Blessings

Have you ever wondered about God's blessings? People say, "Give it all to God and He will bless you." Others excuse their fancy houses, nice cars and many play things on God's blessings. They say, "I am blessed with a happy marriage, a wonderful family, a good paying job, healthy children...and so on and on...." They brag on their church services, "God blessed us with His presence." 

We've all done done it, and sometimes in honest gratefulness to God for all these wonderful "blessings" as we perceive them.

But what about when the job is lost, the children are sick, your marriage is ho hum and the church service is dry and dead? Are you still blessed then?  Are those people with the new hardwood floors and vacation cabin really living that much closer to God than you? Have you ever heard someone infer that the reverses in life are a result of our straying from The Father? Yes, God does love to give good things to those who ask, but what is your definition of good? What does it really mean to be blessed? 

May I submit Matthew 5:2-12?

2 And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,

3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

We think we're doing the right thing when we give God the credit for these material "blessings" as we see them, but really, who isn't grateful when things are going well? How funny it would seem to hear someone say, "I am feeling so blessed today, I just got a pay cut!" And yet, God's word tells us in red letters, that these kinds of things are the "blessings." Our dear persecuted brothers in Christ tell us not to pray for their deliverance, but rather that God might give them strength. I think they may understand what it means to be "blessed."

The things we think are "good" for us may be of the enemy. The "luxurious" could in fact be to our spiritual detriment more than a token of God's blessing or approval. God alone knows what things are truly good for our souls. I remember years ago, as a young family, we had built a new home and were entertaining guests when a person said, "Oh, Karen.....God has blessed you!" I know that he meant well, but that new home, while I was thoroughly grateful for it, did not even come close to the things with which God had blessed me. His presence was no nearer or more real to me in my new home, than when I resided in a tiny 2 bedroom single wide trailer. 

I want to want to be blessed! It's not as easy at it seems though, when you consider the true meaning. I want to want God's good gifts, but that's easier said then done, because I don't have the eyes of providence. God knows what is best, but sometimes it hurts terribly in the human. Yet, I know it is true, because the most painful events in my life are those that have made me a more loving and compassionate person. I am able to say "Thank you Lord, for those BLESSINGS" now, but they sure didn't make any sense at the time. The pain was unbearable and I couldn't see beyond the shadows. I saw no point to my mourning, no possible good outcome for the persecution. 

I'm learning, but I don't have all knowledge. I only hope to remember that, 

"We pray for blessings 
We pray for peace 
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep 
We pray for healing, for prosperity 
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering 
All the while, You hear each spoken need 
Yet love is way too much to give us lesser things 

(Chorus)
'Cause what if your blessings come through raindrops 
What if Your healing comes through tears 
What if the thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You're near 
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise 

We pray for wisdom 
Your voice to hear 
We cry in anger when we cannot feel You near 
We doubt your goodness, we doubt your love 
As if every promise from Your Word is not enough 
And all the while, You hear each desperate plea 
And long that we'd have faith to believe 

Chorus

When friends betray us 
When darkness seems to win 
We know the pain reminds this heart 
That this is not, this is not our home 

Chorus

What if my greatest disappointments 
Or the aching of this life 
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can't satisfy 
What if trials of this life 
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights 
Are your mercies in disguise"

-song lyrics by Laura Story 

While we're on the subject of blessings.....do children count? I know they are a reward, the Bible says so! Smile.

Here are a few recent fun sayings/incidents from our house.

Kaderick entered the dermatologists office under duress, screaming, "Go out, go out, Go out!" punctuated only by loud sniffling and violent sobs. By the time we left, his tone had changed drastically to, "That fun. I like doccer!" as he clutched his prized sticker in his hand. Reminds me of how we worry and fret unnecessarily. How we let things get so big and scary in our minds. Trust the doctor, he knows what's best, and there might even be a little treat in it for you.

(Do you see the illustration there?)

Kaite was excitedly jabbering about her upcoming birthday, and Kaderick started to talk about his plans for his birthday....."Kaderick, your birthday is a long way away' " she said. "Oh yeah...." he says, "It's all the way outside."

Kaderick got in Kammy's room the other day and kind of had a hay day. When we found him, he acted all guilty and tried to tell us that, "I cleaning Kammy's room!"

