It's Raining Blessings

Not what we say about our blessings, but how we use them, is the true measure of our thanksgiving.  ~W. T. Purkiser
 
Blessings -- they rain down from the heavens -- the drops silently soaking me.  Other times they come fast and furious like a deluge -- drenching me with the puddles my feet kick through.

Spring rain brings flowers, summer rain keeps the grass green, fall rain sends the last few leaves to the ground.  In winter the rain freezes and softly drifts to the ground in diverse snowflakes.  But blessings?  They shower daily throughout all the seasons of life.

Throughout the spring of my life my blessings included Christian parents who lived what they believed, a Bible-believing church, a private Christian school with sacrificial teachers and so many others who impacted my life. Then, in a grand fanalee, the love of my life -- my RB.  (My personal flood of blessing!)

The summer of my life brought our dear church family in Bedford, my babies, and the beginning of my writing career.  Even in the loss of Sarah, blessings of love showered on us from our church family and friends refreshed our parched spirits.

Now in the fall, quiet rains brought yet another church family my way -- loving shelter, friends from around the world, and benefits from diligent writing pursuits.  I've even splashed in big puddles of a son-in-law and four beautiful grandbabies.

I [may not] have entered my winter years, but I am confident that the God who promised, "I'll send down plenty of rain in season—showers of blessing" (Ezekiel 34:26) will continue to saturate me as I continue the journey.

The Message translates 2 Corinthians 9:8 in this way:

God can pour on the blessings in astonishing ways so that you're ready for anything and everything, more than just ready to do what needs to be done. As one psalmist puts it,

He throws caution to the winds,
giving to the needy in reckless abandon.
His right-living, right-giving ways
never run out, never wear out.

This most generous God who gives seed to the farmer that becomes bread for your meals is more than extravagant with you. He gives you something you can then give away, which grows into full-formed lives, robust in God, wealthy in every way, so that you can be generous in every way, producing with us great praise to God.

I've been asking God to help splash some of my blessings on others.  What about you?  Ready for some puddle splashing? 

Linked to:

Spiritual Sundays

Playdates with God

Thankful  Thursday

Sunday Jump Tandem

Thirty Days of Thanksgiving