Tag Archives: Being a Blessing

Sharing Christ

Living in the Spirit

October 13, 2022

Scripture Reading:

2 Timothy 3:14-4:5

But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it, and how from childhood you have known the sacred writings that are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, and equipped for every good work. –2 Timothy 3:14-17

From whom did you learn it? Paul wrote this probably with himself in mind, but in 2 Timothy 1:5, Paul lifts up Timothy’s mother and grandmother,

I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that lived first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, lives in you.

We all have someone in our lives who have left their imprint on our souls. I often describe my mother as the world’s greatest egalitarian. I occasionally see that trait in myself and my siblings. My dad gave me the joy of music in celebrating the love of God.

Beyond family, my faith life has been touched by pastors and Sunday school teachers. I was recently reminded of the teachings of two of my professors as I read their obituaries. Dr. Robert Simpson introduced me to finding faith in literature, and Dr. Joe Jones reminded this justice nut of the need to consider the forces of principalities and powers.

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Ephesians 6:12 (KJV)

For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12 (NRSV)

What we all must consider is how we are modeling Christ for the next generations.

1 Out in the highways and byways of life,
Many are weary and sad;
Carry the sunshine where darkness is rife,
Making the sorrowing glad.

Refrain:
Make me a blessing, Make me a blessing.
Out of my life may Jesus shine;
Make me a blessing, O Savior, I pray.
Make me a blessing to someone today.

2 Tell the sweet story of Christ and his love,
Tell of his pow’r to forgive;
Others will trust him if only you prove
True, ev’ry moment you live.

Prayer: Lord, make us a blessing for someone today. Amen.

First and second verses and the refrain of Make Me A Blessing by Ira B. Wilson see at https://hymnary.org/text/out_in_the_highways_and_byways_of_life

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

Make Me a Blessing

Ordinary Times

January 21, 2022

Scripture Reading:

Romans 12:9-21

Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers.

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are. Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.’ No, ‘if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads.’ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. –Romans 12:9-21

To bless means to confer what is beneficial*. Confer means 1) to hold conversation or conference now typically on important, difficult, or complex matters: to compare views: to take counsel,  2) to grant or bestow (something) from or as if from a position of authority, 3) to give or yield (a property, characteristic, or quality, especially an advantageous one) to someone or something**.

Bless the Lord, O my soul,
   and all that is within me,
   bless his holy name. (Psalm 103:1)

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them (Romans 12:14a)

While it may seem contradictory in terms, God calls us both to bless the Lord and bless those who persecute us. They are not contradictory. When we do what is beneficial for others, we benefit God. Behaving in such a manner is a habit we must cultivate requiring us to see others as Christ would see them through the pain and fears that are causing them to persecute. How can we turn a negative encounter with another into something that dispels their vulnerabilities and moves them a step closer to wholeness without damaging them further and without compromising what is just and merciful? Maintaining a close relationship with God and staying in tune with the Holy Spirit are the drivers of our ability to be a blessing to others. It is in God’s blessings including those sent through us and others, that the Kingdom of God will be realized.

Prayer: Lord, strengthen each of your servants to be a blessing especially when it is the very last thing we want to do. Amen.

*https://biblehub.com/greek/2127.htm

** https://unabridged.merriam-webster.com/unabridged/confer

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

Make Me a Blessing

Living in the Spirit

June 8, 2021

Scripture Reading:

1 Samuel 15:34 – 16:13

When they came, he looked on Eliab and thought, ‘Surely the Lord’s anointed is now before the Lord.’ But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for the Lord does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.’ Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. He said, ‘Neither has the Lord chosen this one.’ Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, ‘Neither has the Lord chosen this one.’ Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel, and Samuel said to Jesse, ‘The Lord has not chosen any of these.’ Samuel said to Jesse, ‘Are all your sons here?’ And he said, ‘There remains yet the youngest, but he is keeping the sheep.’ And Samuel said to Jesse, ‘Send and bring him; for we will not sit down until he comes here.’ He sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and had beautiful eyes, and was handsome. The Lord said, ‘Rise and anoint him; for this is the one.’ Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the presence of his brothers; and the spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David from that day forward. Samuel then set out and went to Ramah. –1Samuel 15:6-13

