God bless us every one. Dickens' "Tim"

I don't slow down often enough to just take the time and consider how blessed God has made my life. We live in a small town and get to see the "little guys" as they troop off to school each day. We get to go to the games and cheer for our kids as if every touchdown, basket or point is the most important thing in our lives. We get to see good folks helping out other good folks, we get to laugh about the little things at Jackie's gas station, or talk about the weather at the elevator.

One of the greatest blessings we have is the worship. Have you ever considered the privilege that we have in gathering together to remember what we are here for? Have you ever experienced the thrill of singing praises to our Lord and Savior with a hundred others who are doing the same? Have you ever caught yourself on the verge of tears as some fine old gentleman prays to God in his simple, but wise way, as he expresses the very sentiments that you just never seem to be able to put into words? Have you ever, right in the middle of the Lord's supper, been struck with the vastness of the love the Jesus had for you?

This is an abundant life and we need to pause from time to time to acknowledge our gratitude to the One who gave it to us. I know that we have hard things in life, but let me ask you this: Would you rather go through those hard times with God's help... or without? The answer to that question is one of the keys to a life filled with blessing. And you don't have to live in a small town to enjoy it - the abundant life comes from heavenly realms, not from earthly locales.

One of the greatest parts of the abundant life is this: We get to live a really good life and then we get Paradise. We get to go from a place where there is occasional mourning and pain and tears, to a place where there is no mourning or death or tears. Christ is preparing that place for us and God has given His plan for how we can be there. Are you looking forward to it? Are you doing your part to be there? Are you doing everything that you can to encourage others to be there? Are you appreciating what you have now? If so, then I don't have to tell you about the abundant life. You are already living it!

I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. John 10:10-11, NIV