"Their children are a blessing"

We're making a big breakfast for the family this morning.  It's a lazy morning and a breakFEAST (as my teenagers call it) sounds like a great idea.  French toast is on the griddle, bacon is cooked, and eggs will be done soon.  Banana bread is in the oven.  Yum! 

Better than all of the delicious foods listed above is the fact that Mark and I are fortunate to be called children of God and along with that privilege comes this promise:  The godly always give generous loans to others,and their children are a blessing." Psalm 37:26

Do you know what that means?  That means that our children, all five of them (and the others that we consider children) are blessings regardless of the day, their attitude, our attitude, their address, their state of life in this very minute, our frustrations, busy schedules, whatever.

God has promised us this in His word.  They are blessings - encouragements, special favors, mercies, and benefits (www.m-w.com).  They are no accidents in our lives.  God has given them to us for reasons that He had in mind and part of that reason is blessing.  They are favors or gifts bestowed by God (www.dictionary.com). 

Take a look around you at the children placed in your life.  God has given them to you; they are blessings. Be thankful.  Enjoy them today. 

Here Is Our King

Allow yourself to travel with me for a moment: 

You are in a crowded room with thousands of people; you all wait anxiously for the moment when everything will begin.  Suddenly a voice surrounds you and those around you; you hear thundering commands: 

"Come, everyone!  Clap your hands!" 

This sounds like the opening of something big, an introduction to a celebration or a revelation of something long anticipated.  More imperatives follow: 

"Shout!  Sing!" 

Descriptive words and phrases are also proclaimed loudly and with great confidence:  "Awesome . . . Bravo!  Bravissimo! . . . highly honored . . .  King of the mountain"

Where are you?  Are you at a rock concert?  A celebration for someone great?  A victory party?  I'm not sure where you went on this brief adventure but what I have described are words from  Psalm 47 (New Living & Message translations).  This Psalm is nothing but good, old fashioned praise to God. 

What's got you down today?  What is weighing on your shoulders like the weight of the world?  Put it down.  You cannot clap your hands and praise our God when they are full of sorrow and burden.  He will carry it for you (Matthew 11:29-30). 

Take a minute to praise our King.  When we focus on Him it changes our perspective on everything.  Just to get you started, I've included a link to one of my favorite David Crowder tunes: Here Is Our King

(Chorus:)
Here is our King
Here is our Love
Here is our God who's come to bring us back to him
He is the one,
He is Jesus

Praise Him today.