"BLESS YOU" - WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

“BLESS YOU” – WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

People say “Bless you” when someone sneezes. The practice originated in Rome when the bubonic plague was ravaging Europe. Sneezing was one of the plague's main symptoms, and Pope Gregory suggested that a tiny prayer in the form of saying, "God bless you" after a sneeze would protect the person from death. I decided to look up what the Bible says about blessing, and came to Mark 6:41. When Jesus “blessed” the loaves and fishes, “He looked up to heaven, and blessed.” Jesus lifted and blessed these loaves and fishes to do as God intended for them. Jesus was lifting the little bit of food for God to take it from there and do with it what He planned. In this case, His intent was to multiply it so that everyone had enough to eat.

At the time when I was studying what it meant to bless something, I was preparing for a new temporary job. I knew there would be extra stress on my body, my mind and my emotions. Everyone would be working long hours for over a month. It would be hard physical work with temperatures in the high 90s and above. People would be exhausted, nerves on edge and emotions touchy. I decided to use what I learned from Jesus, on the circumstances I was facing.

NUMBER 1 - BLESSING MY FELLOW WORKERS: God created every person with something marvelous in mind for them. So no matter what little they may seem to be doing toward that goal, we can give them a better chance by lifting them in prayer to God. Especially in this situation where the pressure was high, I couldn’t afford to be judgmental and accusatory. I was too tired to even trust my own thoughts, especially if they were negative. So I consciously would pray to God: “I bless so-and-so to be able to do Your perfect will for their life.” It was very freeing!

NUMBER 2 – BLESSING MY BODY: The job required going up the stairs in our Las Vegas 90-degree-plus heat several times a day. Then I’d need to get down on my knees to cut and staple. There was lots of bending to paint a large canvas on the floor, lots of lifting and working on my feet on the concrete floor 12 to 17 hours a day. Often my knee would want to act up. My friend Wendy let me borrow her knee brace and that helped. My back muscles would get angry and I definitely needed a blessing on my physical body. I would silently pray: “I bless my body to do as You intended it to do, God.” And it worked. I would feel some renewed strength and carry on, slowly at first, but I kept moving and I did well. The owner of the company was compelled one day to ask me how old I was. When I answered, he was astonished and said he was impressed and amazed at how I could work so hard at my age. That made me feel really good.

NUMBER 3 – BLESSING MY MOUTH: More than once, I got cranky and irritated with some of the workers. I wanted to blurt out some snide remark. The words were pushing forcibly right behind my lips. It was all I could do to keep them from busting through! This one guy we worked with had terrible work habits but I held my tongue. It wasn’t my place to correct him, so I just kept saying to God: “Bless him to do what You had in mind for him, and I bless my mouth to only say what You intend.” It worked. Do you have any idea how shocked I was that I could even do it? But was it worth it? Totally. I was free. I didn’t condemn him. I blessed him and gave him to God. It felt good.

There were so many awesome people I met at the job and I was happy to be a part of it. I was especially thankful to be so successful through the rigorous schedule, coming out stronger with a healthy body, sound mind, and better mouth!

I hope that you will be able to use these blessing keys in your life too.

Love, Carolyn

QUESTIONS AND EASY CHALLENGES

1. What did God do to the loaves and fishes when Jesus lifted them up and blessed them? What do you think God might do for you if you lift up your family members, friends or fellow workers to Him in prayer?

2. Do you think you might get some added strength or health if you lifted up your body to God and prayed that He helps your body to work as He intended for it to work?

3. When you’re in a stressful or rigorous schedule, what are some things you do to keep yourself well and stable?

4. What are some situations you’ve been in where you should have blessed your mouth to only say what the Lord intended?

CHRISTMAS 2019

CHRISTMAS 2019

“Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Hebrews 13:5)

I love the simplicity of this old photograph by Eric Enstrom. It hangs on the wall across from where I sleep and reminds me that with Jesus in my heart and life, I can find God in even the most meager of situations.

Here is the expanded story of this man and this photograph. I hope it is as meaningful to you as it is to me. I WISH A MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL OF YOU

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Back in the year of 1918, a bearded, saintly, old man, with foot-scrapers to sell, called on Eric Enstrom at his photography studio in the tiny mining town of Bovey, Minnesota.

From this chance encounter a world-famous photographic study was created. Today Enstrom’s picture Grace, showing the elderly peddler with head bowed in a mealtime prayer of thanksgiving, is known and loved throughout the world.

“There was something about the old gentleman’s face that immediately impressed me. I saw that he had a kind face… there weren’t any harsh lines in it,” Enstrom said in recalling the 1918 visit of Charles Wilden to his studio.

