Bountiful
Blessings
April 28th, 2013
Good morning, everyone. I hope you have had a blessed week! My cup
overfloweth. God has blessed me with so, so much more than I deserve. But that
is kind of the story of our life, isn’t it?
This weekend I was helping Summer in her room. (She is
redecorating. Looks amazing btw). Well, Summer collects novelty salt and pepper
shakers. I broke one or well, the pepper of a set. As soon as I bumped it, the
look of horror came over my face as I slowly watched it fall from the shelf and
shatter on the floor.
With a gentle smile, Summer told me that it was ok, everyone makes
mistakes. My heart glowed with the warmth of her kind and generous soul. How
simple an action. A quick response made from the heart. Forgiveness, offering a
second chance. I wish that I could take credit but this is all God. She is my
child but more importantly, she is a child of God. He teaches and she listens. J He teaches us about second chances.
He teaches us about forgiveness. He does so by forgiving us, by offering us
second chances, and well, third, fourth, fifth, tenth, millionth chances… God,
our gracious and merciful god, leads by example. God is a god of second
chances.
Think of a time in your life where you were given a second chance.
It could be as small as breaking a pool ball pepper shaker, taking out
frustration on the closest person, or stepping on the cat’s tail (it took a long time for the cat to forgive me. Not
really sure if he ever did. Still gives me the evil eye. But Summer forgave me
ummm, pretty quickly. Its not like I did it on purpose or continued to jump up
and down. I mean, really). Or it could be as big as, well, let’s just go with
big. Did you deserve it or was it a gift? Next time someone breaks your pepper
shaker, give them a gift. Give him or her a second chance. Give them instant
forgiveness. “Its ok, everyone makes mistakes”.
Bible
verse for the week:
“Then Peter
came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I
forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you
seven times, but seventy times seven.”
Matthew
18:21-22
Prayer for
the week:
Lord, my life has been one big second chance. You have given me
grace and mercy that I did not deserve. You have continued to give me love and
continue to give me chance after chance. You have placed others in my life for
which I am so thankful. Others who give me love, forgiveness and second
chances. Today I humbly come before you asking that you let me be your vessel
to give someone else a second chance. To show someone else love, grace, mercy
and forgiveness. Its ok, everyone makes mistakes. It’s a good motto to live by,
for you and only you, were perfect. May we remember this and not hold others to
unobtainable standards but instead live, love and forgive. We ask this in your
name. Amen.
Bible fun
for the week:
The Sermon on the Mount trivia
1. What
blessing does Jesus give to the poor in spirit?
2. What blessing
does Jesus give to the meek?
3. What
blessing shall the pure in heart receive?
They shall be called children of God
They shall be called children of God
They shall be comforted
They shall become the salt of the Earth
They shall see God
4. Choose A
or B: As for the law and the prophets, Jesus came to A) destroy them B) fulfill
them
5. Fill in
the blank: “But I say unto you, ________ your enemies.”
6. Fill in
the blank: “For where your treasure is, there will your ______ be also.”
7. What plant
did Jesus say was arrayed with greater splendor than Solomon?
8. Choose A
or B: “Strait is the gate, and A) broad B) narrow is the way, which leadeth
unto life.”
9. According
to Jesus’ warning, how might false prophets come?
As a good
tree with bad fruit
As dry
clouds with a whirlwind
As fowls
of the air
As wolves
in sheep’s clothing
Picture of
the week:
Thought
for the week:
Offer someone a second chance. Something small or something big,
it is up to you. Go with your heart. Someone pull out in front of you in
traffic, give them a full handed wave (not that one finger one). Someone get
your order wrong, its one meal (you aren’t going to starve). Someone hurts your
feelings, this is tough, I know, but be the better person. You could be the one
needing that second chance next time. J
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