(Blessings) 1- Blessing is not about Sneezing!

Proverbs 10:22 (TLB)
The Lord's blessing is our greatest wealth. All our work adds nothing to it!
 
 
 
Do you have an understanding of what the word blessing means? It seems like we hear bless or blessing every time we go to church. We ask God to bless our parents, our day at school, and the food we're about to eat. It's something your teacher says when she hears you sneeze.
     No wonder the meaning of blessing gets watered down to something like "Have a nice day." No wonder so many Christians aren't as desperate as Jabez was to receive it!
     To bless in the blibical snese means to ask for supernatural favor. When we ask for God's blessing, we're not asking for more of what we could get for ourselves. We're sincerely asking for the kind of good things that only God has the power to know about or give. That's why the bible says, "The Lord's blessing is our greatest wealth. All our work adds nothing to it." (Proverbs 10:22, TLB).
     And there's something else about blessings---a blessing from God is something you can feel. When God gives you the desires of your heart, He might give you "stuff," but He's always reaching for your heart.
     Imagine that you are an empty drinking glass sitting on the end of a dock on a beautiful lake. The sun comes up. You're hot and thirsty. "Man! I could drink this whole lake!" you exclaim. Then God comes along and fills you to the brim woth cold, refreshing water. Now you're satisfied. You don't need or want one more drop.
     That's what a blessing from God feels like.
God always blesses for a purpose.
     If you think about it, this explains why some poor people you know are the happiest people you've ever met---their glass if full. Any why some very wealthy people you meet have lots of stuff but are still unsatisfied.
     Truely blessed people go around blessing others. God always blesses for a purpose. He wants Hid goodness to bless you, then flow through you to others. Praying for God's blessing doesn't mean asking for more stuff just so we can spend it on ourselves. It means asking for God's favor so we can serve Him better and be a blessing to others.
     Do you want God's blessings and want them indeed? They are waiting to be yours.

     But there's a catch. 
 
Reflect: Have you been blessed by God? How was it like? How did you feel? Are you satisfied? Do you want to be blessed by God? In what ways?

 

 
 

(to be continued...)

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DON'T OPEN THAT DOOR

1 Timothy 4:12 (NIV)
Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.

(Choices) Shine

Philippians 2:12-15
You are to live clean, innocent lives as children of God in a dark world full of crooked ans perverse people. Let your lives shine brightly before them. (v15)
 
 
 
A WEALTHY MAN BUSINESSMAN in India was preparing to retire. He called his two sons into his office and told them of his plans.
     "Now, you are both good sons and capable young men," he said. "I can't decide who I should put in charge of my business and my property. So, I have chose a test for you." He gave a coin to each son and said, "Take this coin and buy something that will fill this house."
     Now, the coin he had given each of his sons was of little value and his house was large with many rooms. Each son knew the task would be difficult.
     The older son wasted no time. He hurried to the marketplace and began pricing all sorts of bulky materials. He soon decided that the cheapest and bulkiest thing he could buy was straw. So he bought as much straw as his coin would buy and carried great bundles of it into the house. But the straw barely covered half the floors in the house.
     The younger son stopped to think about his father's test. He knew that only a most unusual purchase would pass his father's test.
     When the younger son returned, he carried only a small package. His brother laughed. "You expect to fill this house with that?" he said, pointing to the package.
      The younder son said nothing. He opened his little package and took out an assortment of candles. He placed one candle in each room. When he had lighted them all, the entire house was filled . . . with light!
     Every day you face the same choice those brothers faced. Every morning a new day stands open  before you. You can fill it with wrong choices, selfish choices, choices that bring only darkness and disappointment. Or you can fill your day with right choices with good and decent actions that will shine like a light to everyone around you.
     Make it your goal today -- and every day -- to fill your day with right choices and let your life shine like a light in a dark world.
 
 
Reflect: What did you fill your day with yesterday -- light or darkness? Right choices or wrong choices? What do you think will happen as people see you making right choices? How can you "shine" like a light to everyone around you today?
 

