June 25: Handbag of Blessings

 Theme: Giving and Receiving

Dr. Terry-Ann Robinson
Kings SDA Church 

Key Text 

“Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.” Luke 6:38 NKJV

 Last year, I invested in a big handbag, mainly for work. It has my laptop, mouse, pointer, glasses case, slippers, shades, pens, pencils, external hard drive, lip gloss, purse, journal, umbrella, and the list goes on. It weighs a ton, but I have everything I need in it. 

 What I love about my handbag is that it not only looks good, but it also has many compartments. I have a little place for everything I need throughout the day. 

 As we go through life on this earth, God has given us everything we need to make it through. When was the last time you checked your handbag of blessings? 

 The designer of the bag customizes each one to meet the needs of its owner. The size may be different. Some of the contents may be different. However, it has exactly what you need and enough to stretch a helping hand. 

 A few months ago, I felt overwhelmed by the events in my life. My heater stopped working. One week later, my AC stopped working, and that same weekend, my washer stopped working. On top of all these things that stressed me financially, my aunt passed. This was the fourth death in my family in a year and a half. These were just a few of the things that were happening all at once. 

 As I was applying for leave to go off to the funeral, I started to cry, "God, this is really a lot." When I returned to my office, a call came from someone who needed my help. I was a little hesitant, but I stretched my hand to that person and spent time helping to fix their problem. As I did this, I lost sight of my own dilemma. The problems were still there, but didn't seem as heavy as before. 

 Have you ever had no money, then out of nowhere, in the recesses of your handbag, you come across some money that you had no clue you had? It's a tremendous find, isn't it? 

 As I went through the day, God directed me to my handbag of blessings. I opened it and found a wonderful husband, good children, health, a job, food on my table, a church family that cares, a sound mind, more clothes than I need, journeying mercies, a reliable car, and more blessings than this devotional can hold. 

 Luke 6:38 tells us, "Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you." 

 When we give, the Lord blesses us in ways far more than we can ask or imagine. I don't know the size of your handbag of blessing or what's in it, but I know you can share something from that bag with someone. There is a blessing in giving.

 

Prayer: Dear Lord, when we stop to count our blessings we realize that we have so much to give thanks for. Help us not to be selfish. Help us share with a willing heart, knowing that all we have comes from you. Thank you for filling our handbag of blessings with everything we need. Help us to be wise in handling those resources and quick to share with others around us. Amen.