Forget Not All His Benefits

  Happy Thanksgiving to everyone (a day, almost 2 late, but we 're to be thankful every day, right?) I've noticed recently how this adoption journey has already started changing my perspective about what I value in life and our finances, etc. It's easy to get caught up in the excitement of good sales on Black Friday or around Christmas time in general. I'm just as guilty as anyone. But this year I keep thinking about how much the Lord has already blessed me with-- a loving husband, our 2 precious children, a roof over our heads, vehicles to get around in, supportive extended family, great church family, wonderful friends, food to eat for every meal and in between, more clothes than I need, and the list goes on. Then I think of the 147 or so million orphans in the world, 2 of which the Lord has already chosen to be ours soon, who have no mom or dad or had to be given up by that mom and dad because they loved them so much and couldn't provide for their needs. They're not excited about Black Friday sales. They might just be hoping to get food sometime today or maybe just hoping someone will notice them and give them a hug or even just a smile. All they want is a forever family to love them. They'd give anything for that. Maybe if we kept them in our minds and hearts this Christmas, we might just change the way we look at our blessings and maybe even change the way we spend (or give) our money. Think about it, and count your blessings.

Psalm 103

Bless the LORD, O My Soul

Of David.

 ¹ Bless the LORD, O my soul,
   and all that is within me,
   bless his holy name!
² Bless the LORD, O my soul,
   and forget not all his benefits,
³who forgives all your iniquity,
   who heals all your diseases,
⁴who redeems your life from the pit,
   who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
⁵who satisfies you with good
   so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. ⁶The LORD works righteousness
   and justice for all who are oppressed.
⁷He made known his ways to Moses,
   his acts to the people of Israel.
⁸The LORD is merciful and gracious,
   slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
⁹ He will not always chide,
   nor will he keep his anger forever.
¹⁰He does not deal with us according to our sins,
   nor repay us according to our iniquities.
¹¹For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
   so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;
¹²as far as the east is from the west,
   so far does he remove our transgressions from us.
¹³As a father shows compassion to his children,
   so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him.
¹⁴For he knows our frame;^[a]
   he remembers that we are dust.
 ¹⁵As for man, his days are like grass;
   he flourishes like a flower of the field;
¹⁶for the wind passes over it, and it is gone,
   and its place knows it no more.
¹⁷But the steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him,
   and his righteousness to children’s children,
¹⁸to those who keep his covenant
   and remember to do his commandments.
¹⁹The LORD has established his throne in the heavens,
   and his kingdom rules over all.
 ²⁰Bless the LORD, O you his angels,
   you mighty ones who do his word,
   obeying the voice of his word!
²¹Bless the LORD, all his hosts,
   his ministers, who do his will!
²² Bless the LORD, all his works,
   in all places of his dominion.
Bless the LORD, O my soul!