Blessings

Monday devotions ~ Psalm 49

/ The Pastor

5 Why should I fear in times of trouble, when the iniquity of those who cheat me surrounds me,
6 those who trust in their wealth and boast of the abundance of their riches?

Here we go, let the rich bashing begin. “Boycott Amazon!”, “Boycott Wal-Mart!”, “Boycott Elon Musk!”. Nope, that is not where this devotion is going. Sure, the psalmist is encouraging people to fear not when they are being oppressed by the rich; being cheated, but rich bashing other people is not what we ought to be doing. We can not point our fingers and say, “They are the problem”. No, that is not where we are going.

“So where are you going, Pastor?” You see, you cannot point your finger at the rich and sit smugly, thinking that you are not like them; that you have a higher sense of morality and ethics. The fact of the matter is that you and I are counted among the rich. You may not have the bank account of Elon Musk, but you are blessed nonetheless and thus you and I need to pay attention.

What convicts me in this Psalm is verse 5, “…those who cheat me surround me.” How have I cheated those around me? You see, God blesses you that you may bless others. You are blessed with Spiritual gifts to bless your church. You are blessed with talents to help others. You are blessed with knowledge to help your community. You are blessed with resources to help those who can not help themselves. But too often I find myself like the rich landowner who builds bigger barns to horde his stuff.

When you withhold your God-given blessings, keeping them for yourself, you cheat those that God wants to bless through you. Have you looked at it that way before? I haven’t, but I will now. Your blessings are not because of any worthiness of your own. Your blessings have a purpose, a God-glorifying purpose.

[Pastor, don’t go there]

Sorry, I have to. Thus when you withhold your blessings, you not only cheat others, you cheat God.

[You went there]

Yup, but what now? What will you do with what God has blessed you with?

LET US PRAY: Father God, You have blessed me to be a blessing, but all too often I get short-sighted and only think of myself. I confess that sin and ask that You may grant me repentance, and the faith see what You have given me and whom You want to bless through me. Help me, God, honor You. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Raining

/ The Pastor

As the rain drops fall upon my head,
that are way too many to count,
I am quickly chased inside,
but maybe I need to stay out instead.

For as the countless drops of rain,
fall upon the ground,
I remember Your varied blessings,
that bring healing to my pain.

For the sting of death is beaten away,
the joy of life is given,
and even though Satan still roams free,
I can live with hope today.

For the ultimate blessing is Jesus my Lord,
who crowns me with glory and honor,
and therefore I rest assured with peace and joy,
that I am set free from Satan’s hordes.

And so I listen to the falling drops of rain,
as I hold tightly to Your promises,
and remember with all joy and peace,
that Jesus will forever and always reign.

The Pastor -|—

Christmas list

/ The Pastor / 1 Comment

Once again I am late in getting my Christmas lists off to the various members of my family.  For the most part Connie has it almost done on the computer but we just haven’t finished looking it over one last time.  As is the case every year, I feel little guilty sending it off.  And now with our economy officially in a recession I feel even more guilty.  Maybe people should just save their money or put it to more worthy causes.  Frankly…I would be happy if people bought a flock of chickens through Heifer International in my name.  At least that way someone else would benefit as I continue to be blessed here.  And I am indeed blessed…what more could I possibly want.  I have a loving wife…a great family…awesome friends…I live in a wonderful community serving a caring congregation…and I could go on.  God has blessed Connie and me and for that I am thankful.

But there is still that side of me that wants a couple DVD movies and some more music CDs. I would like some new shirts/sweaters and other things that only my wife and mom seem to now that I need (I don’t know how they do it every year…I guess they pay attention).

So Connie and I will email our list off to our family tonight (did you catch that mom…it’s coming tonight).  We will make suggestions on what we would like, but in the end Christmas is about spending time with family and friends; counting the blessings that we have already received and continue to receive from God through Jesus Christ. We will continue to buy presents for our family and friends and look forward to their expressions as they open their gifts.  But one thing I do ask and pray…and that is that we do not lose focus.  Christmas is about celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ and thanking God for the life that came with him.

May God continue to richly bless you in every way as you live in the love of God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

-edh-