May Jesus be your inspiration ... your greatest ideas ... your holiest thoughts. May He continually increase ... in you.
May you find Him in every moment ... every smile ... every heartbeat of today, and may He find you close by His side ... laughing ... listening ... lost in His love.
May He smile as He rejoices in the morning ... the moment ... that the first thought of you dawned in His heart.
May our Father continually shower you with every spiritual blessing and with that mix of material blessings perfectly suited to your needs and your faith and your ministry. Each time you encounter a soul in need of healing, may you minister to them with confidence and humility.
May your heart be tuned to only hear the voice of the Living God. May no distraction ever drown out His words. May no person or thing ever cloud your vision of Him.
May He remind you ... over and over again ... that you are His child ... and that you were created to live in relationship with Him. May the relationship that develops between the two of you be peaceful ... harmonious ... and unshakable. May you thrive in His steadfast love.
I prayed for you today. I didn’t just think kind thoughts about you or flippantly release empty words into the air.
I spoke with the Living God ... the very God that I struggle with in relationship daily ... the Father Who nurtures my spirit ... even when I resist and run away ... the Creator of mornings ... and mighty men ... and memories ... the Composer of the joyful songs of the earth ... and the harmonies of the angels ... the Author of the greatest story ever told ... Who adds to its pages daily ... the Brave and Gentle Hero Who would rather die for us than leave us alone in our sin.
I spoke to Him.
I asked that He give you strength and grace to be Jesus to the world ... a beacon of hope to those who cannot find their way. I asked that He calm you and fill you with His Holy Spirit. I asked that He give you confidence ... and humility. I asked that He teach you from His vast supply of wisdom so that you may speak His truth.
I asked Him to love you the way He has loved me ... a love unearned ... undeserved ... a love that covers a multitude of sins ... a love that only a Living God can give.
I believe He listened.
May you feel His Spirit nurturing your spirit ... and when you enter the world today ... may you find Him there waiting for you ... anticipating your arrival ... already answering a faith-filled, fervent prayer ... prayed especially for you.
Sometimes less is more. These three short blessings are from e-mails that I’ve sent to friends.
» May sacred rhythm in its holiest form dance its way through your words into the hearts of many hurting souls who need Jesus ... His unconditional love ... and His saving grace. You’re gonna be great!
» May the friendship you give return to you swiftly and in overflowing proportions.
» May you get just enough snow to make your heart happy and not mess up your travel plans.
I stayed up late to watch the snow fall Friday night. I love snow! The world becomes quiet when it snows. Harsh lines are smoothed and softened. Even unattractive and commonplace things are transformed into objects of artistic beauty when dressed in a fresh coat of fluffy snow.
Every wavy branch ... each twisting curve ... of every mesquite tree greeted the sparkling Saturday morning sunshine with a delicate tracing of soft ribbons of purest white. May Jesus so transform your world.
May His Holy Spirit fall gently upon your soul, surrounding you with peace. May your weakest vulnerabilities ... your greatest temptations ... succumb to His protective blanket of goodness ... patience ... and faithfulness.
May even your most mundane and frustrating moments be etched with joy ... kindness ... and self-control. May gentleness and love accumulate softly upon your tender spirit and your healing heart.
May you feel His Spirit. May you drink deeply of His grace. May He light the fire in your soul, and may you be the sweet aroma of Christ to everyone you meet ... as you follow in His footsteps each day ... and as you offer warmth and peace to a cold and chaotic world.
May you be as white as snow in His eyes.
May your understanding of the grace of Jesus extend far beyond any limitations or boundaries you may have previously imposed upon it. In addition to its soul-saving qualities, may the eyes of your heart be opened to its life-enhancing essence and its behavior-modifying nature.
May you be acutely aware of how our Father’s grace enriches your knowledge and how that knowledge primes you for a confident and successful launch into each new day.
May you grasp how empowering and how liberating it is to wake up each morning and have something wonderful to live for ... to have a message of freedom and hope to share with the world ... to be assured with each rising sun that your every thought ... every word ... and every action brims with purpose and deep value when its goal is to honor the Author of Grace.
May the sound of your own voice ... the lyrical timbre of each carefully-chosen word ... serve as a gentle reminder that His grace enriches your speech. May the faithfulness of the Living God ... His sustaining power ... and His steadfast love ... pleasingly season your conversations ... your testimonies ... your reassuring words of encouragement ... even your attentive, extended moments of silence as you sincerely listen to the needs ... the desires ... and the struggles of weary souls in search of meaning and significance in a world mesmerized by its own superficial beauty.
In each situation where you are called upon to speak and with every opportunity you are given to quietly listen, may you reflect the beauty and the serenity that flows only from a heart that has embraced the grace that emanates from the purest and deepest chambers of the heart of a just and merciful God.
May you never lack in any spiritual gift, and may you generously multiply your talents in service to others and in honor of Christ as you eagerly await His revealing on that final day.
