Tag: Blessing

faith, God, Hope, Religion and Spirituality, Spirituality

God is Looking to Bless You and Your Family

Sometimes I wake up really early.  Not by choice, my time clock just goes off. So what is a girl to do at 4:30 am? I don’t want to turn the TV on and wake up everyone in the house. So usually I read.  I meet with God and read His word to get some peace and direction for the day. Call me weird I guess. I know not everyone does this, that’s ok. It’s what I do to learn more about God and His ways.

So, the other morning I am in 2nd Samuel. Not like I knew where to go, it was the verse of the day in BibleGateway.com. I like that app. Sometimes I’ll read a new version to get spice things up a bit. So I went to the Message version. Remember, it’s 4:30 in the morning. Idk if I would get the King James Version that early. The coffee has just started flowing!

It’s a story about David and how he was looking for someone to bless. He asked if there was anyone in Saul’s house he could bless. Yeah, Saul, the dude who tried to kill him. And yes, Saul had a son. So David blessed him. He asked him to come on over to the palace and move in. He asked him to come and eat with him everyday from that day forward.

The Old Testament is like a shadow. To me this story of David is a foreshadowing of Jesus Christ. Jesus wants to bless even your enemies and your enemies children. They are invited to the table.  No wonder God says to bless your enemies and return good for evil. David was honoring Jonathan in this. 

GOD is so good He is looking for someone to bless!

This also tells me that God will hunt down your children and bless them, just because you have chosen to follow God and His ways. I have seen it in my life. Our children are blessed. Our children are provided for and have many opportunities that only the King of King could have provided!

You are invited to the table my friend, warts and lameness and all. God wants to bless you and show you His loving kindness. It’s not about us and what we do or don’t do. It’s His nature, ots who He is, He is Blessing! 

Come and eat!

God’s Word For You:

An Open Table for Mephibosheth

“One day David asked, “Is there anyone left of Saul’s family? If so, I’d like to show him some kindness in honor of Jonathan.”

It happened that a servant from Saul’s household named Ziba was there. They called him into David’s presence. The king asked him, “Are you Ziba?”

“Yes sir,” he replied.

The king asked, “Is there anyone left from the family of Saul to whom I can show some godly kindness?”

Ziba told the king, “Yes, there is Jonathan’s son, lame in both feet.”

“Where is he?”

“He’s living at the home of Makir son of Ammiel in Lo Debar.”

King David didn’t lose a minute. He sent and got him from the home of Makir son of Ammiel in Lo Debar.

When Mephibosheth son of Jonathan (who was the son of Saul), came before David, he bowed deeply, abasing himself, honoring David.

David spoke his name: “Mephibosheth.”

“Yes sir?”

“Don’t be frightened,” said David. “I’d like to do something special for you in memory of your father Jonathan. To begin with, I’m returning to you all the properties of your grandfather Saul. Furthermore, from now on you’ll take all your meals at my table.”

Shuffling and stammering, not looking him in the eye, Mephibosheth said, “Who am I that you pay attention to a stray dog like me?”

David then called in Ziba, Saul’s right-hand man, and told him, “Everything that belonged to Saul and his family, I’ve handed over to your master’s grandson. You and your sons and your servants will work his land and bring in the produce, provisions for your master’s grandson. Mephibosheth himself, your master’s grandson, from now on will take all his meals at my table.” Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.

“All that my master the king has ordered his servant,” answered Ziba, “your servant will surely do.”

And Mephibosheth ate at David’s table, just like one of the royal family. Mephibosheth also had a small son named Mica. All who were part of Ziba’s household were now the servants of Mephibosheth.

Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, taking all his meals at the king’s table. He was lame in both feet.” – 2 Samuel 9:1-13 MSG

 

faith, Hope, Spirituality, Uncategorized, Women

Being a Blessing – Guest Post by Jennifer Parrish

This morning my daughter Jennifer Parrish shared an amazing story of how a complete stranger chose to bless her and her family. It is a beautiful story of ‘paying it forward’ and choosing to be a blessing in this world. This is from her FB page today:

