Be Blessed

TODAY’S SPECIAL: 3 John 1-14

TO CHEW ON: "Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well." 3 John 2

When you hear the word “blessing” what do you think of? Saying a prayer over food before you eat? The pastor praying a benediction at the end of a church service?

You’re right - a blessing is these things, and more too. Any time we ask for God’s favor or declare it over someone, we speak a blessing. Look up the verses, below, to see what the Bible says about blessing and being blessed, then fill in the missing words:

1. Paul usually began his letters by speaking a blessing of God’s _______ and _______ to his readers (Ephesians 1:2).

2. In today’s verse, John speaks a blessing of ________ for his friend’s body and soul. (3 John 2).

3. Jesus took ________ in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them (Mark 10:16).

"Suffer the Little Children to Come Unto Me" by James Tissot, 1836-1902

4. Jesus blessed or ________ ________ for food before eating (Matthew 14:19).

5. We will inherit a blessing by not repaying ______ with _____ or ______ with _______, but with a blessing (1 Peter 3:9).

So next time you’re wishing someone well, or saying goodbye to someone you love, or thinking what to say to the class bully’s insult, don’t say ‘good luck,’ or ‘safe journey’ or ‘your feet stink too!’ Rather shout, or whisper, “God bless you.”

PRAYER: Dear Jesus, I’m glad You loved children and blessed them. Help me to speak blessing to my friends and enemies. Amen.

"May God...bless these boys"
(Jacob blesses Joseph's sons Ephraim and Menasseh)
Illustrations by Annie Vallotton from the Good News Bible
© American Bible Society 1976, 1992, used with permission.

MORE: More Blessings
- What blessing has someone spoken or prayed over you?
- What blessing can you pray for or speak over:
your friends
your parents
your grandparents
your brothers and/or sisters
your enemy


ANSWERS

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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. 

Those Sparks Called Words

TODAY’S SPECIAL: James 3:1-12

TO CHEW ON: "Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark." James 3:5


Which of these could start a forest fire?
- a cigarette butt
- a spark from a campfire
- a match


If you answered, “all of them,” you’re right! When the forest is dry, the tiniest spark starts a fire which can grow to destroy miles and miles of trees, hundreds of homes, businesses, power lines, animals, and even people.



James compares the words we say (with the help of the little red, wet, wiggly thing in our mouths called a tongue) to sparks that start a forest fire. But can our words really do that much damage?

Jonah Goes to Nineveh - Artist unknown


Well, consider the damage these words did:

• Joseph’s boasting words caused his brothers to hate him and sell him as a slave.(Genesis 37)
• The fearful words of ten spies caused the Hebrew people to rebel against Moses. They ended up wandering in the dessert for 40 more years. (Numbers 13:26 - 14:4)
• The words of a preacher called Jonah caused a whole city to turn to God. (Jonah 3)
  

Never underestimate the power of your words for bad and good.

PRAYER: Dear God, help me to understand the power of my words. May I speak words which encourage, express love and build people up. Amen.


MORE: Wise Words
There are many wise sayings about words and speech. Three of the sayings below are from the Bible, three are not. Which are Bible quotes?

1. A gentle answer turns away wrath but a harsh word stirs up anger.

2. A loose tongue often gets into a tight place.

3. The heart of a fool is in his mouth, but the mouth of a wise man is in his heart.

4. The tongue has the power of life and death.

5. A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.

6. Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.

Check the ANSWERS to see where the Bible quotes are found and who said the other ones.
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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Mordecai Uncovers a Plot

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Esther 2:19-22


TO CHEW ON: "But Mordecai found out about the plot and told Queen Esther, who in turn reported it to the king, giving credit to Mordecai." Esther 2:22

“Xerxes is a tyrant. He’s gone too far!”

"We should kill him . . .”

Mordecai sat motionless as he strained to hear the secret conversation. In his job at the king’s gate, he had heard a lot of things. But never before had he overheard people actually plotting to murder the king.

