Blessed Beyond Measure

My Husband…More Than I Deserve

2012-02-01T01:00:00.000-08:00

In preparation for this column, it sure is encouraging and enriching to truly stop and meditate on my blessings on a regular basis. In this busy life, it is so easy to not even notice the little things that God gives us and those “little things” tend to be the very things that make our life the happiest. I find more and more that I really am ~ blessed beyond measure! I have been anointed with the oil of gladness! Lately, I am once again praising the Lord for the husband that He gave me. I do not deserve such a kind and loving man in my life.

My husband is the most selfless man I know. He is always putting my needs or the family’s needs above his own. I have to really be vigilant in order to ensure that HIS needs are met, because he is always putting himself at the bottom of the list! He is the example of Christ in our family! I am so thankful for that!

My husband shows me the greatest respect. It is something that if I am not careful, I will take it for granted. He esteems me above all others (except for God) and he will not accept anything less from our children. Disrespect for me is never tolerated in our home, even when I am wrong. I cannot express what a treasure that is. It teaches all of us in my family that respect is not an option, but required. That translates into reverence to God, who is truly worthy!

The thing that I am most thankful for in my husband is his love and devotion for the Lord Jesus Christ. A husband who is devoted to the Lord is one of the best gifts to any family! He loves the Lord more than anyone or anything in this world. That makes him an even better husband and father to each of us in the Lehman family. No, he is not perfect…but I’m so grateful that he is willing to love and serve the One who is! My husband strives to lead us in the way we should go and for that ….I thank him and thank my Lord for blessing me beyond measure!

My Pastor's Singing

2012-01-03T09:20:00.000-08:00

I am blessed beyond measure by the pastor that God has given me. He is a most gentle shepherd and I could spend hours writing praises to the Lord for him. I am impressed to ponder and praise the Lord for one thing in particular about my pastor. That would be, his singing.

My pastor has a beautiful singing voice. I am so thankful that he uses it to worship the Saviour! Music is so important in my worship of the Lord and my pastor ensures that we are able to worship in the beauty of holiness and in truth! When I hear him sing I am lifted up in praise of my Jehovah God!
My family knows how dearly I love to hear my pastor sing. When I am in Children’s Church or in Nursery and miss when he has sung a solo, they are always so sad for me. My all time favorite song that he sings is O Holy Night. I was blessed to hear him sing that once again on Christmas night! I have heard many versions of that song, from the London Philharmonic Orchestra to Andy Williams, but none can hold a candle to the way my pastor does it. Yes, he truly has a beautiful voice and yes, the accompanists who play for him are truly top notch. Yes, he always chooses lovely arrangements also.
However the reason I am so blessed and love his singing so much, is because of the Spirit with which he sings. His singing is so filled with the Spirit of God, sung from the heart and completely void of just the “mechanics” of singing, that I am transported in worship to the very throne of God!

Thank you, Pastor. Your ministry in music is a blessing to me! I am truly blessed beyond measure!

Cocoa

2011-11-01T01:00:00.000-07:00

I am finding that the ‘little’ things….and sometimes the not so little things to be thankful for, are easy to spot if I’m looking for them and I find that once again….I am blessed beyond measure! This month I found my ‘blessing’ in quite and unusual place. I am blessed beyond measure by the dog the Lord gave to my son, Adam.

He is a cute little mutt but that isn’t what makes him so special to me. He has taught me immeasurably about how to love the Saviour!

Cocoa absolutely loves my son with all his heart, with all his mind and with all his soul (if he had one)! When Adam is away from home, Cocoa is absolutely bereft! He whines at the door or window just hoping for a glimpse of his master. When he finally gives up waiting for him, he goes and sleeps on Adam’s bed where he feels closest to the one he loves. When Adam is home, the dog is glued to his side. He sits as closely to Adam as he possibly can. Cocoa keeps his eyes glued to Adam and watches his every move. He doesn’t want to miss a command or any chance to be closer to his master.

