I'll Count My Blessings, refrain

Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; for His lovingkindness is everlasting. Psalm 118:1

I’ll count my blessings
Count them o’er and o’er
I’ll tell my Father’s goodness
I will love Him more,
I’ll count my blessings, bountiful and free
Yet I can never count them all
So good is God to me!

The Lord's lovingkindness is everlasting, and His mercies are new every morning. I can count my blessings over and over because He has blessed me so richly!

I've been making a point lately to tell of my Father's goodness - to not keep everything to myself, but to openly acknowledge to myself and others, God's great goodness to me. From the small things to the big things, He is good - my faithful Creator is good to me!

How great is Your goodness, Which You have stored up for those who fear You, which You have wrought for those who take refuge in You, before the sons of men! Psalm 31:19

Certainly I love Him because of His great love for me - but there are new mercies every morning that cause me to love Him more: a bright sunshiny day, ducks waddling through the backyard, fresh strawberries, encouragement from His Word, a sweet phone call from a friend, safety in traffic, the privelege of pouring my heart out in prayer, knowing that my eternity is secure with Him.

The LORD’S lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23

I will count my blessings - they truly are bountiful and free - but this hymnwriter is so right - I can never count them all! God is so good to me!!

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us. In all wisdom and insight He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth. In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory. In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory. Ephesians 1:3-14

Paul reminds us that God has blessed us with EVERY spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ! EVERY spiritual blessing. I could never count them all!

This beautiful passage in the letter to the church at Ephesus names just some of our blessings:
He chose us
He makes us holy and blameless
He predestined us
He adopted us
He freely bestowed His grace on us through Jesus
He redeemed us through Jesus' blodd
He forgives us
He lavishes grace upon us
He made known to us the mystery of his will
He gives us an inheritance
He has a purpose for us
He made us to bring Him glory
He sealed us with the Holy Spirit

What an amazing list! God is so good, He's so good to me.

I will count my blessings. Won't you join me?

I'll Count My Blessings
Words by Carrie Breck

I lift my heart today in praise
To Him who loves me so,
Whose mercy crowneth all my days,
And makes my cup overflow.
O have I loved Him as I should
For all His blessings free?
Praise God who giveth naught but good,
For He is good to me!

Refrain
I’ll count my blessings
Count them o’er and o’er
I’ll tell my Father’s goodness
I will love Him more,
I’ll count my blessings, bountiful and free
Yet I can never count them all
So good is God to me!

I thank Him for unclouded skies
For love beyond my ken
That when my path in shadow lies,
The sunshine comes again.
I thank Him for the hopes fulfilled
For every answered plea,
That though life was not all I willed,
My God is good to me!

I go to meet another year,
With faith no doubt can dim,
God reigneth, and I will not fear,
But trust my way with Him.
Then if that way be bright or dark,
Let peace unshaken be!
And let me, like the soaring lark,
Sing "God is good to me!"

I'll Count My Blessings

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. Ephesians 1:3-4

We've spent the last several weeks reflecting on the Lenten season and the last days of Jesus' earthly ministry. After Maundy Thursday service and contemplating what Jesus did on the cross for me, I eagerly await Resurrection morning and the celebration of Christ's conquering death and sin once and for all. I am again brought to tears by his free and matchless gift... and I don't ever want to take it for granted. Jesus has bought new life for us. That may be the greatest gift of all, but it's not our only gift from our Lord and Savior. He has blessed us so many ways. I want to take time over the next few days to count my blessings.

I lift my heart today in praise
To Him who loves me so,
Whose mercy crowneth all my days,
And makes my cup o’erflow.
O have I loved Him as I should
For all His blessings free?
Praise God who giveth naught but good,
For He is good to me!

I know that I want to lift my heart in praise to the One who loves me so and crowns all my days with mercy. In one of my (many) favorite Bible passages, Paul tells the church at Ephesus that God is rich in mercy toward us because of His great love for us!

And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. Ephesians 2:1-10

I was dead before Jesus came and rescued me. I was a child of wrath! But God, because of His great love for me, showed His mercy by making me alive together with Christ, even while I was still a sinner!

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

God saved me, by His grace and through my faith in Christ and His substitutionary work on my behalf.

Not only did He save me, but He created me in Christ Jesus to do good works. I was made to be His representative and be a light in the darkness.

Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. Matthew 5:16

That is a blessing! So what is my response?

The hymnwriter asks, have I loved Him as I should for all His blessings free? God instructed His people how to love Him when He gave them the law.

