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Listen while you read: "Make Me a Blessing"1 (Lyrics) |
Music is a wonderful vehicle for expressing deep thoughts and emotions. A childhood friend and I were reminiscing recently about how rich and meaningful our early church experience was. This was due, in part, to the role that music had played. Over the course of time, the small congregation in our little rural community church essentially sang through our entire hymn book. With much repetition, we could sing — by heart — nearly every verse of those old hymns and gospel songs.
My friend commented on the wealth of theology that was often packed into those songs. Many of them did carry a strong message of hope and encouragement and of God's grace and faithfulness. Oftentimes, a song gave a strong nudge to spread the good news of salvation to the world around us.
Such was the case with the song, Make Me a Blessing. One line of the refrain, "Make me a blessing to someone today" often comes to mind as I live my life here in the condo community where I now live. Read these words:
- Make Me a Blessing
1. Out in the highways and byways of life,
Many are weary and sad;
Carry the sunshine where darkness is rife,
Making the sorrowing glad.
Refrain:
Make me a blessing, make me a blessing.
Out of my life may Jesus shine;
Make me a blessing, O Savior, I pray.
Make me a blessing to someone today.
2. Tell the sweet story of Christ and His love,
Tell of His pow'r to forgive;
Others will trust Him if only you prove
True, ev'ry moment you live.
3. Give as 'twas given to you in your need,
Love as the Master loved you;
Be to the helpless a helper indeed,
Unto your mission be true.
– Ira B. Wilson
The line, "Make me a blessing to someone today" becomes a frequent prayer as I think about needy people all around me. I know that even a smile or a kind word can make me a blessing to them. Warm conversations with others can also lead to opportunities to "give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have." But we are called to "do this with gentleness and respect." (1 Peter 3:15b NIV)
We are also encouraged by Psalm 107:2 – "Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he has redeemed from trouble." (ESV)
What can we do today to be a blessing to others around us? How can you share the hope that you have experienced?
Prayer: Dear Father in heaven, may our words and actions show Jesus to others around us. As You have blessed us, may we in turn be a blessing to others in our daily lives. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
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Tuesday, April 16, 2024 – In Peru — Please pray for this summer season at our beach-town home to be a blessing to the little Fellowship we have started and that the Lord would "add to our numbers those who are being saved".
Housing: "Update April 14, 2024; Please pray extra fervently for tomorrow when she and her son will be going..." 
Thank you.
Amen and amen! Thank you for sharing. Blessings.
Thank you, Gail. I love the messages in the old songs, too.
Gail, a perfect reminder for these days and everyday. Thank you!
A smile, a kind word to the grocery store clerk, the mailman – know their names – all helps.
Thank you for highlighting that old hymn that has such meaning!! We are blessed to be a blessing.
I met that song for the first time last year. Truly a wonderful encouragement to see the world a little differently.
Thanks, Gail, for your good words today. I do love the words in that song and it truly is a prayer we need strive to fulfill each day. Blessings for these very special writings you do.
Solid truth! Music will determine the meaningful worship experience Gail. I just had this discussion with a ministry colleague this morning. Poor music will defeat a worshipful space. Blessings.
Such a GOOD old song, Gail! I hadn’t sung it in awhile and it was lovely to have it in mind again. You truly ARE a blessing to those around you and all of us who read your words today. Grateful.
Good morning, Gail,
You and I are of the same mind about the old hymns. What a blessing they are to us and so many other people.
Blessings.
Thank you for the reminder of how some of these old hymns have stuck with us over the years.
Building us up in faith and redirecting us in the paths of life for God’s glory.
So many young folk have and continue to miss this blessing.
May we, the Church, find new, exciting ways to teach these truths to the world around us.
Blessed to be a blessing. I will try to keep my eyes open for the possibilities today.
(Ontario, Canada)
Hi Gail,
Well you have been a blessing today to many people who use the devotionals. You are a blessing I am sure to the people you interact with each day.
The singing of hymns is an important part of our faith to join with others in praise, to hear the words from the Bible in others, to lift up our hope with a stronger faith and in many other ways.
As we go about our daily lives, may God inspire us to be a blessing to others and to sing and praise the Lord. Blessings.
HI Gail,
When I was in high school, my family belonged to a large Presbyterian Church in Nebraska. We had a youth choir that processed ahead of the adult choir every Sunday. We sang “At the name of Jesus, Every knee shall bow. Every tongue confess him, King of Glory now. Tis the Father’s pleasure we should call him Lord, who from the beginning was the mighty word.” I do not know who wrote the musical arrangement but that message from the Bible obviously is still with me sixty plus years later!
Thanks once more for writing a devotional that resonates with me.
Thank you for this devotional and I want to let you know it hit a spot with me today, as I am trying to be a blessing to a much-loved granddaughter who is hurting so very much. I love the words to the hymn, “Make Me a Blessing”. I grew up in the Presbyterian Church and I grew to love the old hymns at Sunday School, then in the church choir as a teen and later young wife. On occasion when I feel down, I sit down at my piano and go through the old hymn books. Truly a blessing. My granddaughter is not sure what she believes, but she needs to keep hearing the message. Seems I am the only one she turns to now, so I was about to send her a message and hope that our Lord will make me a blessing to her today. God Bless You for this message.