Why I sign off, BE BLESSED

As a young junior high pastor, one day I found myself trying to figure out what would be a good sign off at the end of my letters to parents, leaders, colleagues, and people in the church. I had seen plenty of sign offs that seemed vague and boring: sincerely, have a good day, take care, thank you, and the list goes on and on. I also saw ones that people would use that seemed at the time, a saying that was time sensitive for an event, season, or stage of ministry. So, out of really an attempt at a few options, I settled on BE BLESSED.

Blessing is used in a variety of ways in the Bible, as it actually begins with it and ends with it; but in between you can find a few ways to interpret this word. The Hebrew noun word for blessing is berakah, which communicates God's favor and goodness. The Hebrew verb word for blessing is barak, which means to kneel. Scripture is lined with ways we can visually see this word: birthrights, goodwill to mankind, inheritance, serving God, healthy crops, to name a few.

At every Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner my grandfather would lead the family in a well known song, the doxology. He would start off in his pastoral voice, "Praise God from whom all blessings flow..." It was a time for the family to offer praise and exaltation for His blessings upon the family. The blessing from God was revealed in Genesis only to be lost due to the Fall. Then God reveals throughout the OT the way in which He plans to cover us once again, through His Son, Jesus. The blessing awarded and forfeited in the creation story, is re-established by Jesus. He is the blessing for each of us.

As I sign off on 99% of the e-mails, letters, and encouragement notes with BE BLESSED; I am exhorting, as a close to my words, a word of blessing upon you, for whatever life may bring you that day or time frame.

Be Blessed Friend!