Anyone who oppresses the poor is insulting God who made them. To help the poor is to honor God.- Proverbs 14:31

A few days ago I heard a sermon on Thanksgiving and realized how much I had really been blessed. Then I looked back today at a time when I wrote about God providing for us and decided to reshare some of it. Sometimes God provides just enough! We read about the manna falling from heaven and that he always sent just enough for everyone every day. The truth is that our heavenly Father loves to bless us; He yearns to do so, just as any loving Father wants to give the best to His children, but many of us refuse to accept his blessing. He longs to embrace us with His love but many of us turn away from Him, we are at fault with wrong attitudes and not ready to receive it.

Crowds followed Jesus longing for entertainment, in hopes of seeing a miracle, or desperate to receive one and with his merciful heart Jesus healed them and feed them, and they indeed saw miracles, but many were 'rice christians' only after a free meal and didn’t really care about the spiritual lessons Jesus was teaching. We see a little of this in the prosperity gospel preached by some. It is not for me to judge them, God sees their hearts and He is the judge.

Jesus replied, “The truth of the matter is that you want to be with me because I fed you, not because you believe in me. – John 6:26

They were living just for the moment. The modern world has taught people instant gratification at the push of a button, and never mind the consequences! They don’t give a second thought to what kind of a mess they are leaving for future generations and the mighty dollar rules them. Sooner or later they find their life is empty. Did you know you can be rich and wealthy and completely miserable. Ironically as a New Zealander, I would be considered rich compared to those struggling in 3rd world countries, yet I have been homeless and lost everything I owned, more that once. I still sought the Father and praised his name serving him to the best of my ability and He provided just enough for me, for many years.

Now I am counting my blessings, and they are growing. God has provided far beyond what I dreamed was possible. I still seek Him and praise Him, not because I want wealth – I have lived content with just enough - but because I am grateful and I love Him... I won’t refuse any blessing God chooses to give me. I feel a bit like Reb Teyve in 'Fiddler on the Roof'. It is no shame to be poor, but it is no great honor either….I like the way the Message Bible puts it in the Sermon on the Mount.

“You’re blessed when you’re content with just who you are — no more, no less. That’s the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can’t be bought. – Matthew 5:5

I wrote that some years ago and today I don't just look back and see all the blessings he gave me then to be thankful for, but the huge massive blessing he is giving me right now. Someone the enemy had stolen from my life, has returned to God and to my life, and God has also blessed me with something I never thought I would ever have again - this week I become once more, a home owner, with a deal that it is abundantly clear He had a hand in providing. God is Good!