Today I want to remind you that no matter how difficult the day seems…
God has promised rich and glorious blessings
to each of us who have chosen to call him Lord.
Many of those blessings come in the most unexpected ways.
I’ll be sharing just one here today.
Early each morning, I post an inspiring greeting on Facebook. Today it was this verse:
I pray also that you will have greater understanding in your heart
so you will know the hope to which he has called us and that you will know
how rich and glorious are the blessings God has promised his holy people.
Ephesians 1:18 NCV
The verse stayed with me through the day and I realized you just might need to be reminded of God’s amazing love for you.
And of his grace given in extraordinary measure through Christ:
In Christ we are set free by the blood of his death,
and so we have forgiveness of sins. How rich is God’s grace,
which he has given to us so fully and freely.
Ephesians 1:7-8
I love these words that the apostle Paul prayed over the church in Ephesus and essentially over us too…
I always remember you in my prayers, asking the God of our Lord Jesus Christ,
the glorious Father, to give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation
so that you will know him better.
Ephesians 1:16b-17
Isn’t our deepest yearning to know God better?
Paul’s prayer (with which we began) continues…
I pray also that you will have greater understanding in your heart
so you will know the hope to which he has called us and that you will know
how rich and glorious are the blessings God has promised his holy people.
Ephesians 1:18 NCV
There’s much more to Paul’s powerful prayer, which you can read here.
Today I want to talk about God’s blessings.
When I became a Christ follower, I thought my life would be wonderful. That every road I traveled would be smooth and that I would excel and be prosperous in everything I did. At least I was led to think that by people I listened to and respected. Seriously, I was surprised when bad things happened. I didn’t expect that. After all, I was a child of God. Now I admit, I might have misunderstood my teachers. There also is a very real possibility, as well, that they didn’t prepare me for the challenges of the journey.
Since, I have come to have a “greater understanding” of this “hope to which he has called us” through life’s challenges. My experiences have taught me that God’s blessings are not always the blessings we expect. But, they are always good.
As an only child, born to older parents, and without children, I don’t have much family. But, what’s interesting, is that God has blessed me richly with sisters. There are dear women in every state I’ve lived who have become loving friends. And then there are fellow bloggers and readers who are also wonderful sisters in the Lord. In some unique way, God has blessed me with each of these women.
This week, I finally got to meet a blogging sister in person.
Sometime ago, when I was visiting Deborah’s blog, Green Willow Pond, she mentioned her anxieties at her husband receiving a lay-off notice. I reached out to her, because my husband lost his job, and I know those feelings she was experiencing. We exchanged emails and prayed for each other. And, praise God, her husband was called back to work. Since that time, she has continued to encourage and pray for me in my seemingly endless journey.
This week she traveled to visit her daughter, not too far from me, which gave us an opportunity to meet for breakfast. What a treat to be able to sit and chat in person and to get to know Deborah more and to hear her heart. She has such a sweet spirit and is raising her children to be amazing people. We only got to spend a few hours together as she had a long drive ahead. As we parted, Deborah presented me with a beautiful gift… a gorgeous fringed scarf in a stunning shade of pale sea-green aqua with pretty earrings in the same color. It not only was the perfect color, but I have always admired scarves like it and never had one. I was so touched by her thoughtfulness, kindness, and generosity. What a joy it was to get to spend a little bit of time together.
You know, if my journey had been free of bumps, I doubt that I would have met Deborah. I would not have had the compassionate heart to hear and understand and to have been able to pray with such confidence had I not experienced loss. If I had excelled and prospered at everything I had put my hand to, I doubt very much that I would have become a blogger, or at least not in this vein. God’s rich and glorious blessings come to us through the trials of life. And friendship certainly is one of God’s richest blessings that I wouldn’t want to miss for anything.
- What are some rich and glorious blessings that you enjoy?
- Which have you taken for granted?
- And what blessings would you have not experienced had it not been for the bumps in life’s journey?
It’s Joy Day!
On Joy Day! we take a few minutes to reflect and count our blessings. All the wonderful gifts that we have received, midst the good and not-so-good, we count. They are infinite… but today we rejoice and give thanks for just seven.
I’ll start… And then you follow by leaving yours in the ‘share your extraordinary thoughts’ section below.
God, I’m grateful for…
- a beautiful day and the joy of creating and working outside in your amazing creation.
- a new possibility for Tim when we thought there might never be another.
- the anticipation of meeting a friend in person and the blessing of our get together.
- healing my friend’s dear kitty.
- bringing people and circumstances into my life to challenge me to step up my game.
- twilight. Oh how I love that you created this magical time of the day.
- YOU. That you are an amazing loving, caring, wise, faithful, unfailing God.
Now it’s your turn!!
You’ll be glad you did….I dare you!
Want even more joy? Take the Joy Dare here.
Thank you for stopping by today.
I appreciate you and your sweet comments make my day.
Joyfully!
Diane
To receive FREE bits of inspiration like this
in your inbox or reader, subscribe now.
If you enjoyed this post….please pass it on to your friends.
Click any of the sharing buttons at the bottom.
