car, yet God was saying no?  The more I prayed about it, the more it was confirmed.  What do I do with it then?  Then God gave me the answer.  Give it away.  WHAT????  Give it away?  To who?  It was then that the answer came, “To Africa”.  HUH???  AFRICA?  I didn’t know anyone there!  But it was clear.  It just so happened that one of my professors had been a missionary there and still had connections.  I approached him and told him what was going on.  He told me that if I was sure, he would make sure that the money would be sent to Africa and put into a fund where it could accumulate more money, then be used to make sure many others could be trained as pastors.  To this day, I have no clue where exactly it was sent or how many it helped, that’s not important.  The important part was that I was obedient to the Lord’s leading.  Ok, so the rest of the story, the part that has to do with counting my blessings.  Weeks later, maybe months, I am not exactly sure, but right before Christmas, I received a title in the mail.  Strange.  Then several days later, as we came home from dinner, parked in our driveway was a little blue chevy sprint, that had a red bow and a letter that read, “Robert, this is for you to use in the ministry God has called you to.”  SERIOUSLY??!!!  I could not believe it.  To this day I have no clue who gave me that car, but God, once again provided for my needs. 

You see, as I told the kids this story, something in me stirred.  Joy returned. Memories of God’s faithfulness in my life began flooding my mind and tears began to come.  The sadness that I was feeling was because I had forgotten.  I had forgotten about all the times that God was faithful.  I had forgotten to count my blessings. 

Years ago a dear friend of ours told us about a journal that she had made in Italy.  It was made of fine leather and by all means was a nice journal, but it’s significance was greater than just a journal.  She called it her “But God” book.  It was to journal all the times that God stepped in the midst of circumstances.  It was to write and chronicle the difficult times, the times of great need, the times where we could not see a way, But God stepped in.  It was a way to remember, and be reminded, and remind your kids and family, of God’s faithfulness. 

In my studies of the old testament, I loved reading how God would remind His people who he was.  He was the God of Jacob, of Abraham, and Isaac.  He would remind them of what he had done for them, lest they forget.  Even now, many Jews remind themselves of who God is and what he has done for them, yet here I was, allowing myself to forget, being overcome with strife and stress. 

It was a very sweet reminder, and one that I will not quickly forget.  God is good and I will always count my blessings from now on, and I will tell my children about those blessings as I count them.  I want them to see and remember God’s faithfulness.  I want to remind them and to know that God is alive and that he continues to speak to those who will listen.  I want them to experience His faithfulness in their own lives. 

Now I head into this hectic Christmas season with Joy, remembering what it’s truly about.  I count my blessings for my Savior who was born to set me and you free from our sin.  The greatest blessing ever! 

What about you?  Are you overwhelmed, stressed, sad, or discouraged this Christmas?  If so, think back and count your blessings and see what God has done, and is doing!!