Thankful and Blessed

Today's devotion comes to use from our sister and friend, Naamah Leary.

Naamah is a faithful disciple of Christ who has attended AUMC for many years, and has served God through this church in many capacities.  Her calming presence is a blessing to us all!

- Reverend Dave

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I can honestly say that every morning when I wake up that I feel thankful and blessed.  I’m thankful that I woke up, thankful that I can take a nice deep easy breath that energizes me, and also thankful that I woke up pain free. I had injured my back some years ago, and I know how difficult it is trying to find a comfortable position to sleep in with a throbbing, herniated disc.    Having a healthy body has always been important to me.  As it says in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20:  Do you not know that your body is the temple of Holy Spirit, who you, have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price.  Therefore, honor God with your body. Now I know that that verse is not just talking about your physical body, but all that you do, say and think, so I am also thankful that I can begin my day by reading the Bible along with the Upper Room.  Its stories, written by people from all over the world, encourages us with their faith, hope and trust in the Lord.  Reading Daily Devotionals also help to keep my mind focused on the Lord and His goodness throughout the day.

As for feeling blessed each morning, I thank God for my home, a nice comfortable bed in which to sleep, a family that I love and that loves me, and the means to live a comfortable life.  Still there are so many more ways in which God has blessed me. Recently all of the positive things in my life have been more prominent in my mind since COVID, and now Russia’s attack on Ukraine. Distressingly, so many lives have literally been obliterated!
 
These three words keep drifting through my mind and they are…Honesty, Humility and Civility.  They are three very important behavioral words that seem to have been forgotten in our society.  The dictionary’s definitions of honesty, humility & civility are as follows:  

Honesty - having character or actions, honor or integrity

Humility- freedom from pride, or arrogance, humble; The Bible says humility is the fear of the Lord (who you are to God rather than to man)

Civility – politeness and courtesy in behavior or speech, civility reflects concern for others.

Sadly, there seems to be a lack of all three behaviors in places like all levels of the Government, large corporations, our news media, some organizations, some work places and some families, to name a few.

Our Monday night Bible study group (another blessing) is studying the book of Ephesians in which Paul is reminding the people of Ephesus, whose they are and how they are to act now that the Holy Spirit has be sent into their lives. We are one body in Christ Jesus. We are to put on humility and gentleness. We are to speak words that lift each other up and forgive one another. Yet everything we see and hear in our world often seems just the opposite.  It can make you feel down, depressed, frightened and hopeless.  You can choose to let the negative things of this world make you feel despondent, and forget just how much you are loved by your creator, or you can truly believe the words in John 16:33: These things have I spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.  I hope that you choose to feel thankful and blessed!

- Naamah Leary