The focus for our services on the first Sunday of the month has been a journey through the book of Genesis. Chapters 1-11 are filled with the stories of Creation, The Fall, Noah, Babel and lists of family trees. At the beginning of chapter 12 the focus narrows. The stories of creation and global humankind suddenly zoom in on a single man: ‘Now the Lord said to Abram…’God asks Abram to leave his home and we read that he does just that. But God also makes a promise to him. He promises a blessing. The blessing was that Abram, who was already 75 years old and had no children, would be the father of a huge family who would inherit the land God was leading him to, and also that this blessing would bless others. Spoiler alert!… God keeps his promises! This blessing is pure grace – given to Abram for no reason that we are told in the passages that come before and as you read through your Bibles you will find that this blessing is fulfilled most fully in the coming of Jesus.In the same way that God blessed Abram, by his grace, he blesses us. Being blessed by God does not mean being happy all the time, being rich or having lots of possessions. It doesn’t mean having an easy life. When God blesses you he is making you into everything he ever meant you to be – it’s all part of a much bigger plan and it might sometimes mean waiting and it might mean going through difficult times. And, just like Abram, he blesses us to be a blessing to others.I wonder if we can think about the blessings, that the Creator of the universe has given to us. I wonder if we can change how we think about those things that might not seem like blessings right now. I wonder if we can focus in on how we react to and use those blessings, and how that might bless others and ultimately, show them Jesus. We are blessed to be a blessing.