Blessed By God

13 And let God bless all who fear God— bless the small, bless the great. 14 Oh, let God enlarge your families— giving growth to you, growth to your children. 15 May you be blessed by God, by God, who made heaven and earth.  (Psalm 115:13-15 The Message)

Observation and Application:

This is the first day in nearly three years that my journal entry hasn’t been from the Ready Set Go reading.  I don’t know if I’ve ever mentioned it here, but Jean and I also read through the Psalms and Proverbs each month – nourishment for spirit and soul.  Well, I’m writing this on Christmas morning as we’re preparing to open our Christmas presents.  The whole family is here – Philip and Stephanie and new grandson Jesse are here from Tacoma, Colin and Melissa and new grandson Jude slept over last night, and then there’s Jean and me and Buddy the dog.

Last Christmas Day I read the same verses from Psalm 115 because on the 25th of  each month I read Psalms 25, 55, 85, 115, and 145 and Proverbs 25.  This time I read it completely differently and it spoke to me in a way it never has before.  This time I’m a grandfather!  We have two new grandsons, Jesse born on April 1 and Jude born on April 29.  And we have lived for many years with the expectation we would never be grandparents.  It’s amazing how God works!

For many years I’ve read the verse “And may you live to see your children's children. Peace be upon Israel.” (Psalm 128:6) as part of my daily devotional reading – read it as a prayer and as an expression of hope.  Now it’s a reality.  Words spoken by God have the power to change reality into God-reality.

Anyhow, the words, “Oh let God enlarge your families – giving growth to you, growth to your children..” have a whole new meaning to me.

Prayer:

Father, thank you for your gracious power that can change what is and seemingly always will be into what you intend (and always have intended.)  I pray for other people who have a desire that apparently will never be fulfilled.  Please speak to them a circumstance-changing and reality creating word.  And give them a determination and faith to stay with it ‘til it happens.  Amen.