Choosing Bounty Over Bugs

This has been a bountiful week.

I could say it has been a busy week and bemoan the many tasks yet to be completed, but I am choosing to focus on its bounty:

• the people – friends, old and new, family, grandchildren, loved ones

• the opportunities – to share faith and friendship, to love, to experience

• God’s provision for each day

• the grace

that God has brought into my life. Have there been challenges? You bet. But those challenges have been wrapped up in the bounty of His mercy.

This morning, as I walked out to my miniscule garden, I noticed that bugs are beginning to bother my zinnias which are planted next to my lettuce. The lettuce was mature and ready to be harvested, so I picked what we could use and pulled the rest for the chickens. Now, I can deal with the bugs on the zinnias without harming the lettuce, and the chickens are having such a nice treat for breakfast!

In all of life there are bugs mixed up in the bounty. It never fails. Where there are blessings, there are trials. This leaves me with a choice. I can focus on the bugs or the bounty.

I must deal with the bugs, the trials and hardships that come. That’s for sure. But I don’t have to let my mind dwell on them at the expense of forgetting about the bounty that God has provided for me.

Whether I have a lot or a little, I am wonderfully blessed by a bountiful God. He has redeemed me and given me eternal life. He loves me.

I am choosing to praise Him for the bounty instead of complaining about the bugs.

How about you?

Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men (Psalm 107:8,15, 21, 31 KJV)!

Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, ²¹ Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen (Ephesians 3:20 – 21, KJV).