Series: Blessed Be
*Psalm 146:5-7 ESV
Hebrews 11:1 ESV
Hebrews 11:6 ESV
2 Corinthians 5:6-7 ESV
John 13:34-35 ESV
Today when I woke up I thought, “well…mama told me there’d be days like this,” so I got up to face another day.
As soon as I opened my eyes I remembered when I tried to start my car yesterday it wouldn’t even turn over.
Since I drive an older car I realize I shouldn’t be surprised. It’s a great car and in all the years I’ve owned it I haven’t had many problems with it…I know that means I should be grateful that I haven’t had problems.
Then I realize I really am grateful for my lovely old car.
As I started thinking about what to do, I gave a sigh and I almost heard me da. I knew he would tell me to “give it to God”.
That didn’t mean to just give God the problem. It literally meant, “give the car to God.” He was saying, it was God who provided for you and you need to trust God with whatever happens.
As I pondered that I was (once again) reminded that having parents who believe in the God of Jacob, whose hope is in God IS the real blessing.
Psalm 146:5-7 says, “Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God,
who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, who keeps faith forever;
who executes justice for the oppressed, who gives food to the hungry.”
As I pondered the words the psalmist wrote I though about my dad. Even though he has been with Jesus for many many decades I remember the words he spoke over and over again while I was growing up. I remember that every time I was in trouble or was faced with a difficult decision he always reminded me to turn to God.
I also thought about my mom. She was (is) the do-er. Even today she is a do-er. I know full well that if someone we know lost a precious loved one she would be going through her recipes looking for something she could bake to remind them they are not alone.
While my dad encouraged others with words she encourages through a physical act of kindness.
Really, in this section of Psalm 146 I am reminded and grateful of the great blessing that both parents believed and received the God of Jacob. I am thankful that their hope is in the Lord.
I thought of all the times when they both became the hands and feet of Jesus for myself and for others.
The others for my Mom have included many generous acts of kindness. Sometimes that included cookies or food. Other times it was a hug or an encouraging word. She loves giving hugs!
My dad was a thinker and a planner. He was a great teacher and he taught adult Sunday School for years.
Whenever I had a question about scripture I went to my dad.
When I was young and I had a lesson about creation I would ask my dad, “how did God DO it?” He would tell me while we do not understand how God created something (like the universe or the earth) we simply have to realize it’s because God IS God and we believe.
Hebrews 11:1 tells us, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”
We do not need to understand…we only believe it because God is God.
In other words, we believe by faith.
In Hebrews 11:6 we learn, “And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.”
In the same way we believe God is faithful, God is just, and God is generous. God’s faithfulness, God’s justice, and God’s generosity are see throughout creation.
When we see evidence of those characteristics of God, we remember who God is to all of creation and who God is to us in our every day lives.
2 Corinthians 5:6-7 says, “So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight.”
Indeed, as we watch creation at work every day we need to remember it isn’t an accident. God made a world that was sustainable and orderly.
And then, God created man to love God and to love each other.
In John 13:34-35 the beloved disciple wrote, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
I also believe that God created every animal for a purpose. Some (many) animals were also created to love. Other animals were created to be respected and revered as part of the order of our world.
God created chaos to be orderly and purposeful.
So…notice it and realize we are blessed by what God created.
Spiritual Practice: Consider Creation
Write a short paragraph about what you see in creation. Be thankful for the gift!
In God, Deborah
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