dmackall
Posts: 3
Joined: 4/28/2008
Status: offline
|
The Joy of Blessings
To be blessed by God, to find His favor is something we all desire, but what is the rhyme or reason for God pouring out His blessings? Is there a secret to finding blessings, or do we simply need to have our vision improved so we can see blessings? Is it that we have no responsibility in “qualifying” for these beautiful blessings? Is it purely God’s decision as to who is blessed more than someone else?
God has been so good to me! He and I talk often and I am always watching to see what He does in my life. His plan is rarely what I expect, but it is always good and fills me with great joy to see Him at work around me. As a child I still remember my first prayer, I asked the obvious question; “Why am I here?” I received an immediate response in my mind, He said “To serve one another.” Well that made perfect sense, to give of myself to others. My father was a fireman and he risked his life “serving” others.
As I grew older, I began to forget about that first prayer, but God did not! I also was not looking to see what God was doing, but God never gave up on me. A few of my first jobs included mowing lawns, working with my dad, on his off days at a big farm, pumping gas and repairing VW engines. I never noticed my service like jobs and had forgot Gods answer to my question from long ago. God was leading me down a path, a plan He knew very well, which I was not the slightest bit aware of.
God can be pretty tricky when He wants to. To get me on my path of service he brought a confident, intelligent and pretty young lady into my life. And like a tough, strong, independent man I followed her everywhere, through high school, college and to work for NASA! I became a civil, now catch this word, servant.
So what does this have to do with blessings? I believe God always wants to bless us, as He has all my life. After all He loves us with an unending love! Still, why do others seem to be more blessed than others? Let’s dive into this water of God’s word to find the keys to blessings and joy! Here are a few key verses to get us rolling:
Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust, who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods. Psalm 40:4.
He who despises his neighbor sins,
but blessed is he who is kind to the needy. Proverbs 14:21
Blessed is the man whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty. Job 5:17
Looking at his disciples, he said: "Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Luke 6:20
God gives everything to us, just a couple examples…
And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you. Romans 8:11
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:33
Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. Matthew 7:9-12
If we have God’s love we must also give…
In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.' Acts 20:35
"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." John 13:34-35
Freely you have received, freely give. Matthew 10:8
How we give makes all the difference, it must be genuine…
If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. 1 Corinthians 13:3
So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. Matthew 6:2
Can we out give God?
Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured in to your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Luke 6:38
Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me.
"But you ask, 'How do we rob you?'
"In tithes and offerings… Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. Malachi 3:8-10
God will rewarded us with eternal treasures…
Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." Matthew 19:21
Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. Luke 12:33
Examples of action taken, how will you respond…
But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount." Luke 19:8
At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly. One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, "Cornelius!"
Cornelius stared at him in fear. "What is it, Lord?" he asked.
The angel answered, "Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God. Acts 10:1-4
Some Keys to True Joy….
Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they shared her joy. Luke 1:58
As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. John 15:9-11
Summary
Stewardship, and giving are not our favorite Biblical topics. However, I have found the verses above to be absolutely true, and God has blessed me. My wife and I have suffered through my fractured spine and five operations only then to find out she has an in-operatable brain tumor. That was over 15 years ago, and even though the brain tumor has reoccurred, treatment has put it into remission again! God disciplines the ones He loves, but He is with you the whole way! He pours out joy and blessings in the mist of trials, you just have to be watching for them!
EDITED TOS 13
Blessing to you,
Dale Archer
< Message edited by Kath -- 4/28/2008 7:23:37 PM >
|
Forum Tools
Printable Version
The Joy of living and Blessings - 
RE: The Joy of living and Blessings - 
New Messages
No New Messages
Hot Topic w/ New Messages
Hot Topic w/o New Messages
Locked w/ New Messages
Locked w/o New Messages
Post New Thread