Lent: Keep it Simple

Pass on your blessing

Genesis 12:2-3 “And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.  I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonours you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

GOD does not like to bestow his blessings where they will be hoarded, but he loves to put them into the hands of those who will do the most with them to bless their fellows. The central object of true living is to be helpful to others. The true life is one devoted to Christ, to be used then for him in blessing others. By laying every gift at the Master's feet,  it can be been blessed by him, so that we may carry it out to bless others. Bring our barley loaves for  Christ to touch will enable us to feed hungry  thousands with them.

He giveth more grace when the burdens grow greater,

He sendeth more strength when the labours increase,

To added affliction He addeth His mercy,

To multiplied trials, His multiplied peace.

When we have exhausted our store of endurance,

When our strength has failed ere the day is half-done,

When we reach the end of our hoarded resources,

Our Father’s full giving is only begun.

Fear not that thy need shall exceed His provision,

Our God ever yearns His resources to share;

Lean hard on the arm everlasting, availing;

The Father both thee and thy load will upbear

His love has no limit, His grace has no measure,

His power no boundary known unto men,

For out of His infinite riches in Jesus,

He giveth and giveth and giveth again.

Annie Johnson Flint, the writer of this hymn, faced a life of tragedy, loosing her mother who died giving birth to her sister whilst Annie was only three years old. Later her father succumbed to an incurable illness. Following school Annie trained as a teacher, but just into her second year of teaching the signs of chronic arthritis affected her health.

She grew steadily worse until it became difficult for her to walk at all, and she was soon obliged to give up her work, followed by three years of increasing helplessness. The death of both of her adoptive parents within a few months of each other left Annie and her sister alone again. There was little money in the bank, and the twice-orphaned children had come to a real “Red Sea place” in their lives.

In spite of her ‘afflictions’, she grew in grace and was able to write of the blessings  with those strong words of faith; “To added affliction He addeth His mercy, To multiplied trials, His multiplied peace.”

Difficulty and hardships can actually be “blessings in disguise,” offering opportunities for our experience, learning, and benefit. Challenges, then, present themselves not to stop or defeat us… but to call forth our courage, determination, creativity, and strength! … How will you allow adversity in life to help you grow and improve? 

A PRAYER

Almighty God, may I continue to hear the Holy Spirit as He guides and counsels me. In all situations, help me to be obedient! Master of the Universe, my Protector, my God, in whom I confidently trust, hear my prayer. In Jesus’ mighty name, SO BE IT… Amen and Amen!