Starting a week taking the time to celebrate the bounty of God’s providence is, without a doubt, a blessing because we start looking not to the things, that in God’s providence, we don’t have, but to the blessings that He has already bestowed upon us; and doing so we fight discontentment.

Let us remember that the best remedy against an unhappy, discontent heart is a grateful heart. One that has learned to sing gratitude songs even in the dark hour, one that is grateful for the earthly blessings and yet, does not love the world or the things of the world more than the Lord Himself.(I John 2: 15)

Richard Baxter wrote,

“We need to guard our lives against the love of riches and worldly cares. All love for earthly goods, however, is not a sin. Their sweetness is a drop of his love and they have his goodness imprinted of them. They kindle our love for Him as love tokens from our dearest friend. Loving them, is a duty, not a sin. Earthly blessings are the means of sustaining our bodies and preserving our life and health, as we do God the service we owe him on the world on our journey to heaven.”

Today I celebrate the bounty of God’s providence,  who has blessed our lives this week with… (#1375- 1388)

The joy of our salvation.

Food to nurture our bodies.

Skype sessions that have gladdened our days.

The ability to teach and to learn.

My girl, playing and jumping with a big smile, and (finally) being able to ride her bike! (just look at her so happy here)

Time to lift my feet up watching a beautiful sky!

Flowers that remind us that God dresses us more beautifully than them: even with a robe of righteousness.

Days of  productive work in our school

Yummy breakfasts on Monday

Love that is shown in prayers.

The body of Christ, a support in difficult times.

Grace that opens a way for us to come before the throne of God to intercede for those hurting.

The Word of God that never changes

Marriages that last.

Let us celebrate His goodness and the bounty of His providence today and praise his Name for only He is worthy to be praised.

Becky

“It is a pity that our tears on account of our troubles should so blind our eyes that we should not see our mercies.” – John Flavel

#1301- 1371

I am grateful because through these past weeks, God has kept our eyes open to see His mercies; and this mercy is on the top of my list because being able to see Him and give Him thanks at all times, in all seasons, is not “natural”, it is the work of the Spirit in us.

I thank the Lord for my sister’s health, and her quick recovery.

For provision to visit her and her family.

For the body of Christ that knows no boundaries and has been interceding for us; for our brothers and sisters that have cried with us.

For the hope that we have in the Lord and in the resurrection.

For technology that help us to stay very close with those we love so much.

For children’s laughter.

For my sister’s faith in the Lord.

Knowing that God sustains us through the darkest valley.

For the Grace that He gives us day by day to endure moment after moment.

Books written to help us during the trials.

For my husband; I can never thank God enough for Him.

I am so grateful for our son Santiago, for all the days, the hours, the minutes we have spent together.

For the invaluable gift of seeing him grow fearing the Lord and honoring His Word.

For the days ahead; knowing that God will be with our son as he goes to college is what makes us smile at the future.

For our church family.

These words full of truth:

“Christian contentment is that sweet,
inward, quiet, gracious frame of spirit,
which freely submits to and delights in
God’s wise and fatherly disposal in
every condition.”   Jeremiah Burroughs

“From the bottom of my heart I pity that man who never reads his Bible. I wonder whence he expects to draw his consolation by-and-by. I do implore him to change his plan—and to change it without delay!…

The Bible applied to the heart by the Holy Spirit, is the only treasury of consolation. Without it we have nothing to depend on; “our feet will slide in due time” (Deut. 32:35). With it we are like those who stand on a rock. That man is ready for anything—who has got a firm hold of God’s promises. Once more, then, I say to every reader, arm yourself with a thorough knowledge of God’s Word. Read it, and be able to say, “I have hope, because it is thus and thus written! I am not afraid, because it is thus and thus written!” Happy is that soul who can say with Job, “I have esteemed the words of his mouth—more than my necessary food! (Job 23. 12)”   J.C. Ryle

 “The Lord is my helper—and I will not fear.”

Becky