I don’t get “serious” on here often, but something remarkable happened over the weekend and I think it holds an important lesson for all of us. I was waiting in a long line to check out at Target with a stockpile of SIX boxes of diapers and various groceries (crazy couponing, of course!) The couple behind me struck up a conversation with me to pass the time. We talked about my baby, mostly. First time mom. Sleepless nights. Those cute yet elusive first smiles and laughs. Jokes about how many diapers she must be going through as they eyed my cart. The cashier finished scanning my coupons, and as I was grabbing my card to pay, they stuck their credit card in the machine. WHAAA??? I was astonished. And overcome with emotion. I think I thanked them a thousand times as I gathered my things, teary-eyed. I haven’t stopped thinking about this. Did I say anything that made me sound like a charity-case? No, I don’t think so. I think they saw a new mom, putting an extraordinary amount of effort into saving money on the things she needed and they genuinely wanted to make a difference. What a gesture! It got me thinking a lot about money and the kind of example I want to set for my daughter. We’re all feeling the pressure to make more money, save more money, spend more money…we’re all obsessed. Even my “crazy couponing” can be viewed as an obsession with money. It’s a sickness. We have a roof over our head, food on the table, and clothes on our backs. And that’s more than most in this world. I want my little girl to know that; to really appreciate that. I think we all need to remember IT’S JUST MONEY. It’s what you do with it that really matters. Maybe it’s less about constantly collecting new and better things, and more about finding contentment and appreciation for what you have been blessed with. Maybe if we find ourselves in an opportunity to help another person, we should take it–without weighing it against our own needs first. Total strangers paid for a new mom’s diapers…and made a lasting impact on her philosophy about money, and the real value in life.

Thank you Jen – for sharing your heart with us today. Your post reminds us all how a simple act of kindness can mean so much. You are an amazing young woman and your daughter is blessed to call you Mom.

Thank you Lord for the kindness of these people. Bless them 100 times over!

Here is my daughter Jennifer and her beautiful daughter Devyn:

Jennifer and Devyn

(Featured Image – Jennifer and Dameon Parrish)

Healing, Hurt in Church, Spirituality

Have You Been Considered?

Have you been considered? By God? Remember Job? Remember Joseph? Are you going through a test right now? I am. I believe that this is a test, it is is only a test. God is more than able to meet all of my needs in Christ Jesus. He knows what I need even before I ask. I have asked and I will receive. I know I am in my season of testing like Job. He was doing everything right. God even bragged on him to Satan.

I sit in the ashes with Job today. In the past three years I have lost my job, we have lost our house, we have lost loved ones, we have lost animals, even the van died. We used the last of our gas to get to Church yesterday. My husband has 12, yes 12 jobs now, that he has done and is waiting for payment on from various IT Buyers. All have been delayed. Have you been there? I know I am not alone here…

You find out who you are in the valley. And you find out who your friends are and who they are not. Some people will pray for you and some will laugh at you. We have had the ‘naysayers’ tell us that we are creating our own problems and it is all our fault. We have had ‘Christians’ brag about how much money they have and shame us for not coming to events that cost money. They have no idea the valley that we walk through as they point fingers. I have leaned much here in the valley. And yet, I know God is still good, and our ending will be better than our beginning. He promised!

“And though your beginning was small, yet your latter end would greatly increase.” (Job 8:7 AMP)

 

It is times like this that I remember the Word. And I cling to the promises that God has given us all. He is with us. He knows. And the gold we receive will be well worth the wait.

 

But He knows the way that I take [He has concern for it, appreciates, and pays attention to it]. When He has tried me, I shall come forth as refined gold [pure and luminous]. My foot has held fast to His steps; His ways have I kept and not turned aside. (Job 23:10-11 AMP)

 Then Job arose and rent his robe and shaved his head and fell down upon the ground and worshiped And said, Naked (without possessions) came I [into this world] from my mother’s womb, and naked (without possessions) shall I depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; blessed (praised and magnified in worship) be the name of the Lord! In all this Job sinned not nor charged God foolishly. (Job 1:20-22 AMP)

This morning I remembered Pastor Barnett and his sermon on “Have you been Considered?”

 

 

Sermon Notes:

 

It is great to be called by God, and then it is great to become obedient. and then God rewards you by touching the seeds that you plant, watering your seeds with your faith, and your trust and your belief in God and how you are reaping a harvest.

When God calls you He never leaves you nor forsakes you.

Denominations has nothing to do with the Body of Christ. That’s only something that the Devil uses to divide us. It’s all about the Name of Jesus.

The thing about Job is that he was a man that loved God. When we left the Devil’s Team and joined God’s Team, we are saying that we love God. Job loved God so much that God bragged on him.

Satan came up, God asked Satan, “Where you been?” God said, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is none like him in all the Earth.” We want God to put our name in the place of Job. Satan is still walking to and fro the Earth. Satan is still trying to kill, steal, and destroy. He is still on the job 24/7.