Yesterday at dinner Kaite said, "Would you please row the gravy boat this way?" 

Today, Kaderick wanted Kammy to play with him and she was trying to sneak away. He said, "You tan run, but you tan't hide!"

Have I mentioned that I love being a mom and I'm so happy that I get to be with these kiddos all day long?!? Thanks for making that possible, Richard Bork! I love you! I truly believe that it's making a difference in their (the children's) lives. Not because I'm someone, but because I'm able to be a 24/7 mother. I'm so pleased with the way they handle the "blessings" life gives them. The good and the bad. They are learning to rejoice in all seasons. I was proud of their performance in the recent easter program and so happy to know that it wasn't just a "show time." Let's face it, we aren't the most talented family on the block so to speak. But, they joyfully used what that had to glorify God and to endeavor to be a blessing and light to others. 

Resurrection Sunday

We had a lovely Easter Day. Below are some excerpts from our easter program.

Prelude: I’m Free

 

Opening Prayer/Remarks

 

Jesus Paid it All-Congregation Song

 

I hear the Savior say,

“Thy strength indeed is small;

Child of weakness, watch and pray,

Find in Me thine all in all.”

 

Chorus

 

Jesus paid it all,

All to Him I owe;

Sin had left a crimson stain,

He washed it white as snow.

 

Lord, now indeed I find

Thy power and Thine alone,

Can change the leper’s spots

And melt the heart of stone.

 

For nothing good have I

Whereby Thy grace to claim,

I’ll wash my garments white

In the blood of Calv’ry’s Lamb.

 

And when before the throne

I stand in Him complete,

Jesus died my soul to save

My lips shall still repeat.

.

Pastor:

The NLT of the Bible in I Peter 1:18-19 says:

For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And the ransom he paid was not mere gold or silver. It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God.

 

Pass out small wooden crosses

 

Pastor: We will be passing out some things throughout the program at different times and at the end it will come together with a special meaning as we close the Easter program. Please hold on to them through the service and wait for instructions as to what to do with them, and when. 

Childs part (crown)

For ye are bought with a price… (1Co 6:20a)

"Your crown has been bought and paid for. All you have to do is put it on your head and wear it with pride."

 

Childs part (coins)

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Rom 6:23)

 

Our Lord went up that hill, and freely gave his all.

But it wasn't for his sins, it was so I wouldn't fall.

He could've said "I've not sinned, I will not go."

But he chose to be nailed to a cross, for a debt he did not owe.

Jesus paid a debt, that he did not owe.

For I owed a debt, that I could not pay.

While on the cross, His blood did flow.

And paid for our sins, on the cross that day.

 

He Paid a Debt-children

 

He paid a debt He did not owe;

I owed a debt I could not pay;

I needed someone to wash my sins away.

And, now, I sing a brand new song,

“Amazing Grace.”

Christ Jesus paid a debt that I could never pay.

 

He paid that debt at Calvary.

He cleansed my soul and set me free.

I'm glad that Jesus did all my sins erase.

I, now, can sing a brand new song,

“Amazing Grace.”

Christ Jesus paid a debt that I could never pay.

 

One day He's coming back for me

To live with Him eternally.

Won't it be glory to see Him on that day!

I, then, will sing a brand new song,

“Amazing Grace.”

Christ Jesus paid a debt that I could never pay.

Youth part (Pardon)

The Courtroom

The courtroom was silent as the judge walked in

Order in the court, I was on trial for my sin.

The Holy Spirit brought me forward and began to make his plea

As the judge carefully listened and then found me guilty.

The verdict was guilty and I had to pay

The sentence it was death, there was no other way.

But just as they began to lead me away,

The judge's son stood up and said,

There's something I must say.

There is some evidence, I have for this case

As he stepped up to the bar, to speak in my place

That death is required, let there be no mistake

But the price was paid on Calvary. When I took his place.

Oh, I thank God it was settled long ago

In the courtroom of my soul

The case has been dismissed,

In my heart there's no debate

For God signed my pardon, "Saved by Grace!"

 

 Pass out small papers with "pardon" written on them.

