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."
Coach Price reached out, put his hand on Riegels’ shoulder, and said, "Roy, get up and go back. The game is only half over."
Riegels finally did get up. He went onto the field, and the fans saw him play like he’d never played before. And, even though UCLA lost the game Roy was never the same. Letter that same year "Wrong Way Riegels" was elected team captain.
All of us have run a long way in the wrong direction. Because of the forgiveness offered in Jesus Christ, however, the game is only half over.
No matter what you’ve done, you are not out of the reach of God’s forgiveness.
Thank You God for Your forgiveness of our sin.
4) You choose to bring near
(You are with us, Living in us and it’s Your choice) vs. 4
God wants me! He chooses me. I don’t know why he would, But, God wants to be near me. And, chooses to live IN me. God the Holy Spirit indwells me.
As to the "nearness of God" James tells us:
"Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, sinners, and purify your hearts, double-minded people!"
I’ve always heard the old illustration about the husband and wife riding along in the car and she says to her husband, "Honey you know, we used to sit so close together in the car, now look at us, sitting so far apart." and he, behind the wheel says, "I haven’t moved".
If you aren’t feeling "near" to God, He hasn’t moved, you have. Draw near to Him. He chooses to be with us and in us.
Thank You God for choosing to live in me.
5)Answer our prayers with awesome deeds
(you do AWESOME deeds, working for us and with us) vs. 5
Not only do You hear and answer our prayers. How do you answer? With Awesome deeds.
Awesome is a word that is way overused. Everything’s :"Awesome" now days, "that’s awesome chocolate cake".
But, when applied to God.....GOD DOES AWESOME DEEDS.
God doesn’t do things half way, that is why I am excited about getting us to pray for our church on Monday’s at 8am and 8pm. (our M16) Because, God answers our prayers with awesome deeds. I don’t know what God has in store for this church. But, I know it’s AWESOME. If we ask. What does Bible say, "You have not because you ask not".
Thank You God for Your awesome deeds
6) You are the hope of everyone on earth
(You give us hope, hope for everyone)
vs. 5
No matter what situation you find yourself in this morning I can tell you there is HOPE. I don’t care how bad things are, there is hope. If you’re sick, there is hope. If you are broke, there is hope. If you can’t see a way out, there is hope. 1 Peter 1:3 tells there is a LIVING HOPE and His Name is Jesus. And Jesus is the Hope of everyone on earth, if they will just turn to Him.
Thank You God for the Hope we have in You
7) You formed the mountains by your power
(You are all Powerful, and that power is available to us) vs. 6
God is "Omnipotent", all powerful. You may feel powerless at times, but, God is all powerful. Take a second and consider the POWER of God. And, that power is available to us. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me...I can say to the mountain "go jump into the sea" and it will. IF....I do them in God’s Power, not mine.
Thank You God for Your power
8) You quieted the raging oceans
(you bring us peace) vs. 7
If there is one thing we need in this crazy world it is peace. God gives us peace that doesn’t make sense, or "peace that passes understanding". Our world is insane. War, Natural disasters, Bird flu, and on and on. The pace of today is frantic. Sometimes I’ll say to My wife Cathy, "What are we doing tonight?" and she’ll answer "nothing". To which I reply "thank the Lord". We are so busy. We need peace. Jesus said, "Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you."
Thank You God for giving us peace
9) You inspire shouts of joy
(You bring us joy) vs. 8
Jesus said in John 15:11 "These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full."
Jesus’ Joy...He brings us joy.
When you get down in the dumps, you need to remember the Joy of the Lord. Ok, easy to say. But, joy has to be cultivated. It doesn’t just happen. And how do we cultivate joy? What did the verse say? "These things I have spoken to you" Jesus’ words bring joy. Reading God’s Word helps us cultivate joy in our lives. You show me a Christian with no joy, and I’ll show a Christian that isn’t reading God’s Word.
Thank You God for bringing us joy
10) You take care of the earth and water it
(You care for the earth, FOR us, rich and fertile, not run dry, bountiful harvest of grain…..the earth is for us to enjoy) vs. 9-13
1 Chronicles 29:11 Says "Yours, O LORD, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty. Everything in the heavens and on earth is yours, O LORD, and this is your kingdom. We adore you as the one who is over all things"
The earth is the Lord’s, he takes care of it.
Why? (Read vs. 9-13)
9 You take care of the earth and water it, making it rich and fertile. The rivers of God will not run dry; they provide a bountiful harvest of grain, for you have ordered it so. 10 You drench the plowed ground with rain, melting the clods and leveling the ridges. You soften the earth with showers and bless its abundant crops. 11 You crown the year with a bountiful harvest; even the hard pathways overflow with abundance. 12 The wilderness becomes a lush pasture, and the hillsides blossom with joy. 13 The meadows are clothed with flocks of sheep, and the valleys are carpeted with grain. They all shout and sing for joy!
FOR US!!
Way back in Gen 1:28 God said 28 God blessed them and told them, "Multiply and fill the earth and subdue it. Be masters over the fish and birds and all the animals."
God has give us the earth to enjoy. Rich and fertile, not run dry, bountiful harvest of grain…..the earth is for us to enjoy.
Thank You God for the earth and Your care of it so we can enjoy it.
11) They all shout and sing for joy!
(Counting your blessings leads to us to shout and sing joy) vs. 13
In counting your blessings, "it may surprise you what the Lord has done".
Thank You God for Being God.
Thank You God for hearing our prayers
Thank You God for Your forgiveness of our sin.
Thank You God for choosing to live in me.
Thank You God for Your awesome deeds
Thank You God for the Hope we have in You
Thank You God for Your power
Thank You God for giving us peace
Thank You God for bringing us joy
Thank You God for the earth, and Your care of it so we can enjoy it.
Yes, we have reason to be Thankful.
(Invitation:)
Those here without a relationship Jesus Christ, Why not let this Thanksgiving be the Thanksgiving you finally have reason to be thankful. Thankful to God for His salvation. And, Christians, Count your blessing.
