Category: Blessings

  • Showers of blessing

    It rained some yesterday, and more rain is forecast. That’s to be expected this time of year in the Lower Mainland. Today’s image is a leaf I captured after another recent shower.

    Rain can certainly put a damper on things (pun intended). The shorter hours of sunlight can cause my SAD (seasonal affective disorder) to flare up some, and rain makes most outdoor tasks a little more challenging and uncomfortable.

    Still, as I must remind myself, we do need the rain. Water tables are very low, and that’s making it difficult for salmon to spawn. It’s been dry, so there were fewer berries for the bears and other critters to fatten up with for winter.

    PROMISED BLESSINGS

    The thoughts on rain showers took my mind back to a passage I read recently in Ezekiel.

    “I will make with them a covenant of peace and banish wild beasts from the land, so that they may dwell securely in the wilderness and sleep in the woods.  And I will make them and the places all around my hill a blessing, and I will send down the showers in their season; they shall be showers of blessing. And the trees of the field shall yield their fruit, and the earth shall yield its increase, and they shall be secure in their land. And they shall know that I am the Lord, when I break the bars of their yoke, and deliver them from the hand of those who enslaved them. They shall no more be a prey to the nations, nor shall the beasts of the land devour them. They shall dwell securely, and none shall make them afraid. And I will provide for them a renowned place for planting so that they shall no more be consumed with hunger in the land, and no longer suffer the reproach of the nations. And they shall know that I am the Lord their God with them, and that they, the house of Israel, are my people, declares the Lord God. And you are my sheep, human sheep of my pasture, and I am your God, declares the Lord God.” Ezekiel 34:25-31 ESV

    Now that’s a specific promise made in a given context to the people of Israel. Still, it shows His heart towards those He loves.

    Our Almighty, Loving God wants to “send down the showers in their season; they shall be showers of blessing.”  Think about that for a moment.

    God wants to bless you. It doesn’t mean you won’t face hard times or challenges. It does mean that whatever you face, God has blessings in store for you as a believer.

    Take some time today to reflect on the blessings God has already given you, and give Him thanks. Know there are more to come.

    Kevin

    SUMMARY

    Rainy days reminded me of God’s promise in Ezekiel 34 to send showers of blessing in their season. Whatever we face, God has blessings in store for us as believers.

    TAKEAWAY

    God’s promise in Ezekiel 34 was made to Israel in a specific context, but it shows His heart towards those He loves, and that includes you.

    God wanting to bless you doesn’t mean you won’t face hard times or challenges; it means that whatever you face, He has blessings in store for you as a believer.

    Take time today to reflect on the blessings God has already given you, thank Him for them, and know more are coming.

    CHECK THESE POSTS OUT

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  • Lessons in obedience

    What the shepherds tell us

    Merry Christmas. Okay, perhaps not yet, but I was reading the Advent story in Luke’s gospel when something struck me afresh. It’s a very familiar passage. Perhaps too familiar, as we can skim over it easily without thinking. The shepherds give us a lesson in obedience here.

    And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 

    And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

    When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. Luke 2:8-20 ESV

    Old ground, right? An angel appears and proclaims the event, and the heavenly host (the armies of God) rejoice. The shepherds choose obedience. They go to see and tell others what they saw. The others wonder, and the shepherds return home.

    What didn’t happen? The people of Bethlehem wondered, but there is no indication they believed. They didn’t go see for themselves. Perhaps a few believed, but it makes me wonder. If someone told me God appeared just down the block, I’d certainly be inclined to go take a look, if for no other reason than curiosity or to prove them foolish.

    The shepherds were obedient. They believed, and they worshipped.

    God didn’t hold them accountable for not producing results. Our task is obedience; God produces the transformation in others’ hearts.

    There was joy and worship in simply knowing and being obedient. They don’t seem to have worried about what others thought or believed. They did what God asked and praised His name.

    Obedience to the Lord and praise are their own rewards. They are opportunities and gifts for believers alone.

    Perhaps there is a lesson here for us. If we walk in obedience and praise God, there are blessings. The Scripture is full of promises of blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience.

    Let’s strive to follow the Lord and give him glory.

    God’s richest blessings,

    Kevin

    SUMMARY

    I was struck afresh reading the familiar Christmas story in Luke 2: the shepherds heard the angel’s news, believed it, and went in obedience, even though what happened next wasn’t up to them. Their example reminds me that our part is simply to walk in obedience and give God the glory, and to trust Him with the results in other people’s hearts.

    TAKEAWAY

    The shepherds responded to the angel’s message with immediate obedience, going to Bethlehem without hesitation or proof.

    The people of Bethlehem “wondered” but there’s no indication they believed; the shepherds weren’t responsible for that outcome, only for their own obedience.

    There was joy and worship simply in knowing and obeying, without the shepherds worrying about how others would receive it.

    IMAGE NOTES

    Today’s image is: Shepherd & flock, Sinai (matpc 09668), American Colony/Matson Photo Service, between 1898 and 1946. No known restrictions on publication. Library of Congress Colorized 2026

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