Saturday, July 29, 2023

Reflection - Vernon Grounds - Undeserved Blessings

Source (book): "Classic Gem: Timeless Devotions from Our Daily Bread Authors", Chapter 70, "Undeserved Blessings", Page 80.
By Vernon Grounds, Our Daily Bread Author
 
 
God . . . has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. - Ephesians 1:3
PHOTO: God . . . has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. - Ephesians 1:3
 
Tennis superstar Arthur Ashe died of AIDS, which he contracted from a blood transfusion during heart surgery. More than a great athlete, Ashe was a gentleman who inspired and encouraged many with his exemplary behavior on and off the court.

Ashe could have become embittered and self-pitying in the face of his disease, but he maintained a grateful attitude. He explained: "
If I asked, 'Why me?' about my troubles, I would have to ask, 'Why me?' about my blessings. Why my winning Wimbledon? Why my marrying a beautiful, gifted woman and having a wonderful child?"

Ashe's attitude rebukes those of us who often grumble: "
Why me? Why is God allowing this to happen?" Even if we're suffering acutely, we must not forget the mercies God pours into our lives - such things as food, shelter, and friends - blessings that many are deprived of.

And what about spiritual blessings? We can hold the very Word of God in our hands and read it. We have the knowledge of His saving grace, the comfort of His Spirit, and the joyful assurance of life everlasting with Jesus.

Think about God's blessings and ask: "
Why me?" Then your grumbling will give way to praise.

God never stops giving us reasons to praise Him.
God . . . has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. - Ephesians 1:3
Read: Habakkuk 3:17-19
 

God . . . has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. - Ephesians 1:3
PHOTO: God . . . has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. - Ephesians 1:3
Picture posted by AMMU I Love You on Tuesday, 24 February 2015 at 05:23 am

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Tennis superstar Arthur Ashe died of AIDS, which he contracted from a blood transfusion during heart surgery. More than a great athlete, Ashe was a gentleman who inspired and encouraged many with his exemplary behavior on and off the court.


Tennis superstar Arthur Ashe died of AIDS, which he contracted from a blood transfusion during heart surgery.
PHOTO: Tennis superstar Arthur Ashe died of AIDS, which he contracted from a blood transfusion during heart surgery. More than a great athlete, Ashe was a gentleman who inspired and encouraged many with his exemplary behavior on and off the court.
Picture posted by Leah Dolan, CNN on Tuesday, 11 July 2023 at  03:24 pm EDT

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic3O98YEbVxWKRAhSgoYh6Frw5KpbrbOsEgOM4zMTzRLarvHSiFTfv6jVOlmV5_u-b0R0Nhvg-yBj6fv03RbsQ8irMkX-ciKebOJfDpcKn1vYXiG168KuUMDZSKJjIJxUUggC8EGfIsHaDJwyVW719Ws9yEZBrOtIVx1nDQTZPeZ2bprzQXqCkK0QJ7aE/s1935/230711113906-03-jannik-sinner-gucci-wimbledon-ashe-restricted.jpg
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https://edition.cnn.com/style/jannik-sinners-gucci-bag-wimbledon/index.html



Ashe could have become embittered and self-pitying in the face of his disease, but he maintained a grateful attitude. He explained: "
If I asked, 'Why me?' about my troubles, I would have to ask, 'Why me?' about my blessings. Why my winning Wimbledon? Why my marrying a beautiful, gifted woman and having a wonderful child?"


Ashe could have become embittered and self-pitying in the face of his disease, but he maintained a grateful attitude.
PHOTO: Ashe could have become embittered and self-pitying in the face of his disease, but he maintained a grateful attitude. He explained: "If I asked, 'Why me?' about my troubles, I would have to ask, 'Why me?' about my blessings. Why my winning Wimbledon? Why my marrying a beautiful, gifted woman and having a wonderful child?"
Picture posted by  Steve Flink, USTA on 02 February 2021

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBZkz5H-lEg0Ichziov8vT2Ou2IXJ13SGApg_iu8fASknM7rIEdeLfjNM986BHNJd32SIMmJpEEZ6WxhAGt4oiUDerdyr1aOmcyoOIfA6ZBG9opNoCjjerFXLQjayRUgaVf3HQQzJr52wDk5rYwQ2LpzZUsPW35ZokaLA1jC7sgks93AlAfsxCXFXWx1E/s1170/20200202-asheunspeech.jpeg
https://www.usta.com/en/home/stay-current/national/arthur-ashe--the-grace-of-a-champion/_jcr_content/root/content/responsivegrid/image_397992774.coreimg.90.1280.jpeg/1612274232102/20200202-asheunspeech.jpeg
https://www.usta.com/en/home/stay-current/national/arthur-ashe--the-grace-of-a-champion.html



Ashe's attitude rebukes those of us who often grumble: "
Why me? Why is God allowing this to happen?" Even if we're suffering acutely, we must not forget the mercies God pours into our lives - such things as food, shelter, and friends - blessings that many are deprived of.