As soon as the plotters left, Mordecai hurried to the palace and straight to Queen Esther. He told her everything he had heard.



Esther lost no time in reporting the plot to the king. “And Mordecai your servant, who sits at the king’s gate is the one who uncovered this,” she told him.

Illustration by Annie Vallotton from the Good News Bible
© American Bible Society 1976, 1992, used with permission.

Immediately Xerxes had the two men arrested and killed for their plans. Then the whole incident was recorded in the king’s record book.

Let’s think about what Esther did for a minute. Now that she was queen, her responsibility to Mordecai was done. She could have taken the credit for uncovering that plot for herself. It would have made the king think more of her and almost no one would have known the difference. Instead, she chose to be honest and gave the credit to Mordecai.

What about us? Do we give other people credit when they deserve it? We’re quick enough to make sure no one blames us for something we haven’t done. Are we just as quick to do things like say that it was our partner who did most of the work on the project, or our sister who really cleaned our room? Let’s make a habit of that kind of honesty. Let’s make sure that the people who deserve it get the praise.

PRAYER: Dear God, please help me to give others the credit they deserve. Amen.


MORE: Honesty.
Make a collection of sayings about honesty. Here are three to get you started:

1. Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom - Thomas Jefferson

2. A few honest men are better than numbers - Oliver Cromwell

3. Each time you are honest and conduct yourself with honesty, a success force will drive you toward greater success. Each time you lie, even with a little white lie, there are strong forces pushing you toward failure. - Joe Sugarman.

4.

5.

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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.


Adult readers - DAILY DEVOTIONS FOR ADULTS  are available too at Other Food: daily devo's. 

Speech Problems

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Proverbs 10:18-21, 31-32

TO CHEW ON: The lips of the righteous know what finds favor, but the mouth of the wicked only what is perverse. Proverbs 10:32

Solomon wrote many proverbs about speech. He knew that no matter how beautiful a person was, or how much money they had, or what kind of home they lived in, their speech showed what they were really like. It showed whether they were good or bad, righteous or evil, wise or foolish.

All these years later, things haven’t changed. Our speech still shows what is in our hearts and minds. It tells the world around us whether we are wise (have good sense, good judgment and understanding) or foolish (lack good sense, good judgment and understanding).

Below (1-6) are some of Solomon’s proverbs about speech from Proverbs 10. Pick the way you’d say each proverb in today’s language (A to F).

For example, Number 1 (Whoever spreads slander is a fool) would match with C (Hurting someone with lies and gossip is foolish).

1. Whoever spreads slander is a fool.

2. When words are many, sin is not absent.

3. He who holds his tongue is wise.

4. The tongue of the righteous is choice silver.

5. The lips of the righteous nourish many.

6. The lips of the righteous know what is fitting.

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A. The words of a good person have value.

B. A good person knows the right thing to say.

C. Hurting someone with lies and gossip is foolish.

D. Good words feed your spirit.

E. It’s easy to sin when you talk a lot.

F. It’s wise to keep your mouth shut.

What’s your speech like? Is it helpful and worth listening to? Is it positive and encouraging? Or is it dirty and unhelpful, full of lies and gossip. Do you know when to stop talking or remain silent altogether? Ask God to make you a person of wise speech.

PRAYER: Dear God, please help me use my tongue with wisdom. Amen

MORE: Wise Speech Banner

Make a banner about wise speech.

What you need:

-Mural paper cut into a strip 12 x 36 inches, or 3 - 4 sheets of 8½ x 11 inch paper taped together to make one long sheet.

- pencils, crayons, markers, paints

What you do:

1. Choose your favorite proverb about speech. Use the proverbs above or find one among these:

Proverbs 12:18, or 12:22 or 15:1 or 16:24 or 26:20

2. Write the proverb you picked on the banner and decorate it with crayons, markers or paints.

3. Display the banner in your room, or somewhere where you’ll see and read it often.

Answers

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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Adult readers - DAILY DEVOTIONS FOR ADULTS  are available too at Other Food: daily devo's.