When I see the absolute devotion Cocoa has for Adam, it convicts my heart. Am I anywhere near as devoted to my precious Saviour as Cocoa is to Adam? Is it my only goal in life to be nearer to Him? When times are dark and I can’t see the way, am I in position to catch a glimpse of my LORD? Am I striving to keep my eyes on Him so I will never miss a command or a chance to serve Him? Oh the mountains that could be moved if I were as faithful to my Master as Cocoa is to his!

Leaky Roofs

2011-10-02T17:15:00.000-07:00

I think the Lord may be testing my desire to praise Him this month! I am determined to pass the test and this month I am thanking and praising the Lord for our leaky roof! What, you may ask, am I crazy?

A leaking roof is serious business! It definitely is a daunting prospect but I see it as a wonderful opportunity as well!

It is an opportunity to praise the Lord in spite of the trial! I am praising Him because we happened to discover the problem in August and not in February! The Lord is so merciful! I am praising the Lord because there hasn’t been much rain since we found the problem. Actually, the meteorologists are saying that September has been the driest September on record! Hmmm…I think that God knew that too! We are so grateful for that blessing! I am praising the Lord because our wonderful church family has been eager to help us and to offer their wisdom.

It has also been an opportunity to trust Him more. We don’t have the money lying around in old shoe boxes or cleverly concealed secret places in our house to fix our leaky roof. But, I have a Heavenly Father who owns the cattle on a thousand hills! I have this marvelous opportunity to refuse to worry and to watch how He will provide for this need. I am tempted to worry and fret but I know that is only a waste of time and will reveal my true lack of faith in my Heavenly Father. My Lord already knew about all this and He has a plan for how this will be taken care of. I will rest in Him knowing that I can trust Him fully.

I am praising the Lord for a leaky roof that I see is wholly filled with opportunity!

I’m Thankful for the Weeds!

2011-09-01T12:19:00.000-07:00

Written By Melissa Lehman

Ever notice how sometimes it’s the little things that overwhelm our heart?

I am blessed beyond measure by my gardens. For several years now, I have
been collecting perennial flowers from some of my sweet, generous friends!
When I look at my garden in bloom, I can’t help but think of each dear person who
shared their bounty with me.

I went away on a family vacation for a few weeks and upon arriving back home --
I found weeds, weeds and more weeds!! I must admit, I wasn’t very grateful at that
moment for my garden OR the weeds!

I decided to roll up my sleeves and set to work cleaning out my once beautiful garden.
As I worked to remove the weeds, the Lord spoke to my heart. He showed me how in
just two weeks of inattention to my garden, I could be swamped with so much work for
me to do! He gently reminded me that I need to keep the garden of my heart weeded too! I
cannot neglect it! I cannot allow wrong thoughts, attitudes and unbiblical feelings to
grow wild in my heart. I must work to keep the unwanted “weeds” out and to cultivate
the good!

I found myself praising the Lord for those unwanted weeds and the perfect reminder that
they brought to my mind. Yes….there are lessons to learn in the little things.

I’m going to enjoy my garden a bit longer now…

I’m Counting My Blessings!

2011-08-02T09:28:00.000-07:00

I am so blessed as a mother. My children love me with their whole heart! I hope I never take that for granted! I know it really isn’t that there is anything special about me. I have a theory on this situation though. When my children were little, from the moment they were born, I showered them with hugs and kisses, love, prayer and protection. I know they probably have no recollection of the constant care I gave them as infants or the nights of lost sleep as I cared for their needs . They don’t recall the hours I spent teaching them and cuddling them. Still, my mother’s heart tells me that some part of them remembers it and now my adult son never leaves our home without honoring me with a kiss. How blessed am I!!

I was meditating on this particular blessing when I realized that it is the same way with the LORD. The Bible tells me He “hast covered me in my mother's womb.” He loved me and sheltered me with His protection long before I could even become aware of it. There is a part of my soul that knows it and longs to know the One who loved me before I was ever born. It is that love, with which He covers me, that causes me to adore Him and love Him with my whole heart!

Just sharing my thoughts and blessings…