You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. Deuteronomy 6:5

You shall therefore love the LORD your God, and always keep His charge, His statutes, His ordinances, and His commandments. Deuteronomy 11:1

And through His word, He repeats His requirements to us in the New Covenant.

We love, because He first loved us. If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should love his brother also. I John 4:19-21

If we love God, we show it by loving our brothers.

Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and whoever loves the Father loves the child born of Him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and observe His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome. I John 5:1-3

And we keep His commandments. That's how we show the world that we love God. This is what God has required of us. I'll be reflecting on this as I think about loving God as I should; with all my heart, mind and strength, by loving my brothers, and by keeping His commandments.

God gives us nothing but good. He is good to me! This is my prayer for you, and for me, as we seek to love Him as we ought, and do the good works that He has prepared for us.

Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope by grace, comfort and strengthen your hearts in every good work and word.
II Thessalonians 2:16-17


I'll Count My Blessings
Words by Carrie Breck

I lift my heart today in praise
To Him who loves me so,
Whose mercy crowneth all my days,
And makes my cup overflow.
O have I loved Him as I should
For all His blessings free?
Praise God who giveth naught but good,
For He is good to me!

Refrain
I’ll count my blessings
Count them o’er and o’er
I’ll tell my Father’s goodness
I will love Him more,
I’ll count my blessings, bountiful and free
Yet I can never count them all
So good is God to me!

I thank Him for unclouded skies
For love beyond my ken
That when my path in shadow lies,
The sunshine comes again.
I thank Him for the hopes fulfilled
For every answered plea,
That though life was not all I willed,
My God is good to me!

I go to meet another year,
With faith no doubt can dim,
God reigneth, and I will not fear,
But trust my way with Him.
Then if that way be bright or dark,
Let peace unshaken be!
And let me, like the soaring lark,
Sing "God is good to me!"

Joy Dawned Again on Easter Day

Now after the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to look at the grave. And behold, a severe earthquake had occurred, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled away the stone and sat upon it. And his appearance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. The guards shook for fear of him and became like dead men. Matthew 28:1-4

Joy Dawned Again on Easter Day
Author Unknown

Joy dawned again on Easter Day,
The sun shone out with fairer ray,
When, to their longing eyes restored
The Apostles saw their risen Lord.

The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified. He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying. Go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead; and behold, He is going ahead of you into Galilee, there you will see Him; behold, I have told you.” And they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy and ran to report it to His disciples. And behold, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they came up and took hold of His feet and worshiped Him. Matthew 28:5-9

His risen flesh with radiance glowed;
His wounded hands and feet He showed:
Those scars their silent witness gave
That Christ was risen from the grave.

While they were telling these things, He Himself stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be to you.” But they were startled and frightened and thought that they were seeing a spirit. And He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? See My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself; touch Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” And when He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet. While they still could not believe it because of their joy and amazement, He said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” They gave Him a piece of a broiled fish; and He took it and ate it before them. Luke 24:36-42

O Jesus, King of gentleness,
Do Thou our inmost hearts possess;
And we to Thee will ever raise
The tribute of our grateful praise.

My lips will shout for joy when I sing praises to You; and my soul, which You have redeemed. Psalm 71:23

You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have loosed my sackcloth and girded me with gladness, that my soul may sing praise to You and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks to You forever. Psalm 30:11-12

Jesus who art the Lord of all,
In this our Easter festival
From every weapon death can wield
Thine own redeemed, Thy people, shield.

“Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know—this Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death. But God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power." Acts 2:22-24

The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. Psalm 18:2

All praise, O risen Lord, we give
To Thee, who dead, again dost live;
To God the Father equal praise,
And God the Holy Ghost, we raise.

But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep. For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. I Corinthians 15:20-22

O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY? O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. I Corinthians 15:55-57

He is risen! He is risen indeed! Hallelujah!

40 Days of Prayer: Day 40

When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who himself had also become a disciple of Jesus. This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. And Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock; and he rolled a large stone against the entrance of the tomb and went away. And Mary Magdalene was there, and the other Mary, sitting opposite the grave. Now on the next day, the day after the preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered together with Pilate, and said, “Sir, we remember that when He was still alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I am to rise again.’ Therefore, give orders for the grave to be made secure until the third day, otherwise His disciples may come and steal Him away and say to the people, ‘He has risen from the dead,’ and the last deception will be worse than the first.” Pilate said to them, “You have a guard; go, make it as secure as you know how.” And they went and made the grave secure, and along with the guard they set a seal on the stone. Matthew 27:57-66

Dear God,

I thank You that not even the Pharisees could thwart Your plan. They were determined to make little of Jesus and His prophecy, and they did everything in their power to secure the grave where Joseph had laid Him. Lord, today I lift up people in our day who our like the Pharisees - people who don't believe that Jesus REALLY died or that His death and resurrection mean anything to them. The Pharisees believed Jesus to be a deceiver, and yet I know, Lord, that it was only because they were deceived that they would think this. Lord, open the eyes of those who need to see you, who need to see Jesus this weekend. Open their hearts, Lord, and show them what Jesus did on their behalf, and make clear their need for You.

