Tuesday, April 28, 2009, 6:36 a.m. – This song is in my head:
Count Your Blessings / Johnson Oatman, Jr.
When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.
Are you ever burdened with a load of care?
Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly,
And you will keep singing as the days go by.
When you look at others with their lands and gold,
Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold;
Count your many blessings. Wealth can never buy
Your reward in heaven, nor your home on high.
So, amid the conflict whether great or small,
Do not be disheartened, God is over all;
Count your many blessings, angels will attend,
Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end.
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, see what God hath done!
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.
So, I decided to “count” my blessings and to “name them one by one”:
Thank you, Jesus, for all the many blessings that you have brought into my life! I thank you, most of all, for the hope that you offered to us and that is ours – to those who have fled to take hold of that hope, so that we may be greatly encouraged. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins so that I no longer have to be controlled by or to live according to the sinful nature and the patterns of this world. Thank you for the freedom that is ours in Christ Jesus our Lord – freedom from both the penalty of and the control of sin in our lives. Thank you that you have raised us to walk in newness of life. Thank you for your love, forgiveness, mercy and healing.
Step by Step (O God, You are my God) / Various artists
O God, You are my God
And I will ever praise You
Oh God, You are my God
And I will ever praise You
I will seek You in the morning
I will learn to walk in Your ways
And step by step You'll lead me
And I will follow You all of my days
And step by step You'll lead me
And I will follow You all of my days
Count Your Blessings / Johnson Oatman, Jr.
When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.
Are you ever burdened with a load of care?
Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly,
And you will keep singing as the days go by.
When you look at others with their lands and gold,
Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold;
Count your many blessings. Wealth can never buy
Your reward in heaven, nor your home on high.
So, amid the conflict whether great or small,
Do not be disheartened, God is over all;
Count your many blessings, angels will attend,
Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end.
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, see what God hath done!
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.
So, I decided to “count” my blessings and to “name them one by one”:
- God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit
- Salvation
- Life / Health
- Liberty / Freedom
- Deliverance from bondage to sin
- Ministry / Calling of God on my life
- God’s promises to us
- Love – God’s love; love of family, friends, & the body of Christ
- Prayer – communion with God / Answered prayer
- My husband and my relationship with him
- My 4 adult children and my 4 adult children-in-law
- My 7 grandchildren (5 girls and 2 boys – in that order)
- My home / shelter / space for my family and for receiving guests
- My husband’s job / Income
- Food, water, clothing / Necessities of life
- Music and poetry, i.e. words put to music – Christian music and hymns
- Laughter / joy
- Etc.
Thank you, Jesus, for all the many blessings that you have brought into my life! I thank you, most of all, for the hope that you offered to us and that is ours – to those who have fled to take hold of that hope, so that we may be greatly encouraged. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins so that I no longer have to be controlled by or to live according to the sinful nature and the patterns of this world. Thank you for the freedom that is ours in Christ Jesus our Lord – freedom from both the penalty of and the control of sin in our lives. Thank you that you have raised us to walk in newness of life. Thank you for your love, forgiveness, mercy and healing.
Step by Step (O God, You are my God) / Various artists
O God, You are my God
And I will ever praise You
Oh God, You are my God
And I will ever praise You
I will seek You in the morning
I will learn to walk in Your ways
And step by step You'll lead me
And I will follow You all of my days
And step by step You'll lead me
And I will follow You all of my days
