My Blessings

Oh yes, God brings grain from the land,
wine to make people happy,
Their faces glowing with health,
a people well-fed and hearty.

I love this Psalm so much (104 Message Transl.) -- it's so simple but it speaks volumes of how much pleasure God takes in His people's well-being. Being happy, healthy, well taken care of and enjoying life.

I think this one verse smashes so many wrong beliefs about God. Somewhere along the lines we've heard that God wants us to be miserable. About how God doesn't heal the sick because He might want to teach them something, or about God's people having to live poor because rich people won't go to heaven. I love that He even provides wine - to make people happy. I think my favorite wino is going to really appreciate this verse.

I often take my life for granted. Yesterday going to work I started thinking of all the blessings I've been so generously given in the last year, I was overwhelmed in the most positive sense of the word. There were these things in life I wanted so badly but the more I tried to get them the more I seemed to fail.

For years I was chasing dudes, hoping that I will find somebody who will love me and will want to grow old together. This sounds very cliche but the more I was trying the more I was disappointed and hurt. Until one day I decided that I am not going to be shy about this anymore and will start praying for a husband. I know this sounds very corny but that's the truth. I think Adam and Rochelle had a good laugh when in the church prayer basked I put a note that said "husband". Someone must have been praying hard because little did the Englishman know that he'll be marrying a Latvian living in the US. I have married a man better than if I would have sat down and put together a list of qualities I want in a husband. He is an amazing guy, even despite the video games he loves. The chances of us meeting over the internet while living on two different continents? You can believe in fate. I believe in God who answers prayers.

I lived in Vermillion almost 8 years. And wanted to get out of there after the first 3 months I got there. The more I tried the more nothing worked out. Until I stopped trying and focused on God. I am living in London now. IN A CITY!!!!!!! Do you know how much I feel at home in a city? I am feeling me again.

I've always wanted to travel but never really had enough money or time. Or both. This last year has been beyond anything I could have imagined. Here is the proof. And there is so much good yet to come.

I made a good salary for a single person living in the Midwest. It was more than a lot of people working harder than I did. And yet, I never had enough. I was always stitching at the end of the month. Until I made a decision to tithe. The 10% of everything I earned went to church believing that what I need will be provided. And it has returned with abundance. We have everything we need and more.

So next time someone tells you that it's God's will for someone to be sick, or poor or heart-broken or unhappy tell them to stick it. God takes pleasure in blessing His children. He wants them to be happy and thankful and loving Him. What I have written here is just a smidget of the goodness that is in my life. I can tell you so many more stories of a girl with so many holes torn in her by people and past that she didn't know how to live and how with love those holes are patched up and healed. God does do miracles.