Thankful

"Keeping up with the Joneses" is a difficult thing to do. Last weekend, it was the very seed of our agrument at home. Certainly the fued was bitter, and It took me a couple of days to recover.

This morning, I went as usual, to the river of healing, my quiet time in morning prayer...which began, unusually, in my morning shower. With winter setting in and the hot water geysers on, it was only after a nasty scald, that I remembered that I had taken my thoughts well into my shower room. Thereafter, began my serious prayer and through it, to Psalm 103.

"Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me..and forget not His benefits:" Psalm 103,1-2.

This was the first message I had shared when I came to the present city a couple of years back. This morning it came back to me with strong reminders about the two years that had gone fleeting by!

"Who forgives all your iniquities" vs 3a.....

How many times I had gone wrong and had been forgiven. I had hurt the people whom I was closest to, seriously, deeply..yet God had worked to restore the relationship.

"Who heals all your diseases"vs 3b...

I remember those several months when I could not stand straight or walk. The pain down my compressed nerves would sometime be so severe, that not only would I stand crooked (if I stood at all), but walking even a few steps would be gruesome. Miraculously, I was healed without any surgical intervention and also with only one day sick leave availed!!!

"Who redeems your life from destruction"vs 4a.....

I would hate to take a friend's life with mine down the valley of destruction. Sometimes we don't realise where we are heading. Momentary happiness overwhelms future consequences...but God is good, all the time. He redeems our lives from destruction, as He has done mine, and I believe, my friend's too.

"Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies" vs 4b..
Favour in the office, blessings in the family, opputunity to travel to new and wonderful places (I love travelling and I have travelled in these two years more than I have travelled in all my preceding years put together), and opputunities to serve the very sick and the dying on several occasions. Like it is said in Psalm 23: 6...it is not I who have to run after these things, but "surely goodness and mercy shall follow me  all the days of my life". Amazing. Awesome.

"Who satisfies you mouth with good things" Vs 5....

What shall I say about all the wonderful things that have satisfied my mouth. Exotic food, delightful food...being an all out foodie....this blessing is hard not to accept. I can perhaps write another blog post about food...but not here.Here, I just want to be  thankful to God for his faithfulness.

Throughout the day I have been contemplating. There are so many things I am thankful for. My partner in life, who means more to me than anything in the world..I am thankful for her; for my children, my parents, my siblings and family, my colleagues at work, my friends who read this blog, my friends and family in church.....yes in my list, the people who surround me are the most important...I am also thankful for so many other blessings, my job, my health, the education I have been given, the internet and this blog-site where I can write the matters of my heart....Lord, may I never forget all Your benefits....and who cares for the Joneses!