How Do We Own The Blessings?

I just posted a testimony of a family that served God for most of their lives…..children, grandchildren, etc.  Did they have  problems, I would imagine they did, and survived and were blessed through their devotion and faith.  www.5minutemiracle.com/mir/208.html

I am the first in my family, thanks to my middle son, Patrick, to have a personal relationship with Jesus.  Thanks to his personal love and affect of his relationship with God, the family has been drawn  into the Kingdom, and we see blessings and miracles often.  Do we have struggles, you can bet we do….but the  answer to 'own the blessings' is all tied up in relationship and the Grace of God.

Grace is unmerited favor; Grace is the empowering presence of God; Grace is the bridge between the wrath (God's settled opposition to sin) and the love of  God!

The first step is to ask Jesus and  the  Holy Spirit to come into your life and be Lord (owner) of all you do…..Owners are responsible for those things they own. This does not  take  away our 'free will' it just gives us access to our Heavenly Father (Creator of the Universe) and undeserved blessings, favor and joy!

And  as you get to know Jesus both intellectually and spiritually and most  of all experientially you and those  you invite into this Kingdom on Earth, will  begin  and continue  to 'own the blessings' of God outlined in the Bible.

Eternal security with Jesus is the most important, but why would we not want to help Jesus with others, our family and regain the earth for Jesus with our faith and devotion now, so that we  will have rewards in Heaven as He is promised?   "But without faith it is impossible to please him:  for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him."  Heb 11:6   

That was a rhetorical question!  If I could break the bonds of my past, you can do it too…..start today….if you already have what we have discussed, increase and multiply with your example of Grace, Mercy and Favor, in and through our Jesus! 

Someone Knows you Are There….

One of the things I learned a couple of years ago, about marriage, I find very insightful about life.  In the movie SHALL WE DANCE, with Richard Gere, Jennifer Lopez, and Susan Sarandon, a question was 'asked' that went right into my spirit.  We just never know how the Holy Spirit will teach us or who or what He will use…..that sure is exciting!

Susan is Richard's wife (in the movie) and Jennifer is a dance instructor.  When  Richard comes home late, on a regular basis, Susan hires a Detective to follow Richard.  When she  finds he  is taking dancing lessons, she tells the Detective she no longer needs him……however, in their final conversation she asks him why he thinks people get married.  He answers because of love and attraction to that person.  Her reply is that we marry so we will have a 'witness' to our life.

There may have been more, but that  went into my spirit, thinking how God said it was not  good for man to be alone; I am sure for many reasons.  And, I realized, one of the reasons, I liked being married so much was that I had another person to think about, consider and love.  I was a witness to his life….his joys, his pains, his routine, etc. and it was fulfilling to be a part of that.  I also like the idea that the same was true for my husband–he knew and understood me in so much and was kind and patient in the bad times, loving, fun and appreciative in the good times.

Now, that I am a widow and alone there is no witness to my daily life.  No one knows when I get up, what I  eat or what I  do…..there is a vacancy there.  My small 5 pound dog, Sparkey, is great company, but it certainly is not the same.  I have family and friends who call or see me, but their schedules do not allow for a daily visit….nor should it…..they are very busy and very loving to me.  Of course the Lord is always with me, and I am so grateful for that–and feel His presence often–but we do live in a physical world, and association with each other is  super important.

I am writing this because if you are married, I how you will take another look at your partner and appreciate even one more gift God has given us in having each other.  And, we who are alone appreciate the friends and family no matter how much time we have with them.  Having a witness to your life is another reason to bond to that  person for the mere sake of down-to-earth well-being.  Being alone is definitely not an excuse to feel sorry for ourselves (I tried that and it is no fun)  but to recognize the benefil of others and  work on being a better mate, friend or family member.

Well,  this was fun,  and I pray we  all have witness to our lives, and we live our lives with gratitude, joy and blessings, a witness to who ever is watching!

Pressing in  and pressing  on…..