For what have we each been chosen? Our names may never be read in a history book. Indeed, only God may know what special gift we provide in God’s service, but we all have been chosen to love God with all our hearts, minds, and souls. The natural response to that relationship is to recognize that God has the wellbeing of all God’s children in God’s plan, and we are part of the team created to protect and encourage others. It is in our own best interest. When people live in harmony with one another, we are blessed with the synergy of love that shields us from forces that thrive on dividing us. When we become a source of that division, we shatter the very core of God’s Kingdom building.

This week I encourage you to open your heart to God to plant the seeds of what God has available for you to do that will enhance your wellbeing also.

Out in the highways and byways of life,
Many are weary and sad;
Carry the sunshine where darkness is rife,
Making the sorrowing glad.


Tell the sweet story of Christ and his love,
Tell of his pow’r to forgive;
Others will trust him if only you prove

True, ev’ry moment you live.

Give as ’twas given to you in your need,
Love as the Master loved you;
Be to the helpless a helper indeed,

Unto your mission be true.*

Prayer:

Make me a blessing, Make me a blessing.
Out of my life may Jesus shine;
Make me a blessing, O Savior, I pray.
Make me a blessing to someone today*. Amen

*Hymn Make Me a Blessing by Ira B. Wilson, see at https://hymnary.org/text/out_in_the_highways_and_byways_of_life

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

Screwtape Letters

Epiphany

February 4, 2020

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 58:1-9

Is not this the fast that I choose:
   to loose the bonds of injustice,
   to undo the thongs of the yoke,
to let the oppressed go free,
   and to break every yoke?
Is it not to share your bread with the hungry,
   and bring the homeless poor into your house;
when you see the naked, to cover them,
   and not to hide yourself from your own kin?
Then your light shall break forth like the dawn,
   and your healing shall spring up quickly;
your vindicator shall go before you,
   the glory of the Lord shall be your rearguard.
Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer;
   you shall cry for help, and he will say, Here I am. –Isaiah 58:6-9

I thought this morning I need to reread The Screwtape Letters the story of a master devil training an intern. It has been several years since I read it. I did see it in play form at a theater a few years ago. The part that came to my mind this morning was the part where the master devil tells his intern not to worry about those folks who are observing their religious practices as that should keep them busy. What he did not want to happen is those same folks living their faith doing the things God required of them.

The Israelites never stop their religious practices all the way to exile. They lost their focus on what it meant to be a child of God, a participant in the covenant with God. They got more wrapped up in the benefits of wealth than either following God’s ways or being a blessing to other nations**. Sound familiar. Recently, I heard a citizen being interviewed about our upcoming election saying that her 401k was doing great and that is all that mattered to her. I guess she has never heard of the stock market crash of 1929 or the 1973 oil crisis or the 1979 energy crisis or the 2007 recession. Reread the above scripture and consider how that kind of mindset fits in God’s plan.

Prayer: God forgive us when we turn to lesser gods of greed and classism. Help us find our true vocation in sharing your love. Amen.

*It is actually online now at http://www.samizdat.qc.ca/arts/lit/PDFs/ScrewtapeLetters_CSL.pdf

**See Genesis 22:18

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

Being a Blessing

Epiphany

February 2, 2020

Scripture Reading
Matthew 5:1-12
When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:
‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
‘Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
‘Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
‘Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
‘Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
‘Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
‘Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
‘Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
‘Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

The word translated blessed in the above scripture means when God extends His benefits*.  Jesus creates a laundry list of actions states of being about which God intervenes with God’s benefits. Is Jesus providing us with guidance on how we might provide our benefits to others? He uses examples of a broad array of people and the situations in which they my find themselves. Most are rather serious, and many are situation that are uncomfortable for us or even boring. Is our natural inclination to believe that, for example, the wealthy or attractive or talented are the blessed? That those are the ones with whom we want to interface and be like.

