Another Pastoral Epistle 9/26/18

An old wise man from the church where I served in Maine loved to say, “If you have trouble sleeping, don’t count sheep, count your blessings.”  I should practice that more often. And not just to help me fall asleep, but to fill my gratitude tank. Do I notice the blessings when I am awake?
 
Years ago, as part of a building campaign, as a family we started a blessing fund. Others have called it a “Count your Blessings” fund. This is how it worked. Any time we were blessed by something we purchased being less than we expected, we put that savings in a blessing fund.  If someone picked up the tab or surprised us with a discount or someone gave us a break on a cost (without our asking for one) the savings went into this blessing fund.  Our older two kids, who were quite young at the time, would get into it as well and if we missed the savings, one of them would say, “Blessing fund!” It was amazing the amount that was collected through this simple activity. Even more amazing was to see our blessings!  We, in a very literal sense, were counting our blessings!
 
Seeing God’s blessings reaches far beyond monetary gifts.  We are blessed with “every spiritual blessing in Christ” Ephesians 1:3 says.  We are blessed with God’s protection, His presence, answered prayer, His comfort, His spoken Word, His people, and in knowing that even the troubles of life are sovereignly designed to accomplish His purposes in our lives.  There is no question He is a blessing-giver. It is a question of, “Do we see them?” Perhaps your blessing fund will be filled with savings. Or perhaps it will be filled with written accounts of God’s daily blessings in your life.  Or perhaps it will be more of a mental awareness to what our great God has given you and is doing in your life- even in those trials. Just try counting them!
 
I have said it before, I am blessed to serve here at EBC.  You are a reminder of God’s goodness. I love worshipping with you each Sunday.  And while I am not able to interact with each of you personally each Sunday, my heart is refreshed by you.  I hope you are taking advantage of the time in between the two services. I am confident that the more you make it a priority, the more you will be glad you did.  And the more others will benefit. I can’t help but think of the hymn, “Make me a blessing to someone today.” Is there someone God wants you to bless today, this week, this coming Sunday?  
 
I remember recently driving through a toll booth prepared to pay my toll when the attendant said, “Drive on through, the person in the car in front of you payed for you.”  Was this one for the blessing fund? Well, in that case, I decided at the next toll to pay for the person behind me. Isn’t that how it is supposed to work? We are blessed, so bless others.  Paul says in 2 Corinthians 9, “You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God” (verse 11). 
 
Blessings to you,

Pastor Brian