In Your Name,
Amen

40 Days of Prayer: Day 39

Now from the sixth hour darkness fell upon all the land until the ninth hour. About the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “ELI, ELI, LAMA SABACHTHANI?” that is, “MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?” And some of those who were standing there, when they heard it, began saying, “This man is calling for Elijah.” Immediately one of them ran, and taking a sponge, he filled it with sour wine and put it on a reed, and gave Him a drink. But the rest of them said, “Let us see whether Elijah will come to save Him.” And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit. And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth shook and the rocks were split. The tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the tombs after His resurrection they entered the holy city and appeared to many. Now the centurion, and those who were with him keeping guard over Jesus, when they saw the earthquake and the things that were happening, became very frightened and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!” Matthew 27:45-54

Dear Jesus,

Truly You are the Son of God! We stand in awe with great thankfulness and humility for what You did for us on the cross this day. You went, so that we wouldn't have to. You gave up Your sinless self on my behalf. I don't have words to tell You how thankful I am, but because of Your great gift to me, I want to live for You each day, bringing glory to You in everything I do. Lord, let me not take this great gift for granted but keep my sin before me so that I can repent and walk closely with You. Thank You for Your obedience and Your sacrifice. Thank You that I am no longer separated from God. Thank You for restoring me, delivering me and redeeming me. You are my Lord!

In Your Name,
Amen

40 Days of Prayer: Day 38

Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to His disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be grieved and distressed. Then He said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death; remain here and keep watch with Me.” And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will.” Matthew 26:36-39

Dear God,

I cannot even imagine the agony that Jesus experienced as He awaited His own death. He knew what was to come, and He knew that He had to do it to fulfill Your plan, but it was not easy. It was agonizing. Jesus, Your soul was grieved to the point of death! Jesus, thank You for Your obedience that prayed "Not as I will, but as You will." Thank You for submitting to Your Heavenly Father. Lord, I know that You paid the ultimate price by giving up Your life. The cost of my life was paid by Yours. Thank You. In light of Your great sacrifice, may I live more devoted to You and more committed to righteousness for Your sake.

In Your Name,
Amen

40 Days of Prayer: Day 37

"Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming. But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into. For this reason you also must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will." Matthew 24:42-44

Dear God,

It is so amazing to read the stories of Jesus' last days here on Earth. I thank You for the words You gave Him to teach, to use His time wisely in showing people how to live and pointing them to You. I thank You for the promises, the warnings and the exhortations from Jesus, and ask that You strengthen me to live the way You have called me to. I pray that You would make me alert. Make me ready, Lord, because You have said that Jesus is coming again, and that we will be surprised. Prepare me, Lord, and let me look forward with expectation and rejoicing to that day.

In Your Name,
Amen

40 Days of Prayer: Day 36

On that day some Sadducees (who say there is no resurrection) came to Jesus and questioned Him, asking, “Teacher, Moses said, ‘IF A MAN DIES HAVING NO CHILDREN, HIS BROTHER AS NEXT OF KIN SHALL MARRY HIS WIFE, AND RAISE UP CHILDREN FOR HIS BROTHER.’ Now there were seven brothers with us; and the first married and died, and having no children left his wife to his brother; so also the second, and the third, down to the seventh. Last of all, the woman died. 28 In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife of the seven will she be? For they all had married her.”

But Jesus answered and said to them, “You are mistaken, not understanding the Scriptures nor the power of God. For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. But regarding the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was spoken to you by God: ‘I AM THE GOD OF ABRAHAM, AND THE GOD OF ISAAC, AND THE GOD OF JACOB’? He is not the God of the dead but of the living.” When the crowds heard this, they were astonished at His teaching. Matthew 22:23-33

Dear God,

How I praise You that You are the God of the living! Thank You for Your resurrection power that brought Jesus back from the dead and won victory over death forever. Thank You that we have the promise from You that we will spend eternity with You when we proclaim You as Savior and Lord, acknowledge and repent of our sin and accept Your free gift of salvation. Thank You, God, for Jesus' clear teaching that we can read today. Write Your words on my heart today, Lord, and may You receive all the glory for what You have done.

