Love to hear from and know who is listening
When I was a child Saturday mornings television was filled with cartoons. There was Bugs Bunny, Road Runner and the Coyote, Scooby Do, The Super Friends, The Land of the Lost and a few others that were educational like School House Rocks and Sesame Street. One of my favorite Sesame Street characters was Count Von Count. He had a comical resemblance to Count Dracula, but that is where the similarity ends. The Count was a happy and helpful character who enjoys counting anything and everything. The Count and I have a few things in common. I enjoy counting things and I have a few eccentric number tendencies. The thermostat in our house must always be set on an even number. If I am running the volume on the TV it makes me feel better if is on an even number. It is okay if it is stopped on a multiple of 5 such as 20, 25, 30 or 35 but in my mind it is better if it is on an even number. Thinking about Count Von Count made me stop and think for a moment,... just when was the last time that I stopped to count my many blessings? Just the fact that I live in the United States of America make me a very wealthy person. Poor people in the United States have more material resources than most of the world’s richest nations. A groundbreaking study by “Just Facts” has discovered that after accounting for all income including charity and welfare benefits like subsidized housing and food stamps, the poorest 20 percent of Americans consume more goods and services than most people in other affluent countries. In other words, if the US poor were a nation, it would be one of the world’s richest. So what should I do with all my wealth?
Malachi 3:10 ESV Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.
Sometimes I confuse wants and needs. I can become so focused on my wants that they feel critical to my well-being. Then, when God doesn’t meet my so called needs, I get frustrated, impatient and to be honest maybe even a bit upset with God. If you ever feel this way, you need to ask yourselves, are my wants essential to accomplishing God’s purpose, or is it only for my enjoyment? If your will is aligned with the will of God, He will answer all your prayers because you will be wanting what is needed to glorify God. God is happy to satisfy your wants when they fit within His purpose and will.
Psalm 37:4 ESV Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
God isn’t obligated to grant your wishes or fulfill any plans but His own! The bible says that those who seek Him won’t lack any good thing. The heavenly Father wants His children’s greatest desire to be Him! When that is true in a believer’s life, then you won't require a lot of stuff, entertainment, or people in order to be happy.
Matthew 6:33 ESV But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Count your blessings, name them one by one;
Count your blessings, see what God hath done;
Count your blessings, name them one by one;
Count your many blessings, see what God hath done.
