Becoming the Blessing
"Use me, then, my Savior, for whatever purposes and in whatever way you may require. Here is my poor heart, an empty vessel, fill it with your grace." -D.L.Moody
"Grace is alive, . . . If I dam up the grace, hold the blessings tight, joy within dies. A life contemplating the blessings of Christ becomes a life acting the love of Christ." (p. 184)
Jesus washed the disciples feet at the Last Supper. When He was finished, He asked the disciples, "Do you understand what I have done for you?" Then He told them, "Now that I your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you." (John 13:12; 14-15)
Ann Voskamp writes, "At the last, this is what will determine a fulfilling, meaningful life, a life that, behind all the facades, every one of us longs to live: gratitude for the blessings that expresses itself by becoming the blessing. Eucharisteo is giving thanks for grace. But in the breaking and giving of bread, in the washing of feet, Jesus makes it clear that eucharisteo is, yes, more: it is giving grace away. . . Without the breaking and giving, without the washing of feet, eucharisteo isn't complete. The Communion service is only complete in service. Communion, by necessity, always leads us into community. . . Eucharisteo means 'to give thanks,' and give is a verb, something that we do. God calls me to do thanks. To give the thanks away. That thanks-giving might literally become thanks-living. That our lives become the very blessing we have received." (pp. 192-193)
Sometimes the daily routine can seem mundane and unimportant. But "if done unto God, the mundane work can become the liturgy of the Last Supper." The contrast to this is what Dorothy Sayers says, "the moment you think of serving people, you begin to have a notion that other people owe you something for your pains. . . You will begin to bargain for reward and to angle for applause." When we focus on serving Christ by serving others, then "the work becomes worship, a liturgy of thankfulness." (p. 194)
We are reminded in Matthew 20:26-28, Mark 10:45, and Acts 20:35 that those who are leaders will first be servants, that Jesus came to serve and not be served, and that it is more of a blessing to give to others than to receive for ourselves. Ann writes that "our happiness comes, not in the having but in the handing over." (p. 197)
It's not enough just to count the blessings. I must become the blessing by serving others with gratitude. This chapter ends with these words, "I can become the blessing, a little life that multiplies joy, making the larger world a better place." (p. 200)
I continue to find joy in the receiving and the giving. . .
176. UCI Medical Center - caring, friendly staff, nice facilities, Dr. Pigazzi
177. Successful hernia surgery for my hubby
178. Time alone to read, study and reflect
179. A gorgeous full moon
180. Hubby home from hospital
181. Olympian giving glory to God
182. Hubby getting around better - less pain
183. Sleeping in until 10 a.m.
184. My girl feeding all the animals without being asked
185. Kids getting along well for most of the day
186. Having a house to care for - many things to clean mean many blessings
187. Favorite “I Love Lucy” episodes to laugh & tear up over (Candy making & “We’re Having a Baby, My Baby and Me”)
188. My girl straightening up the family room all on her own
189. Siblings laughing and playing together
190. Some relief from a two-day headache/neck ache
191. My girl's colorful drawings
192. Brother’s sweet compliment to sister’s drawings
193. The last page of a good book
194. The sweet taste of Dr. Pepper!
195. Chance to serve my Grandma today
196. Daughter’s joy at time out with Grandma
197. Dinner out with my parents
198. Kids doing chores willingly
199. Hubby “better than he was”
200. Christmas movie in August - “Arthur Christmas” showed us true happiness doesn’t come from doing things for our own selfish ambition, but when we do things to serve others
"Grace is alive, . . . If I dam up the grace, hold the blessings tight, joy within dies. A life contemplating the blessings of Christ becomes a life acting the love of Christ." (p. 184)
Jesus washed the disciples feet at the Last Supper. When He was finished, He asked the disciples, "Do you understand what I have done for you?" Then He told them, "Now that I your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you." (John 13:12; 14-15)
Ann Voskamp writes, "At the last, this is what will determine a fulfilling, meaningful life, a life that, behind all the facades, every one of us longs to live: gratitude for the blessings that expresses itself by becoming the blessing. Eucharisteo is giving thanks for grace. But in the breaking and giving of bread, in the washing of feet, Jesus makes it clear that eucharisteo is, yes, more: it is giving grace away. . . Without the breaking and giving, without the washing of feet, eucharisteo isn't complete. The Communion service is only complete in service. Communion, by necessity, always leads us into community. . . Eucharisteo means 'to give thanks,' and give is a verb, something that we do. God calls me to do thanks. To give the thanks away. That thanks-giving might literally become thanks-living. That our lives become the very blessing we have received." (pp. 192-193)
Sometimes the daily routine can seem mundane and unimportant. But "if done unto God, the mundane work can become the liturgy of the Last Supper." The contrast to this is what Dorothy Sayers says, "the moment you think of serving people, you begin to have a notion that other people owe you something for your pains. . . You will begin to bargain for reward and to angle for applause." When we focus on serving Christ by serving others, then "the work becomes worship, a liturgy of thankfulness." (p. 194)
We are reminded in Matthew 20:26-28, Mark 10:45, and Acts 20:35 that those who are leaders will first be servants, that Jesus came to serve and not be served, and that it is more of a blessing to give to others than to receive for ourselves. Ann writes that "our happiness comes, not in the having but in the handing over." (p. 197)
It's not enough just to count the blessings. I must become the blessing by serving others with gratitude. This chapter ends with these words, "I can become the blessing, a little life that multiplies joy, making the larger world a better place." (p. 200)
I continue to find joy in the receiving and the giving. . .
176. UCI Medical Center - caring, friendly staff, nice facilities, Dr. Pigazzi
177. Successful hernia surgery for my hubby
178. Time alone to read, study and reflect
179. A gorgeous full moon
180. Hubby home from hospital
181. Olympian giving glory to God
182. Hubby getting around better - less pain
183. Sleeping in until 10 a.m.
184. My girl feeding all the animals without being asked
185. Kids getting along well for most of the day
186. Having a house to care for - many things to clean mean many blessings
187. Favorite “I Love Lucy” episodes to laugh & tear up over (Candy making & “We’re Having a Baby, My Baby and Me”)
188. My girl straightening up the family room all on her own
189. Siblings laughing and playing together
190. Some relief from a two-day headache/neck ache
191. My girl's colorful drawings
192. Brother’s sweet compliment to sister’s drawings
193. The last page of a good book
194. The sweet taste of Dr. Pepper!
195. Chance to serve my Grandma today
196. Daughter’s joy at time out with Grandma
197. Dinner out with my parents
198. Kids doing chores willingly
199. Hubby “better than he was”
200. Christmas movie in August - “Arthur Christmas” showed us true happiness doesn’t come from doing things for our own selfish ambition, but when we do things to serve others
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