Why do we say that we're blessed?

Lecrae (the great theologian ;)) once wrote,

"How do I gauge success,Why do I say I'm blessed, Huh, Is it the car that I drive or the place that I rest or the way that I dress?"

I love living in the bible belt, it's like a breath of fresh air for the Lords presence to be so acknowledged in everyday life, just last night eating with Del and Holly, our waiter said goodbye with "God bless" and gave us a 'Jesus pen' to write the receipt haha ... that just doesn't happen in England.  Obviously this has its frustrations and disadvantages because I guess I'm still pretty naive to 'cultural Christianity'..so I'm still prone to be shocked and I've certainly never been so thankful for the gift of discernment.  But I know that the Lord is using living in a Christian home for the first time in massive ways in my heart right now.  I didn't realise how much it would affect me having a  man I can call Dad, who leads the house in blessing the food, who I know is praying for me and who NEVER stops telling me he loves me.  Not that Ronnie is in any way a replacement of my Dad, I am so thankful for my Dad and all that he does for me... its just cool to see how the Lord is making sure I don't miss out, by providing an example of  a godly father and a standard that I don't want to compromise in my own husband.

But anyway, back to the song, being here I hear so many things classified as God's "blessings" and this has been a challenge to better acknowledge the Lord's hand in my life in the small things, but also it has got me thinking whether we make choices for our own selfish gain and then justify them by sealing them with "isn't the Lord good?"  For example, we are 'provided' with more hours at work so we can buy another car, which of course makes life more comfortable...and this becomes the perfect example of God's providence: but is this what the Lord really wants accredited to his perfect name?  Or even, one of my girls had a shop assistant reduce a dress for to the perfect price for her...is this a reason to say we are blessed...or does the Lord in his greatness see us throwing away $40 dollars on a 'cute dress' whilst his other children are starving for the sake of not being able to afford a 10p dinner? This is something I can't wash my hands of: I'm just as guilty as the next 'privileged' Christian, but something the Holy Spirit is relentless in convicting me of; probably just waiting for me to actually do something about it....

Oh and my mum gave away my fish....