#Blessed Beyond Measure

I have been thinking a lot lately about what it means to be blessed (Classic November post I know). My first thoughts are always about the many things God has given me. An amazing house, beautiful family and reliable cars always make the cut. Social media has a hashtag for these blessings. We see our material gains or good fortune portrayed in well crafted posts that relate how #blessed we are. But are these things truly what it means to be blessed? My wife shared a quote with me that I have printed out on my desk. It says:

 

“Blessed is the one who perseveres and does the hard things. Tough times never last, but those who hang on tight to God always do.”                                                                                                                                                                                                                         Ann Voskamp 

 

I look at that quote and it reminds me that God’s blessings are much bigger than the good things He gives us. It tells me that blessing comes from knowing Him and pursuing Him even through tough times and hard places. Some of you reading this are going through hard times. You are the #blessed ones because God is refining you. He’s making you new quicker than the rest of us, and all you have to do is hold on to him and remember:

 

“Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but the things which are not seen, for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.”                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       2 Corinthians 4:16-18

 

So be blessed this season not by seeking after things that are seen, but after things which are not seen. These things produce an eternal weight of glory that our present health and wealth cannot compare to.

 

Thank you for praying for our family this month. We had some great meetings with churches and families and are excited about the partnerships we are developing as God leads us down the path He would have for us. We enjoyed being at our home church on Sunday's this month teaching kinder church. Cherry had the opportunity to speak to the ladies at our church this month as well. We also started studying German with a missionary from our church that has just returned from the field. We are so thankful for her and her patience with us! Quinn turned 6 this month and we had an incredible Thanksgiving with family.  We also were given some free tickets to Biltmore and had a great time seeing the Christmas lights and remembering the place we got engaged at 13 years ago! 

 

 

Keith & Kristyn Getty at Prestonwood Baptist Church. This was taken from Sunday Service in November 2009. Just Love the expression on Kristyn's face. She is singing to The Lord, we just happen to be there. The poem Watches of The Night speaks so much to how the Lord comforts us in the rough times of life.

We pray that God was as gracious to you as He was to us this month. May God bless you as you look to Him, the Light that came down to us. May He draw you ever nearer. We sang this song in church last week and the words were an encouragement to me to remember His greatest blessings come from looking to Him when we are in dark places. 

Praise and Prayer

  • Allowing us to communicate clearly as we spoke to groups this month
  • Awesome German teacher (We know how to start a conversation now!)
  • Scheduling in January and February as we seek out our final partners
  • Grace in the coming transitions as we plan to be in Berlin in July

Chad Gfeller