 

Special Song:

 

Jesus Signed My Pardon

  I was in sin's prison, oh, so dark and cold 

Like a lost sheep wandering from God's eternal fold;

Then the door swung open, and He spoke to me

"I have signed your pardon, now you may go free."

Chorus:

Jesus signed my pardon, this I surely know

Took my place at Calvary, now I won't have to go;

All my life I'll give to Him - He gave His for me

When He signed my pardon there at Calvary.

 

 Since the Savior led me from that awful place 

I can hear the angels as they sing Amazing Grace;

I know I was pardoned from my sin and shame

When I joined them singing,  "Glory to His name." 

 

 Life is now worth living since I've been set free 

I'm so glad He’s willing to save a wretch like me;

Now I have a mansion, not a prison wall

Jesus signed my pardon, Jesus paid it all.

Chorus:

Jesus signed my pardon, this I surely know

Took my place at Calvary, now I won't have to go;

All my life I'll give to Him - He gave His for me

Jesus signed my pardon Jesus paid it all.

 

Youth part (Nails)

 

Nail It To The Cross

Is there something in your heart - between you and the Lord

Are you drifting apart - not as close anymore

There's nothing you can do - that He will not forgive

Bring it to the cross - let it die so you can live

 

Nail it to the cross - get it under the blood

Drown your pain and every stain in the mercy flood

Nail it to the cross - find hope and forgiveness

Kneel at the tree and walk away free - Nail it to the cross 

 

Is there a burden you bear that's got you battered and bound

Struggling for strength, do you long to lay it down?

Don't take another step, just kneel where you stand

Lay it at the cross and take the hammer in your hand

Nail it to the cross

 

Pass out nails

 

(Nail it to the Cross background music)

Pastoral Remarks/Cross object lesson

 The message we want to convey here this morning is really very simple. If you get nothing else, please get this. 

Saint or sinner, rich or poor, whether your life is going smoothly this morning or whether it is full of problems and struggles, we all need to hear this and follow these instructions…not just in a ceremonial way as we celebrate Easter another year but in our hearts and minds, truly and prayerfully.

 Now for a few moments I want to invite us all to stand and prayerfully bow our heads. Hold, your crosses, pardons, and nails.

 Jesus is here this morning. He has this amazing ability to look down everywhere and attend countless Easter services at the same time. Even more amazing to me the Bible tells us that he cares about every one of us more personally even than our own mothers or fathers, spouses or even our kids can do. He wants us all to nail our burdens (whatever they are) sins, battles, struggles of any kind, to His cross and give them all to Him. He paid the price for all of it when He died on Calvary so long ago. He arose again, and now He is looking down on us just now as we pray…and he is ready to hear YOUR prayer. Please join me as I pray. Talk to Him from your heart.

 Now, as we continue here for a few minutes of silent prayer and meditation. With purpose, place your pardon on your cross and fasten it with your nail.

Background music concludes:

 

Message: Paid In Full

 

Closing song.

 

It is Well

 My sin—oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!—

My sin, not in part but the whole,

Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

 Refrain:

It is well (It is well) with my soul (with my soul),

It is well, it is well with my soul.

 Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,

Let this blest assurance control,

That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate,

And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

 Refrain:

It is well (It is well) with my soul (with my soul),

It is well, it is well with my soul.

 

Getting ready for Sunday School.

Yarn and paste eggs the girls and I made at the beginning of the easter season. We made a "banner" out of them. Then we also made a bunny banner by painting little bunnies on burlap pennants and using small cotton balls for their tails. 

We colored eggs the easiest and most fun way this year. With crayons! The kids had a blast letting their imaginations run free. I especially liked the part about it not being messy at all. The slightly warm eggs melt the crayons just perfectly!

Jello eggs. They are a tradition. I make them every year for the kids. My mother always made them for me. Of course, we also had deviled eggs and literally tons of other food. We are already suffering photo overload here though, so I will spare you.

Here's a recipe I've used for years and years and we all really love! This time I did it with lemon, but the strawberry is delicious, as well as blackberry. All you have to do is change out the yogurt and jello flavors for some variety. It's smooth and creamy and a favorite of my family.

