November Gratitude Stone 9 Blessings

Col. 2:7 …overflowing with thankfulness…..

Ps 103

Bless the Lord, my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
2 Bless the Lord, my soul,
and forget not all his benefits
3 who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,
5 who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

6 The Lord works righteousness
and justice for all the oppressed.

7 He made known his ways to Moses,
his deeds to the people of Israel:
8 The Lord is compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger, abounding in love.
9 He will not always accuse,
nor will he harbor his anger forever;
10 he does not treat us as our sins deserve
or repay us according to our iniquities.
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his love for those who fear him;
12 as far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

13 As a father has compassion on his children,
so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;
14 for he knows how we are formed,
he remembers that we are dust.
15 The life of mortals is like grass,
they flourish like a flower of the field;
16 the wind blows over it and it is gone,
and its place remembers it no more.
17 But from everlasting to everlasting
the Lord’s love is with those who fear him,
and his righteousness with their children’s children
18 with those who keep his covenant
and remember to obey his precepts.

19 The Lord has established his throne in heaven,
and his kingdom rules over all.

20 Praise the Lord, you his angels,
you mighty ones who do his bidding,
who obey his word.
21 Praise the Lord, all his heavenly hosts,
you his servants who do his will.
22 Praise the Lord, all his works
everywhere in his dominion.

Praise the Lord, my soul.

When God blesses us we are helped and strengthened and better off than we were before. But God is omnipotent and does not need to be strengthened, so when we bless Him we are actually exclaiming our gratitude and admiration. Bless the Lord is synonymous with Praise the Lord.

Over 100 years ago Oatman wrote the hymn, “Count Your Blessings.” By counting and naming we thank and bless the Giver of all blessings. By counting our blessings loudly we joyfully declare the truth about God. By naming them one by one we keep from lapsing into a state of ingratitude. Counting our blessings does not deny that we are having problems. It does not mean, “Cheer up and act like everything is fine.” It certainly doesn’t lead to lasting joy and peace on its own merit, only God can do that. Counting blessings primarily acknowledges openly that we are “tempest-tossed” and by bringing our concerns to God, we appreciate, one-by-one, that we have every spiritual blessing in Christ (Ephesians 1:3). Genuine thanks and praise to God goes with openly unburdening oneself before the listening ears of the Father of compassion and God of all comfort, (2 Corinthians 1:3-4). So let’s start counting and bless God, from whom all blessings flow.

When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

Count your blessings, name them one by one;
Count your blessings, see what God hath done;
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

Are you ever burdened with a load of care?
Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly,
And you will be singing as the days go by.

When you look at others with their lands and gold,
Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold.
Count your many blessings, money cannot buy
Your reward in heaven, nor your Lord on high.

So amid the conflict, whether great or small,
Do not be discouraged, God is over all;
Count your many blessings, angels will attend,
Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end.

When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

I stand on the solid rock of and bless you Lord for your many benefits to me every day and none of which I deserve. I love you.