The Lord Bless You
#powerofwords
"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 6:23-26 (NKJV)
Bless the LORD, O my soul;
And all that is within me, bless His holy name!
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
And forget not all His benefits:
~ Psalms 103:1-2 (NKJV)
The Aaronic Benediction from Numbers 6 is used to this day by rabbis and Christian pastors alike to bless their congregations. But the Jews also begin their prayers in blessing, with the words "Blessed are You O Lord our God." (Baruch ata Adonai Elohei-nu)
Jesus said the greatest commandment is to love God using all within you, and the second greatest to love your neighbor as you love yourself.
It seems many people think the words "I love you" either awkward or overused. So I've made it a habit to bless the Lord and bless people, as an expression of love. I'm as creative as possible, and speak a blessing in the form of a prayer. One of my favorites (I forget where I heard it) is "God bless you real good."
In the movie Flywheel, a pastor blesses a car salesman with the prayer, "And Lord, I ask that you treat Jay just like he treated me today." Jay knows he just swindled the pastor, and is filled with fear of God answering the prayer. He begins reflecting on his deceitful ways, and ends up turning his life over to the Lord. And thus the pastor's words lead to blessing, just as he originally intended. Funny how blessing might work out.
Would you be willing to speak blessing to someone today?
And by the way, God bless you real good.
Blessed are You, Lord! You've poured out forgiveness, healing, and satisfaction. Thank You. Thank You for sending people to read these words, however they happen to be seeing them. I pray for all these people that You'll bless them in a new way today, and that You'll do it in such a manner that they know it was You.
Contrasting points-of-view, questions and feedback are invited. Post to BuildingHisBody.com "Comments" or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2009, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
#powerofwords
"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 6:23-26 (NKJV)
Bless the LORD, O my soul;
And all that is within me, bless His holy name!
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
And forget not all His benefits:
~ Psalms 103:1-2 (NKJV)
The Aaronic Benediction from Numbers 6 is used to this day by rabbis and Christian pastors alike to bless their congregations. But the Jews also begin their prayers in blessing, with the words "Blessed are You O Lord our God." (Baruch ata Adonai Elohei-nu)
Jesus said the greatest commandment is to love God using all within you, and the second greatest to love your neighbor as you love yourself.
It seems many people think the words "I love you" either awkward or overused. So I've made it a habit to bless the Lord and bless people, as an expression of love. I'm as creative as possible, and speak a blessing in the form of a prayer. One of my favorites (I forget where I heard it) is "God bless you real good."
In the movie Flywheel, a pastor blesses a car salesman with the prayer, "And Lord, I ask that you treat Jay just like he treated me today." Jay knows he just swindled the pastor, and is filled with fear of God answering the prayer. He begins reflecting on his deceitful ways, and ends up turning his life over to the Lord. And thus the pastor's words lead to blessing, just as he originally intended. Funny how blessing might work out.
Would you be willing to speak blessing to someone today?
And by the way, God bless you real good.
Blessed are You, Lord! You've poured out forgiveness, healing, and satisfaction. Thank You. Thank You for sending people to read these words, however they happen to be seeing them. I pray for all these people that You'll bless them in a new way today, and that You'll do it in such a manner that they know it was You.
Contrasting points-of-view, questions and feedback are invited. Post to BuildingHisBody.com "Comments" or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2009, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
God, please bless my friend Anne as sweetly as she always blesses others.
ReplyDeleteAnne, you are a such blessing with your honest and encouraging words.
ReplyDeleteThis year, a 5th grade student reminded me of something I said to her in *kindergarten* that influenced her choice to join 5th grade chorus. I was immediately praising God and grateful. But the flip side occurred to me too: that a cutting word from me might be remembered for just as long.
Lord, may it never be so. May my words bless and not cut down.
Lord, continue to give Anne a clear and beautiful VOICE for you.
ReplyDeleteAmen.
~ Wendy
It is fitting to love and bless one another. Anne I am lifting you in prayer daily. You feed me so well! I can honestly say I love you. Praise my Lord for you. I pray nothing but God's greatest blessings upon you and your family. XOXO
ReplyDeleteAnne . . . For the life of me, I cannot think of a clever way to respond. :-)
ReplyDeleteSo, God Bless you real good, back!! :-)
Ha Ha! I love this post, but I can't bring myself to say "real good," under any circumstances. :-) I would love to be blessed that way by you, with your warmth and humor, but my jaw locks up when I try to use that phrase. Stuffy academic in the house! But "God bless you abundantly" just doesn't have the same ring to it. Thanks for the smile today. (Hey, have you ever noticed that your name bears some resemblance to "abundant?" Hmmm.)
ReplyDeleteDenise, thank you for the blessing and prayer. You ALWAYS bless me, even when you don't speak it.
ReplyDeleteGwen, I think words of life can be as enduring as words of death. You raise a point I didn't take the time to bring out here. I think the best we can do is stay so closely connected to the Lord that He is the abundance of the heart from which the mouth speaks.
Wendy, thank you for the prayer. I so want His voice to come through me here with beauty and clarity.
T. Anne, it's good to bless, but I have no problem with saying and receiving an effusive "I love you." Thanks! I love you too. Big hugs backatcha!
Russell, I hope you'll allow yourself to come here and simply be blessed, without need for wit. Thank you for returning the blessing.
Rosslyn, we call my mother "Grammar Grandma" because she's insisted on proper grammar through two generations now. I think the reason I like this (despite the grammar) is its childlike enthusiasm which transcends the language. As for ABundy and abundant bearing such close resemblance to one another--WOW! I am SO blessed to have you make the observation. And since I'm an aunt to nearly four dozen nieces and nephews, I guess I CAN say I'm "a Bund Aunt." Thanks for that! (My family's rolling their collective eyes.)
Truly blessed by a simple post from your heart, Anne! May the Lord continue to bless you and use you mightily to be a blessing!
ReplyDeleteEphesians 4:29
ReplyDeleteLet no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. (Anne's picture next to this verse)
Bless you Big
Those are some of my favorite Scripture verses...and oh, how I love to bless others. It really is fun to find creative ways to do say. Thanks for the encouragement!!! YOU are loved, my Beautiful and Amazing Friend! :-)
ReplyDeleteBible Lover, I pray I will be faithful enough to indeed be a blessing.
ReplyDeleteDoug, if you insist on putting my photo next to a verse, you know that one about "chief among sinners"? Put it there. Seriously. (I'm not trying to be modest.)
Amy, thank you for your love. And what woman doesn't appreciate being called beautiful? ;D You're most welcome for all encouragement the Lord enables here.