The Plumbline

The hardest arithmetic to master is that which enables us to count our blessings. (Eric Hoffer) Great blessings belong to those who know they are spiritually in need. God’s kingdom belongs to them. (Matthew 5:3) Schoolwork came easy for me until I reached that upper-level math referred to as calculus. Algebra, Geometry, and even Trigonometry was fine, but when I got to that calculus level, my head just couldn't wrap itself around it. There is just some 'math' that is harder to grasp than others, I guess. The one 'math' I have been trying to grasp more and more is the 'math' of counting my blessings. How about you? Are you aware of the blessings God brings your way each day? Some will escape your notice - that is a given. They are the 'less obvious' ones and maybe even the ones we just take for granted. The more obvious ones are easiest for us to recall, aren't they? God's blessings are there - we might just need to learn how to 'count...

The hardest arithmetic to master is that which enables us to count our blessings. (Eric Hoffer) Those who gather crops on time are wise, but those who sleep through the harvest are a disgrace. Good people will have rich blessings, but the wicked will be overwhelmed by violence. Good people will be remembered as a blessing, but evil people will soon be forgotten. (Proverbs 10:5-7) Have you ever stopped long enough to think about your blessings? When you engage in this process, you will likely realize many of those 'blessings' came through very hard work. It wasn't that you 'achieved' those blessings on your own, though. God gave you both the ability and know-how to achieve them. Blessings come in the form of accomplishments, people, and even physical things we can see and touch. The greatest of blessings may just be the peace we experience each day as we settle into the arms of Jesus and enjoy just a little time in his presence. It may feel like life overwhelms us fr...