BIG-BLESSING OCTOBER Bless the Lord, O My Soul!
I began my October blogs with thoughts about the priestly blessing God gave Moses to give to Aaron, Israel’s first high priest. The 3,000-year-old blessing endures to this very day, and it is probably my favorite biblical blessing. After I wrote that post, I began thinking about other blessings in the Bible, and I decided to dedicate the month of October to “BIG Blessings.” I hope you’ll join me each Monday and Thursday …
To me, October feels regal with its majestic amber and crimson hues. Crisp cool air mingled with bits of warm sunshine feels a bit standoffish. Misty morning fog rolls in with an aura of mystery.
October is also a cozy month, lending itself well to homemade soups; comfy sweats; flannel shirts; fires; and homey, spicy scents.
Abundant, I imagine, is a good adjective to describe October. Bushel baskets of crisp apples. Patches plentiful with bright orange pumpkins. And, then there are my favorite Heirloom pumpkins with names like Casper and Red Warty Thing. Sitting on our front porch right now is an elegant Triamble, a dusty greenish-grey Australian winter squash, which I learned is both decorative and edible.
October is a wonderful time to travel and for my soul to bless God with extravagant praise and gratitude. While God is the blesser—giver of all good gifts—my blessing of God is more of an expression of deep reverence and gratitude. I hope the following photographs Ron has taken during Octobers past plus selected scriptures will cause you to pause for a moment and express your blessing to God.
Bless the Lord, O my soul;
And all that is within me, bless His holy name!
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
And forget not all His benefits:
Who forgives all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases,
Who redeems your life from destruction,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies Psalm 103:1–4 (NKJV)
(Photo taken at McEuen Park in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho)
Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory in the heavens.
Psalm 8:1 (NIV)
(Lake McDonald in Montana’s Glacier National Park on a stunning October day)
And Mary said:
“My soul magnifies the Lord,
And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.
For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant;
For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.
For He who is mighty has done great things for me,
And holy is His name.
And His mercy is on those who fear Him
From generation to generation…. Luke 1:46-50 NKJV
Known as the Magnificat, this is surely one the most poignant blessings to God in all scripture, declared by the virgin Mary following the Angel Gabriel’s announcement that she had been chosen to become the mother of God’s son.
May God give you BIG blessings,
