{"id":28956,"date":"2021-10-15T10:40:25","date_gmt":"2021-10-15T14:40:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/?p=28956"},"modified":"2021-10-15T21:46:00","modified_gmt":"2021-10-16T01:46:00","slug":"worship-wednesday-giving-and-receiving-blessing-we-need-it-now-elevation-worship","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/?p=28956","title":{"rendered":"Worship Wednesday – Giving and Receiving Blessing – We Need It Now – Elevation Worship"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>[The tapestry above hangs beside our door…one of God’s many blessings upon His peoples.]<\/p>\n

This is what the LORD says: \u201cCursed is the man who trusts in mankind, who makes the flesh his strength and turns his heart from the LORD. He will be like a shrub in the desert; he will not see when prosperity comes. He will dwell in the parched places of the desert, in a salt land where no one lives, but blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in Him. He is like a tree planted by the waters that sends out its roots toward the stream. It does not fear when the heat comes, and its leaves are always green. It does not worry in a year of drought, nor does it cease to produce fruit.”<\/strong> <\/em>– Jeremiah 17:5-8<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a0Beware of division. Having just finished reading Francis Chan<\/a>‘s book Until Unity<\/em><\/a>, I am way aware of how divided we are as church, family, people. We curse too easily and withhold blessing too often.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

In the book of Jeremiah, the Lord speaks about this very thing. In these days of COVID, political and economic upheaval, and media’s feeding on any and every weakness and falling of the church, we take sides. We trust (or distrust, depending on our preferences) governments and authorities. We lean on our own reasoning and make that our strength. Too often, we turn our heart from God and His Word.<\/p>\n

We are addicted to our own opinions, our own sense of rightness or rights or entitlement, our own form of judgment and retribution.<\/p>\n

This…from the self-proclaimed “people of God”.<\/p>\n

God, forgive us. Clear our minds. Help us to see as You see. Help us to bless and not curse. Soften the soil of our hearts toward those around us – for Your purposes. We know extending our roots deep into Your Word, surrendering ourselves to the Lordship of Christ, and obeying the movement of the Holy Spirit in our lives – are the source fruitful lives.<\/strong><\/p>\n

As Your image-bearers, Father, help us to be a blessing to those around us…to speak blessing over them. Loving others as You love us …and them. We receive such generous blessing from You, Lord. Remind us we are blessed to be a blessing<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

I will never forget our children’s high school graduations, all in Morocco. As part of our son Nathan’s graduation, parents are selected to give the invocation. Because of the makeup of the Senior Class, it would usually be a Muslim parent and Christian parent. In Nathan’s graduation, the Christian parent stood and lifted his hand over the class and spoke blessing to them from Scripture. I can’t remember the exact blessing, but it was powerful to us in the audience, watching this man speaking and showing blessing over our young people.<\/p>\n

So reminiscent of Jesus’ blessing in His Sermon on the Mount<\/a>:\"\"<\/a>Photo Credit: Heartlight<\/a><\/p>\n

In March 2020, at the start of the COVID pandemic, Kari Jobe<\/a> and Cody Carnes<\/a> helped write and then performed a song entitled The Blessing<\/em><\/a>. The lyrics are straight out of Scripture and a true blessing from the Lord. It became the worship standard for our experience of God in a year full of crisis. Covered in many languages<\/a>. Still such a blessing. So much beauty!<\/p>\n

YouTube Video – The Bay Area Blessing – Churches Sing ‘The Blessing’ over the San Francisco Bay Area<\/a><\/p>\n

We continue in a time when people seem so willing to devour one another…to curse and slander those different from or in opposition to them. This song, born out of Scripture, reminds us of God’s intent for His children…to be a blessing, out of the overflow of His own blessing in our lives, and not a cursing. He will judge the wrong and wrongs of this world. We look for whatever\/whomever we can bless…and we extend blessing. Just as that parent extended his hand of blessing…we extend ourselves to those around us…in Jesus’ name.\u00a0\"\"<\/a>Photo Credit: Bible Verses 2 U<\/a><\/p>\n

Therefore, as God\u2019s chosen ones, holy and dearly loved, put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience,\u00a0Bear with one another and forgive any complaint you may have against someone else. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.\u00a0And over all these virtues put on love, which is the bond of perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, for to this you were called as members of one body. And be thankful.<\/em> – Colossians 3:12-15<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

I thank God for this reminder of blessing. In fact, just this week, I have blasted this song at home and in my car multiple times. What a blessing we have in Him. A blessing He means for us to extend without reserve. It’s His blessing…not meant to keep only for ourselves.<\/p>\n

Worship<\/a> with me.<\/p>\n

The Lord bless you [Numbers 6:24-26<\/a>]
\nAnd keep you
\nMake His face shine upon you
\nAnd be gracious to you
\nThe Lord turn His
\nFace toward you
\nAnd give you peace<\/p>\n

The Lord bless you
\nAnd keep you
\nMake His face shine upon you
\nAnd be gracious to you
\nThe Lord turn His
\nFace toward you
\nAnd give you peace<\/p>\n

Amen, amen, amen
\nAmen, amen, amen<\/p>\n

The Lord bless you
\nAnd keep you
\nMake His face shine upon you
\nAnd be gracious to you
\nThe Lord turn His
\nFace toward you
\nAnd give you peace<\/p>\n

Amen, amen, amen
\nAmen, amen, amen
\nAmen, amen, amen
\nAmen, amen, amen<\/p>\n

May His favor be upon you [Deuteronomy 7:9<\/a>]
\nAnd a thousand generations
\nAnd your family and your children
\nAnd their children, and their children<\/p>\n

May His favor be upon you
\nAnd a thousand generations
\nAnd your family and your children
\nAnd their children, and their children<\/p>\n

May His favor be upon you
\nAnd a thousand generations
\nAnd your family and your children
\nAnd their children, and their children<\/p>\n

May His favor be upon you
\nAnd a thousand generations
\nAnd your family and your children
\nAnd their children, and their children<\/p>\n

May His presence go before you [Deuteronomy 31:8<\/a>]
\nAnd behind you, and beside you
\nAll around you, and within you
\nHe is with you, He is with you<\/p>\n

In the morning, in the evening
\nIn your coming, and your going
\nIn your weeping, and rejoicing
\nHe is for you, He is for you<\/p>\n

He is for you, He is for you
\nHe is for you, He is for you
\nHe is for you, He is for you<\/p>\n

Amen, amen, amen
\nAmen, amen, amen<\/p>\n

May His favor be upon you
\nAnd a thousand generations
\nAnd your family and your children
\nAnd their children, and their children<\/p>\n

May His presence go before you
\nAnd behind you, and beside you
\nAll around you, and within you
\nHe is with you, He is with you<\/p>\n

In the morning, in the evening
\nIn your coming, and your going
\nIn your weeping, and rejoicing
\nHe is for you, He is for you<\/p>\n

He is for you, He is for you
\nHe is for you, He is for you
\nHe is for you, He is for you
\nHe is for you, He is for you<\/p>\n

Amen, amen, amen
\nAmen, amen, amen<\/p>\n

May His favor be upon you
\nAnd a thousand generations
\nAnd your family and your children
\nAnd their children, and their children<\/p>\n

May His presence go before you
\nAnd behind you, and beside you
\nAll around you, and within you
\nHe is with you, He is with you<\/p>\n

In the morning, in the evening
\nIn your coming, and your going
\nIn your weeping, and rejoicing
\nHe is for you, He is for you<\/p>\n

He is for you, He is for you
\nHe is for you, He is for you
\nHe is for you, He is for you
\nHe is for you, He is for you<\/p>\n