“For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life” (Ephesians 2:10)

Nothing happening today is catching God by surprise. God knew this day would be upon us. Therefore God created you and me and placed us in this particular time in our particular community. God did this because the people around us would need a church and a people like you and me to be Christ’s presence of peace and hope.

Isn’t that amazing?

That even in such a time as this, God expects the kingdom of God to continue to expand and grow in her influence and impact. That it’s you and me who God created and placed in our particular locations and relationships so that God can bless people.

Did you get that?

God’s plan for blessing a people who desperately need a blessing and some good news, is YOU!

This is why God made us. God created us in Christ Jesus for good works. That through your life and mine God would bless and impact lives for the good.

So, how can you do this? That’s your home work. But I have a few suggestions:

• If you are a talker, get on the phone and call people. In fact, make a list of people you will call and make several calls a day
• If you’re not a talker, write hand written notes and mail them out. Who doesn’t like getting a hand written note?
• And if your tech savvy do a video call. Facetime, Google Hangouts, Facebook Messenger, Zoom, etc.
• Share either the video worship service from Sunday or the Verse of the Day with your neighbor, friend, family by email and let them know you are thinking of them

 

What other ways can you think of to be a blessing to the people in your life? It’s because the people in your life needed God to show up in a real and tangible way that God created you for just such a time as this.

You were made for today. Be a blessing!

“Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved” (Psalm 80:3)

“Let your face shine, that we may be saved.” 

That’s an intriguing idea. What does God’s face shining have anything to do with salvation?

The Hebrew word “face” often was used to signify one’s presence. To ask for God’s face to shine is asking for God’s presence; that God’s face would shine refers to God’s favor.

“Let your face shine,” is asking for God’s presence and that God would show forth his favor upon us.

Our salvation is dependent on God’s presence and God’s favor. These two – God’s presence and God’s favor – go together because without God’s favor, God’s grace, God’s mercy we have no hope. God’s presence isn’t dependent upon our performance. God’s presence is dependent on God’s love and grace. And that is good news to repeat sinners like you and me.

Our response to such amazing grace is to live lives that are worthy in order to glorify him. Everything we do is in response to a loving and gracious God.

My prayer for you on this day is the famous blessing from Numbers 6:24-26:

The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace.

“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

Gratitude.

It’s interesting that we are told gratitude is God’s will for us. It’s almost as if God is saying we are most fully who we were created to be when we “give thanks in all circumstances.”

And now there is research to back this up. Laurie Santos is a psychology professor at Yale. She encourages people to do what she calls the “Three Blessing Exercise.”

Laurie Santos says, “Research shows that we really can benefit from counting our blessings even when it feels like there isn’t that many blessings to be counted. The simple act of scribbling down three things you are grateful for can significantly bump your mood, in some studies as within a couple of weeks. It’s completely free. It takes five to ten minutes a day. At the end of your day, just scribble down a few things that you’re grateful for right now.”

In the midst of all the news about the pandemic I encourage you to start making time to keep a journal of three things you are grateful for. Do this every day.

The Bible tells us this is what we were created for, and research backs it up.

“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” and have an amazing day!