God brags on, “Job hates evil and He loves me more than anything.”

We could put our name in there, “______Loves me more than Desperate Housewives, more than Grey’s Anatomy, more than shoes…”

Satan says,”Yeah, I have seen Job, but because you have a hedge of protection I can’t get to him. He don’t love you like that just for nothing.” Satan says,”He loves like that because of all you give him, because of all the things You have blessed him with. Job is rich.”

God says, “To prove it to you Satan, I will take down my hedge.”

God will ALLOW it. God did not cause it, he allowed it. (We have the ability through prayer to change things for our brothers and sisters. A prayer from a friend will avail much. Prayer changes things.)

God says, ” Ok, I’ll allow you to touch Job’s stuff. The things I have given to Job I will allow you to have power over those things, but just don’t touch him.” Isn’t it great to know that God creates ALL things. No matter how much Satan wants to rule or tries to be a big man on campus’ he can’t do nothing unless God allows it.

Job gets bad news. A lot of times when we go through things It’s just a test. Not for God, but for us to know where we are in God. We don’t know how we will react until something comes up. Let a fire come and take everything that we have. Let a loved one get sick and bring them to being bedridden, Let something happen where you have no control over it, and then will you say, “God is good” ?

It ain’t nothing but a test.

Job’s children died, animals got taken away, some of his household died. But through all of that he still praised God. For the Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away.

I will not put on you more than you can bear God says. We may go through pain and agony, God knows how much you can take and how much they can take. Sometimes with the loss of a loved one we can remember that they belong to God before they belong to us. God knows.

Job still prays, “God nonetheless.”

In the test we may ask, “Lord why me?”

And the Lord turns around and says, “Why not you? You say you’re my servant.  You say that you love me, You said that any way I want to use you I can use you. You say that you want to be a light for the world. You say that you said you want to save souls. You said that you want to keep people from going to Hell. You said you want everybody that you know to go to Heaven. You said these things.

“Why not you?”

 

 

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(Images from Pinterest)

Music, Spirituality, Videos

An Irish Blessing

An Irish Blessing for You:

Irish Marriage Blessing
May God be with you and bless you.
May you see your children’s children.
May you be poor in misfortunes
and rich in blessings.
May you know nothing but happiness
from this day forward.

♣

From Saint Patrick’s Breastplate
Christ be with me
Christ before me
Christ behind me
Christ in me
Christ beneath me
Christ above me
Christ on my right
Christ on my left
Christ where I lie
Christ where I sit
Christ where I arise
Christ in the heart of every man
who thinks of me
Christ in the mouth of every man
who speaks of me
Christ in every eye that sees me
Christ in every ear that hears me
Salvation is of the Lord.
Said in the morning when rising…
Christ be with me,
be after me,
be before me,
and be at my right and left hand.
May everything I do be for Christ.

♣

An Old Irish Blessing
May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind always be at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
and rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

♣

A Gaelic Christening Blessing
Dearest Father in Heaven,
Bless this child and bless this day
Of new beginnings.
Smile upon this child
And surround this child, Lord,
With the soft mantle of your love.
Teach this child to follow in your footsteps,
And to live life in the ways of
Love, faith, hope and charity.

♣

A Wish for a Friend
Wishing you a rainbow
For sunlight after showers—
Miles and miles of Irish smiles
For golden happy hours—
Shamrocks at your doorway
For luck and laughter too,
And a host of friends that never ends
Each day your whole life through!

♣

An Irish Prayer
May God give you…
For every storm, a rainbow,
For every tear, a smile,
For every care, a promise,
And a blessing in each trial.
For every problem life sends,
A faithful friend to share,
For every sigh, a sweet song,
And an answer for each prayer.

♣

An Old Cradle Song
Sleep, my babe, lie still and slumber,
All through the night
Guardian angels God will lend thee,
All through the night
Soft and drowsy hours are creeping,
Hill and vale in slumber sleeping,
Mother dear her watch is keeping,
All through the night
God is here, you’ll not be lonely,
All through the night
‘Tis not I who guards thee only,
All through the night
Night’s dark shades will soon be over,
Still my watchful care shall hover,
God with me His watch is keeping,
All through the night

♣

Remembered Joy
Don’t grieve for me, for now I’m free!
I follow the plan God laid for me.
I saw His face, I heard His call,
I took His hand and left it all…
I could not stay another day,
To love, to laugh, to work or play;
Tasks left undone must stay that way.
And if my parting has left a void,
Then fill it with remembered joy.
A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss…
Ah yes, these things I, too, shall miss.
My life’s been full, I’ve savoured much:
Good times, good friends, a loved-one’s touch.
Perhaps my time seemed all too brief—
Don’t shorten yours with undue grief.
Be not burdened with tears of sorrow,
Enjoy the sunshine of the morrow.