Ingredients

• 2-1/4 cups graham cracker crumbs (about 36 squares)

• 6 tablespoons sugar

• 10 tablespoons butter, melted

• 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened

• 1 cup confectioners' sugar

• 2 cartons (one 16 ounces, one 8 ounces) frozen whipped topping, thawed, divided

• 1 package (3 ounces) strawberry gelatin

• 1/2 cup boiling water

• 1 cup (8 ounces) strawberry yogurt

• TOPPING:

• 2 tablespoons graham cracker crumbs

• 1-1/2 teaspoons sugar

• 1-1/2 teaspoons butter, melted

Directions

1. In a large bowl, combine the cracker crumbs, sugar and butter. Press into an ungreased 13-in. x 9-in. dish. Refrigerate for 15 minutes. 
2. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, beat cream cheese and confectioners' sugar until smooth. Stir in 1 cup whipped topping. Spread over the prepared crust.
3. In a large bowl, dissolve gelatin in boiling water. Stir in yogurt and 6 cups of whipped topping until blended. Pour over cream cheese layer. Refrigerate for 1 hour. 
4. Spread remaining whipped topping over strawberry layer. Cover and refrigerate overnight. Just before serving, combine topping ingredients; sprinkle over whipped topping. Yield: 12-15 servings.                                                    

We had a beautiful (rainy) Easter Day. We were blessed with many friends and family around our table and the sweet presence of Our risen Lord in our church services.

Christian Passover

This Holy Week, we the scriptures with Jesus through his last days on earth.
It began with a special Palm Sunday service. Among other things, the children finished their resurrection eggs that they'd been working on this month.
Monday, our recommended reading was the account of Jesus clearing the temple.
Tuesday, we journeyed to the Mount of Olives.
Wednesday, due to the scriptures being silent as to Jesus' activities, we were challenged to spend some time in quiet reflection. Jesus probably spent the day resting or with his close friends and family. What would you do if you knew your time on earth was short? What things that seem so big now, would suddenly seem small and insignificant in the light of eternity? See, here we are all human, and we all think a little too highly of our opinions, ideas and beliefs. I look forward to a day, around God's throne, where we hug and laugh about the silly things that divided us here.
As the week went on, the excitement built.
Thursday found us celebrating the Christian Passover.
The blue tablecloth reminds us of the sea that parted.
The shells stand for the dry land that the children of Israel walked upon.
The purple was for royalty.
The flowers for spring and new life.
The wash pot was for symbolic washing.
The bricks in remembrance of our forefathers who made them under Egyptian slavery.

The first duty was for the children. Leavened bread was hiding throughout the building and they had to find it and throw it away. This symbolized our sin and how it must all be renounced.
Next the candles were lit by the youngest girl present. The youngest girl, because Jesus came to a young innocent maiden. The candles because He brought light to this dark world and we are to do the same.

All throughout the meal, there were special hymns and scripture readings.The four drinks stand for God's "I Will" promises: Freedom, deliverance, redemption and praise.The lamb symbolizes the Lamb of God and His great sacrifice.The egg speaks of God's unending love.The horseradish reminds of what bitter bondage sin is.The parsley dipped in salt water tells of new life and blessings, mixed with tears.The lefse took the place of unleavened bread, and since it was yummy, it reminds us that a sin free life is indeed a good thing!The charoset is a sweet mixture of apples, honey and nuts. It symbolizes the straw and clay the Israelites used to make bricks. The honey reminds us that although life can be bitter, God is always there to make it sweet.Our main course was then served and was a Chicken and Matzo Ball Soup.Dessert was Chocolate Sponge Cake made without any yeast, flour or rising agents. 
Friday, our scripture reading assignment took us through Jesus' final seven sayings. 

1. Luke 23:34: Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.

1. Luke 23:43: Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.

1. John 19:26–27: Woman, behold your son. Son Behold your mother.

1. Matthew 27:46 & Mark 15:34 My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?

1. John 19:28: I thirst.

1. John 19:30: It is finished. (From the Greek "Tetelestai" which is also translated "It is accomplished.")

1. Luke 23:46: Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.

Saturday, we gathered for a morning prayer breakfast and remembered while Jesus was in the tomb, that  He was there because of our sins.
Easter Sunday, coming up in the next blog post.