Live Long and Prosper

Live Long and Prosper

Good Morning Friends,

What do you think of when I say blessings? It is my benediction for you each morning as you start the day. Now it is habit, but in the forming of it perhaps my mind was guided by the words of the Beatitudes, or the blessings of God on Abraham or of Isaac on Jacob. My wife was reading a book on blessings and the power of our blessings on others as a way we can help manage our own lives. Someone cut you off in traffic….think, Oh God bless that person so they would not be in such a rush. So today we contemplate the reality that we have been blessed in more ways than just to Live Long and Prosper.

Scripture: Happy are those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or take the path that sinners tread, or sit in the seat of scoffers; but their delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law they meditate day and night. They are like trees planted by streams of water, which yield their fruit in its season, and their leaves do not wither. In all that they do, they prosper.

Psalm 1:1-3 (NRSV)

We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him.

Romans 8:28 (NIV)

Deuteronomy 5:33 (NIV)

Message: Ok, this is not Star Trek but there might be a Biblical message in that Vulcan wisdom. A blessing, according to Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, is “the act or words of one that blesses,” or “a thing conducive to happiness or welfare.” In the Bible, there are several words that are usually translated as “blessing” or “bless.” Often it is translated in a way which can mean to praise, congratulate, or salute. In Genesis is the first occurrence, when God blessed the sea creatures and birds, telling them to be fruitful and multiply in the earth. God gave the similar blessing to Adam and Eve, adding that they were to exercise dominion over creation. When God called Abram to go to the Promised Land, He promised to bless him, make his name great, and through him, to bless all the families of the earth. The blessings here are plainly associated with happiness and welfare, both for Abram and others. What is clear is that God’s blessing has the long view in mind but still provides help for daily living, provisions for our immediate needs and perhaps a surprising confidence in what is to come. Here we realize that it is that blessing… not of earthly things but of spiritual things… that evidence of grace in our lives that indeed is the best of blessings.

Pray we know the blessings of being Christian. Pray for those struggling today. Pray for families that are wrestling with issues. Pray we all receive a blessing of grace and peace.  Pray we spend time alone with God. Pray we be authentic with God. Pray we be humble….needy…Pray we realize that we cannot succeed on our own. Pray we find ourselves altered by God. Pray we have a flow of blessings in our lives. Pray we are happy in finding our purpose and fulfilment in God. Pray we learn to receive the blessing in blessing others in a way that multiplies and keeps on multiplying.

Blessings,