Abundantly
Family
memories were filled with intermittent picnics.
Dad and Mom had a desire to find a beautiful shade tree in Oklahoma
where trees are sparse. The purpose was
to enjoy the shade and have a picnic. On
this particular day, I watched Mom prepare.
My blue eyes were on the peaks of chocolate fudge frosting of the 13 X 9
chocolate cake. Nothing better than
Mom’s Chocolate Cake. My mouth still
waters when I think of chocolate fudge frosting. This evening, we searched for a good shade tree,
and a place to make a campfire to roast hot dogs and marshmallows. My two brothers and I were ready for the
fun. As we finished the hot dogs, Mom
turned to me and said, “You can cut the cake!”
I was ecstatic. Mom trusted me at
9 years old to cut the Chocolate Cake. I
counted the number of people present, Dad, Mom, my two little brothers and one
visitor. Ah, that worked. Six pieces of cake would do it. Mom was a little aghast when she saw the huge
pieces. I didn’t know the word Abundance,
but the pieces of cake were abundant…did I mention one inch of chocolate fudge
frosting?
memories were filled with intermittent picnics.
Dad and Mom had a desire to find a beautiful shade tree in Oklahoma
where trees are sparse. The purpose was
to enjoy the shade and have a picnic. On
this particular day, I watched Mom prepare.
My blue eyes were on the peaks of chocolate fudge frosting of the 13 X 9
chocolate cake. Nothing better than
Mom’s Chocolate Cake. My mouth still
waters when I think of chocolate fudge frosting. This evening, we searched for a good shade tree,
and a place to make a campfire to roast hot dogs and marshmallows. My two brothers and I were ready for the
fun. As we finished the hot dogs, Mom
turned to me and said, “You can cut the cake!”
I was ecstatic. Mom trusted me at
9 years old to cut the Chocolate Cake. I
counted the number of people present, Dad, Mom, my two little brothers and one
visitor. Ah, that worked. Six pieces of cake would do it. Mom was a little aghast when she saw the huge
pieces. I didn’t know the word Abundance,
but the pieces of cake were abundant…did I mention one inch of chocolate fudge
frosting?
That
was before I read these verses…..Now
to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or
think, according to the power at work within us, to
him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations,
forever and ever. Amen. Ephesians
3:20-21
was before I read these verses…..Now
to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or
think, according to the power at work within us, to
him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations,
forever and ever. Amen. Ephesians
3:20-21
How
can this be? To me ‘abundance’ had to do
with an over-amount of anything.
According to the dictionary it is a very large quantity of
something. Is abundance a good thing or
a bad thing? With chocolate there is a
balance. I looked at the synonyms –
affluence, plethora, prosperity, riches, wealth, bounty, myriad, plenty. Not satisfied, I wondered about this word. It
is not in common usage today. Is it what
we can see or what we cannot see?
can this be? To me ‘abundance’ had to do
with an over-amount of anything.
According to the dictionary it is a very large quantity of
something. Is abundance a good thing or
a bad thing? With chocolate there is a
balance. I looked at the synonyms –
affluence, plethora, prosperity, riches, wealth, bounty, myriad, plenty. Not satisfied, I wondered about this word. It
is not in common usage today. Is it what
we can see or what we cannot see?
Is
it the big house, the car larger than the neighbor’s car, a large bank account,
a fashionable wardrobe? What is our goal
in life? Is it to have these
things? Is it our measure of
success? If so, then we begin running the
marathon to nowhere. “The faster we pace
our lives, the less we feel God’s presence.” (Kevin DeYoung, Crazy Busy)
it the big house, the car larger than the neighbor’s car, a large bank account,
a fashionable wardrobe? What is our goal
in life? Is it to have these
things? Is it our measure of
success? If so, then we begin running the
marathon to nowhere. “The faster we pace
our lives, the less we feel God’s presence.” (Kevin DeYoung, Crazy Busy)
If
our goal in life is to ‘get’, this verse is interesting, another view, another
way – give, and it will be given to you. Good measure,
pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap.
For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you. Luke 6:38
our goal in life is to ‘get’, this verse is interesting, another view, another
way – give, and it will be given to you. Good measure,
pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap.
For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you. Luke 6:38
Abundance, abundantly, abundant
– do you recall singing, “Count your blessings, name them one by one?” Before I even knew what a blessing was or how
to count them, I wondered… Then during
the times of sorrow, grief, trial, I realized the why of these lyrics. When I counted my abundant blessings, good measure, pressed down, shaken together,
running over, my heart swelled with thanksgiving. No matter how difficult the days become, no
matter what happens, I know the abundant Presence of God in my life.
