Let me Bless You Already!

Have you ever known someone that was hard to bless? Woman are notorious at being bad at receiving compliments. When someone tells us we look pretty we tell them we paid $4.00 for the dress we are wearing. The same kind of person doesn't want us to do anything for them.

I never really stopped to think that when I act like that I am robbing the other person of a blessing.

Sound backward?

True that person is trying to bless me, but when I allow that person to bless me, it blesses them as well. I'll give you an example - the one that opened my eyes in fact.

I gave someone at church a compliment and they received it in a joyful way. She was clearly blessed by my kind words and showed it. That REALLY blessed me! It made me feel so good, and here I was only thinking about making her feel good!

Our Pastor has a phrase he likes to use that says "blessed to be a blessing." That is so true! I guess we think we are being more Christin when we refuse to let someone help us or compliment us, but that thinking is backwards.

I challenge you (along with me) to try to receive what is given you with pure joy, and let's watch and see what happens!

Sleepover Blessing

"So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith." --Galatians 3:9

God is so good and I think it is so neat that He let's us be a part of what He is doing. I had the opportunity to bless a friend this weekend, and after all was said and done I found that I received a blessing as well. Last week was a hard week for me. We installed laminate flooring and not only was I very tired from having to juggle homeschooling my kids, my regular daily chores AND install the floor, but I wasn't sleeping at night due to a shoulder injury that really flared up because of the work involved in installing the floor.

I was allowing 3 of my friend's kids to spend the entire weekend with us so that she and her husband could travel 12 hours to a wedding. The two youngest boys had never come to my house so I was nervous that they would be uncomfortable and shy and not have a good time. I was concerned that they would all be wild and I would be stressed out. But I gave it to the Lord, determined to bless my friends no matter what. Well I am glad I did, because I got to see God's grace in action.

All the kids were great, they were not wild, I was clam and not stressed. That is God and I am so grateful to Him! The youngest kids don't talk to many adults, but they opened right up to us and felt totally at home. We all had a great time and my youngest was really sad on Monday because they were all gone. That's God!

Friends Are a Gift

Prov 17:17
17 A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
(NIV)


I am so thankful for friends. I am blessed with many godly friends, but I have 2 very special friends, a close girlfriend and my husband. My husband is my very best friend, and I don't know what I would do without him. He listens to me when I am upset and helps me with difficult situations and decisions. He has committed to always be here with me through the good and bad times. He loves me even when I am not easy to love, and tries to minister to me and show me he loves me.

Prov 27:9
9 Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of one's friend springs from his earnest counsel.
(NIV)

My close girlfriend is a blessing because I can talk to her and she will tell me the truth in love. She loves me for who I am, but she also loves me enough to tell me when I am wrong She is willing to give me sound spiritual advice, whether it is what I want to hear at that moment or not. Both my friend and husband laugh with me, cry with me and stand by me, making me feel loved. They both really step up to the plate when I am going through a particularly hard time.

Prov 18:24
24 A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
(NIV)

But I have a friend that never lets me down, and is always here for me no matter what, and He is God Almighty. I never have to feel alone because I know that He loves me with the purest love. He is perfect and never sins and loves me for who I am because He made me. He loved me so much that He sent His only Son to die in my place, taking the punishment for my sins. There is no greater love than that, and I am so grateful and in awe of a God that loves me like that.