It happened that Enstrom, at that time, was preparing a portfolio of pictures to take with him to a convention of the Minnesota Photographer’s Association. “I wanted to take a picture that would show people that even though they had to do without many things because of the war they still had much to be thankful for,” Enstrom said.

On a small table, Enstrom placed a family book, some spectacles, a bowl of gruel, a loaf of bread, and a knife on the table. Then he had Wilden pose in a manner of prayer… praying with folded hands to his brow before partaking of a meager meal.

To bow his head in prayer seemed to be characteristic of the elderly visitor, Enstrom recalled, for he struck the pose very easily and naturally.

As soon as the negative was developed, Enstrom was sure he had something special… a picture that seemed to say, “This man doesn’t have much of earthly goods, but he has more than most people because he has a thankful heart.” That Enstrom’s camera had captured “something special” is an appraisal widely shared.

Love, Carolyn

"BE IT UNTO ME ACCORDING TO THY WORD"

“BE IT UNTO ME ACCORDING TO THY WORD”

In the story of Christmas, the angel Gabriel came to Mary and told her she would be having a child by a miracle of the Holy Spirit and this child would be Jesus, the son of God. Mary believed that if people would just stick with what God told them, His Word was always going to come to pass. “For with God nothing shall be impossible” (Luke 1:37).  She had heard of the miraculous things God did and totally believed that God’s Word was true. She believed that the Red Sea really did open up miraculously to let the Israelites cross over on dry land. She believed the story about the ax head that was lost, but then floated up out of the water, defying the natural laws of gravity (2 Kings 6:5-6). She believed what she heard about the Hebrews just looking at the brass serpent in the wilderness and getting healed of their snake bites (Num. 21:8-9).

So when the angel Gabriel told her that she was the one who would miraculously birth the Messiah, the son of God, the promised seed from the Bible, she believed it: “And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word” (Luke 1:38).

Peter also was taught to believe the records of the many miracles God did. And he, like Mary, believed beyond what looked impossible by natural laws. Peter literally stepped out of the boat, after hearing and believing just one word from Jesus: “Come” (Matt. 14: 29). Peter saw that Jesus was walking on top of the water, even as the ship was being tossed around by the waves. When Jesus said, “Come,” Peter figured Jesus meant it, so he dared to do it.

We all have verses that mean a lot to our heart. We can probably name a few right now. Those are the very ones the Lord has been trying to speak to us personally all along. If you’ve not done this before, you can take a slightly new approach to those favorite verses. Focus on the verse then be like Mary: Believe the miraculous and say, “Be it unto me according to thy Word.” And let’s be like Peter, walk out and expect it to work.

Love, Carolyn

(painting by Henry Ossawa Tanner 1898)

HONORING GOD AND EACH OTHER

HONORING GOD AND EACH OTHER

In Biblical times, wise men from the East came to honor Jesus, bringing Him gifts. These men watched and studied the skies and knew from the lineup of the planets and stars, that a great king had been born, a king worthy of honor. “And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh” (Matt. 2:11).

The shepherds honored the baby Jesus differently.  They were “abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night” (Luke 2:8). The angel of the Lord came and told them that they were in the right place at the right time and it was to them that this blessing had come.

How often are we going about our normal routines, endeavoring to do God’s will the best we can, and all of a sudden, we meet someone new who blesses our lives? Or we’re inspired to get in a certain grocery line and end up blessing a total stranger? We end up in the right place at the right time to either be blessed or be a blessing. Hebrews 13:2 even tells us we should “be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.”

That’s what happened to the shepherds. They were in the hills by Bethlehem, and that’s where God wanted them. The angel of God found them and told them the good news. “And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.  And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2: 9-11).

This event brought “glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men” (v.14). The shepherds went down into the city of Bethlehem to witness this for themselves.

The Bible doesn’t say anything about them honoring Jesus with physical gifts as the wise men did later on, but the shepherds honored Jesus by telling people what the angel told them and what they actually witnessed themselves. That’s how they honored God—by telling other people about the great things God did and was doing even now.

“And when they [the shepherds] had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.  And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them” (vv. 17,18 and 20).

Gift-giving originated with God. Right after God created Adam, He gave him a gift. “And the Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed. And out of the ground made the Lord God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden and the tree of knowledge of good and evil” (Gen. 2: 8-9). 

The idea of honoring God and others came straight from our creator and has happily invaded all cultures of the world.

This Christmas, let’s think about honoring each other with our gifts and our respect. But most of all, let’s give some special attention to how we can honor God and our Savior, Christ the Lord.

