Psalm 1 ~ the Lord

Bob, our female duck. We didn't know a lot about ducks when Bob put her head on my foot.

Psalm 1
1 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
2 but his delight is in the law of the Lord,
and on his law he meditates day and night.

3 He is like a tree
planted by streams of water
that yields its fruit in its season,
and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does, he prospers.
4 The wicked are not so,
but are like chaff that the wind drives away.

5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
6 for the Lord knows the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked will perish.

"Nothing inspires me and strengthens my commitment to the Lord
like our annual stewardship campaign."

I've noticed Christian speakers and pagan comedians have something in common, it is easy to speak of personal tragedies (like yesterday) and weaknesses than blessings. Why? It's difficult to share blessings without sounding holier than thou or to sound like the donkey braying at the neighborhood to-do.

God has abundantly blessed my life, with grandmothers, with being an only child and then giving me a baby brother. I was blessed to have a Daddy who read to me and loved me. I was given a dad I could relate a loving Heavenly Father to. I was blessed to have a great-grandmother, grandmother and mother who have loved everything God ever grew & taught me to see the infinite beauty in every direction.

I was blessed to have a grandmother and step-grandfather who dearly loved the Lord and talked about Him to me. I attended Christian Parochial Schools. I was blessed not to grow up like Jimmy Swaggart, we went to church monthly & I had to find out if I wanted to follow the Lord.

My husband is my High School sweetheart from my youth group, we were blessed to meet and marry after not dating in college. When the Lord looks at my husband, he sees a mighty river of love. He has many fine attributes the Lord loves - giving his wife and children opportunity to thrive. Edward had done youth ministry for a number of years. And he gets his college son to go to church when he is home without a fuss.

Monetary blessings are more difficult to be frank and gracious about. I have lived very well, met famous people, attracted attention by our abundance. I have, also, lived in a 2 bedroom house & wondered how our 2 children would grow up. I've had prayers answered where the Lord must have said "Fine, enough, I wanted to give you that & you have worn me out, child!" I prayed specifically for a showcase house, with a yellow living room and a great view of water. And I have received.

Psalm 1 is an interesting combination, unending prosperity and then a discussion of wickedness. We are all both.

Blessed be the Lord, who reminds us our daily blessings come from Him: our grandparent's attention, the things that interest us and define us, having parents who modeled God's parenting, siblings who've helped us, choices we've made instead of having them made for us, being Loved by the Lord, sometimes it's monetary and mostly not. Having work and not toil. Having a loving church family. Enjoying a garden. Having children. Restoring something broken. Blessings of inner peace that come from forgiveness. Sharing and having friends. Seeing vast beauty in the miracles of this world, God has created and given us. Recovering good health. Even having a body well enough to exercise.


Psalm 68:19
Blessed be the Lord,
who daily bears us up;
God is our salvation. Selah

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