The year 2019 is rapidly coming to a close. I am sure many of you can look back over the months and report that it was a very good year; while many others can report it was one of the most challenging. Any way you look at the occurrences you experienced throughout this year, the fact that you are still very much alive is a testimony that you are BLESSED! I try my very best never to judge a person’s outlook on their circumstances because it really is true, you never know what a person feels until you have walked in their shoes. However, on the other hand I also subscribe to the proven fact that even in your hardest times, when you bless someone else God will see to it that you are blessed in return. Now I will not go out on a limb and tell you that you will receive a return on your selfless gesture immediately, but I know it will come. Sometimes it will come in the most unexpecting way or from the least expected source. I have even experienced learning that when I give away something I thought I needed, i.e. money, material items, food, etc. I find out that God always made up the difference to the degree that I never felt a void or empty place.

So, I shared something with our congregation that we will be engaging in over the next 3 weeks, and now I invite and encourage you to join in. I have no doubt that you’ll be glad you did! I get excited just thinking about the opportunities that will be placed before you if you allow the Holy Spirit to move upon you to use your hearts and your creativity! Please carefully read the instructions below; and it is my prayer that you will follow them explicitly. If you want your next year to be blessed, start now blessing others during this most wonderful time of year!

THIS WEEK – Do something to bless someone in your immediate family / household. Whatever comes to mind or is in your heart, i.e.

Spouses you may want to give a massage; do a load of laundry, wash dishes; parents may want to take the kids to a movie; spend some quality time talking or doing something fun, etc.

NEXT WEEK (beginning Sunday, 12/22) – Do something to bless someone outside of your family — Send a Christmas card; take someone a plant, cookies, candy; call someone you haven’t talked to in a long time and pray with them; offer to babysit for a Mom / Dad who needs to finish up their last minute Christmas plans, etc.

WEEK OF SUNDAY, 12/29 – Do something to bless our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ – Worship Him in a way you may not have before; give to a charity; give a special sacrificial offering in your church service; volunteer to serve in an area in the church you have not been involved in before.

“Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone – especially to those in the family of faith.”
Galatians 6: 10 (NLT)

FROM MY FAMILY TO YOU AND YOURS, MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A VERY PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR!!

Source: First Lady Denise