In the beautiful weather we've been having, I have been enjoying the trees at the end of our road, resplendent in their autumn clothes.
​Funny I haven't noticed them in other years.......

.......Maybe they just haven't looked so good before?
.......Maybe it's because I've been approaching them from different direction this year?
.......Or maybe in the past I was just too busy or preoccupied to take notice?​

Whatever the reason, it made me think once again,
about taking time to be really present in our surroundings.
Our attention may be caught by the stunning mountain scene​, the blaze of colour in the park borders, or the majestic waves crashing on the beach - which is all good - but sometimes we fail to see the quiet glory under our noses.
I wonder how many blessings we miss because we go through life with our minds elsewhere?
And as each blessing is an opportunity to connect with the One 'who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment' [1Timothy 6:17],
I wonder how many divine appointments we miss as well?

​​

In the UK, the summer months bring with them many local fȇtes & agricultural shows. It's a great chance to celebrate the skills of the local community & enjoy the fruit of their labour.

It's also an opportunity to be good news in our locality. Try walking through the crowds & blessing (silently!) the visitors, competition entrants & livestock handlers: bless their homes, their families and the 'harvest' of their labour in the name of Jesus.

Not sure what to say? The following web page has a wonderful prayer which can be adapted for this purpose, as well as some other interesting resources:
http://partnersinprayer.org.au/ffald-y-brenin-resources-available-in-australia

And for more ideas click on the BLESSING tag in the CATEGORIES section opposite.

 The LORD bless you and keep you;
the LORD make his face shine on you and be gracious to you;
the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace.
So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.         

[Nos 6:24-27]

One of the functions of the Old Testament priesthood was to bless the people, and put the Lord's name on them. It is also our privilege as priests after the order of Melchisedek, to do the same.

Harvest time is a great time to declare blessing over  the farms, workers, livestock & harvests around our towns & villages. (Too far from the countryside? Then bless the local businesses which are supplied by the farms.)

For more on the power of blessing, two books by Roy Godwin telling how a region of the UK is being transormed by this prayer-tool:

Click on pictures to be redirected to Amazon* where they can be purchased.