"101" IMPORTANT WORDS or the BIBLE, "BY LEN WOODS"

Fifth Important WORD, cont: "BLESS"  (To give what is good to another).
Then the man said, "Let me go, for the dawn is breaking!" But Jacob said, "I will not let you go unless you bless me". (Genesis 32:26 NLT).
   It's as strange a Bible story as there is (Genesis 32:24-32). Jacob, the sketchy, shady grandson of Abraham, encounters a mysterious stranger- later said to be God himself! The two engage in a fierce, all-night wrestling match, during which a tenacious (or stubborn?)Jacob grunts, " I will not let you go unless you bless me." Just before sunrise, it's done. Jacob walks away with God's blessing, a new name, and a lifelong limp as a souvenir of the occasion.
   When a group of Southern women see a fashion-challenged soul wearing white shoes after Labor Day, "Bless her heart!" is what they murmur to one another. Sneeze in a crowded room and chances are good someone will respond, "Bless You!"
   The HEBREW verb translated "bless" is "barak". It means to give good things to another. Most often in the Bible, Jehovah God is depicted as the one doing the blessing. The clear implication is that we can (and should) petition the Almighty to pour out His favor on a loved be, a friend, a stranger, a marriage, or a venture meant to help others. When Jesus famously blessed the loaves and fish (Mark 6: 41), it wasn't solely a prayer of thanks; it was also a request that His 
Father in heaven might take that meager amount of food, make much of it , and nourish the massive crowd before Him. And, of course, God did. Occasionally, the Bible shows people approaching God not to seek a blessing from Him but rather to give one to Him. David, for example, urged himself repeatedly in Psalm 103 to " Bless the Lord, O my soul" (Psalm 103:1 NASB). This form of blessing-from creature to Creator- literally conveys the ideas of kneeling, adoring, or praising God. Those are some of the good things we can give back to Jehovah God. We can bless our Maker by giving Him the glory and honor He deserves.
   If the blessings we request from God are physical and material only-health and wealth-two things are true: FIRST, our view of "divine blessings" is far too small. SECOND, we need to be asking for much more-immaterial riches like peace, joy, love, and faith, (which brings patience's). Also, in all this " blessing business,' WE NEED TO GUARD AGAINST SELF-CENTEREDNESS. FROM BEGINNING TO END, the  Bible says that God blesses His people so that they will turn around and bless others. We are meant to be conduits of the rich favor of God Jehovah.
   Perhaps like Jacob we should be wrestling with God over this whole notion of "blessing". Are we grateful for HIS grace to us? 
   Do we bless Him as He deserves-or is all the blessing in our lives flowing on way only?                                                                               
   Do we freely pass on God's blessings: the truths we've learned, the resources He's given, the gifts and abilities He's dropped in our laps?
   Who besides God Jehovah can you bless today?
   Who.