Most of us start each year out with a list of things we want to change or accomplish for the year. While some will write these goals or initiatives down and work to check them off, others do a very similar process, but it is more mental awareness. Surely we’ve all seen the blast of exercise offers and weight-loss plans, drinks, or meals on TV? That is because these companies know that folks like to start the year off trying to do better. This type of thoughtfulness and planning is certainly a good thing. But with all the ‘new year’s resolutions’ where does your SPIRITUAL resolutions factor in? Hopefully a good Christian will have those types of goals first and foremost.
One of the reasons we make these plans for the new year, is because something is NOT working well for us. Maybe we are overweight, maybe we are loosing our muscle tone, maybe we don’t get enough time with our kids, family or spouse, maybe we don’t like our jobs. There are many negative things that prompt us to make goals.
This year, Abe did not look at the bad things in our lives to help us make changes, but he focused on the manifold blessings we receive from our God. His first lesson reminded us that we have so many blessings, we can’t even list them all. So this year as you try to do more for yourself and your soul, start with the things you get from God, see what He’s done for you, then use that to underscore WHY you need to do more with what He has provided you. Or encourage those around you to do more. Paul said “For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things” (1 Timothy 4:8). See how many ways you can show God your appreciation for what He does for you! Perhaps you feel that nothing is going your way? This lesson can help you feel a little better about ALL that you are provided.
Recordings of both lesson can be heard by clicking the link below. If you would like to have an outline of either lesson, or discuss the topics discussed in more detail, please use our Contact page to let us know what lesson you want a copy for.
Counting Our Blessings, Martin, part 1
Counting Our Blessings, Martin, part 2
To give listeners more to follow while they listen to recorded lessons, we are going to start providing key passages and additional notes on the lessons…
Lesson 1:
- James 1:1-17 – Every good gift and every perfect gift is from the Father above….
- Life – Gen. 1:26-28
- Eternal – 1 John 2:25; Eccl. 12:7
- Having individual minds – Job 38:36
- Surrounded by Creation – heavens – Psalm 8:3-4; 19:1-6; earth – ps. 95:1-6; weather – Job 38:22-24; rain and snow – Job 37:6-13; Judg 5:4; Job 38:34, 37-38; Psalm 139:5-7; Job 36:32-33
- Simple things – food – Ecc 5:18-20; clothing – I Tim 6:6-8; homes – Psalm 128:1-6; health – 3 John 2; James 5 (elders pray for sick); our friends – Prov. 27:17 “true friends make our lives better and brighter”; Eccl 4: 7-12 – “good friends keep us faithful” Gal. 6:1; righteous friends inspire us – Dan. 3:12-18
- How many lives have we touched? –We are Eph. 3:20; Habakkuk 3:16-19 says it all
Lesson 2:
- Family – good parents – Eph. 6:1; worthy of being obeyed – Eph 6:2 worthy of honor; spouses – wives Eph. 5:25; worthy of love – I Pet 3:7; worthy of honor; husbands – Tit 2:2-4; worthy of love – Eph 5:33; worthy of respect – children ps. 128:1-4;127:1-5; “how many times has God had to clean us up”. They are a gift from God.
- We have guardship over our homes; worthy of our time – Eph. 6:4;
- Our family, the Church – a. common bond act 2:44-46 – b. shared love Rom. 12:10; Heb 10-24-25 – c. a collective meal I Cor. 11:23-30 – d. mutual goal Jude 3; Phil 3:20 – e. united truth I Cor. 1:10; 3 John 8 – f. joint time to meet acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 14:23 “we are fellow workers for the truth” – g. we are a working body 1 Cor. 12:12-27; Eph. 4:16
- Christ, our greatest blessing Eph. 1:3-14
- Poem: “I’m drinking from my saucer cause my cup has overflowed”