Blessing
If you're at all familiar
with the Bible
you know it's filled with
promises wonderful.
Promises that come true in
your life and mine
as the Bible applies to
all at all times.
You've noticed that
blessings are given
freely to one's and
others' children.
Many blessings were
presented at the temple
by God's designated
dedicated people.
Zechariah was a priest,
upright in God's sight,
who obeyed God's
commandments, always doing right.
Zechariah blessed his son
John (the Baptist)
with God's words of
wisdom.
Luke records that
Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit.
How, like Moses,
Zachariah’s face must have been lit!
John was to prepare the
way for Jesus' coming
as a prophet preaching
about forgiveness from sins.
This blessing or
benediction was ordained by God
even before John the
Baptist was born, we're told.
What an amazing blessing
to the world was coming.
When Jesus was a baby, he
was consecrated to the Lord,
in accordance with what is
written in the Law of the Lord.
Consecrated or dedicated
to the Lord.
Because of Christmas, we
know this birth would change the world.
Simeon, righteous and
devout, blessed Jesus in the temple.
A blessing that extends
even today to all peoples.
This eternal blessing is
found in believing
the One who came so our
sins would be forgiven.
Anna, a prophetess,
also blessed Jesus,
stating he would redeem
Jerusalem.
Anna’s words were filled
with God's wisdom.
Blessings.
Earth changing.
Bringing about a change
for the good.
Christmas, Jesus' birth,
changed the world - it would.
* * * * *
Are your spoken words
blessings
or do they come out as
cursings?
If your words are full of
doubt,
than a cursing has been
let out.
Unfortunately we tend to
talk more about what's wrong
than we do about our many
blessings, which is wrong.
Words have power. What we
say affects us emotionally,
we often find, as well as
physically and spiritually.
Our words have power to
tear down or to enrich
not only ourselves but
others within our reach.
Our words make a lasting
imprint on others.
May our words always bless
one another.
God has spoken blessings
over you too.
In His faithfulness He
cares for you.
Here's a blessing from
God's Word to you.
May you realize God's love, so true.
The Lord bless you and
keep you;
the Lord make his face
shine upon you
and be gracious to you;
the Lord turn his face
toward you
and give you peace.
Numbers 6:24-26
This is the blessing
Zechariah spoke regarding his son, John:
"And you, my child,
will be called a prophet of the Most High;
for you will go on
before the Lord to prepare the way for him,
to give his people the
knowledge of salvation
through the forgiveness
of their sins,
because of the tender
mercy of our God,
by which the rising sun
will come to us from heaven
to shine on those living
in darkness
and in the shadow of
death,
to guide our feet into
the path of peace."
Luke 1:76-79
When the time of their
purification
according to the Law of
Moses had been completed,
Joseph and Mary took him
to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord
(as it is written in
the Law of the Lord,
"Every firstborn
male is to be consecrated to the Lord").
Luke 2:22-23
This is the blessing
Simeon spoke regarding Jesus:
Now there was a man in
Jerusalem called Simeon,
who was righteous and
devout.
He was waiting for the
consolation of Israel,
and the Holy Spirit was
upon him.
It had been revealed to
him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die
before he had seen the
Lord's Christ.
Moved by the Spirit, he
went into the temple courts.
When the parents brought
in the child Jesus
to do for him what the
custom of the Law required,
Simeon took him in his
arms and praised God, saying:
"Sovereign Lord, as
you have promised,
you now dismiss your
servant in peace.
For my eyes have seen
your salvation,
which you have prepared
in the sight of all people,
a light for revelation
to the Gentiles
and for glory to your
people Israel."
The child's father and
mother marveled at what was said about him.
Then Simeon blessed them
and said to Mary, his mother:
"This child is
destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel,
and to be a sign that
will be spoken against,
so that the thoughts of
many hearts will be revealed.
And a sword will pierce
your own soul too."
Luke 2:29-35
Anna also blessed Jesus:
There was also a
prophetess, Anna,
the daughter of Phanuel,
of the tribe of Asher.
She was very old;
she had lived with her
husband seven years after her marriage,
and then was a widow
until she was 84.
She never left the
temple but worshiped night and day,
fasting and praying.
Coming up to them at
that very moment,
she gave thanks to God
and spoke about the child
to all who were looking
forward
to the redemption of
Jerusalem.
Luke 2:36-38
(Jesus) took the
children in his arms,
put his hands on them
and blessed them.
Mark 10:16
Praise be to the God and
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who has blessed us in
the heavenly realms
with every spiritual
blessing in Christ.
Ephesians 1:3
Out of the same mouth
proceed blessing and cursing.
My brethren, these
things out not so to be.
James 3:10 (KJV)
As surely as I live,
declares the Lord,
I will do to you the
very things I heard you say.
Numbers 14:28
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