Count Your Blessings

Count Your Blessings, Name Them One By One

I love that old hymn "Count Your Blessings" it’s one of my favorites.

When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed,

when you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,

Count your many blessings, name them one by one,

And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

Count your blessings, name them one by one,

Count your blessings, see what God hath done!

Count your blessings, name them one by one, And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

Are you ever burdened with a load of care?

Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear? Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly,

And you will keep singing as the days go by.

When you look at others with their lands and gold, Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold; Count your many blessings. Wealth can never buy

Your reward in heaven, nor your home on high.

So, amid the conflict whether great or small,

Do not be disheartened, God is over all;

Count your many blessings, angels will attend,

Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end.

I notice that song seems to say "count your blessings" when you don’t think you have any. And, this morning I am sure that there are those of here who may feel like our blessings are few and far between.

Well, this morning we are going to take the advice of that old song. We are going to count our blessings.

We’re gonna name them one by one.

I am going to read from Ps.65 this morning. It’s not a complete list of our blessings. But, I think it’s a good place to start counting.

(Read Psalm 65. Note quotes are in NLT)

1) "Mighty praise, O God, belongs to you"

(You are worthy of our praise) vs. 1

He is worthy of all our thanksgiving. Not just because of the things He’s done. But simply because of who he is, God Almighty. To think that the same God that said, "Let there be light", and there was light, that God, Loves me. All Mighty God.

Listen to the words to the song "Who Am I" by Casting Crowns.

Who am I?

That the Lord of all the earth,

Would care to know my name,

Would care to feel my hurt,

Who am I?

That the Bright and Morning Star,

Would choose to light the way,

For my ever wandering heart,

Not because of who I am,

But because of what You’ve done,

Not because of what I’ve done,

But because of who You are,

Thank You God for Being God.

2)"You answer our prayers"

(You listen and answer, You care)Vs. 2

You are not in this alone. God listens to you.

Anytime, anywhere.

I know that from time to time we all feel alone. But, there is no need to. God hears you. Look at Hebrews 4:16:

"So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it."

You have a privilege Old Testament believers didn’t have. You don’t have to go to a priest. Any time, anywhere, you can go directly to God. And, He listens and answers you.

Thank You God for hearing our prayers

3) You forgive

(We don’t deserve it but, you show mercy, you are gracious) vs. 3

We are sinners in need of forgiveness. We can never find forgiveness apart from Jesus. He purchased our forgiveness on the cross.

(From another sermon here on Sermoncentral.com)

On New Year’s Day, 1929, Georgia Tech played UCLA in the Rose Bowl. In that game a young man named Roy Riegels recovered a fumble for UCLA. Picking up the loose ball, he lost his direction and ran sixty-five yards toward the wrong goal line. One of his teammates, Benny Lom, ran him down and tackled him on the one yard line just before he scored for the opposing team. Several plays later the Bruins had to punt. Tech blocked the kick and scored a safety, demoralizing the UCLA team.

The strange play came in the first half. At halftime the UCLA players filed off the field and into the dressing room. As others sat down on the benches and the floor, Riegels put a blanket around his shoulders, sat down in a corner, and put his face in his hands.

A football coach usually has a great deal to say to his team during halftime. That day Coach Price was quiet. No doubt he was trying to decide what to do with Riegels.

When the timekeeper came in and announced that there were three minutes before playing time, Coach Price looked at the team and said, "Men, the same team that played the first half will start the second." The players got up and started out, all but Roy. He didn’t budge. The coach looked back and called to him. Riegels sat and said, "Roy, didn’t you hear me? The same team that played the first half will start the second. "Roy Riegels looked up, his cheeks wet with tears."Coach," he said, "I can’t do it. I’ve ruined you. I’ve ruined the university’s reputation. I’ve ruined myself. I can’t face the crowd out there."