Wednesday, May 1, 2024

To, Too, Two, Tutu

To, too, two, tutu: English is hard. However, it takes the same amount of breath to bless as it does to curse. Most of my writing these days has been finding ways to speak blessings. It totally changes your state of mind when you think of ways to speak positively about someone instead of finding ways to tear them down.

For many, the curses come much more freely than blessings because very little though is spent spewing negativity. It's really not surprising. It's all around us. We are constantly bombarded with it at every turn: human interaction in public spaces, the news media, social media, etc. Before giving the knee-jerk response of negativity, take a minute and find something pleasant to say. I don't mean you have to "lie" about the subject at hand which you may loathe. Simply speak on another matter which you can share something uplifting. (A bit of commentary. FB dictionary doesn't even contain the word "uplifting".) That should tell you something.

The idea of blessing is not just for conversations. Take time to write down specific things you would like to share with others; possibly a mate, a friend, a child, a coworker, etc., and then give it to them in print. That way you can be certain you communicate it as clearly as possible, and it can also become a keepsake for them. Try it once or twice. I think you may like it.

Saturday, April 27, 2024

Sunday’s Blessing – 04/28/2024

May you be renewed by the presence of the Lord
As though being born anew
Like a newborn with every bit of life ahead of them
You have not missed anything

May today be the beginning of days for you
Just as God said to Israel after they left Egypt
Four hundred years were simply wiped from the slate
Because a new life had begun for each of them

May you find joy and peace for your new journey
As you are greeted with new mercies every day
And forgiveness as you walk with the Lord
And hope as the Father sings over you His songs of deliverance

Sunday, April 21, 2024

Sunday’s Blessing – 04/21/2024

May you be drenched by the rain from Heaven
As God showers you daily with new mercies
As you bask in the grace of the Lord
As you are led, step by step, by the Spirit

May the living water flow freely from you
To keep you cleansed
To provide hope and healing to your world
To water others who may be parched

May the rivers of living water overwhelm you
To provide deep waters to swim in
To carry you in your purpose
To make deserts blossom

Sunday, April 14, 2024

Sunday’s Blessing – 04/14/2024

Sunday’s Blessing – 04/14/2024

May you never lose sight of the excitement of Easter Sunday
Because God’s resurrection power is present every moment
Because two thousand years doesn’t diminish the forgiveness accomplished by Christ
Because you still need God’s new mercies every day

May you live with the revelation that you have been made spotless
Spotless now, not then
Spotless regardless of whatever
Spotless by His righteousness in us

May you marvel every day at the wonder of these truths
That God loves you. Period.
That Jesus forgave you. Period.
That you are free to love others from this place

Friday, April 12, 2024

Sense, Since, Scents, Cents

Sense, since, scents, cents: English is hard. Communication is harder. I wish I knew another language besides English. I took some Spanish in college, but never anything beyond the required 2 semesters. I feel that my disdain for English would probably be quelled by the complexity of other languages. They are probably all difficult. However, I feel English is complicated by "melting" all kinds of things from many languages. Regardless, I still hate English as a form of communication. Unfortunately, I have no valid alternative.

Sunday, April 7, 2024

Sunday’s Blessing – 04/07/2024

Since tomorrow is the lunar eclipse across the Midwest, Southeast, and Northeast of the United States

May you experience the reality of the Lord “overshadowing” you
Just as He did with Mary, the mother of Jesus
When His presence became so intense around her that a baby was formed in her womb

May you experience an encounter with the Holy Spirit so profound
That something new is birthed in you, so God can use it through you
To bring a revelation of the King and His Kingdom to those around you

May you experience the covering of the Lord
Just as the disciples experienced at the transfiguration of Jesus
So that you can have open fellowship with the Father as He communes with you

May you live in a state of “eclipse” 
Where you pass fully in the path of the light of God to the point of being overshadowed
Absorbing His mercy and grace which He is always pouring out on His beloved

May tomorrow be a sign of God’s love for you
Where you are fully encompassed by His illumination
Which will give you vision to see the direction you should go

Sunday, March 31, 2024

Sunday’s Blessing – 03/31/2024

As you walk through this Easter Sunday, among all the beauty of God’s creation
May you never cease to be amazed at the wonder around you
If you cannot see the wonder, I pray you will slow down a moment
So you can find the beautiful expression of God’s creativity
In the budding trees and plants, in the joyous laughter of children
As you greet your family or your neighbor
Or simply realize you are still breathing

May the reality of The Resurrection give you renewed hope
And awareness of God’s grace and mercy
To know that no tomb, real or imagined, can contain the life God has placed in you
And to experience the stone-moving power of God to release you
From any and all feelings of captivity
To allow the God-life in you to flourish
And affect your world for the Kingdom