♣

An Old Celtic Blessing
May the blessing of light be on you—
light without and light within.
May the blessed sunlight shine on you
and warm your heart
till it glows like a great peat fire.
Do Not Stand at My Grave and Weep
Do not stand at my grave and weep,
I am not there… I do not sleep.
I am the thousand winds that blow…
I am the diamond glints on snow…
I am the sunlight on ripened grain…
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you waken in the morning’s hush,
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of gentle birds in circling flight…
I am the soft star that shines at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry—
I am not there… I did not die…

♣

Bless This House
Bless this house, o Lord, we pray.
Make it safe by night and day.
Bless these walls so firm and stout,
Keeping want and trouble out.
Bless the roof and chimney tall,
Let thy peace lie over all.
Bless the doors that they may prove
Ever open to joy and love.
Bless the windows shining bright,
Letting in God’s heavenly light.
Bless the hearth a-blazing there,
With smoke ascending like a prayer.
Bless the people here within…
Keep them pure and free from sin.
Bless us all, that one day, we
May be fit, O lord, to dwell with Thee.

♣

In Time of Sorrow…
May you see God’s light on the path ahead
When the road you walk is dark.
May you always hear,
Even in your hour of sorrow,
The gentle singing of the lark.
When times are hard may hardness
Never turn your heart to stone,
May you always remember
when the shadows fall—
You do not walk alone.

♣

A Blessing for Fair Day
God be with them now, and bring them home with their fair share of stock or money.

♣

Said when dressing…
Lord, clothe me with the robes of innocence.
Said during thunder and lightning…
O Lord, be between us and harm and protect us from the harm of the world.

♣

An Old Irish Blessing
May love and laughter light your days,
and warm your heart and home.
May good and faithful friends be yours,
wherever you may roam.
May peace and plenty bless your world
with joy that long endures.
May all life’s passing seasons
bring the best to you and yours!

♣

(Blessing Source: http://www.islandireland.com and Image Sources: google)

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Healing, Spirituality, Teen Bible Study

Blessed – Teen Bible Study

Blessed.   Yes we are blessed. We are blessed on the inside and blessed on the outside. Blessed in our coming and blessed in our going.  I pray that God restores to you any and everything you have lost, in Jesus Name.  You are blessed!

God, release these blessings upon your people today, in Jesus Name!

  If you will listen diligently to the voice of the Lord your God, being watchful to do all His commandments which I command you this day, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth.

And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you if you heed the voice of the Lord your God.

Blessed shall you be in the city and blessed shall you be in the field.

Blessed shall be the fruit of your body and the fruit of your ground and the fruit of your beasts, the increase of your cattle and the young of your flock.

Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading trough.

Blessed shall you be when you come in and blessed shall you be when you go out.

The Lord shall cause your enemies who rise up against you to be defeated before your face; they shall come out against you one way and flee before you seven ways.

The Lord shall command the blessing upon you in your storehouse and in all that you undertake. And He will bless you in the land which the Lord your God gives you.

The Lord will establish you as a people holy to Himself, as He has sworn to you, if you keep the commandments of the Lord your God and walk in His ways.

And all people of the earth shall see that you are called by the name [and in the presence of] the Lord, and they shall be afraid of you.

And the Lord shall make you have a surplus of prosperity, through the fruit of your body, of your livestock, and of your ground, in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers to give you.

The Lord shall open to you His good treasury, the heavens, to give the rain of your land in its season and to bless all the work of your hands; and you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow.

And the Lord shall make you the head, and not the tail; and you shall be above only, and you shall not be beneath, if you heed the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you this day and are watchful to do them. (Deuteronomy 28: 1-13 AMP)

BLESSED

(click to download free lesson)

 

 

Image Sources: whowillyouserve.blogspot.com and Pinterest

Amplified Bible (AMP)

Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation

Spirituality

Happy Birthday Prayers and Promises

Hard to believe, but Prayers and Promises is 1 today! I just wanted to thank you all for your continued support, encouragement, and mostly, your friendship. I can’t believe all the things we have shared together this past year. You have each touched me immensely with your hearts, your stories, your hope. Such a strong group of survivors! I love you all. God bless you, and thank you!

Here is the very first post I wrote – a year ago today!

