This week's article was initially planned to share the power of speaking blessings over our children, however, after exploring the topic I had to ask "What If"

• What if this concept were modified and applied in our churches and work places?
• What if we used this approach with our spouses and looked for good things to share?
• What if our staff, congregation and volunteer leaders heard heartfelt appreciation of jobs well done

Would acknowledgment of good attitudes generate even more caring and sharing? Could blessings spoken intentionally in sincere appreciation build stronger teams? And how much more fruit would be generated from group retreats where team members feel truly respected and valued as they work on strategic activities?

We'd love to hear if your next retreat is improved by applying these principles.  Please let us know how we can help as you invest in your families and teams.

The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.  Proverbs 18:21 NIV

Blessing Our Children:

"One day when my son Tucker was 5 years old, he began to argue with me incessantly.  I corrected him, then shared this Bible verse: "Do everything without grumbling and arguing, so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God who are faultless in a crooked and perverted generation, among whom you shine like stars in the world," (Philippians 2:14-15).

I explained, "Tucker, you are a child of God and you shine like a star - but when you argue, your light begins to fade.  I want you always to shine brightly, so please think about your attitude.

The words sank in.  Later he started to argue with me, but then he caught himself.

"Mommy," he asked, cupping his hand over his mouth,"am I still shining?" I smiled as I answered, "You are now."

- Lisa Whelchel¹

Blessing Our Staff, Spouses and Friends, Too:

Communicating encouragement and positive reinforcement includes verbal, visual, written and body language.  We never tire of receiving positive, encouraging messages from those around us.  The example above, written by Lisa Whelchel, is one of many she includes in her book Creative Correction.

The way we communicate with our children, spouses and co-workers can help them grow or crush them.  Fortunately,there are many positive examples in scripture and a variety of resources available on the web, print and multi-media.  These tools can help us grow into better leaders for our homes and organizations.  Some resources you may want to explore include:

1. The Power of Spoken Blessings by Bill Gothard.  The power of speaking blessings to each other can strengthen marriages, families and more.

2. The Blessing by Dr Gary Smalley and Dr John Trent is part of a series of related titles by these authors.  The list includes The Blessing: A Study Guide for Small Groups, The Legacy of the Blessing: A Mother's Devotional (The Blessing Meditation Series), The Gift Of The Blessing and more.

3. 365 Prophetic Promises & Blessings for Your Children by Sebastian Seet

4. A Gift from the Heart, God's Promises & Blessing Prayers for Children & Parents by Sebastian Seet

5. Blessing Your Children: How You Can Love the Kids in Your Life by Jack W Hayford

Blessings As An Event Or Right Of Passage:

In researching this topic I ran across an excellent article written by Seth Barnes titled "Fathers, bless your children".  He recommends doing an official blessing ceremony at a key life point, like graduation.  Some families do these ceremonies when a young man or woman officially becomes a teenager.  He relates: 

'We invited our closest friends over to the house and one by one, they spoke a blessing over them.  When it was my turn, I had written it out like a letter.

I said things like, "I'm so proud of you.  Your peers look up to you; you have set good examples for them.  Whatever you do, I know you'll succeed."  I could feel the emotion rising in me as something spiritual was transacted between us.

Children need their parents' blessing in a daily sort of way, and they also need it sacra mentally and publicly.  It's a way of validating their identity before others.  God showed us how it's done with Jesus: "This is My son in whom I'm well pleased."

When finished, everyone clapped and cheered.' ²

Proverbs 15:4 tells us that "Gentle words bring life and health; a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit." And in James 3:5 we are reminded "So also, the tongue is a small thing, but what enormous damage it can do.  A tiny spark can set a great forest on fire."

It is the desire of the staff of Midwest Christian Retreat properties that the blessings be many on the retreats and encounters the Lord brings into your path.

¹  "Choose Your Words Wisely" by Lisa Whelchel, courtesy of HomeLife, LifeWay Biblical Solutions for Life, http://www.lifeway.com/lwc/article_main_page/0%2C1703%2CA%25253D158541%252526M%25253D200741%2C00.html

² "Fathers, bless your children" by Seth Barnes on 3/9/2006, from Adventures in Missions,  http://www.sethbarnes.com/index.asp?filename=fathers-bless-your-children

³ Encouraging Words for Children, Written by HomeLife Staff, This article is courtesy of HomeLife http://www.lifeway.com/lwc/article_main_page/0%2C1703%2CA%25253D158592%252526M%25253D200852%2C00.html