From the pulpit: Overwhelming effects of blessings
Published 12:00 am Wednesday, April 18, 2007
I have determined a truth in life and that is this – &8220;I am not worthy of what God blesses me with&8221;.
I know what you are thinking.
I hear the echos of &8220;Duh&8221; from far far away.
But I think that this is a truth that we do not always absorb.
Look at my life as an example.
I am blessed with a wonderful wife!
Where would I be without Stephanie?
Why did she choose a man like me?
There were suitors that I am sure are more successful, more handsome and more romantic, but through God&8217;s grace I won her heart.
Did I deserve this gift – not on your life – but, oh, how glad I am that God smiled on his servant.
From our love, we have four wonderful daughters. These blessings are more than I could have ever hoped for.
They love me because I am DAD – is that not cool?
Sure it helps when I throw a little cash or take them out to eat, but my favorite times are mornings and bedtimes.
Do you know that every night they tell me they love me?
And every morning I am greeted with a hug.
They climb up in my lap to watch a show, or reach for my hand to hold as we walk. What would my life be without them?
I cannot imagine, and have no desire to do so.
Then there is my church.
When I look at myself, a struggling sinner saved by grace, I wonder how God can use me. I know the Theological answers, and am not looking for affirmation, but rather I hold to the humility that I am undeserving to be as blessed to serve such a congregation.
All this said comes to this point. God is Good – All the Time! Is that not so? I am reminded of how John closes out his Gospel in chapter 21 by stating that there is not enough room in the world to write down in books all the good works from God. Frederick Lehman, in 1948, listed it this way, as found within the beloved hymn &8220;The Love of God&8221;:
Could we with ink the ocean fill, And were the skies of parchment made, Were every stalk on earth a quill, And every man a scribe by trade. To write the love of God above, Would drain the ocean dry. Nor could the scroll contain the whole, Though stretched from sky to sky.
So let me close by saying that I love God and am amazed that he loves me.
As I did long ago, I daily accept the grace offered and cherish the relationship I have with my Father in Heaven.
How about you?