Happy New Year! (via Prayers and Promises)

His Unfailing Presence “Christmas Peace” by Diana Rasmussen Another year I enter Its history unknown; Oh, how my feet would tremble To tread its paths alone! But I have heard a whisper, I know I shall be blest; “My presence shall go with thee,…

Continue reading “Happy Birthday Prayers and Promises” →

Spirituality, Uncategorized, Videos

Prayer of Blessing

Dear Lord,

I ask  you to bless your children. We have been oppressed for too long. Break the Yoke of our enemies.  They have no legal right to be here.  We kick them out of this land that you have given us Lord.

Shine your light upon us Lord. You promised us we would not be put to shame. You called us to inherit a blessing. Enlarge our territories.  Deliver us Lord as we step on the heels of our enemies.  Bless our going out and our coming in. Provide provision as we bless Your Name, in Jesus Name.

Called to Blessing

Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderearted, be courteous;[not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing. (1 PETER 3:8-9 NKJV)

But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. (JAMES 1:25 NKJV)

But He said, “More than that, blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”  (LUKE 11:25 NKJV)

Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord?
Or who may stand in His holy place?
He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
Who has not lifted up his soul to an idol,
Nor sworn deceitfully.
He shall receive blessing from the Lord,
And righteousness from the God of his salvation. (PSALM 24:3-5 NKJV)

 

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Spirituality, Uncategorized, Videos

Be a Blessing

Be A Blessing

What has God blessed you with? Health? Money? Talent?

How are you blessing others with His Gift?  This video was featured today on GodTube.  It is Kyle from Give Back Films.  What a great idea!

For me, the Lord has blessed me with the gift of music.  I use that gift to praise Him as I lead the Worship Team at our Church.  I also write and record music to help my sisters escape from Domestic Violence.  And soon, I will be helping one of my sisters in the Lord start a Children’s Choir at Church.  I am thinking we could do a Praise Dance thing too – I love when kids dance and sing.  It reminds me of my days working at the School District in Special Ed.  I used to lead the class in a “Large Motor Development” section.  That meant we went down to the multi-purpose room with big balls and hula hoops and sang and danced!  That was fun…

What about you – who have you blessed today?

From: stevebowen.blogspot.com
From: stevebowen.blogspot.com

Featured Image from: jeshurun777.blogspot.com

Photo Source: stevebowen.blogspot.com

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Healing, Spirituality, Uncategorized

Marked with Grace and Blessing

image

Do you have a mark?

What are you marked with?

A tatoo?

A scar?

A limp?

An illness?

Why do we always look at the natural?

Why do we ‘mark’ our life by our wounds?

Why do we measure ourselves by our failures?

I guess I’m getting older, reflecting back, on the measuring tape that I have used on myself.  The measuring tape of my own making.  I took the “world’s” point of view for so long.  You know – you are what you do, you’re only good if you are skinny, blah, blah, blah.  What a lie!  And then wonder why I am not further along in my journey.

God’s economy is different.  There is no stick to measure with!  Jesus took care of it.  Any ‘whosoever’ is welcome. God calls us chosen, loved, special. There’s a new thought!  And He marks us with His Holy Spirit, and his grace, and his blessing…

GOD’S PROMISE TO YOU:

And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory. (Ephesians 1:13-14 NIV)

*

You serve me a six-course dinner
right in front of my enemies.
You revive my drooping head;
    my cup brims with blessing. (Psalm 23:5 MSG)

*

God, mark us with grace
    and blessing! Smile!
The whole country will see how you work,
all the godless nations see how you save.
God! Let people thank and enjoy you.
Let all people thank and enjoy you.
Let all far-flung people become happy
and shout their happiness because
You judge them fair and square,
you tend the far-flung peoples.
God! Let people thank and enjoy you.
Let all people thank and enjoy you.
Earth, display your exuberance!
  You mark us with blessing, O God, our God.
You mark us with blessing, O God.
Earth’s four corners—honor him! (Psalm 67 MSG)

MY PRAYER FOR YOU:

Dear Lord,
tape 2We cast down those stupid thoughts we had that we are not good enough, not pretty enough, not thin enough, not ______ enough, etc.  Those thoughts are not from you, but from the enemy of our soul.  Thank you that as we read your Word and spend time with You, you show us what is true and what is false.  Thank you for loving us right where we are at.  Thank you for not measuring us against everyone else. Today, we lay down the measuring tape of our own making.  Help us renew our minds, so we may know You better, and the plans you have for us, in Jesus Name.