Ashe's attitude rebukes those of us who often grumble
PHOTO: Ashe's attitude rebukes those of us who often grumble: "Why me? Why is God allowing this to happen?" Even if we're suffering acutely, we must not forget the mercies God pours into our lives - such things as food, shelter, and friends - blessings that many are deprived of.
Picture posted by Vibes Only
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https://vibes-only.de/cdn/shop/products/CC-P-29.jpg
https://vibes-only.de/en/products/loving-doves-poster?variant=44386473869576



And what about spiritual blessings? We can hold the very Word of God in our hands and read it. We have the knowledge of His saving grace, the comfort of His Spirit, and the joyful assurance of life everlasting with Jesus.


And what about spiritual blessings?
PHOTO: And what about spiritual blessings? We can hold the very Word of God in our hands and read it. We have the knowledge of His saving grace, the comfort of His Spirit, and the joyful assurance of life everlasting with Jesus.
Picture posted by God's Hot Spot on 12 April 2023 - NEVER GIVE UP IN LIFE

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https://godshotspot.files.wordpress.com/2023/01/wp-1673207363249.jpg
https://godshotspot.wordpress.com/2023/04/12/never-give-up-in-life/



Think about God's blessings and ask: "
Why me?" Then your grumbling will give way to praise.


Think about God's blessings and ask


God never stops giving us reasons to praise Him.
 

Reflect and Pray
PHOTO: Reflect and Pray
Are you ever burdened with a load of care?
Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly,
And you will be singing as the days go by. - Oatman

Picture posted by Etsy

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Reflection - Vernon Grounds - Undeserved Blessings
Source (book): "Classic Gem: Timeless Devotions from Our Daily Bread Authors", Chapter 70, "Undeserved Blessings", Page 80.
By Vernon Grounds, Our Daily Bread Author




"Faithful to the end", A Preacher's Exposition of 2 Timothy, @ 2014 by Robert M. Solomon

'Faithful to the end', A Preacher's Exposition of 2 Timothy, @ 2014 by Robert M. Solomon<br>
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https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2017/06/reflection-faithful-to-end-links.html


"Finding rest for the soul" Responding to Jesus' Invitation in Matthew 11:28-29, ©
2016 by Robert M. Solomon

Reflection - Finding rest for the soul (Links)
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https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2018/10/reflection-finding-rest-for-soul-links.html


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2016 by Robert M. Solomon

'Reflection - God in Pursuit (Links) - PART I-III, posted on Saturday, 10 August 2019
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https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2019/08/reflection-god-in-pursuit-links-part-i.html


"God in Pursuit" Lessons from the Book of Jonah, ©
2016 by Robert M. Solomon

'Reflection - God in Pursuit (Links) - PART IV, posted on Saturday, 10 August 2019
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https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2019/08/reflection-god-in-pursuit-links-part-iv.html
 


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2018 by Robert M. Solomon

Reflection - Songs of Christmas (Links), posted on Friday, 24 April 2020
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https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2020/04/reflection-songs-of-christmas-links.html
 

"Growing Old Gracefully", Following Jesus to the End, © 2019 by Robert M. Solomon

Reflection - Growing Old Gracefully, Part I - III (Links), posted on Wednesday, 09 December 2020
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https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2020/12/reflection-growing-old-gracefully-part.html
 

Reflection - Growing Old Gracefully, Part IV - V (Links), posted on Thursday, 22 April 2021
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https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2020/12/reflection-growing-old-gracefully-part_9.html
 

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Reflection - Number Our Days, Chapter 1 - 40 (Links), posted on Tuesday, 16 November 2021
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https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2021/11/reflection-number-our-days-chapter-1-40.html
 
 
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https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2022/03/reflection-number-our-days-chapter-41.html
 
 
"He Walks with Me - Devotions for Your Caregiving Journey with God",  © 2018 by Our Daily Bread Ministries, Shelly Beach

Reflection - He Walks with Me (Links), posted on Tuesday, 16 August 2022Reflection - He Walks with Me (Links), posted on Tuesday, 16 August 2022
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2022/08/reflection-he-walks-with-me-links.html
 

"Classic Gem: Timeless Devotions from Our Daily Bread Authors", Copyright © 2021 by Our Daily Bread Ministries

Reflection - Classic Gem, Chapter 1 - 45 (Links), posted on 03 April 2023
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https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2023/04/reflection-classic-gem-chapter-1-45.html



Reference
[1] From "Classic Gem: Timeless Devotions from Our Daily Bread Authors", Copyright © 2021 by Our Daily Bread Ministries, Chapter 70, "Undeserved Blessings", Page 80.


Links


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