That is the question…but the continuation of the question is…happy. To be or not to be happy? This post is in answer to the question often posed to me, “Why are you always smiling?” Enough said. John 15:11 These things have I spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. Happy Sunday.
I always loved, and still do, the following blessing at the end of worship, but somehow it has gone by the wayside. In its place are words of a different nature which change from service to service. This is not to say that each invocation is not a well meant blessing…it is. But somehow 2 Corinthians 13:14 says it all, divinely.
Here is Wikipedia’s description of a benediction: A benediction (Latin: bene, well + dicere, to speak) is a short invocation for divine help, blessing and guidance, usually at the end of worship service.
And so I leave you with this Biblical Benediction which, when not invoked, is missed. Happy Sunday.
Once in awhile we are given the privilege to offer prayer to our congregation. This is one of mine from a few years ago. Happy Sunday.
Let Us Pray
Heavenly Father as we once again come to you in prayer this morning, we ask that you would quiet our minds and grant us the grace to open our hearts to you.
Help us to trust you with our lives and all that concerns us.
When we suffer an illness, help us to recognize healing as a blessing.
If healing is not ours to claim then help us to accept eternal life with you as the ultimate blessing.
We ask that you would make us receptive to the blessings you continually send our way and let us be willing to be a blessing to others.
Lord, help us to remember to pray for those whose needs we don’t always think of…our brothers, sisters, and neighbours all over the world who suffer the anxieties of war, famine, natural disasters and unnatural behaviors; those who call out for help and those who are silent in their misery.
Heavenly Father, help us also to remember that you created us to be in relationship with you, to show our love for you by obeying your greatest command, to Love One Another as you love us.
May we most of all recognize your love as our truest blessing.
We pray for the safety and well being of our pastor, Duncan, and his family. We pray for families and friends of our congregation as a whole, and we pray for those who govern our country and indeed those who govern our world.
Help us to feel the need to pray for the enemy of mankind, those who seek destruction rather than peace. We pray that you would lead them to realize that all life is a blessing. Hear us Father God as we continue to praise and thank you with the words your Son Jesus taught us: Our Father……..
Scripture makes mention of the fruit of the womb in Deuteronomy 28:11…The Lord will grant you abundant prosperity in the fruit of your womb.
And again in Deuteronomy 30:9…Then the Lord will make you most prosperous in the fruit of your womb.
Deuteronomy 28:4 says The fruit of your womb will be blessed.
My prosperity consists of three daughters and two sons; seven grandsons and seven granddaughters; eight great-granddaughters and four great-grandsons.
Our prosperity comes in many different ways and I consider mine to be the fruit of my womb. Whatever your prosperity, may it bless you in all ways. Happy Sunday.
At our Session meeting last Monday, our Pastor mentioned the prayer of Jabez. It reminded me of one of the many trying times in my life when I cried out to God for help. One day The Prayer of Jabez, by Bruce Wilkinson, jumped out at me in a Christian book store where I worked part time. It helped me in many ways and the Jabez Prayer became a constant in my life for a long time…and my “territory” was definitely enlarged when I became an elder in 2008, and my family continues to grow in leaps and bounds. I also wrote about this book and prayer in 2017. Here, then, is the prayer of Jabez. Happy Sunday.
There are so many ways in which blessings come to us; visits, caring phone calls and emails. People asking for prayer and someone saying they are praying for us are blessings. Getting an unexpected hug in times of social distancing is a definite blessing. Knowing God loves us and is with us always is the ultimate blessing. In these uncertain times, it is so good to know that. Happy Sunday.
Here is a song that has seen me through many a trial because no matter the number of trials, the blessings have been more numerous. Happy Sunday.
The following article came my way a couple of years ago via the internet and I filed it away for future reference. It really made an impact on my consciousness as it’s message unfolded very clearly that where there’s a will there’s a way. Enjoy.
They walked in tandem, each of the ninety-two students filing into the already crowded auditorium. With their rich maroon gowns flowing and the traditional caps, they looked almost as grown up as they felt.
Dads swallowed hard behind broad smiles, and Moms freely brushed away tears.
This class would NOT pray during the commencements, not by choice, but because of a recent court ruling prohibiting it “for fear of Offending non-Christians”.
The principal and several students were careful to stay within the guidelines allowed by the ruling. They gave inspirational and challenging speeches, but no one mentioned divine guidance and no one asked for blessings on the graduates or their families.
The speeches were nice, but they were routine until the final speech received a standing ovation.
A solitary student walked proudly to the microphone. He stood still and silent for just a moment, and then it happened.
All 92 students, every single one of them, suddenly SNEEZED in unison!
The student on stage simply looked at the audience and said,
‘GOD BLESS YOU’ and then walked off the stage…
The audience exploded into applause. This graduating class had found a unique way to invoke God’s blessing on their future, with or without the court’s approval.
Isn’t this a wonderful story? Please pass it on to all your friends ……… and
GOD BLESS YOU!!!!
This is a true story; it happened at Eastern Shore District High School in Musquodoboit Harbour, Nova Scotia.
I hope this goes around Canada, the USA, Australia, New Zealand and the rest of the world.
Although we may be feeling unwell, grieving a loved one, facing another challenge, we are not alone in our distress even if it feels that way at times. Just knowing that there is a green pasture beside still waters and Someone to turn to for comfort and guidance should be blessing enough. Happy Sunday
Yesterday we shared the grief of the residents of Humboldt and surrounding areas. People around the world have poured out their support in many various ways and continue to do so.
Likewise, there are many ways of sharing our spiritual blessings and I believe my blog and my book, both titled My Precious Life, are the ways God has provided me with this kind of sharing. I don’t know about you, but I appreciate the ways people share their blessings with me and I’m thankful to all of you who do so.
Rev. Matthew Ruttan of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Barrie, Ontario is responsible for this new life lesson this morning. He can be found at https://matthewruttan.com/
My Precious Life 