Life is Good!

Thinking about all the troubles people are going through after hurricane Katrina, I have to stop and count my blessings. Always there are questions like, "Why did it happen? Where was God in all of this? Why New Orleans and not some other place? etc." My question is more like, "Why not me?" With a loving, healthy family, lots of good friends, a job that pays me more than I am worth, living in a country where personal freedom is prized so highly that wars have been fought to preserve it....I can only say, "by the grace of God!"

Life is good!

Thank God!

I know I don't deserve any of it. Like the old Kris Kristofferson song says:

Why me, Lord?

What have I ever done

to deserve even one

of the pleasures I've known?

Tell me, Lord,

what did I ever do

that was worth loving you

or the kindness you've shown?

That is not just a rhetorical question. I believe it has an answer, and it is the answer to everything. If God has blessed me, knowing I do not deserve it, He must have a purpose in it. The purpose for His blessings, the purpose for my existence, all is for God's glory! So, what will I do with everything I have been given? If I consume everything myself, no one will praise God for that, but if I use it to help others who are not so blessed, God is praised, and the purpose is fulfilled!

What an awesome responsibility! As lazy and selfish as I am, I almost wish I weren't blessed so well so I wouldn't have to bear that responsibility....but my prayer is that I will learn to make good use of the material blessings I have for the benefit of others. Then God is praised, my responsibility is met and life keeps on being good.

Ok, that's all good theory, you may say, but how do I live it? "Aye, there's the rub!" All I can say is, "With God's help...."

The song continues:

Tell me, Lord

If you think there's a way

I can try to repay

All I've taken from you.

Maybe, Lord,

I can show someone else

What I've been through myself

On my way back to you.

Lord, help me, Jesus

I've wasted it so

Help me, Jesus

I know what I am.

Now that I know

that I've needed you so

Help me, Jesus

My soul's in your hands.

Amen!