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DON'T WORRY

1 Timothy 4:12 (NIV)
Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.

(Directions) Jukebox Way

 
 
James 1:19-25 (NIV)
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. (v.22)
 
 
YOU'RE ON VACATION with your parents. You wanted to go on a two-week tour of the best amusement parks in the world, but your mom and dad overruled you. You're going to the International Jukebox Museum instead.
     You've been in the car with your parents and your little sister for four days, and if she sings "If You're Happy and You Know It" one more time, you'll knock yourself inconcious against the window. Your dad has stopped the car only in four days announcing as you poured yourself out of the car, "We'll leave in 3minutes." Lately, however, you've noticed that the scenery seems to be repeating itself.
     "Are we lost?" you ask.
     "No," Dad says in a voice of exasperation. "We're almost there."
     "Daddy, I have to go to the bathroom," your little sister says.
     "Why don't you just ask for directions?" your mom suggests.
     "I don't need directions. I know where I'm going."
     "That must explain," your mom says, pointing out the window, "why we've passed by that little park 4 times now."
     "Alright, alright," your dad finally says. He jerks the car into a gas station and asks the attendant for directions to the International Jukebox Museum.
     "Right at the light," the man answers, popping his chewing gum in his cheek.
     "2 miles, hang a left at the bottling company. The next left is Jukebox Way." Your dad thanks the man, pulls out of the service station, and turns left at the next light.
     "Dear," your mom says, "the man said to turn right at the light."
     "I know."
     "But you turned left. You're going the wrong way," Mom says.
     "No," your dad answers, "I'll still get there. I'll just go my own way."
     You slump back in your seat. Your sister starts singing again. You eye the window, wondering how hard you'd have to hit your head to knock yourself unconcious.
     That's pretty unrealistic, isn't it? No one would get directions from someone who knows the way and then choose to ignore them.
     But we do that all the time. God has given us directions -- lots of them! He has told us, point blank, how to live a holy and joyful life. Yet we often choose our own way rather than follow directions from someone who knows the way. It's not enough to know right from wrong; you must also choose right or your knowledge is useless.
 
 

Reflect: When was the last time you knew the right thing but did the wrong thing anyway? What made you choose wrong? How can you choose differently the next time? 

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(Temptations) Steer Clear!

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Proverbs 4:14-15
Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evil men. Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn from it and go on your way.
 
 
 
A WEALTHY MAN was once searching for a chauffeur to drive his limousine. Many people applied for the job, but the millionaire picked only a few to take a driving test.
 
     The millionaire sat comfortably in the back of the limousine and told the first applicant to begin driving. As they drove along a narrow mountain road, the millionaire called to the driver, "See how close you can steer us to the edge of the cliff without falling off." The driver, eager to show his skills, steered the expensive car within few feet of the dangerous bluff. When they returned to the mansion, the millionaire said, "Thank you. We'll let you know."
 
     The second driver then slipped behind the steering wheel. Again, the millionaire said, "See how close you can steer us to the edge of the cliff without falling off." The driver, who was determined to outdo the first applicant, steered the long limousine within inches of the cliff! When they returned to the mansion, the millionaire told the second driver, "Thank you. We'll let you know."
 
     Another driver then took the second driver's place and was given the same instructions. But the third driver answered, "No way! I wouldn't go near the edge of the cliff no matter how much money you paid me!" The millionaire smiled and answered, "You're hired!"
 
     The millionaire's request was not intended to test the driver's skills; it was intended to test each man's wisdom. When he found a man who would steer clear of danger even if it meant losing a potential job, he knew he had found a safe driver.
 
     God is looking for young men and women who will steer clear of danger, too, because He knows that making right choices begins with avoiding temptation. He doesn't wabt His children to see how close they can get to sin without giving in. He wants you and me to look at temptation and say "No way!I'm not getting near that!"
 
     Many wrong choices can be avoided if we just steer clear of temptation. The bible says:"Run from all these evil things and follow what is right and good" (1 Timothy 6:11). If you're tempted to steal cookies, stay out of the kitchen! If your friends are trying to get you to try cigarettes, get some new friends! In other words, if you avoid the temptation before you're tempted, you're less likely to be tempted. And that will make it easier for you to make the right choice.
 
 
 
Reflect: Do you usually steer close to temptation or do you tend to steer clear of temptation? Think of your three strongest temptations. How can you steer clear of them?
 

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