The Grass is Always Greener?

The other day I was I was doing errands, I passed a horse sticking his head over his fence gazing across the street at another field. It looked like he was thinking that the grass was greener and tastier on the other side of his fence and he was longing to try it.

How many times are we like that? So many people trade in spouses for one that they will get along with better, only to find that they now have another set of problems. We long for that better job that will make life easier, or the perfect family so that life will be peaceful. To be content with who and what we have just doesn't seem to be the norm.

How life-changing it would be if we concentrate on our blessings and seeing the good in others?! There is so much truth in the old hymn that says, "Count your many blessing see what God has done!" Money is tight right now for us. Actually it is getting more and more difficult to make our dollar stretch. I have times when that gets me down and discouraged. Health problems also make life much harder.

When I focus on these things the darkness that I feel can be overwhelming. But when I start to think of my blessings, God dispels that darkness. There are so many who has far less than we do and have far worse medical problems. Many people have no family or friends, or don't even know Jesus. How blessed I am to have a godly husband and two godly young men who all love me very much! God provides for our needs and even some wants. When a new need arises, He always provides a way to meet that need. We have a great church full of many godly friends that encourage and help us grow in the Lord.

Is the grass greener anywhere? I say not! God is good and I am blessed to overflowing!

Manly Men

PSALM 112
"Praise the LORD. Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who finds great delight in His commands. His children will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed. Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures forever. Even in darkness light dawns for the upright, for the gracious and compassionate and righteous man. Good will come to him who is generous and lends freely, who conducts his affairs with justice. Surely he will never be shaken; a righteous man will be remembered forever. He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD. His heart is secure, he will have no fear; in the end he will look in triumph on his foes. He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor, his righteousness endures forever; his horn will be lifted high in honor. The wicked man will see and be vexed, he will gnash his teeth and waste away; the longings of the wicked will come to nothing." (NIV)

As I read this scripture today it struck me that this is God's idea of a manly man. He is a man who fears the Lord. He has no fear BECAUSE he trusts in the Lord. He is generous. He is gracious and compassionate and just. God blesses a godly man. Even his children will be mighty in the land and blessed. I am so blown away at how good God is. When a man is righteous, God does not just bless that man with the riches, wealth, peace, etc., he blesses the man's children. God is so good! We all have to deal with the effects of sin in our lives - the sin that is rampant in the fallen world, the past sins of our parents and past generations, and our own sins. BUT God blesses us when we live for Him. He can break the generational curses and replace them with His blessings!