Blessed is the man...

Over the last few days, I had the privilege to get away for a few days with my family to one of my favorite spots, the mountains. We also had the privilege to spend some of that time with several senior adults in our church family. After spending a few days in Dillard, GA with those in our church family we drove over to Chattanooga, TN to my niece's (Jenah) wedding. While in the mountains with family and friends, I came away with a fresh appreciation of "Blessed is the man."


A family picture at the Saw Mill demonstration while
visiting the Georgia Mountain Fair in Hiawassee, GA

The Bible teaches in the book of James that life moves at a rapid pace. If we're not careful we could be missing a lot of the blessings. One of the things that the Lord has taught me from His Word in Ephesians 5:15-17 is that I need to pay close attention to how I am living because life is passing by and if I'm not careful I could be out of God's will. While in the mountains, God gave me the to privilege to pay close attention to how He has blessed me, how He is blessing me, and how He wants to continue blessing me.

There was no TV, no Internet, and no newspaper, and some had no hot water!! (our cabin had hot water praise the Lord-another one of His blessings!) It was great!  We drove up on Wednesday and basically took our time. When we arrived we had a BBQ meal that was waiting on us and after the meal several enjoyed singing old gospel hymns together. On Thursday we got up and spent time together as a family reading and discussing our devotion on Persevere To WIN from, an emphasis on being a church that wins. In that study, Dennis Woods wrote on The Spirit of Adversity. Before we left that morning on our to way the Georgia Mountain Fair, as a family, we wanted to be: 1) Winners and not whiners! 2) Champions and not complainers! The next day God gave us another thought and we added 3) As a family, let's persevere and not pout!

L-R: Mallory, Maleah, Madison, Morgan,
Meghan, Stephen, and Joshua

Why winners and not whiners? Why champions and not complainers? Why persevere and not pout? We are a family that has been blessed!! God has been good to us and we want to give Him glory! We want ALL the glory to go to Him! He has been faithful to us in so many ways! During our time together as a family we went to the Georgia Mountain Fair, caught several trout, laughed, cried (we will tell you why later in the week), played, and sang. We read God's Word together, prayed together, and enjoyed our church family together. We then visited other family members at a Christ honoring wedding where some heard the gospel of Jesus Christ and were saved!!! We also drove safely for several hundred miles, ate great meals, and on and on. I can honestly say that we were blessed! We are blessed!

Concluding thought... after spending a few days in the foliage with family and friends, God reminded me in a simple way that He is the One who is ultimately responsible for Blessed is the man... And I give Him glory for blessing this man!
Keith

- Psalm 1:1-3 -

Blessed is the man

Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,

Nor stands in the path of sinners,

Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;

But his delight is in the law of the Lord,

And in His law he meditates day and night.

He shall be like a tree

Planted by the rivers of water,

That brings forth its fruit in its season,

Whose leaf also shall not wither;

And whatever he does shall prosper.