Love, Carolyn

DON'T LET IMPATIENCE OVERWHELM YOU THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

DON’T LET IMPATIENCE OVERWHELM YOU THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

With Christmas right around the corner, I found myself with an overload of obligations, and not all were imposed by others—several were obligations I put on myself. In the past, I would have gotten severely stressed out, but not this time. I have a forgiving and kind best friend, Jane, and so when I made batches of cookies, I could leave more of a mess than normal, knowing I’d clean it all up later. In wrapping packages, I could leave the scissors, tissue paper and tape on the spare bed without worrying about it. I’ll put everything away later, and the house will get back to normal. I have learned from the Lord to trust myself and stay peaceful. I learned my lessons when Jane and I were missionaries in South Africa: Impatience is a thief.

Jane and I waited for the last bus out of downtown Johannesburg. We had just moved there from the States to do missionary work, so I had my passport with me in a large purse I carried at my side. It was dusk, and we were getting anxious to get back to our friends’ house before nightfall. The bus should have been there already.

I was starting to worry, “Did we miss it?” Jane answered, “I don’t think so, but maybe the buses don’t run regularly, so I don’t know.” We waited longer. We were the only ones waiting, which made it scarier because we didn’t have anyone to ask. What we did next was really foolish.

Impatience prompted us to move. We went down the street to another bus stop closer in the direction of home. We waited there impatiently until we couldn’t take it anymore and we moved down the street again. We did this three times, getting further and further away from the more populated area. The sun was going down, and we were getting more worried now—new country, unfamiliar ways, alone on an empty street, and no bus in sight. Then Jane spotted a young black African man coming our way.

He got about halfway down the block and bolted toward us. Jane had seen him, but all I saw was a blur.  She jumped in front of me, grabbed me with both arms around the middle, as I clutched my purse to my chest. The guy hesitated, then ran past us. He stopped and continued to walk slowly down the street as if nothing unusual had happened at all.

Jane gently loosened her grip on me, and I relaxed my clenched fists, but my heart was still racing, and we were both hyperventilating. When we settled down and started to breathe a little easier, in quivering voices, we begged God to get the bus there soon.

In just a few minutes, it pulled up—the very last bus leaving the city. For the next three years of living in Johannesburg, we stayed much more alert and aware of our surroundings and prayed about everything.

God wasn’t the one who told us to move down to the next bus stop. We should have just stayed where we were, but we let impatience drive us into trouble.

How many times have each of us acted impatiently, recklessly setting out in the direction of our own choosing, without really consulting the Lord? Proverbs 21:2 tells us: “Every way of a man is right in his own eyes.” But Luke 21:19 tells us: “In your patience possess ye your souls.” Patience stops to ask for the Lord’s input and acts deliberately, not foolishly.

My impatience nearly got my purse stolen, along with my money and passport. Impatience gets us to make mistakes, waste time, get into arguments, and so many other things that we’re sorry for later. Proverbs 20: 22 tells us: “Wait on the Lord, and he shall save thee.” One important way He saves us is to give us His wisdom. Don’t be fretful and hasty like we were. Wait on the Lord.

This incident was a marker in my life and changed me on the inside. The impatience we experience around the holidays may not be life-threatening, but it still exhibits the same characteristics, stealing our peace, our time, and our good nature. It can affect our health, our jobs, and our relationships, among other things. So let’s be cognizant of the sneaky devil and take a deep breath with the Lord. God can guide us through any stress with ease if we only ask and believe. Have a wonderful Christmas.

Love, Carolyn

PEANUT'S NEW SHIRT AND THE $100 BILL

PEANUT’S NEW SHIRT AND THE $100 BILL

Summer Storm: Lightning, thunder, wind, rain in sheets, and big drops. Fifteen minutes of torrential rain blowing hard in every direction, then done. That’s our typical summer storm here in Las Vegas. I came home from shopping, got out of my car and walked across the lawn toward the new water dish I put out for the wild birds. I wanted to see if the rain had filled it up. When I looked down, there in front of the dish was a neatly folded $100-dollar bill. My instinct made me look around quickly to see if anyone was looking for it, but there was no one around. I picked it up and put it into my pocket. I’ve picked up pennies and even quarters, but never a $100 bill. I smiled.

Someone must have lost it in the storm, but no one was coming around to claim it. And I found it just in time because a few minutes later my lawn guys came and they would have either found and kept the money, or chopped it up in a million little pieces in the lawnmower.

