You Can Be a Blessing and Be Blessed

Thursday, September 3


Blessed to Be a Blessing (by David Jeremiah)

I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing.
Genesis 12:2

Recommended Reading:  1 Peter 3:8-9

The Hebrew word for "blessed" can also be translated "happy," as in, "Happy is the man who . . . ." "Happy" in biblical days meant "content" or "satisfied" more than our modern understanding of happiness. Today, Christians sometimes act like God's blessings are primarily to make us happy. The truth is that we have been blessed in order that we might be a blessing to others.

When God called Abraham from Mesopotamia to begin a new life in Canaan, He set the standard for the meaning of blessing. He told Abraham that he would be blessed—no doubt about that. But He also said, "And you shall be a blessing." Abraham and His descendants were going to be blessed by God so they could become a channel of blessing to the world—and indeed they were as the Messiah, Jesus Christ, was born as a descendant of Abraham. Sometimes when we grow discouraged (unhappy) with the life God has given us, we need to remember that there is blessing in being a blessing to others. Happiness and joy come in this life when we share God's blessings with others.

Look for someone this week who needs God's blessing—and then become that blessing for them.

It is dangerously easy to fix our hearts on the blessing rather than the Blesser. Ronald Dunn
Now maybe you understand a little better why we call this blog "Bakers' Blessings."  We are so blessed because God helps us be a blessing to others and the cycle just keeps going around.  When we think of the saying, "What goes around, comes around" we think of negative things, but that saying also applies to blessings.  When we are a blessing to others, we are blessed.

Just like God

An amazing thing happened that I have not told you about, while we were attending the chaplaincy class last week.

While we were discussing ministering to people in crisis, I remembered someone handing me a note with a scripture written on it, after my husband committed suicide in 1995.  I could not, for the life of me, remember where the scripture was located in the Bible.

However, Tuesday morning, instructor Will Bearden, wrote several scripture verses on the white board and asked for volunteers to read them out loud.  I volunteered for the third verse on the list:  Isaiah 54:4 & 5.

How surprised and thrilled I was when I opened my Bible to find that Isaiah 54:4 & 5 were the verses that I remembered being a tremendous comfort and encouragement to me during a time of crises in my life.

Isn't that just like God?  I was so blessed that, of course, I shared with the class that this was the very verse that I had been looking for but couldn't find.  I truly felt like God just said to me, "I sure do love you, LaVon, and I care about everything that's important to you."

Just had to share that blessed moment with you.  This is Baker's Blessings, after all.

Knot Head Phase One...

...was a success.  Dr. John Moore and nurse Linda are absolutely the sweetest professionals.  Trusting Dr. Moore's wisdom, he only removed one set of cysts this morning and will remove the others at intervals after the previous surgery has healed.  The largest set of cysts are now gone and in it's place are four beautiful stitches and a little discomfort.  Dr. Moore was so gentle and I know everything will be just fine.  We are so blessed to be associated with such caring, Christian professionals as Dr. Moore and Linda.  They prayed with us and for my healing before we left.  What a blessing. 

We are so grateful to them for their compassion and desire to minister to the Branson area at the Helping Hands free clinic.  Dr. Moore has organized over 17 doctors and Linda has organized over 30 nurses for this ministry.  There's just so many wonderful people here who are excited about serving and giving back to the LORD through service and ministry.  We are rejoicing.!

I promise, when I go back to get the stitches out, I will get a picture of Dr. Moore.  I really can't say enough good things about him.  The moment you meet him, you are aware of his sweet, gentle spirit and you know he loves the LORD.

OK, I'm going to lay down for a bit and get rested for our evening with Deann and Bruce Hoover!  Yeah!!!