One of the things I do as a minister is stand at the front door of the auditorium after Sunday morning services and greet people as they exit. It may not seem to be a major work of ministry at first glance. I don't even know how many come out that door after a service, maybe 100 or so. I do know that I only have a moment to speak to each of them as they pass, and I have learned to say one or two things in that moment.

One of these is "blessings" or "every blessing" and the other is "God loves you."

I've been doing this for years, and at times, I couldn't help but wonder if my words had any value to passers-by. Do I really help the hearer with my greeting? Does saying "Blessings" do anything for them? Does it matter that God loves them? Is my greeting merely pretty words?

In times of doubt, I turn to my Bible and its many verses where blessings are stressed. The act of blessing is found in the Bible's early passages and beyond: "God blessed them and said be fruitful." "I will bless those who bless you." The priestly prayer given to Moses starts with "May the Lord bless you."

My studies of scripture have shown me that speaking "blessings" releases and energizes the dynamic power of God's invisible kingdom. The wall of fire that surrounds each of us flares up, and divine protection comes alive. Blessings open doors that were shut; provision is soon experienced and then turns into prosperity.

Hope becomes reality as my greeting turns into a word that changes things, changes lives, circumstances, relationships far and wide.

Words have unlimited power. We live by words. Our feelings are expressed in words.

Blessings occur when we hear that God loves us. If God is for you, who can be against you? As my studies about blessings continued, I realized that each of us has the ability to be valuable to others — all others — by blessing them. I now speak blessings to people all the time. I walk by my neighbors' homes and bless them. I bless the stores and shops I visit. I bless the police headquarters, city hall, the Capitol, firehouses; I bless folks as I go by in my car.

I know the Bible says God's blessing will bring increase. I sign my e-mails and letters with "Blessings" or "Every blessing." These are not idle words; they have lifegiving power in them.

My morning time with the Lord includes blessing dear ones, friends, coworkers and authority figures one at a time. I bless them by name. Lord, would you bless so-and-so today? I am convinced that my blessing has great value to each I name. I bless leaders across the world. I bless those who some say are our enemies.

What would happen if all of us began to say "blessings" with the understanding that God will begin to move in response to our being his agent on earth? Our Islands would change; we would become friends and neighbors in every sense of those words.

Blessings. God loves you.

H. Murray Hohns of Makiki is an associate pastor at New Hope Christian Fellowship. The Expressions of Faith column welcomes submissions from leaders in faith and spirituality. Contact: faith@honoluluadvertiser.com, 525-8035.