I tried to figure out why God would drop me the $100, but I couldn’t connect it to anything at all. I don’t believe in coincidence. Saying something is a coincidence is man’s attempt to explain away what he has no control over. I tried to tie it to some good deed, but everything I could think of fell flat, and the Lord wasn’t talking. It wasn’t until two days later that I understood.

I was buying dog food and bought Peanut, my little dog, a shirt just because I love the little guy and I thought he’d like it. Then it dawned on me that my $100 bill had come to me the same way. The Lord gave it to me just because He loves me, and He thought I’d like it. And He was right. I liked it a lot.

We receive God’s grace, not just because we are desperate, or because we pray so hard or any of those other religious things we do. We can pray and believe and fast and a lot of other things, but then there are the extra blessings God sends just because He wants to. He doesn’t have to wait for a holiday or birthday. Any day will do. It’s kind of like random acts of kindness; we have the opportunity to follow His example and drop a special blessing on someone every once in a while. It’s fun.

God told Moses: “I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy” (Exod. 33:19).

Keep it up, Lord! And thank you so much!

Love, Carolyn

QUESTIONS AND EASY CHALLENGES

1. Have you ever received a random gift when it wasn’t your birthday or a special occasion? Describe it. Why do you think you remember it?

2. Have you ever given a gift randomly to someone just because you love them?

3. How about giving a gift to someone you don’t know, just because the Lord Jesus loves them?

HONORING THE TRANSITION FROM CHILD TO YOUNG ADULT

HONORING THE TRANSITION FROM CHILD TO YOUNG ADULT

I went to my first Quinceañera last night. It has its cultural roots in Mesoamerica and is widely celebrated today throughout the Americas. Traditionally, it is a gift from the father to his daughter on her fifteenth birthday. As I was driving over to the event, I was thinking about how important it is for a teenage girl to be honored. And to be respected by her father first, but also by her mother, her family, and other adults, can be paramount to a young girl’s future. Teenage girls are fragile. What happens to a teen girl has a lasting effect. Her relationships with men in the future will show reflections of how her relationships went with her father, brothers, and other men in her teen life.

Boys go through changes when they become young men, and I believe they should be honored and recognized too.

I believe that events (big or small) that bring families together to take special notice and give honor to a child transitioning to adulthood can be instrumental in giving teens courage, confidence, and assurance of a good future, with the support of adults that have gone before.

I believe that there should be mention of God and the Lord Jesus as the sovereign guide of their future, and the Bible principles their ultimate standard for every decision.

“In Luke 2, the Bible gives us a short synopsis of Jesus’s transition. He had to go from being a child, a teen, and an adult, just like the rest of us.

“Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the Passover.  And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast” (Luke 2:41-42).

At this feast, the Hebrews celebrated the great Exodus from Egypt, and how, when the angel of death slew the firstborn of all the Egyptians, he “passed over” the children of the Israelites. 

“And when they [Joseph and Mary] had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it. But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day's journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance.

“And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him. And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions” (Luke 2:43-46).

Just like any teenager, Jesus found something that fascinated him and distracted his attention away from his parents. He must have thought it was much more interesting to hang out with the teachers than to stay with his parents.  

“And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers” (Luke 2: 47).  Here we see that the Jewish rabbis honored him. And isn’t that just the case sometimes? The parents can’t see how amazing their kids are, but other adults see and go on and on lavishing the kids with praise.

“And when they [the parents] saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, ‘Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing.’

“And he said unto them, ‘How is it that ye sought me? Wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?’  And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them” (Luke 2:48-50).

“And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.” Here we see that Jesus, as a teenager, was generally obedient to his parents, and that’s a great teaching lesson for teenagers. The other thing is that Mary thought about what was now happening in this transitional phase in her son’s life. She was taking time to really look at her son, not just as a child, but as he was turning into an adult.

We see in the next verse that Jesus truly was becoming a man. I don’t know if, in the Bible, any formal celebrations took place surrounding the time of transition. Jewish Bar Mitzvahs started in thirteenth-century France. What we know is that the Bible says that shortly after the incident in Jerusalem when Jesus was twelve years old, he was honored by God and by men.

“And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man” (Luke 2:41-52)

Parents, if you haven’t already done it, how about considering some kind of special event, even if small, to give your transitioning child some special honor, recognition, and assurance of support for whatever he or she may desire for the future. Every teen deserves the stability of not only an adult’s love but maybe even more, their respect and honor.

Love, Carolyn

PS: Thank you, Kim, for inviting me to your daughter’s Quinceañera. And Brianna, may your future always be as beautiful, encouraged, and strong in spirit as you were last night, in my eyes, and God’s as well. Love you, Carolyn