– do you recall singing, “Count your blessings, name them one by one?” Before I even knew what a blessing was or how
to count them, I wondered… Then during
the times of sorrow, grief, trial, I realized the why of these lyrics. When I counted my abundant blessings, good measure, pressed down, shaken together,
running over, my heart swelled with thanksgiving. No matter how difficult the days become, no
matter what happens, I know the abundant Presence of God in my life.
Jehovah-Jireh (The Lord
will Provide), Adonai (Lord), Yahweh-Elohim (LORD God), names of our Almighty
God and abundantly go together. In the
following verses look for the words, peace, delight, mercy, goodness, life,
pardon, comfort and salvation. These are
what God gives abundantly to those who love and serve him:
will Provide), Adonai (Lord), Yahweh-Elohim (LORD God), names of our Almighty
God and abundantly go together. In the
following verses look for the words, peace, delight, mercy, goodness, life,
pardon, comfort and salvation. These are
what God gives abundantly to those who love and serve him:
• In just a
little while, the wicked will be no more; though you look carefully
at his place, he will not be there. But the
meek shall inherit the land and delight
themselves in abundant peace. Psalm 37:10-11
little while, the wicked will be no more; though you look carefully
at his place, he will not be there. But the
meek shall inherit the land and delight
themselves in abundant peace. Psalm 37:10-11
• Answer me,
O Lord, for
your steadfast love is good; according to your abundant mercy, turn to me. Psalm 69:16
O Lord, for
your steadfast love is good; according to your abundant mercy, turn to me. Psalm 69:16
• Oh, how abundant
is your goodness, which you
have stored up for those who fear you
and worked for those who take refuge in
you, in the sight of the children of mankind!
In the cover of your presence you hide
them from the plots of men; you store them in your shelter from the strife of tongues. Psalm 31:19-20
is your goodness, which you
have stored up for those who fear you
and worked for those who take refuge in
you, in the sight of the children of mankind!
In the cover of your presence you hide
them from the plots of men; you store them in your shelter from the strife of tongues. Psalm 31:19-20
• The thief comes
only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. I
am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the
sheep. John 9:10-11
only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. I
am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the
sheep. John 9:10-11
• Let the wicked
forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on
him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. Isaiah 55;7
forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on
him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. Isaiah 55;7
• For as we share
abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly
in comfort too. If we are
afflicted, it is for your comfort
and salvation; and if we are
comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently
endure the same sufferings that we suffer.
2 Corinthians 1:5-6
abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly
in comfort too. If we are
afflicted, it is for your comfort
and salvation; and if we are
comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently
endure the same sufferings that we suffer.
2 Corinthians 1:5-6
Our
abundance in this world is of the heart, the soul and mind – and comes from our
Creator. Yahweh is our God and He is
Sovereign. Last Lord’s Day I listened to
the lyrics that touched my heart and worshipped Jehovah-Jireh. Sovereign (Chris
Tomlin).
abundance in this world is of the heart, the soul and mind – and comes from our
Creator. Yahweh is our God and He is
Sovereign. Last Lord’s Day I listened to
the lyrics that touched my heart and worshipped Jehovah-Jireh. Sovereign (Chris
Tomlin).
Sovereign in the
mountain air/ Sovereign on the ocean floor/ With me in the calm/ With me in the
storm. Sovereign in my greatest joy/
Sovereign in my deepest cry/ With me in the dark/ With me in the dawn/ In your
everlasting arms/ All the pieces of my life/ From beginning to the end/ I can
trust you. In your never failing love/ You
work everything for good/ God whatever
comes my way, I will trust you/ All my
hopes/ All I need/ Held in your hands. All my fears/ All my dreams/ Held in your hands. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMTG13qVY3g
mountain air/ Sovereign on the ocean floor/ With me in the calm/ With me in the
storm. Sovereign in my greatest joy/
Sovereign in my deepest cry/ With me in the dark/ With me in the dawn/ In your
everlasting arms/ All the pieces of my life/ From beginning to the end/ I can
trust you. In your never failing love/ You
work everything for good/ God whatever
comes my way, I will trust you/ All my
hopes/ All I need/ Held in your hands. All my fears/ All my dreams/ Held in your hands. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMTG13qVY3g
Who
is this Yahweh, who is the LORD of peace and joy unending? Who is it that I trust to the end of my
days? The One who is Able and makes my
life, even in the midst of turmoil, worth living through Jesus Christ who is
the Way, the Truth and the Life.
is this Yahweh, who is the LORD of peace and joy unending? Who is it that I trust to the end of my
days? The One who is Able and makes my
life, even in the midst of turmoil, worth living through Jesus Christ who is
the Way, the Truth and the Life.
The Promise:
I give them eternal life, and they
will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who
has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them
out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” John 10:28-30
will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who
has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them
out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” John 10:28-30
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