May you thrive in the immeasurable riches of His grace, and may the lives of those you encounter along the way be equally enriched by His amazing grace ... far beyond anything they have ever dreamed or imagined.
I Corinthians 1:4-9
I love learning how to live in relationship with Jesus. I love having my spirit uplifted and my soul encouraged. I love late-night visits and delicious meals with friends. I love road trips. I love snow. I love the fact that all of those things that I love came together this past weekend in Oklahoma.
There was homemade pizza and gentle conversation. It was snowing as we walked out the doors of the church building. I tried to catch the frozen flakes on my tongue. They collected on my eyelashes and my hair. They tickled my nose. My gracious host and good friend swept the thick snow from the windows of my pickup early the next morning and had the cab of my truck warm and ready to go for my trip to the city.
I drove through a winter wonderland. Black Angus cattle stood out in stark relief against the white countryside. The evergreens at the Christmas tree farm added a touch of the holidays to the late March snowstorm. The redbud trees, covered with blooms, reminded me of cherry layer cakes topped with thick white frosting. A jovial DJ played “Frosty the Snowman” as I headed east down the turnpike.
The cold temperatures made the warm hugs ... sunny smiles ... and firm handshakes even more inviting as I headed to class. Each day of learning seemed better than the one before. I listened intently to each speaker. My voice blended with thousands of others in worship and in song. I picked out books and CDs to glean from and study on my own once I arrived back home.
I lingered over delicious lunches and dinners with friends. We laughed ... we talked ... we listened. We strengthened our friendships with Jesus and with each other. Gifts were exchanged ... gifts of time and attention ... listening ears and encouraging words ... shared experiences and insights about the struggles and the joys of walking with Jesus and living life abundantly in Him. On the final day, as we headed our separate ways, I was given a book ... a gift made even more special by the handwritten message lovingly penned on the opening page.
I am blessed to have such good friends ... to have been introduced to Jesus at such an early age ... to have great opportunities to strengthen my friendship with Him and others who are being transformed daily into His image. I am blessed to have an avenue to share what I am learning with you. I plan to share some of what I learned soon.
Until then, may you see the beauty in the unexpected storms. May Jesus clear the way for you to travel safely in His love and His counsel, and may you emerge on the other side ... stronger ... more faithful ... more thankful for the forgiving Jesus and those people who reflect Him beautifully in your world every day. May your soul live more abundantly in Him each day.
May what you do today set the stage for many wonderful ministry opportunities in the future. May your resistance to temptation give courage to the heart of a stranger ... a classmate ... a friend ... for many years to come.
May your “no” to Satan be an echoing “yes” to Christ in your own life and in the lives of all the people you encounter. May your daily spiritual walk be a pleasant and uplifting song to those who observe you ... sweet music that is savored and joyfully sung ... even when your paths are separated by great spans of time and many miles.
May you pause today to remember the importance ... the beauty ... the magnitude ... of a moment that honors the Living God.
May the lonely find solace and friendship in your voice and in your smile. May the desperate discover hope through your consistent faith. May the outcast find acceptance in your impartial love.
May Jesus turn your weaknesses into sources of great strength. May your critics be at a loss for words. May they marvel at your relationship with your Maker ... at the story He is writing through you.
Many years from now, in some unsuspecting moment, may someone remember the working faith they saw in you today. May they call you aside and request your spiritual leadership, and may you bring Christ to the party in a way that no one else can ... in a way you never could have imagined.
May the spiritual seeds you sow today produce an abundant harvest at just the right point in time according to our Father’s perfect plan and His sovereign will.
Three mini-blessings from e-mails to friends:
» May you have a great ... Christ-honoring ... weekend.
» May you metabolize your injury into art.
» May you feel the firm but gentle grip of His hand on your shoulder ... His sweet breath that gives you life ... His joy that you’ve chosen to spend your life introducing others to Him. May He fill that Jesus-shaped hole in your heart, and may you find the completion you’ve always longed for ... only in Him.
Three more mini-blessings. I love to end e-mails with short blessings like these:
» May Jesus be all the Heaven you ever need or desire.
» May you lose yourself and find yourself in the ever-increasing, ever-creating Jesus.
» May your heart seek the pure heart of Jesus on Saturday ... and again on Sunday ... and ... well ... every day from now on ... and may you find what you seek.
Today, as you’re planting in our Father’s garden, may you be keenly aware of the qualities of the seed you bring with you. May it be firm ... healthy ... bursting with life ... prepared to flourish and to multiply.
As you speak and interact with your world, may you find rich, receptive soil ... vibrant, seeking souls ... and willing minds, eager to accept the package of life that is born in your pure heart and graces your tongue and your lips.
May your words encounter no congestion and no opposition from competing thoughts and distractions in the minds of those you teach. May the seed you scatter make firm but gentle contact with deep, fertile soil.
