BLESSINGS

WHAT IS A BLESSING?

      Blessings come in all different shapes and packages.  Some come with green and white polka dot wrapping paper and white satin ribbon.  Some come wrapped in brown bag paper and a white string.  Sometimes, we cannot fathom from whence this blessing came!  That is until we stop to realize that it came straight from our Heavenly Father  either to protect us from a catastrophic event or to cover us with heavenly joy, like the gift of a baby into our lives.  There is nothing in the world quite like a baby, with their soft skin and funny little grimaces, stretchings and smiles!  So, we see that blessings come from above, in full view.  Other blessings come from above but present in the form of a person through acts  of kindness, words of encouragement or an extended hand to a  child or teen-ager or person of any age.

     The occurrence of a blessing is the realization of God's grace (or favor toward us).  The Lord blesses us with a cool breeze on a sunny day, or a colorful meadow, or a majestic mountainside or amber-orange-red leaves dancing in the wind on a crisp, autumn day.   When I was a young mother, my 4 year-old daughter was resting one hot, summer afternoon, on her bed when suddenly a cool breeze drifted through her window.  She said, "Mommy, the breeze feels just like a kiss from God!"

     1st Corinthians 2:15  The apostle, Paul wrote:  "For we are to God, the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing."  To those who are perishing, we are the aroma of death leading to death and to those who are saved we are the aroma of  life leading to life.

1st Corinthians 1: 5,6.  "Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation...Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation."

      We as Christ's disciples, bless others because we have the mind of Christ. We are filled with His Spirit and as He tells us in His Word, we are His ambassadors.   So, because we are God's in Christ, we have the endowment and authority to bless others.  When we bless others, we are also blessed by God for having blessed His 'lambs.'  John 21:15      
     Our newly-installed Minister, Rev. Kyle Cannon spoke last week on the words Jesus spoke just before ascending into heaven...Jesus said to Simon Peter:  "Do you love me?"   Simon Peter said, "Yes, Lord, You know that I love You."   Jesus said to Peter:  "Tend My lambs."   So, blessings come directly from God as He reveals His grace or (His favor) in us.  Blessings are revealed  to others indirectly from God through us, His servants.
      Blessings to each of you, today and always.

A Poem for You:  The Place Where Kindness Lives...

THE PLACE WHERE KINDNESS LIVES

The place where kindness lives is not so very far away

You'll stumble quite by chance upon its presence one sweet day

As if it were a dream, a gift, a treasure chest of gold

You'll walk into the depths and breadth of kindness unfortold
Some fortunate among us knew its essence long ago…

Childhood memories whisper warmth's sweet breeze as we grow old

Yet others of us wait till quite by happenstance it seems

The place where kindness lives, at last no longer crowds our dreams

At last we taste its sweet, sweet peace and breathe its fragrance new

And bask in fields of daisies _sunshine bright and daybreak's dew
And so we find the place where kindness lives not far away

Around our bend and up the street

A home where minds content retreat

A dwelling place where warm hearts meet

… This place where kindness lives

© October,  2012

Carol T. Castagna 

Dear Father,  
Help me to minister to  your people with your passion, compassion, love and grace.  Let me seek the lost and find them, reach out to them and touch them with your love, for Your honor and Your glory.

In Jesus' Name, Amen.