Blessed

I have been looking to write a blog for quite some time now.
Ireland has been an awesome adventure offering so many different experiences
and stories I don’t know where to begin. I could share stories from the streets
of Dublin, the back of a bus in Bray, or stories of the projects and fellowship
here in Greystones

.

 But right now I can
only think… I am blessed.

Weird thing is… throughout my life I’ve always felt blessed.
Whether it is from circumstance, personal talents, perseverance, generosity, or
the love received from friends and family.  Not that I am taking these things for granted,
but these are nothing when compared to Christ’s love for me. A love that
demanded a humble birth, brutal death, and an inconceivable resurrection. Plus, the fact is, He is a relational God who created me to love and continues to
want more of me. I don’t think I’ll ever fully comprehend this truth or what it
means.

The majority of my life, I’ve been too caught up in Chad, to stop and think about such a wonderful truth. Maybe that’s why it’s so surprising that
these facts that I’ve known basically my entire life are having such an impact
on my heart.

I don’t have everything figured out and  could write a whole laundry list of things,
thoughts, and actions that fall short of the glory of God. But that’s the cool
part, God already knows this, and has taken this burden on Himself (and off of
me). Galatians 2:16.  I can take peace in
the fact that God, who began a good work in me, will continue His work until it
is finally finished on the day that Christ returns as it says in Philippians
1:6

¹ Listen
to what the LORD says: 
       “Stand up, plead your case before the
mountains; 
       let the hills hear what you have to say.

² Hear,
O mountains, the LORD’s accusation; 
       listen, you everlasting foundations of the
earth. 
       For the LORD has a case against his
people; 
       he is lodging a charge against Israel.

³ “My
people, what have I done to you? 
       How have I burdened you? Answer me.

⁴ I
brought you up out of Egypt 
       and redeemed you from the land of slavery. 
       I sent Moses to lead you, 
       also Aaron and Miriam.

⁵ My
people, remember 
       what Balak king of Moab counseled 
       and what Balaam son of Beor answered. 
       Remember your journey from Shittim to
Gilgal, 
       that you may know the righteous acts of
the LORD.”

⁶ With
what shall I come before the LORD 
       and bow down before the exalted God? 
       Shall I come before him with burnt
offerings, 
       with calves a year old?

⁷ Will
the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, 
       with ten thousand rivers of oil? 
       Shall I offer my firstborn for my
transgression, 
       the fruit of my body for the sin of my
soul?

⁸ He has showed you, O man, what is good. 
       And what does the LORD require of you? 
       To act justly and to love mercy 
       and to walk humbly with your God.

Micah
6:1-8