A Blessed Week of Showers

Ezekiel 34:26 I will bless them and the places surrounding my hill. I will send down showers in season; there will be showers of blessing.

No it hasnt rained that much this week here in Charlotte, but it has definitely been a week showered with blessings.

Let me share with you a few highlights from my week in a nutshell -

* Monday: worked on my upcoming conference message most of the day, then spent the afternoon and evening traveling back and forth to various sports practices, but rather than be annoyed at feeling like I should hang wallpaper and a flat screen TV in my car since I seem to spend most of my time driving people places, God reminded me how blessed I was that I am healthy and have the ability to drive. He reminded me to enjoy the season of life that I am living, and be thankful that my children are so busy, active, healthy and well-rounded.

* Tuesday: played tennis for a few hours with friends, whom I know I am blessed to have. That afternoon, I talked to a publishing agent over the phone whom I have been trying to get connected with for three years, and he agreed to send me a contract and be my agent! I am so thrilled! Now I have just a few weeks to turn in my entire book proposal, so the publishers can review it before mid-October! What a huge blessing and answer to prayer.

* Wednesday: played tennis for a a couple hours, worked for a few hours at home, then out and about after school to take the kids to club meetings, piano practice, guitar practice, a drive through Bojangles, and then to church. God nudged my heart that day to remember what a blessing it is to live in a country where we can do the things that we love, and where we have the privilege to go to church and raise children who can love the Lord without fear.

* Thursday: won my tennis match today! Score was 6-2, 6-4. I was so excited! Celebrated by having lunch with my team mates, and feeling blessed to be starting out our fall season with a win. Went shopping at Steinmart in the evening, and didnt know they were having a big coupon sale, and saved $25! Then enjoyed dinner with my wonderful mom, and afterwards, fellowshipped and prayed with my girlfriends from church at a girls night out (instead of going to my daughters JV ballgame, but she said it was okay to miss a night!)

* Friday: a relaxing day, ran a few errands, and prepared to kick off the weekend with my daughter's 13th birthday party, where 50 middle-schoolers are planning to come! Now this may sound like torture to some, but I think it will be a blast. I love getting to know all of my daughters friends better, and nothing is more fun than creating a memorable experience with my family.

So that was it, in a nutshell. As you can see, nothing all that overly extraordinary happened this week, and to some people, it might seem like a pretty boring week overall. In fact, I could just write it off as being a normal week too, with normal duties, normal obligations, same ol'-same ol', hum drum every day stuff for the most part.

But you know what, for some reason, I feel like God really helped me to live life this week with my eyes wide open, and to recognize how important it is for me to do that every week. I still had issues to face, problems at bay, things that I am not happy about going on in my life - but those are just pieces of life, not my entire life.

So many times - days, weeks, months at a time - I walk around living life, without recognizing Gods Hand in the midst of normal experiences. Without thanking Him for the food on my table, the clothes on my back, my wonderful family, the privilege of worship, a car that runs, a body that is healthy enough to drive that car, clothes to wear, the ability to exercise, opportunities to serve God, and see Him working and answering prayers, the gift of friends, the pricelessness of my children, family........

We all know we are supposed to count our blessings - but do we really do it? I know I am guilty of overlooking them at times, and I think that is why God wanted my attention this week.

What about you? Do you ever take the little things for granted? Do you ever overlook the fact that even the tiniest blessings are a present from God, to you? Have you been distracted by all the things on your to-do list lately?...... all the things that are not-so-good in your life?..... all the reasons why you should be discouraged, mad, upset, angry?....

Forget those things! Ever heard the phrase "dont sweat the small stuff" ? How true it is! How easy it is to get so consumed with the problems, challenges, responsibilities, obligations and chores in life, resulting in us becoming blinded to all the amazing blessings that God is showering us with every day.

I wonder how many little blessings God bestows upon us - from helping us to have minimal traffic on the road when we are in a hurry, to protecting our child from being hurt at sports, to providing for our financial needs in special ways - that we fail to notice?

Gods Word promises that He will care for us and bless us - in little ways, big ways, insignificant ways and extraordinary ways. My prayer is that God will continue to help me keep my eyes open to see all the ways that He chooses to intervene in my life.

2 Corinthians 9:8-11a God can pour on the blessings in astonishing ways so that you're ready for anything and everything, more than just ready to do what needs to be done. (The Message)