{"id":3744,"date":"2016-11-27T09:00:03","date_gmt":"2016-11-27T15:00:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.barbdahlgren.com\/?p=3744"},"modified":"2016-11-19T14:51:02","modified_gmt":"2016-11-19T20:51:02","slug":"choose-to-thank-god-for-blessings-we-may-not-know-about","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/barbdahlgren.com\/?p=3744","title":{"rendered":"Choose to Thank God for Blessings We May Not Know About"},"content":{"rendered":"

Another Year of Choices <\/em><\/p>\n

By Barbara Dahlgren<\/em><\/p>\n

\"Thanks<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

A radio talk show host in our area asked people to call in and tell him what influences your life and fills you up.\u00a0 Then he added, \u201c\u2026but don\u2019t call me and tell me about Jesus.\u201d\u00a0 This is just another indication of how many in our nation are quick to reject God.\u00a0 Yet we are a nation blessed above all nations and all blessings come from God.\u00a0 Fortunately, God has not rejected us.\u00a0 He does things for us that we don\u2019t even know about.<\/p>\n

Hosea lived during the last twenty-five years of Israel\u2019s existence as a nation.\u00a0 It was a time of political upheaval, anarchy and bloodshed.\u00a0 Israel\u2019s spiritual condition had deteriorated.\u00a0 They were involved in idolatry, adultery, and drunkenness.\u00a0 Hosea tried to bring them to their senses.\u00a0 He preached about God\u2019s character, righteousness, omnipotence, and loving kindness.\u00a0 He reminded them of the covenant they entered into with God.\u00a0 Then he prepared them for the impending doom of the nation because of their unfaithfulness.<\/p>\n

While reading Hosea, one passage got me thinking about all God does for us.\u00a0 Hosea 11:1-4 says, \u201cWhen Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt\u2026I taught Ephraim also to go, taking them by their arms; but they knew not that I healed them.\u00a0 I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love: and I was to them as they that take off the yoke on their jaws, and I laid meat unto them.\u201d<\/p>\n

I especially love the phrase, \u201cThey knew not that I healed them\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Consider this\u2026Could there be acts of loving kindness God has done for our nation or for us personally that we didn\u2019t know about? How many acts of terrorism has God averted that we didn\u2019t know about? How many times has He protected us or our loved ones that we didn\u2019t know about? How many times has He led, strengthened, encouraged, and comforted us that we didn\u2019t know about?<\/p>\n

It\u2019s all so easy to appear self-sufficient, but we must remember every blessing comes from God. The Thanksgiving holiday has passed, but our thankfulness should never cease.\u00a0 As we thank God for the blessings we see, let\u2019s not forget to thank Him for all the things He does for us that we don\u2019t know about.<\/p>\n

\"Give<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Suggestions for practicing this choice\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n