Matthew 5:3-5 is Jesus' first sermon: "You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule. You're blessed when you feel you've lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you. You're blessed when you're content with just who you are—no more, no less. That's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can't be bought."
Matthew 5:33 -37 "And don't say anything you don't mean. This counsel is embedded deep in our traditions. ...Just say 'yes' and 'no.' When you manipulate words to get your own way, you go wrong. I love what C.S. Lewis says about words: Don't let your words be bigger than the occasion. If you use too big of a word or too many, you won't have those words to describe the next thing that comes along. "Don't use words too big for the subject. Don't say "infinitely" when you mean "very"; otherwise you'll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite." Am I honest with my words? Or am I trying to get my way with my words?
Jesus last words of his first sermon: "Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you."
Matthew 6:1 "Be especially careful when you are trying to be good so that you don't make a performance out of it. It might be good theater, but the God who made you won't be applauding. Why am I so dramatic? Is it to get my point across? Who am I trying to convince? Here's what God wants me to do: "Find a quiet, secluded place so you won't be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense his grace." Psalm 131 sit quietly and wait in hope this day.
Matthew 6:7 "The world is full of so-called prayer warriors who are prayer-ignorant. They're full of formulas and programs and advice, peddling techniques for getting what you want from God. Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes." Be still, O my soul. Before a Holy God..
Oh,yes don't try to manipulate God into doing what you want in the way you want it done....we can't do that anyway and you are only saying futile words. It is best most times to be still before Him and ask Him to tell you what to pray and to listen to what He says. Have been praying for you precious ones and the crisis in my son's life and looking for God's will in his life and NOT what seems apparent with human eyes...very, very hard. Also, sweet prayer warriors...pray for the family of a 16 yr old boy who died Friday night and three other boys involved in accident, the one who died is with Jesus. Pray for the families involved...could be serious consequences on top of the tragedy. Bless you for praying.
ReplyDeleteGood Sweet Sunday Morning Friends,
ReplyDeleteI am thrilled to read that many of you are having a great time together. Oh, how I have missed you all. Life has taken me through some wild changes this summer; however, if you will have me, I would love to re-join you all for our New Testament readings. ;-)
So here goes, as I jump back in....
I just love the beginning of Chapter 5, when Jesus describes what it means to be blessed. I don't know about you, but being from the South, I use the word "blessed" a lot. I am always thanking the Lord for blessing my life, asking him to bless the food to the nourish of our bodies and to bless the hands that prepared the meal, saying things like "Bless his/her heart, etc.
Reading this portion of scripture today, I could not help to think what Christ was saying about the word "blessed" and how it applies in my every day language and prayers. I looked up in my Life Application the word "blessed" and it states,
'The word "blessed" means more than happiness. To Jesus, "blessed" means the experience of hope and joy, independent of outward circumstances.'
I asked myself: Do I know that I am blessed by looking on the inside and looking for the peace, hope, and joy in my life? Or do I always look to my outward circumstances, my friends, family, home, career, church ministries, etc. to feel and see God's blessing?
Oh, I am so blessed with the Lord's presence in my Life. For Him choosing and calling me to serve Him. I am over joyed each day with His faithfulness and willingness to love me for me. Praise the Lord.
I love this portion of our reading: "You're blessed when you're content with just who you are—no more, no less. That's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can't be bought." Matthew 5:5
I hope today's reading has encouraged you as much as it has encouraged me.
Have a great rest of the weekend.
So glad to be back, and love to you all!!
-Kim
Knoxville, Tenn.
So much good here, but I especially love the last few lines today:
ReplyDelete"Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don't worry about missing out. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.
Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes."
Grace and peace, Annette
Welcome back, Kim! So glad to read your heart again!
ReplyDeleteMary Lou - Wow! We prayed together for you and all that is happening. May you see God's Hand in all of this. Will keep on praying over here! We missed you so this weekend!
ReplyDeleteKim, ABSOLUTELY, THRILLED you will be with us on the NT journey. We love you so! Fill us in when you can about your summer. If and how you can. We LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteAnnette, Just left a message on your FAcebook---you were an incredible hostess with such a gift of hospitality. Such a gift of serving! Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for giving us so much---most of all, through the God you so honor, you offered each of us a little more hope to face our world! Thank you for serving us beyond measure.
ReplyDeleteTo Each Pearl in a String of Pearls: We prayed for each one of you this weekend as we joined our hands and hearts together. A little taste of what it will be like One Day! May we continue to allow God to carry us through each other as we journey through the pages of the NT not seeking solutions but seeking our God Who so wants to show up in our lives. He already has. I hold each of your faces and your stories close to my heart. Mal 3:16-18.
ReplyDeleteTried to post on each of your facebooks but it didn't work. If I'm not your friend, will you friend me?? Thanks.
ReplyDelete