5. Not Lucky... Just Blessed!

6. Looking Back... ...Living Forward

7. Eph 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love 5 He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.

8. GOD HAS BLESSED US!
who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ
What is a blessing
a favor or gift bestowed by God, thereby bringing happiness.
the invoking of God's favor upon a person:

9. Ez 34;25 “I will make a covenant of peace with them and eliminate harmful beasts from the land so that they may live securely in the wilderness and sleep in the woods. 26 I will make them and the places around My hill a blessing. And I will cause showers to come down in their season; they will be showers of blessing. 27 Also the tree of the field will yield its fruit and the earth will yield its increase, and they will be secure on their land. Then they will know that I am the Lord, when I have broken the bars of their yoke and have delivered them from the hand of those who enslaved them. 28 They will no longer be a prey to the nations, and the beasts of the earth will not devour them; but they will live securely, and no one will make them afraid.

10. God cares for his sheep You have had all this garbage happen to you!
Wild beasts exploit you: Babylon/Persia
You have wandered
You have been abandoned.
And I will cause showers to come down in their season; they will be showers of blessing.
Seasonal
Grass needs rain
A period of uncertainty and dryness is over
There is food and water a plenty

11. We find ourselves standing in the water of blessing
Midwest rains
Rivers flooded
All is green
Water is standing
Sky is blue/ puffy clouds
“too much rain,” “roads are flooded” “houses are gone”
We have received so many blessings we complain about them

12. Count your blessings Education Friends Entertainmnt Hobbies Travel
Accomplishmts
Skills
memories
Physical body
Mind
Eyesight
Hearing
Touch
Taste
Male/female
What still works
What doesn't that you get by with
Family
Shelter
Food
Warmth
Clothes
Job
Transport
insurance

13. Count your blessings (pt 2)
Failures
Closed doors
Pain felt in loss
“I matter”
Blessed to bless
Generosity
Given
Received
Freedoms
Your salvation
Jesus
The cross
Evangelists
Missionaries
Pastors
Teachers
Mentors
Persecutions
Faith
Life's challenges
Successes
Uniqueness
Country
Heritage
People who invested

14. We find ourselves standing in the water of blessing...complaining.
We have created a discontented people
We feel entitled
Some of the most grateful people I have known are those who appear to have nothing
When did you begin to sour?
When did you begin to complain about your blessing(s)?
You looked around and coveted?
Why should he(she)...?
Why not me....?

15. Calling all Sheep Prior:
Shepherds have not cared for the sheep of Israel
Shepherds have been selfish
Sheep have been scattered
Sheep have become prey
God turned against the shepherds
“I” (God) will become their shepherd
“David” will become their shepherd
“I will seek the lost, bring back the scattered, bind up the broken and strengthen the sick.”

16. We find ourselves standing in the water of blessing...complaining.
There will always be “joy stealers.”
“Life's joy stealers are many. And you will need to get rid of them if you hope to attain the kind of joy and happiness described by Paul's pen (in Philippians.) If you don't, all attempts to receive (or give) a joy transfusion will be blocked. One of the ringleaders you'll need to do battle with sooner or later is that sneaky thief who slides into your thoughts and reminds you of something from the past that demoralizes you (even though it's over and done and fully forgiven) or conjures up fears regarding something in the future (even though that frightening something may never happen). Joyful people stay riveted to the present- the here and now, not the then and present.” Swindoll
A graveside gift

17. You have been placed into a Covenant of Peace
An heir of King David
God himself will be their shepherd (His Son)
Even in the midst of exile; there shall be showers of blessings
But you must see them differently (artists)
Identify them
Change your perspective
Put the blessing in a different place in the frame
Don't center it
Put it off to the side

18. So What? Receive your blessings Choose joy!
Acknowledge what God has given and say thanks
Own your blessings. Cling to them.
Change your perspective about life's occurrences

19. 1 There shall be showers of blessing:
This is the promise of love;
There shall be seasons refreshing,
Sent from the Savior above.
Chorus
Showers of blessing,(Showers, showers of blessing)
Showers of blessing we need;
Mercy drops 'round us are falling,
But for the showers we plead.

20. 2 There shall be showers of blessing--
Precious reviving again;
Over the hills and the valleys,
Sound of abundance of rain. [Chorus]
3 There shall be showers of blessing:
Send them upon us, O Lord;
Grant to us now a refreshing;
Come and now honor Thy word. [Chorus]

21. 4 There shall be showers of blessing:
Oh, that today they might fall,
Now as to God we're confessing,
Now as on Jesus we call! [Chorus]