Blessings from God

How many times have you heard someone complain about the way his or her life is going? How many times have you heard the same complainers thank God for what He's given them and done for them? Does it get old and tiresome to you, listening to people constantly complain about this or that? Why is it that these people are unable or unwilling to open their eyes and see how richly God has blessed them? Are they too proud? Too lost in their self-pity? Too angry with God for something they did or didn't do, not Him?

Here's a question even closer to home. How many times have you complained about how awful you think your life is? And when is the last time you thanked God for His blessings? Do you think the people that hear you complain about how lousy you think your life is enjoy listening to you, knowing that you are blind to the overabundance of blessings God has bestowed upon you?

God never promised this life would be without problems and hardships. He did promise us He'd always be with us, that He'd never leave us. We often leave Him though; especially when He doesn't do something for us that we think He should. God's promises are not for those that don't live for Him or follow Him. Do you really think God will bless you when you're not living, as He would have you to? God's not going to bless someone that's not living His Word, or someone that hasn't asked God to forgive them. I don't think God is going to bless someone that hasn't forgiven him or herself.

How has God blessed me, you ask? All you can think of are the mountains of bills, the kids are sick, the job is unstable, the marriage is falling apart, talk of war is everywhere, etc. You think, and are sure to let all around you know, that your life is terrible. You complain that God doesn't care, hasn't blessed you, and has forgotten you, to anyone and everyone that will listen. You're so blind that you can't see the nose attached between your eyes.

God didn't make your bills. But you expect Him to bail you out, right? Learn how to manage your money and stop wanting/buying everything you think you need. Learn to get the things you truly need, and save the wants for when you have money to blow. Plan before you spend and know your financial limitation. Don't try to live like a king or queen on a pauper's salary. And be content with what you have! Many people have so much less.

God didn't make your marriage a mess. It takes three in a marriage to make it work. God, your spouse, you. And in that order. If God is not first, it'll be miserable. If you put yourself ahead of your spouse, it'll be miserable. Learn the art of communication. If you cannot or will not talk to your spouse, you're in trouble. Someone else will talk to them, and the outcome will probably not be what you like. Your spouse cannot read your mind, just as you cannot read theirs. Talk! Stop assuming that just because your spouse loves you and is married to you, that the person is a mind reader.

Times are hard and no jobs are a sure thing, even in good times. Be happy you have a job. Many don't have one. If you're one that doesn't have a job and want one, go get one! Stop waiting for the perfect job. Any money is better than no money. You can always look for something better after you're working and have some money coming in. As long as the job is morally okay and legal, it's a good job. And you have nothing to complain about if you are too lazy to get up off your end and go look for a job. No employer is going to come looking for you! A job is not going to just fall into your lap! Get up and try, or stop whining about it.

God did not forget you, but it seems you might have forgotten Him. When's the last time you talked to Him? When's the last time you read His Word? When's the last time you thanked Him for what you have that He's given you? Yeah, here were are again at that. What's God given you, you ask? Let's see.

Do you have a roof over your head? God blessed you with that roof. So it's not a high dollar mansion, and maybe it's not even yours, but who cares? You are blessed to have a place to live. Stop complaining that it's not the right size or the right color or the right floor plan or new enough. Be thankful you have a home to live in. Many don't.

Do you eat? You're blessed by God to have meals. You're not starving. You're not going hungry. God gives you that food and the means to have it. Stop complaining that it's not what you want or what you like or the way you want it cooked. Be thankful you have food to put into your stomach. Many people are literally starving. You're not.

Are you clothed? God had blessed you with clothing to wear. You're warm in the winter, have a bed to rest on, shoes on your feet. God is good to you.

Do you have all of your limbs and body parts? Wow, you are very blessed by God! There are people that are blind, are deaf, have no legs to walk with, are unable to walk, those that can't speak, those that their minds are gone. God has blessed you with a body that works. You can see the sun in the morning, hear the rain and the thunder, smell the flowers and the meals cooked get up and walk someplace, and more.

Are you angry with God for something? Why? Who's the one that did something that caused problems? Was it God or you? Then why are you angry at God? He didn't do anything. He offers to console you and be there for you, yet you turn Him away in anger. Why? Did He get you into the mess you're in? No, you did. He's blessed you with things that you refuse to see or acknowledge.

God's blessings are for those that love Him and follow Him. If you refuse to live for Him, how can you expect to be blessed by Him? If you refuse to help yourself and make an attempt to do something for yourself, why do you become angry with God when He doesn't do anything for you? If all you do is complain and gripe about God's blessings on you, why do you think He will keep blessing you? After all, even God gets tired of the whining after awhile. And even God will get tired of blessing you, only to have you curse His blessing and all He's done for you.

Do you want your life to be a blessing filled life? Then get off the poor pitiful me attitude, stop complaining about how bad your life is when you do nothing to make it better, stop being angry with God for something He did not do, stop expecting Him to do everything you want, and learn to trust Him. Most of all, start living.