Tag Archives: Blessing

October 6, 2020 · 1:22 pm

THIS WEEK – BLESSING

‌Blessing – The bestowal, declaration, or invocation of divine favor and prospering influence; consecration hallowing ; a favor, a present.

(Oxford Dictionary)

I recently came across some writings of John Green who is a social activist in Chicago. His primary mission is to fight human trafficking. In his book, Street Walking with Jesus, he says, “The degree to which I am blessed staggers me… the degree to which I take that for granted shames me.” Green works with some desperately down and out people on the streets, and it struck him how nonchalant he was about the many blessings he had been given in life. Most of us are lot like Green about the blessings we have received. I often wonder why?

We do not see or realize our blessing because we just expect to be blessed. Many of us have had no real deep-seated difficulties to work out in our lives. For many of us, our greatest problems were self-inflicted perhaps because of our ego or selfish pride, still others by our greed. Amid living in that mode we seldom see what has been given to us.

We have been blessed by being given a place to live, a roof over our head. We have been blessed by having family and friends. We have been blessed by having a church where we can worship God and enjoy the company of like-minded people. We have presumed that these things are just natural.

The challenge for today is to reexamine our lives and become people who are searching for the blessings that surround us. It is quite common in the South to have a cashier at any store says these words, “Have a blessed day.” I know for them may be just a habit, but to me it has become an inspirational reminder. The amount I am blessed everyday is proportional, not only to my actions, but to my awareness.

Awareness of blessing is a task for most of us, because we were trained to be problem solvers. We only look for the problems of the day and completely overlook the blessings. It is quite American to just fix things. Sometimes fixing things begins with the awareness of blessing.

Take the time to watch the sunrise and sunset, see the beauty of the flowers that surround you and feel the breeze that crosses your face. These are all natural blessings that God has sent our way. Count your friends , family, church community or any support group that has come your way and thank God for the blessings that you have received through them.

We are surrounded by the blessing of God. Let us relish it!

Reflect upon your present blessings — of which every man has many — not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some.

― Charles Dickens

When we lose one blessing, another is often most unexpectedly given in its place.

― C.S. Lewis

Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom, must, like men, undergo the fatigues of supporting it.

― Thomas Paine

The unthankful heart discovers no mercies; but the thankful heart will find, in every hour, some heavenly blessings.

― Henry Ward Beecher

When you wish someone joy, you wish them peace, love, prosperity, happiness… all the good things.

― Maya Angelou

Those blessings are sweetest that are won with prayer and worn with thanks.

― Thomas Goodwin

Some people come in our life as blessings. Some come in your life as lessons.

― Mother Teresa

God bless us, every one!

― Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol

The degree to which I am blessed staggers me… the degree to which I take that for granted shames me.

― John Green- Street Walking with Jesus

If [God] send me no husband, for the which blessing I am at him upon my knees every morning and evening .

― William Shakespeare, Much Ado About Nothing

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, just as he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him in love.

~~ Ephesians 1:3-4

all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the Lord your God:

~~Deuteronomy 28:2

The Lord will make you the head, and not the tail; you shall be only at the top, and not at the bottom—if you obey the commandments of the Lord your God, which I am commanding you today, by diligently observing them,

~~Deuteronomy 28:13

By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things.

~~Galatians 5:22-23

For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope.

~~Jeremiah 29:11

Those who are attentive to a matter will prosper,

and happy are those who trust in the Lord.

~~Proverbs 16:20

His divine power has given us everything needed for life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.

~~2 Peter 1:3

Happy are those whose way is blameless,

who walk in the law of the Lord.

Happy are those who keep his decrees,

who seek him with their whole heart,

who also do no wrong,

but walk in his ways

~~Psalm 119:1-3

May those who sow in tears

reap with shouts of joy.

Those who go out weeping,

bearing the seed for sowing,

shall come home with shouts of joy,

carrying their sheaves.

~~Psalm 126:5-6

And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work.

~~2 Corinthians 9:8

Lord, Give me the insight to recognize the blessings that you have given to me this day. Allow me to see that you have so much more in store for me than I can ever imagine. Guide me to ask for the blessings that you want to give to me. Grant me the courage to believe that you are truly a God of love and grace.

Amen

Virtue

Many desire virtue, but fear to go forward in the way that leads to it, while others consider that virtue does not even exist. So it is necessary to persuade the former to give up their laziness and to teach the others what virtue really is.

—-Abba Isadore of the Desert

Virtue is behavior, particularly moral, that conforms to a very high standard. Today’s Christian, just like the desert monastics of the past, seek to live a life of high standards. Today’s world gives mixed signals about what this world should look like. On the one hand, we preach freedom of expression without any limits. Others would tell us that we must exercise restraint in all our relationships and dealings with others. I believe that in order to reach the highest standards that are possible for a man who lives on this earth, we must believe that God’s grace guides us every day.

The wise Monk advises us that there are many around us that do not believe that there is any such thing as exemplary behavior. With that negative approach, we are destined for failure. We must take the high ground, so to speak, and allow ourselves to be open to the wonderful reality that God can and does make virtue possible for each of us. Let us not live in the state of discouragement, defeat, and despair. The Apostle Paul in his writings tells us to “press on to the mark.” Abba Isadore gives us some sound advice and a mission.

The Abba tells us that our role is to persuade others that marching on to a life of higher standards is not only possible but doable. Let me tell you a story about virtue. There was once a man who felt very defeated. He felt that God had abandoned him and indeed the entire world seem to be against him. That is really a bad place to be, so he prayed and prayed but seemed to get no results. Through fate, he found himself in the presence of a young boy possessing the virtue that only a child can have. He was encouraged by the young boy who told him that life was good and there was hope and this changed his life. That boy, without knowing it, modeled virtue to this man who was discouraged and defeated. The man began to think, if he could do it, we can all do it. We can achieve through God virtue and excellence and move on with our lives.

Our calling is not only to live with high standards and virtue but to persuade others that God wants them to live in the same way. I am not talking about being self-righteous but just being a person who expresses the love of God and the purity of God in every way possible. That’s our challenge and mission to show God to other people and to do so absent of self-righteousness. If we can achieve that, then others will see the virtue of God in us and strive to make it so for themselves.

Prayer

Oh Lord, give me the determination to muster up all the strength in my being and discover that virtue does exist. I cannot, on my own, live life up to such a standard but with you, I can reach that high goal. Help me not only to reach it but to have the courage and determination to share that discovery with others.

Amen

The Peace We Seek

The peace Jesus gives to us through the Holy Spirit is more than we can ever imagine.

Peace means the cessation of all warfare, but it also means much more.
Peace means a feeling of inner well-being, but it also means much more.
Peace means an end to psychological tensions, but it also means much more.
Peace means halting interpersonal conflicts, but it also means much more.
Peace means the settling of silence on the soul, but it also means much more.

In Valyermo, California , the Benedictines converted a 400-acre ranch into a religious community called St. Andrew’s Priory. As you enter the grounds, you find that the land is posted: “No Hunting Except for Peace.”

The world is hunting for peace. What will we give it?

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

— Jesus

Prayer

Jesus our peace, if our lips keep silence, our heart listens to you and also speaks to you. And you say to each one of us: surrender yourself in all simplicity to the life of the Holy Spirit; for this, the little bit of faith you have is enough. Amen