In Your Name,
Amen

40 Days of Prayer: Day 35

Now in the morning, when He was returning to the city, He became hungry. Seeing a lone fig tree by the road, He came to it and found nothing on it except leaves only; and He said to it, “No longer shall there ever be any fruit from you.” And at once the fig tree withered. Seeing this, the disciples were amazed and asked, “How did the fig tree wither all at once?” And Jesus answered and said to them, “Truly I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ it will happen. And all things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.” Matthew 21:18-22

Dear God,

Thank You for the record we have in Your word of Jesus' last days here on Earth. Thank You for His teachings that are as relevant today as the day He spoke them. Thank You for the promises He gave us, and that they are promises that You keep. Lord, I ask that You would increase my faith. I don't want to be a doubter. I want to have faith so big that I can cast mountains into the sea! I thank You that You have shown me that You are God who can be trusted, and that I can pray believing that You will do it. Thank You for Your promises and for Your steadfastness.

In Your Name,
Amen

There was a Time when Children Sang

Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David; Hosanna in the highest! Mark 11:10

Can you imagine what it would have been like to have been in the crowd on what we now call Palm Sunday? Things were getting tense in Jerusalem as the rulers were seeking to kill Jesus, thinking He was gaining too much power with the people. Ah, if they only knew.

If they could have only seen them as their King. But He didn't present Himself as a king. A king would ride in on a glorious horse, bedecked with a fine saddle and showy garments. Jesus rode a colt, bedecked with coats.

When they had approached Jerusalem and had come to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied there and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to Me. If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord has need of them,’ and immediately he will send them.” This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: “SAY TO THE DAUGHTER OF ZION, ‘BEHOLD YOUR KING IS COMING TO YOU, GENTLE, AND MOUNTED ON A DONKEY, EVEN ON A COLT, THE FOAL OF A BEAST OF BURDEN.’” The disciples went and did just as Jesus had instructed them, and brought the donkey and the colt, and laid their coats on them; and He sat on the coats. Matthew 21:1-7

Even if the rulers didn't see Jesus as their King, many of the people recognized that Jesus was sent by God. And they praised Him!

Most of the crowd spread their coats in the road, and others were cutting branches from the trees and spreading them in the road. The crowds going ahead of Him, and those who followed, were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David; BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD; Hosanna in the highest!” Matthew 21:8-9

Many others didn't even know who Jesus was.

When He had entered Jerusalem, all the city was stirred, saying, “Who is this?” And the crowds were saying, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth in Galilee.” John 12:10-11

And still others were there because they had heard about what Jesus had done recently - raised Lazarus from the dead! They wanted to see this man for themselves - see what all the hype was about.

So the people, who were with Him when He called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead, continued to testify about Him. For this reason also the people went and met Him, because they heard that He had performed this sign. John 12:17-18

This Sunday, this day in Jerusalem, was the beginning of the end of Jesus' earthly life and ministry. It would have been glorious to have joined the rapturous songs of the children, to bless Him with our feeble tongues, as the many in the crowd did that day.

We know what happens next in the story, and we'll focus on that more this week. But let's not forget about the day when the hills of Judah rang with exulting jubilee. These children recognized Jesus as King, and sang out to praise Him. Jesus knew what He was riding into as he entered Jerusalem - I will venture to say that it brought him great joy, encouragement and fortitude to hear the children singing. That same Jesus is on the throne today in heaven, and as this hymn writer says, He loves to hear the notes that His sweet children raise.

Let's not be shy as we sing out our Hosannas to our King! Jesus, teach our hearts and tongues to praise! And may it be a sweet, sweet sound in Your ear.

There was a Time when Children Sang
Words by Thomas Taylor

There was a time when children sang
The Savior’s praise with sacred glee,
And all the hills of Judah rang
With their exulting jubilee.

O to have joined their rapturous songs,
And swelled their sweet hosannas high,
And blessed Him with our feeble tongues
As He, the Man of grief, went by!

But Christ is now a glorious king,
And angels in His presence bow;
The humble songs that we can sing,
O will He, can He, hear them now?

He can, He will, He loves to hear
The notes which loving children raise;
Jesus, we come with trembling fear:
O teach our hearts and tongues to praise!

We join the hosts around Thy throne,
Who once, like us, the desert trod;
And thus we make their song our own,
Hosanna to the Son of God!