Blessed are all who fear the LORD, who walk in his ways. 2 You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours. 3 Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your sons will be like olive shoots around your table. 4 Thus is the man blessed who fears the LORD. 5 May the LORD bless you from Zion all the days of your life; may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem, 6 and may you live to see your children's children. Peace be upon Israel.

In our modern society we have, for the most part, lost the idea of invoking God’s blessings on our families, friends and our nation. Never has there be en a time that we need God more than we do now. I am not a doomsday person, one who sees only the bad and evil around us but I am convinced that our society, our nation and yes (for too many) our families are run with no thought of God or his will for us. As we stated yesterday, this is a transformation that needs to take place but must start in the heart of each of us. I often hear people bemoan the fact that prayer is not allowed in our schools. The 10 commandments are not allowed to be posted in public buildings. God is not allowed to be mentioned in our education. Then too often, the very ones who cry the loudest (and send the most e-mails) are the ones who never pray with their children at home. They do not study the Bible with their families and could not tell you even ½ of the 10 commandments if their lives depended on it. God told the children of Israel in the Law of Moses that the parents were to teach their children about him and his wonderful works for them when rising up and lying down. They were to be posted on their foreheads and on their door posts. They were to be remembered when going out and when coming in. When we place this kind of priority on God and his word in our daily lives and the lives of our families we will then have his blessings. How can we expect God to be with us and bless us when we relegate him to a pew once (or twice) a week as we go thru some ritual. God is to be in us and a part of our very being. We are to be the temple of God – his dwelling place. When God lives in us it will be obvious to those around us. We will (not might) change in our very nature to be more like him. Are we ready for God’s blessings? He alone is God!

O God, please give me faith and courage to open the door of my heart and let you come in to control my life. I do need your blessings every day but I too often get caught up in the things and cares of this world. Please help me to get and keep my priorities as they should be. Help me to never be ashamed of you, of serving you and of living for you. I thank you for this wonderful country and pray for our leaders. I pray in Jesus name.

May God bless each of us as we open our hearts to his leading.