It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to your name, O Most High;

to declare your steadfast love in the morning, and your faithfulness by night,

to the music of the lute and the harp, to the melody of the lyre. (Psalm 92:1-3)

Dear brothers & sisters in Christ,

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and Jesus Christ the Lord and Savior. Amen.

The Old Testament concept of blessing was much deeper than our own culture’s understanding. Blessing had and bestowed power. Blessings were valuable.

There was a reason Jacob tricked his own father into giving him the blessing intended for Esau and wrestled with the ‘man of God’ and endured a dislocated hip in order to be blessed. Genesis even concludes with ‘blessings’ for each of Jacob’s sons and their descendants. The blessings given in the Old Testament determined the identity of the receiver. Sometime it was such a transformation that it necessitated a name change. Jacob (meaning ‘supplanter’) became Israel (meaning ‘God prevails’).

You have been blessed. God has given you a new identity in Christ. He has made you His child. He has chosen to bless you. He has chosen to make you His child. He has chosen to bring you into His kingdom. He has chosen to love you. That blessing is priceless.

 Oftentimes we get caught up in our problems and worries and take the blessings for granted. Too often it is easier to focus on the trials in life. We can get caught up in negativity and it begins to affect how we interact with the world. We can become bitter and begin to expect trouble rather than joy. We can forget that we too have been blessed. We can momentarily forget that God has already made us his own.

Life is full of blessings for which to be thankful. None are greater than the blessing of being God’s children. The blessing of his promise to hold us in Christ is tenacious and constant. His blessing depends solely upon His own faithfulness and authority. “O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.”

The grace and peace of God which surpasses all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Almighty God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, bless you now and forever. Amen.

In Christ,

Pastor Carla

O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,     for his steadfast love endures forever. O give thanks to the God of gods,     for his steadfast love endures forever. O give thanks to the Lord of lords,     for his steadfast love endures forever; (Psalm 136:1-3)