Bless

Five simple steps to love our city well and bring people to Jesus.

We desire to love the Big Country well.  BLESS is a tool to encourage us to love and serve people in our lives, so that they may have the opportunity to come to a saving relationship with Jesus.

BLESS comes from Genesis 12:2-3.  This is the place where God calls and blesses Abram.  God says, “I will bless you and make your name great so that you will be a blessing."

We encourage you to be intentional about reaching your neighbors and co-workers with these five practical steps.  By doing one step each day we can see our whole city and the Big Country come to know Jesus. 

As an encouraging reminder to BLESS the people the Lord puts in front of you each day, save the BLESS wallpaper to your phone by using the QR Code or button below. 

Download Wallpaper Here

B - BEGIN WITH PRAYER           Colossians 4:2-4

Prayer is a vital part of the mission of God and reveals His direction in our lives.  Once the Lord has revealed the people He is calling you to, begin praying for and blessing them.  As you continue to build relationship with these people and places, regularly ask them how you can be praying for them and take the time to pray with them.

Action Step: Create a list of people that the Lord is calling you to pray over and BLESS.  Pray the following:

  • That God stirs a desire in them to know Him. 
  • That the Lord opens their eyes to His work and His desire to know them.
  • How can I reach out and be a blessing to them?

L – LISTEN                                   James 1:19-20

Listening helps us get to know people.  Listening helps us understand what people are dealing with, what they are working through, and what excites them.  We can listen to their fears, worries, and concerns.  We can ask what their passions are.  We can find out where and how they want to grow.  Don't talk, but listen to people, their struggles, and their pains in the places God sends you.

Action Step: Take time to listen to the people God puts in front of you.

  • How can you pray for them?
  • Is the Lord revealing something specific they may need?

E – EAT                                         Acts 2:46

We all LOVE to eat!  And we typically eat twenty-one times a week.  Just include people in this.  There is something about eating together that moves any relationship past acquaintances and toward friendship.  When/if possible, invite these people that you are trying to bless into your home.  The home setting creates a shared place of comfort and vulnerability.  It welcomes people to share their lives and builds genuine friendship.  You can also have a meal with people at a restaurant or have a cup of coffee.

Action Step: Make a plan to invite someone to coffee, to lunch or to your home for dinner.

  • After viewing the cooking show, Invite your friends over, Cook the meal together, and ENJOY!

Semi-Professional Cooking Show Recipe

S – SERVE                                   1 Peter 4:10-11

As you're listening to people share about their lives, look for ways you can serve them.  People will tell you how they need to be served.  Listen and be willing to step into the places that they are ready to welcome you.  Frequently these will be simple and seemingly mundane tasks, however, these tasks often bless people far beyond what we can imagine.  Service is about the person that is being served and not the service that is being done.

Action Step: Ask the Lord how to serve someone.

  • Be willing to mow their lawn or rake their leaves.
  • Bake a dessert to share with them.
  • Go to the store or run an errand for them.
  • Most importantly, listen for the places they are asking for help and look for places where they may be willing to allow you to serve.

S – SHARE                                   2 Timothy 1:8-9

When the time is right, share your story, the story of how Jesus changed your life.  Sometimes they will even ask about your story.  Your account of finding Jesus is compelling.  Don’t be afraid if they ask you something you don’t know.  It is ok to say, "I am not sure, but I will try to find out."

Action Step: Share your story with someone today.

  • What was your life like before you met Jesus?
  • What does it look like now? 
  • What difference has knowing Jesus made in your life? (marriage healed, acceptance and unconditional love, peace from anxiety, etc.)
Hey difference makers!

Thank you so much for showing the love of Jesus to our city!  Below are some serve opportunities and practical ways we can BLESS our city and meet the needs of those that God puts in front of us.  Right now, more than ever, our city needs to see the love of Jesus on display.  We are excited to join with you and BLESS the people of Abilene and the Big Country area!

Let's encourage one another while we BLESS.  Use the hashtags below, tag @beltwaypark, and share a photo and/or video of you, your family or community group as you BLESS others.

#blessABI    #WeLoveAbilene

  

Ideas to Serve & BLESS

Prayer Walk 

Gather your family or community group to prayer walk your street, neighborhood or school.  Pray for some of the following:

  • Ask the Lord to bless your neighbors (by name if you know them).
  • Ask for salvation for those in this neighborhood/school.
  • For protection from sickness, fear and harm.
SERVE YOUR NEIGHBORS

Bless our city by serving it.  Scripture says that everyone has unique gifts, talents and passions.  Any of these can be avenues to help people.  All of these ways to serve are valuable to extending the Kingdom of God.  These are just a few ideas to serve our neighbors in Abilene and the Big Country area.

  • Mow a neighbor's lawn.
  • Invite a family or a friend to your home for dinner.
  • Bless a "first responder" with a thank you basket.
  • Make cookies and deliver them to neighbors or co-workers.
  • Pay for the car behind you in the drive-thru.
  • Sign up for a Nextdoor acccount and download the app to learn more about people in your neighborhood, then offer to run errands for the elderly.
  • Take out a neighbor's trash.
  • Plan or participate in a neighborhood clean-up.
  • Gift a store gift card to a neighbor.
  • Shop for a senior/elderly.
  • Send a pizza to a single parent and their kids.
  • Invite a college student over for game night with your family.
  • Purchase groceries for someone.
  • Deliver a "Welcome to the Neighborhood" bag to a NEW neighbor or co-worker.