2014 lots of bumps, but my funk was not lifting even after the situations resolved themselves for good or bad. I tried counting my many blessings, my head was understanding but the emotional funk stayed. I prayed, still funk stayed. Hard to go through the day with the funk onus firmly pushing on my heart.
No changes in circumstances, but the funk lifted this week. Praise God
The journey with the bumps was hard enugh without the blues, but all that is behind me now. Onward to what loving, bountiful God has in store for me.
Oh Gail, I’m so sorry for your funk and I rejoice with you that it finally lifted. Praise God!!!
Praying your week overflows with goodness and joy! [hugs]
I am grateful to God:
1. For Beautiful Fall weather!
2. for the work God is doing in my life through the trials and hard times in my life!
3. for the wonderful Christian women He has brought into my life!
4. For dreams!
5. For a wonderful Saturday at the Farmers Market, cultural Festival and Lunch at this wonderful little restaurant
in the charming little town of Winter Garden Fl. with one of my Dear Friends!
6. the company of all my little rescue Kittens!
7. for Blessings to numerous to count!.
Debbie…you brought joy to me as you counted your blessings with such a joyful and grateful heart. 🙂
God has been doing an amazing work in your life through your trials. He is making your spirit truly beautiful.
[hugs]
joy Day
1. I found the blog
2. Blessing of Glenn bringing us communion
3. A quiet restful day of rest
4. Sunshine despite lots of clouds
5. Rides, help with food, laundry, chores, appointments….last Thursday we had seven different people assisting in some way☺️
6. Curt is able to walk. Eat shower dress himself. Is home.
7. I’ve had to stop and answer two texts of helpers for tomorrow and text a third one and a fourth one. These are huge huge blessings. In the middle I had my nightly deep sorrow tears from my injury–and these two women were so kindly offering help that it passed.
I’m tired now. Time to eat. God is good. A very present help in time of need!!!!
My dear sweet friend…I have missed you. 🙂
I rejoice in God’s wonderful provision for you throughout your days.
God indeed is a very present help in time of need. 🙂
[[hugs]]
Oh Diane . . . I LOVE Deborah! How great that you two got to meet after being in prayer for each other. You are so right about the blessings that come out of struggles. I’m an expert . . . LOL! I think I’ve emailed this to you before that someday I have to write out your part in my present journey. Praying for you today and asking God to pour out abundant blessings on you and your family.
Now, on to joy day:
1. A long distance friend who made me laugh yesterday when I was sad.
2. God strengthening my husband and enabling him to work his very demanding job when the day before he was barely able to walk due to back and leg pain.
3. The healing that is taking place right now in my husband’s body . . . I believe . . . help my unbelief.
4. An email message from a stranger that encouraged me greatly in my ability to write and touch others.
5. A Seahawk win yesterday. LOL!
6. The excitement I feel over my sister and bro-in-law’s upcoming visit to our new home.
7. Bloggers like Diane and Deborah who bubble over with the love of Jesus.
Love ya’ girl,
Patti
Patti, it was a huge blessing to finally meet Deborah. 🙂 I do remember you shared with me that I had a part in journey. I can’t imagine how… but God does really amazing things in spite of us. 😉 Thank you so much for your prayers. Oh how we need God to move in a mighty way.
Thanks for taking the time to share your grateful heart and “seven” with us Patti. I rejoice with you at God’s work in your husband’s body. May he experience full and complete healing in Jesus’ name! Thank you for all warm encouragements and support, Patti!!
[[hugs]]
I’m sorry I missed this yesterday Diane. We had our 2nd annual Thanksgiving Dinner Potluck at church, for which I helped before and after, then grocery shopping and a visit to my parents. We didn’t get home until late. I had so much fun visiting and getting to know you better! You are a true sweetheart and sister in Christ. I will be posting about our day very soon…21 hours of work this week, Dr. appointments, etc. Life is busy but good!
My cup overfloweth:
1. Dear blogging friends like you and Patty, who lift each other up in prayer and bless me with their friendship
2. A wonderful time with my daughter last week
3. An encouraging prognosis for her severe GERD problems
4. That I still have my parents with me, who live close so we can get together and play Euchre!
5, For the Godly heritage I have from my parents and grandparents
6. A church family that blesses me constantly
7. The hope I have of an eternal life with my heavenly Father!
Blessings, Deborah
Deborah, you are so blessed to be a part of a good church and to enjoy time with your parents. 🙂 So many things vie for our time, it’s good to have that ‘family time.’
Thanks for taking time to share your ‘seven’ and your joy-filled heart.
Praying for you and trusting for God to overwhelm you with his goodness and grace. [[hugs]]
Hi Diane. I am visiting from Grace at Home and want to say that your blog is SO lovely and your photos are simply STUNNING! Such beautiful and perfect scriptures to go along with them as well. How wonderful it is that you were able to connect with blogging buddy! I do hope to be able to do that myself one day!
Blessings,
Debby
Debby, that you so much for stopping by and for your lovely, warm, and encouraging thoughts. You truly made my day!!!
Best wishes for an extraordinary day! 🙂