Good morning, beloved,

Counting my blessings…this song popped into my head this morning. I cannot find a good version to share with you so, here are the lyrics:

When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.
Refrain

Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, see what God hath done!
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

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 keep singing as the days go by.

Refrain

When you look at others with their lands and gold,
Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold;
Count your many blessings. Wealth can never buy
Your reward in heaven, nor your home on high.

Refrain

So, amid the conflict whether great or small,
Do not be disheartened, God is over all;
Count your many blessings, angels will attend,
Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end.

Count my blessings. My heart is heavy this morning. All the whispers of the evil one are haunting me. I am tired of being in pain today. So as I look to another day, the Lord has prompted me to count my blessings. He has not lifted the issues I am having, yet a wise friend counseled me yesterday to be quiet and be still. Oh, that is so hard for me! I have pushed and pushed myself these last few days because I just want to be better and I am paying for my over-exuberance.

So, here I am. Blech. So this song keeps going through my mind! Count my blessings and so I shall. I feel very prompted by the Lord to share three each day I blog. Then there will be a record of my thankfulness and my praise. I need the accountability when I keep looking into the pain and present instead of turning my eyes to Jesus, looking full in His wonderful face and the things of this world will go strangely dim, in the light of His glorious grace.

1. I am thankful for my two kids making pancakes this morning. I know that the kitchen may look like the effects of a tsunami but I remain grateful for their effort.

2. I am thankful for my husband having a job.

3. I am thankful for how the sun rising touches the branches and lights up the shadows. I am thankful for beautiful sunrises.

Want to join me? I am determined. Start with number one. Lets see how far I can go. I am very thankful for Ann Voskamp‘s book and her emails that help me to remember the beautiful.

I also am going to include a portion of a Blue Letter Bible study tool on the Names of God. Here is today’s.

Jehovah Nissi

Use in the Bible: In the Old Testament Jehovah-Nissi occurs only once in Exd 17:15.

Variant spellings: Jehovah Nisi; Jehovahnissi

TWOT Reference: None

Strong’s Reference:3071

Jehovah Nissi in the Septuagint:kurios kataphugê mou…the Lord is my refuge

Meaning and Derivation:Jehovah is translated as “The Existing One” or “Lord.” The chief meaning of Jehovah is derived from the Hebrew word Havah meaning “to be” or “to exist.” It also suggests “to become” or specifically “to become known”…this denotes a God who reveals Himself unceasingly. Nes (nês), from which Nissi derived, means “banner” in Hebrew. In Exd 17:15, Moses, recognizing that the Lord was Israel’s banner under which they defeated the Amalekites, builds an altar named Jehovah-Nissi (the Lord our Banner). Nes is sometimes translated as a pole with an insignia attached. In battle opposing nations would fly their own flag on a pole at each of their respective front lines. This was to give their soldiers a feeling of hope and a focal point. This is what God is to us: a banner of encouragement to give us hope and a focal point.

Further references of the name Jehovah Nissi in the Old Testament:Exd 17:15

1 Chronicles 16: ⁸ Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name;
make known among the nations what he has done.
⁹ Sing to him, sing praise to him;
tell of all his wonderful acts.

So I am going to ask the Spirit of God to pour fresh over my household this morning. To lift my hands in grateful praise for all He has done and all He will do! Join me, turn on the music, write three things you are thankful for today..maybe share them with me? I could sure use the encouragement. God bless you today. Pray on. Pray.

Related articles

• My Jehovah Jireh Experiences (jesuslikespizza.wordpress.com)
• Awesome Blessing from Jehovah-Nissi (countingmyblessings.typepad.com)
• Jehovah – It is not just a name. (thechurchatcarrollton.wordpress.com)
• The name of the Lord is a strong tower (vidsth.wordpress.com)