HOLDING OUT-FOR THE BLESSINGS OF GOD

HOLDING OUT- FOR THE BLESSINGS OF GOD We take MANY GIFTS In life For granted LIFE itself-OUR family and friends- Our jobs and livelihoods- EVEN the roof over our head And the food On our table These are gifts From God These are BLESSINGS From God And we NEED to recognize them As such “BLESSINGS CROWN The head of the righteous” Proverbs 10:6 But I think The BLESSING That we need to FEEL MOST Is that We are blessed Because our lives And the lives Of our families Are BLESSED BY GOD HOLDING OUT For the BLESSINGS OF GOD In the FAMOUS 32nd chapter of Genesis We read ABOUT such a man A man HOLDING OUT For the BLESSINGS OF GOD “The man then said: 'Let me go-for it is daybreak' But Jacob said: 'I will NOT let you go UNLESS you bless me'” Genesis 32:27 And Jacob and God Wrestle ALL night long Culminating when the man asked him: “WHAT IS YOUR NAME?” “Jacob” he answered “Then the man said: Your name will no longer be Jacob- BUT ISRAEL Because you have Struggled with God And with humans And have overcome” Genesis 32:28 Our lives too Are like that WE struggle and WRESTLE with God About every decision That we make And then We ask God To BLESS US And the decisions That we have made Sometimes WHEN our lives Are going well OUR PRAYER LIFE And our FAITH Can become A little bit superficial “The Lord GIVES STRENGTH To his people The Lord BLESSES his people with PEACE” Psalm 29:11 THEN our lives Become a little more difficult again And we struggle With fear We struggle with pride And other CHALLENGES In life Then we BEGIN To wrestle with God Once again And ask For an EVEN DEEPER FAITH once again To HOLD OUT For the BLESSINGS of God Dear Lord-like Jacob We PRAY that We are able to HOLD OUT And HOLD ON For your GREAT BLESSINGS- THE GREAT BLESSINGS OF GOD Robert P. Wallman 6-28-15 INSPIRED by an article in LIVING FAITH MAGAZINE by Melanie Rigney