May you see the stains and the strains of planting as rewards ... souvenirs ... of honest work done well.
May our Father hear your heart’s cry for His blessings on your plantings, and may He respond without delay, quickened by His deep love for you and your loyal stewardship of His abundant gifts and blessings. May your harvest be bountiful ... and more beautiful than all the flowers of the earth combined.
May you find the Lord’s richest blessings in doing what you love.
May Jesus rain gently on the fields where you are planting the seeds of His Gospel, and may our Father provide healthy, sturdy growth in abundance. May His Holy Spirit sustain that growth, and may your harvest be plentiful.
May your heart drink deeply of His refreshing reign, and may your soul be flooded with warm, bright sunshine. May the windows of your heart glow with His radiant light, and may each soul that you teach fall completely in love with the God Who calls Himself “Love” ... and may you fall in love with Him ... completely ... all over again.
May He touch your lips with sweet grace ... and may His voice and yours be as one ... as you share the Good News of Jesus Christ ... the Son of God ... with a world of souls who desperately need to hear the Good News that Jesus can give us each what we need the very most ... forgiveness of our sins.
May all of your plantings flourish ... may all of your harvests multiply ... only in Him.
May the road that lies before you lead you to many friends who look like ... live like ... and love like Jesus.
Friends like Barnabas ... who give the Paul in you a trusted companion in ministry ... who give the John Mark in you that coveted second chance ... whose every heartbeat encourages you to become every good thing our Father created you to be.
Friends like Ruth ... who cherish spiritual formation more than safety ... who value truth more than heritage ... who seek the Living, Forgiving God more than the gods of this world.
Friends like Jonathan ... who treat you like a king when that great honor belongs to them ... who protect your welfare even in the face of great danger ... who choose to knit their souls to your soul rather than to wealth, power and fame.
Friends like Jesus ... who reach deep into your heart and free the hero within ... the hero they have always believed you can be ... who love you just the way you are with a transforming, life-changing love ... who forgive you when they have the power to destroy you.
May your little corner of the world be filled with many friends who love Jesus much more than they love you ... for then you will possess the richest treasure this world has to give. May you discover and delight in all the riches of that priceless treasure.
May you find all your friends in Jesus ... and may they find Jesus in you.
I hope you had a wonderful day.
I enjoyed a relaxed evening after work.
I met my family at my parents’ place and spent a few quiet hours working a 3,000 piece puzzle with my mother.
Driving home, flashes of lightning from distant thunderstorms lit up the northwestern horizon.
I stood in my front yard for a few minutes and watched the stars. They were incredibly clear tonight. One streaked across the southern sky.
The Milky Way was flowing directly overhead ... bright and beautiful.
I was still ... and knew ... that He is God ... and I am His.
You are too.
Everywhere you go, may you see Him.
Originally written for the first wedding anniversary of one of my friends, I’m sharing this blessing on Steve to Earth today in honor of my parents’ 50th wedding anniversary, which they celebrated on Friday, September 1, and our family celebrated all weekend.
Mother and Dad, I am so proud of you, and I love you very much! I consider it a privilege to bless this wonderful milestone in the lives of the two people who are responsible for me being here ... the two people who loved me enough to introduce me to Jesus ... the two people who continue to love me deeply and unconditionally even on the days when I don’t look very much like Him.
May your celebration be attended and blessed by the Groom ... the Savior ... the Supreme Example of Love. May your relationship be honored by the bride ... the church ... the spiritual body of Christ.
May your hearts be filled with hope for the future. May your souls overflow with renewed faith and abundant forgiveness. May your spirits be refreshed with joyful and happy song.
May all your fatigue ... all your frustrations ... and all your failures give way to the blessings of the Comforter ... your Friend ... the Holy Spirit, and may each fruit that He produces grow firm and tender and sweet in your fertile hearts.
May you find peace in His indwelling presence. May He be a Pleasant Inhabitant ... a Tenant bearing generous gifts ... a Perfect Communicator of our Father’s precious will ... a Flawless Glorifier of our Lord Jesus Christ ... a Gentle Companion who fills every corner of your souls ... and leaves no vacancy for any other spirit.
With great joy, may our Father bless each beautiful day you spend together ... until His Spirit and yours are joined for eternity ... in the highest and holiest of marriages.
May you celebrate your marriage a little every day, and may your daily celebrations inspire and give hope to a weary world.
This is my prayer for you ... because of His great love for us.
They say that less is more. Here are three short blessings from e-mails I’ve written to people I love.
» May Jesus transform your weaknesses into the sources of your greatest ministries.
» May you feel the Holy Spirit this week. May He strengthen and comfort you as you live to honor Jesus. May you thrive in His friendship the way our Father intended.
» May you trust Jesus with your future and your heart. May you never doubt His love. May He work through you in tender and powerful ways to reconcile lost and hurting souls to His soul.