Blessed To Be A Blessing

For our people must learn to help all who need their assistance, that their lives will be fruitful. Titus 3:14 The Living Bible

Good Morning Girlfriends:

Many years ago, I was struggling within myself to hold on to a marriage that I knew wasn't going anywhere, I had been so beaten down, to know who I was anymore. My self esteem was badly bruised, my self worth was slowly closing in, so that is was becoming harder to see the beauty that had become buried deep within me. Making a Doctor's appointment for myself, to have someone to talk to, trying to get a perspective on my life, I turned to one that I felt I could trust.

Instead of being put on medication, to my surprise I was being directed across the street to another place for a different kind of counselling, so to say, it was the "sanctuary house" that was for women who needed a safe place to stay. Sitting in a cozy small room with another lady who worked there at the time, we quietly talked about my situation and the way it was heading, she didn't at any time tell me all the things that I should do, she just sat and listened as my story unfolded. As I left there that day, I still wasn't quite sure how or where my life was going to go, but I guess that I had a better perspective of where I wanted my life to go. I had to admit to myself that day, the way I was living, was not going to take me in a better situation. Waking up one sunny morning, about a month later, I sat up in my bed that morning realizing I had to make a change, and that it would be a change for the better.

It has been many years later now, that God has been using me to to talk to other young ladies, young mom's, to encourage them in their times of trouble, or in their place of darkness, to shine a little light into their world. I remember sitting in my living room a few years ago with a couple of my friends, as I was telling them that I wanted my home to be a safe place that others could come to. If anyone was to share their stories of what they were going through, that what they shared would be safe here and would not go outside of these walls.

Girlfriends, I don't know about you, but I know I have always had a heart to help other people. Over the years even before I lived for the Lord, I helped many friends that was put in my life whether it was helping someone move into an apartment and helping them get set up, or when I worked at a second hand store, things were accessible to me at such a discounted price so that I could give to others. Whatever the case may be, we should always be thanking God for all the many blessings that He has given to us, even when it's through someone else, and as we remember those blessings, we are to bless other people as well, it's called "Paying It Forward."

Girlfriends, it is also very important for us to remember, that if God has blessed us financially, we shouldn't raise our own standard of living, but raise our standard of giving. God always will supply for each of us, He is the giver. (Philippians 4:19, Matt. 6:19-21) Let's look at the big picture of what Jesus did on the cross for us, He sacrificed His own life for the love of the world that none would be lost.(John 3:16, John 6:39) God could see what a mess this world was in and it wasn't going to get better, so He came up with a plan of escape from the darkness, He sent Jesus to be the Savior for the world.

Acts 20:35 it tells us that is more blessed to give than to receive, can you think of a way that you can be a blessing to someone. It could be helping a friend with a project they are trying to get done, it could be making a meal for that single parent, buying a bag of groceries to that struggling person, putting a little extra money on a bill, sitting and listening to a friend who just needs to unload, or giving a warm hug to that person you know that could really use it. Maybe you know a couple who is going through a rough time, God could use you to be a peacemaker in the situation, Matthew 5:9. How many of you have come through a really hard situation, where you can turn around and be a blessing of encouragement to someone else who is going through something similar, by saying a simple prayer for them, to hold them up in prayer that they too will come through.

Genesis 12:2, God was telling Abraham that if he listened and obeyed to be led where God wanted him to go, God would bless him and that he would be a blessing to many as well God said that Abraham would become a father to a great nation. One last and final thought, as much as we can be used to be a blessing to others, when someone wants to be a blessing to us, we as well need to be receiving of it, because we do not want to rob that person from the blessing that God will give to them as well.

The LORD bless you and keep you; The LORD make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you; The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace. Numbers 6:24-26.

Let's Pray,

Father God, I thank You for this wonderful day that You have made, I will rejoice and be glad in it. Lord I thank You for the many blessings You have bestowed upon, my children, my life, my health, my home. I thank You for wisdom and discernment. Lord I thank You for enabling me to bless others with Your word, being able to pray for others in their time of need. Lord, I lift up that precious person to You today, that is is going through a hard trial in their life. Lord, I ask that You would visit them in a personal way that only You can do. Lord speak to them in a way that they would hear Your still small voice, that comes through in a loving way. Lord, I declare over that person, that you too will come through that situation, you are the head and not the tail and that your latter days will be better than your former days, in the mighty name of Jesus, Amen.

Be blessed and pass the blessings on. Thank you in advance for passing this message on.