Today I wrote four blessings.  These were specific blessings written for the four men I am taking a course with in seminary.  It is easy to gloss over the discipline of blessing others.  It's kind of weird in our culture to physically (or in my case virtually) embrace another, look into their lives, and speak into them the Spirit of God in blessing.  Compliments are hard to come by, but blessings are even harder.

There is power in blessing others, and in being blessed.  Not our power, but the life-giving power of the Holy Spirit.  Just as God breathed the breath of life into Adam, we continue that life-giving act today.

If you want to transform the life of another today then take them by the shoulders, look them in the eyes, and bless them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  Pray God's guidance on their life, his strength in their limbs, his love on their lips, his mind in their vision.

I pray that the Lord would bless you!  That he would guide your steps, and enter into your heart in a powerful and healing way!  He is not just the Lord of our souls, but the Lord of the universe!  His power is infinite, his love is majestic, and his holiness is dumbfounding.  May you walk today knowing you are blessed and loved, unique in all creation!

O God, Creator of heaven and earth: Grant that, as the crucified body of your dear Son was laid in the tomb and rested on this holy Sabbath, so we may await with him the coming of the third day, and rise with him to newness of life; who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.  Amen.

Almighty God, we pray you graciously to behold this your family, for whom our Lord Jesus Christ was willing to be betrayed, and given into the hands of sinners, and to suffer death upon the cross; who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Almighty Father, whose dear Son, on the night before he suffered, instituted the Sacrament of his Body and Blood: Mercifully grant that we may receive it thankfully in remembrance of Jesus Christ our Lord, who in these holy mysteries gives us a pledge of eternal life; and who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Lord God, whose blessed Son our Savior gave his body to be whipped and his face to be spit upon: Give us grace to accept joyfully the sufferings of the present time, confident of the glory that shall be revealed; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.