Monday, May 18, 2009

blessed to be a blessing

Psalm 119:153-160, Proverbs 18

Pr. 18 4 Wise words are like deep waters;
      wisdom flows from the wise like a bubbling brook. ...

 20 Wise words satisfy like a good meal;
      the right words bring satisfaction.

 21 The tongue can bring death or life;
      those who love to talk will reap the consequences.

In our Bible Life Group meeting yesterday morning, we studied the life of Ruth.  One of the things that I have never noticed previously was how much blessing is going on in the midst of tough times:

1:6 Then Naomi heard in Moab that the Lord had blessed his people in Judah by giving them good crops again. ...
1:8 But on the way, Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, "Go back to your mothers' homes. And may the Lord reward you for your kindness to your husbands and to me.  9 May the Lord bless you with the security of another marriage." ...
2:4 While [Ruth] was there, Boaz arrived from Bethlehem and greeted the harvesters. "The Lord be with you!" he said.   "The Lord bless you!" the harvesters replied. ...
2:19 "Where did you gather all this grain today?" Naomi asked. "Where did you work? May the Lord bless the one who helped you!" ... 20 "May the Lord bless him!" Naomi told her daughter-in-law. "He is showing his kindness to us as well as to your dead husband. ...
3:10 "The Lord bless you, my daughter!" Boaz exclaimed. "You are showing even more family loyalty now than you did before, for you have not gone after a younger man, whether rich or poor. ...
4:11 Then the elders and all the people standing in the gate replied, "We are witnesses! May the Lord make this woman who is coming into your home like Rachel and Leah, from whom all the nation of Israel descended! May you prosper in Ephrathah and be famous in Bethlehem. 12 And may the Lord give you descendants by this young woman who will be like those of our ancestor Perez, the son of Tamar and Judah."

The Lord has blessed me so much!  He expects me to bless others, so that they may know the Lord's loving-kindness as well.

Heavenly Father, thank you for your many blessings.  Thank you for the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ!  Thank you for giving me faith and salvation!  Lord, thank you for a wonderful family that encourages me in my walk with you.  Lord, please fill me with your Holy Spirit and empower me to please you and obey you.  Father, please bless others through me.  I pray this in the name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

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