Don’t you just love being blessed? I once read a sign that said, If you’re lucky enough to have a cabin at the lake, you’re lucky enough. I’ve changed it around to say If you’re blessed enough to know Jesus, you are blessed enough. We are very blessed people. We have received God’s divine, unmerited favor. Being blessed is just the beginning. We get to turn it around and be a blessing to someone else.
So how can you be a blessing to someone else? There are lots of ways. Praying for someone is a great way to be a blessing. Our prayers can be powerful and effective, and by praying, we can see circumstances change. Becoming a mentor is a great way to be a blessing. You can bless someone else with your presence, your time, your ability and your talents and instruct someone as you show the love of Christ to someone who desires a mentor. Looking for ways to show kindness is a way to bless others. It can be as simple as being courteous in a store, in traffic, or in your office. Kindness can also be shown through generosity. Determine to be a generous giver….all the time! Remember that old campfire song….It only takes a spark, to get a fire going….. Kindness and blessing act the same way. What you start can soon spread. So what you were created for, is what you get to share with your world.
So true- Statement
We are created for blessing. I talked earlier in this book about how hard it is sometimes as Christians to think about wanting success. There is nothing wrong with wanting God’s blessing or His grace. The fine line we must walk, however, is when we expect those blessings yet we are unwilling or unaware of the opportunities we have to be a blessing to others. Page 192
Highlight Scripture
Genesis 12:2 I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great and you will be a blessing. (NIV)
Discussion Questions – Homework!
1. Do a random act of kindness to someone close to you. If you’re married, or have kids, do it right at home. See what happens.
2. Have you ever thought about being a mentor? With school starting, you can do it in simple ways. Being a helper in your child’s classroom, volunteering in Children’s Church, or teaching a kids class, are all ways you can give of yourself to someone younger.
3. How is your prayer life? Do you have a list of people you are praying for? How about those needing to be saved. If you haven’t made it a part of your day, include prayer for others daily.
4. How has God blessed you? Sometimes just writing them down make us realize how much we have to be thankful for. Make a list of blessing today.
5. Why not memorize Psalms 5:12 which says in the NIV, O Lord, you bless the righteous and surround them with your favor. Then remember that you are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus, II Cor 5:17! How awesome is that that God blessed you and surrounds you with favor!
Knit Together Challenge
This week’s challenge is to ask yourself, how can I be a blessing to someone else today, for 7 days in a row.
My Prayer for you:
Father, In Jesus Name we thank you for all the blessings you have given us. We are so blessed to know and love you. Our desire God is to live a life that is not only for ourselves, but as an offering to you to bless others. Thank you for giving us opportunities, and placing a desire in our heart to help, minister and bless others. Help us to take every opportunity that you present to us, and make us a blessing today. In Jesus Name, AMEN!
About Me
- Dorette Schaal
- Dorette Schaal loves encouraging people to grow in the word. She and her husband pastor Amazing Grace Fellowship in Twin Falls, ID. She has five beautiful children and loves gardening, worshipping, writing and reading.
Dear Dorette,
ReplyDeleteThe Protestant Doctrine of Eternal Security.
A Psychological Trap.
The Protestant doctrine of eternal security is a psychological trap, and one that is all too easy to fall into. By providing a quick, simplistic answer as to how we are saved, and giving the person the comfort of assured eternal salvation, it discourages further inquiry into the fullness of the truth on this most important matter.
This rather fast assurance of salvation helps to make Protestantism very popular. My personal feeling is that many people in the silent or quiet moments of their lives must know in their hearts that this fast, simplistic assurance of eternal salvation is too good to be true (Romans 2:14-16).
The natural law, the law written on our hearts of flesh, is calling us to seek the fullness of the truth in the Church founded by Jesus Christ (Jeremiah 29:11-13) (Deuteronomy 6:4-6).
Playing With Fire.
Many people in following the 16th century reformers are deliberately choosing to reject Catholic Church authority and the channels of grace available to them in the seven (7) Sacraments.
If they knowingly and wilfully did this, on such an important matter, they could find out (perhaps to late) that it will be more difficult for them to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.
God will respect their free will and the decisions they made, along with the grace and truth that they have received, and will place them in the proper eternal location or condition.
The more grace and truth that they have received the more that will be expected from them (Luke 7: 47; 12: 48). Perhaps they feel they can live life their way, using their freedom to choose the truth when they want to, or abuse their freedom by choosing to do evil (Contraception, abortion, etc.) when they find it convenient.
You are only free to choose the good. Love God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your spirit, and then do what you will.
Many people joining a "church" (faith communities) for convenience of life style, are "choosing not to know" the fullness of the truth in the Catholic Church.
They hope that they can somehow claim ignorance (or say it was controversial) and therefore escape culpability on their individual day of judgment.
Feigned ignorance will not allow anyone to escape culpability ( proverbs 24: 11-12 ). This is like playing with fire.
They choose not to turn and come closer to the fullness of the truth, which is a person Jesus Christ and who also is one with His Spouse, the Church (Ephesians 5: 32)