Blessing of the Book Bags

Our children and youth were invited to bring their book bags to church to be prayed over as we begin the school year! There was an ocean of kids with bookbags for children’s moment that Sunday morning. We prayed for safety, knowledge, and wisdom for students, parents, and teachers in our community as the new school year starts. Psalm 119: 66, “Teach me knowledge and good judgment, for I trust your commands.” James 1: 5, “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”

As school starts, I think back to my mix of emotions when my girls started a new school year, whether preschool or college. As parents prepare for that first day there will be a mix of emotions. No matter our emotion, we can trust God with our most precious commodities! Ecclesiastes 3: 1, 6, “There’s an opportune time to do things, a right time for everything on the earth:...A right time to hold on and another to let go,...”

It was no coincidence that our sermon was on Jehovah Shalom - the Prince of Peace. With school starting and the state of our world we need to know that we have a Prince of Peace! Isaiah 9: 6, “And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” No matter our circumstances, we can focus on the blessings and the goodness of God instead of our circumstances. “Your condition is not your conclusion.” Philippians 4: 6-7, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”