Blessings from UPS

I was in my scroungy clothes (the ones I clean house in), and someone rang my doorbell this afternoon. Now, let me tell you, these clothes were not meant to be seen by the outside world. We're talking bleach spots and all. Fortunately, I did at least have makeup on. I figured it was yet another roofer or yard care company wanting me to purchase their services, so I ignored them. We get at least two or three of those a week.

I suppose it's a good thing that my visitor was persistent. It was the UPS delivery man. When I saw him, I was even more confused because I haven't ordered anything from anyone recently. I cracked the door assuming he was mistakenly delivering to the wrong address (although he knows me pretty well after all the deliveries he's made over the years).

I opened the door and he said, "Target Corporation." I stammered out a "What?," and he repeated himself. I signed the signature tablet, took my envelope and closed the door (after saying thank you, of course). I proceeded to open the package and find a Target gift card from a friend.

Well, let's just say that after the good cry I just had I'm no longer wearing any makeup, so I would scare the life out of the next person who comes to my door. You know, it's funny, my UPS delivery man is a Christian, but he had no idea he was delivering a blessing to me today. Papa has a strange way of letting you know He's got everything under control. And I am reminded once again that the amazing friends He has given me are His greatest blessings!

Life Is What You Make Of It . . . Sort Of

Some things in life we have control over and others we do not. There are things that happen to us that are completely out of our control. There is nothing that we did to warrant it, and there is nothing we can do to change it. However, I would say that in some ways life is what we make of it.

To put it a different way - Is your glass half empty of half full? Our attitude about our situation in life can make a difference. I've been extremely honest about our circumstances. They haven't changed one iota of late; however, I've been more joyful and less despondent. I still have my moments of feeling forlorn, and I don't claim to always be cheery. But, overall, I've been appreciating more of the "haves" in my life and trying to focus less on my "have nots."

I suppose that it has something to do with the scripture that Papa brought to mind, Matthew 6:25-34. This has been my life raft lately, and it says:

²⁵ Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? ²⁶Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Ar you not of more value than they? ²⁷And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? ²⁸And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, ²⁹yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. ³⁰But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? ³¹Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' ³² For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. ³³But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things will be added to you. ³⁴Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

What I take from this is that first and foremost I need to be hearing Papa's voice and seeking Him in my life. Secondly, I can worry about tomorrow until the cows come home tonight, and it isn't going to make a dime's worth of difference. I can give myself an ulcer, bicker with my husband and make my daughter miserable, and it still won't change circumstances.

OR, I can allow my Father to show me his bird's eye view of my life and enjoy the blessings I do have. Because when it comes right down to it, every moment I spend worrying is another moment I've given victory to the devil. He would love nothing more than to keep us all stewing in our own juices and consumed by our own concerns that we ignore our Father's voice. His voice that comforts us and reminds us that He knows our worries and that He holds us in the very palm of His hand.

There is a song that comes to my mind. I haven't thought about it in ages. A friend of mine used to sing it in church occasionally. It is called "Blessed." The words of the chorus are these:

I am blessed, I am blessed
From when I rise up in the morning
Till I lay my head to rest
I feel you near me
You soothe me when I'm weary
Oh, Lord, for all the worst and all the best
I am blessed

May we all remember that regardless of our situation or our circumstances "for all the worst and all the best" we are blessed.

Blessings!