Count Your Blessings

Steven’s Scribbles
“Count Your Blessings” 
1 Thess 5:14-18

    We’ve been going through the book of Exodus lately with the youth class, and we’ve been talking about how Moses was leading people out of slavery, and all they did was complain. What did they complain about? Moses went to Pharaoh and demanded their freedom (Ex. 5), Pharaoh lets the people go and then chases them (Ex. 14:11-12), God provided water but it was too bitter (Ex. 15:22-26), God provided manna for them to eat, but it wasn’t good enough (Ex. 16:1-7), God provided meat, but it too was too much meat (Ex. 16:8-21), Israel complains about thirst again (Ex. 17:1-7), Israel complains about Moses being gone too long on the mountain (Ex. 32:1-6), and the list goes on. I find myself telling Israel, “Hey, why don’t you just do what the old song says and ‘Count your blessings!!!’” Then I get humbled, because I’ll complain about having to work too much, rather than thank God for the ability to work. I’ll complain about not having eggs to make French toast, rather than being grateful I have food. I’ll complain about Grey waking me up at the early hours of the morning because he had a nightmare rather than being grateful God has blessed me with a son. Are we really that different from Israel? It all comes down to perspective and attitude. We don’t need to be like the world. We need to transform our way of thinking to an attitude of gratitude (Rom. 12:1-2; Phil. 4:4-7). I love you all!


In His service,
Steven Hugley