The funny thing is that most of us have experience each of these situations in our lives. Jesus, I think, is saying loving one another includes both the good times and the bad. We must learn and practice empathy rather than envy. We must do justice rather than turn a blind eye to injustice.

Prayer: Dear Lord, help us to love deeply and be blessings to all around us. Amen.

*https://biblehub.com/greek/3107.htm

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

Being a Blessing

Living in the Spirit
July 18, 2017

Scripture Reading: Genesis 28:10-19a

Jacob left Beer-sheba and went towards Haran. He came to a certain place and stayed there for the night, because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones of the place, he put it under his head and lay down in that place. And he dreamed that there was a ladder set up on the earth, the top of it reaching to heaven; and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. And the Lord stood beside him and said, ‘I am the Lord, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring; and your offspring shall be like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south; and all the families of the earth shall be blessed in you and in your offspring. Know that I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.’ –Genesis 28:10-15

Jacobs is running away from the wrath of his brother Esau after he and his mother tricked his brother out of his birthright. Esau and perhaps his father, Isaac, were not happy. Facing the consequences of our actions is one of the hardest things we will ever do. The murky stuff is always the most difficult to discern. Was it fair that the oldest son gets the lion’s share of his father’s wealth? This common Biblical practice did not survive in the USA. Was it right that a mother helps one son cheat another? There is much to unpack in this story. There was much running through Jacob’s mind as he settled down to sleep apparently a safe distance from danger.

God is faithful to God’s children. The Lord came to Jacob in a dream and renewed his hope. The saving grace of God seems to always come with the admonishment to be a blessing to all the families of the earth. We skip over that part sometimes. Jesus put it this way in Luke 12:48,

 But one who did not know and did what deserved a beating will receive a light beating. From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required; and from one to whom much has been entrusted, even more will be demanded.

Prayer: God of Justice and Mercy, thank you for loving us enough to forgive us. Show us the way to care for and nourish others on our faith journey. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the new Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

Being a Blessing

Lent
March 6, 2017

Scripture Reading: Genesis 12:1-4a

Now the Lord said to Abram, ‘Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’

  So Abram went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.

Have you ever noticed that God’s answer to “What’s in it for me?” is always a positive outcome for someone else? God likes people to dream big dreams, to become fully the persons they were created to be but always in a cascade of love that results in others dreaming big dreams and becoming fully actualized. “Yes, Abram there is a vast world out there ready for you to explore and people will remember your name for ever because you will be a blessing to them.” With God, any of us can substitute our name in that sentence for Abram’s name as God calls all of us to be blessings to others.

Whose names do we remember as ones who blessed us? Mrs. George, the minister’s wife of the first church I attended as a child, enriched my life greatly with her soft southern accent, telling the story of Jesus on a flannel board carefully placing each new character creating a picture as she gently smoothed them into place. Dr. Keller, the minister of my second church, was a history professor as well as a pastor serving my tiny rural church as a part time job and a full time calling. He fed my already budding interest in history. Gave me a copy of the Declaration of Independence the Sunday after I asked him, “Do you know where they signed the Declaration of Independence?” He said, “I believe it was in Philadelphia.” To which I replied, “It was at the bottom of the page.” I still have that document and I still love history.

Jesus, the human essence of God, took time to reboot according to the gospels. After each of these refreshing moments spent communing with God alone on the mountainside or in the home of beloved friends when he withdrew to Bethany, he returned to his tasks of blessing us all. Lent offers an extended time for us to reboot, clearing all the clutter from our hearts and minds opening new space to store more love in our souls so that we can go forth and be blessings to others. Let it be so.

Prayer: Thank you Lord for all those who have blessed us from Abram to Jesus to the everyday people whose paths crossed our lives. In honoring them and you, make us blessing to others too. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the new Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.