BLESSED ARE THE POOR IN SPIRIT - KETCHUP AND MUSTARD SATURDAY

KETCHUP AND MUSTARD SATURDAY

(Catch - Up and Must Do)

Life can be soooo hard..... it is full of frustrations!   How does one get through it with meaning, sanity, joy, and blessing?  I really do believe that our answers are found in a library of 66 books called the Bible.   Please join me in watching this short video about the Bible. 

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.The message is Jesus!  From the first book to the last, in this library, is the thread of Jesus.  The Bible is His-story!  During His ministry on earth, He speaks words that are often called "the magna carta of Christianity".  We refer to those words as THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT:  Jesus words in  Matthew chapters 5, 6, and 7.   Only Jesus has the complete answer of how to lead THE BLESSED LIFE.  He begins His sermon with:


MATTHEW 5:1-3 .

Now when He saw the crowds, He went up on a mountainside and sat down. .
His disciples came to Him, and He began to teach them, saying:
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"BLESSED are the POOR IN SPIRIT,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

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 The apostle Paul learned the secret to THE BLESSED LIFE ... this life that begins with being poor in spirit. Let's ask Paul some questions. He can answer through the verses he wrote in PHILIPPIANS 2:5-7
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1. Paul, what should my continual outlook on life be?

• Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:

2. Who is Christ Jesus, Paul?

• Who, being in very nature God,

3. So, my attitude should be the same as God? Isn't that kind of prideful? Wouldn't that make me kind of full of myself?

• did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but He made HImself nothing,

4. Okay, so if Jesus, who is God, didn't have an attitude that was full of Himself - what did that look like?

• taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness..

As you ponder these new verses from Philippians today, consider using the word AGES. Paul is sharing with us a foundational concept... for living THE BLESSED LIFE... for the AGES.
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Try memorizing it in these 4 sections:
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1. A: Attitude of Christ Jesus

• Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:

2. G: God

• Who, being in very nature God,

3. E: Equality - NOT!

• did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made Himself nothing,

4. S: Servant

• taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.
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Philippians 2:5-7

• Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus
• Who, being in very nature God,
• did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made Himself nothing,
• taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.

~BLESSED~

OH, THE JOY!

BLESSED ARE THE POOR IN SPIRIT - FAMILY FELLOWSHIP FRIDAY

Fellowship = 2 or more fellows in the same ship!

Looking at it in those terms, I ask myself, "What happens to those 'fellows' when a storm comes?"  I have a feeling that "focusing on oneself instead of on the good of all on board" would NOT be the correct answer.

It is so easy to get caught up in protecting ourselves first.  In light of our current topic on this blog, we each must learn to be poor in spirit by pouring ourselves out and allowing Jesus to fill us up.  What does fellowSHIP look like when one or more "fellows" are filled with Jesus?  

I'm thinking of some of my friends, the past few weeks, in terms of FellowSHIP...

• FellowSHIP:  What does "poor in spirit" look like while chaperoning a busload of teens on a multi-state trip?
• FellowSHIP:  What does "poor in spirit" look like when you host a bunch of young ones for a slumber party?
• FellowSHIP:  What does "poor in spirit"  look like when you use your day off to cook and clean so that you can have a group over for a Bible study that evening?   
• FellowSHIP:  What does "poor in spirit" look like when your spouse is recovering from major surgery and you've taken on the responsibilities for both of you? 
• FellowSHIP:  What does "poor in spirit" look like when you are alone with your family at home?

Today, our oldest son turns 32 years old.  I ask myself, how might "J's" siblings describe him to others?  What about his wife and children?  I'm sure their description would coorelate with mine:   "poor in spirit"... "selfless"...!   Oh, what a family fellowSHIP!

BLESSED ARE THE POOR IN SPIRIT!

~OH, THE J.O.Y.~

BLESSED ARE THE POOR IN SPIRIT - TRANSFORMING THURSDAY

 TRANSFORMING THURSDAY...

And God raised us up

with Christ and seated us with Him

in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus..."

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Transformed people, living here one earth, make their home in the "Kingdom of Heaven" according to Matthew and "...in Heavenly Realms or Places" according to Ephesians. Those are the only scriptures where those two terms are used.

Jesus took the form of a baby when He came to live on the earth. During the short 33 years that He lived on this planet, he did a lot of teaching. God, the Father...God, the Son...and God, the Holy Spirit had designed earth to be a blessing to all involved. Over the years, mankind had a lot of difficulty understanding how to lead a life of blessing. So, one day, Jesus taught His disciples about what a blessed life would look like. Many scholars believe that this is the place where Christ's Sermon on the Mount happened.

In Matthew 5, the first part of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, Jesus speaks what we call the BE-ATTITUDES. These foundational principles of Christianity could be accurately called the BE-JESUS verses.

I'm going to list them for you in abbreviated form, only noting the verses that have the specific promise of the "Kingdom of Heaven".

1. "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
2. Blessed are those who mourn
3. Blessed are the meek
4. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness
5. Blessed are the merciful
6. Blessed are the pure in heart
7. Blessed are the peacemakers
8. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
9. "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Life is a mess!  It's a dark world out there!  You want to live above it all right now?  In heavenly places?  In the kingdom of heaven?  It's possible!

Did you know, my friend, that if you live this way, you will live THE BLESSED LIFE!   While on this earth, you will be the flavoring of choice and a light in the darkness.

• Verse 13 "You are the salt of the earth.
• Verse 14 "You are the light of the world.

BLESSED ARE THE POOR IN SPIRIT,

FOR THEIRS IS THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN...

At some point, each of us must learn that "life is not all about me...it's about God..."

We change from selfish to SELFLESS.

~BLESSED~

...OH, THE JOY!

BLESSED ARE THE POOR IN SPIRIT - WOMEN IN THE WORD WEDNESDAY

I am a huge fan of Christ's Sermon on the Mount. I have heard it called the "Magna Carta of the Christian Faith". I like to call it my "Declaration of Dependence". Years ago, Steve and I read a book by E. Stanley Jones called Christ of the Mount. It wet my appetite for continual revisiting of Christ's Sermon. This week, I've really been thinking a lot about the first 3 "Be-attitudes" of THE SERMON in Matthew chapter 5.

BLESSED ARE THE POOR IN SPIRIT...

Hmmmmm...that's how Christ starts out! That's His first point! That's His first "Be-attitude":

"Blessed are the POOR IN SPIRIT for theirs is the KINGDOM OF HEAVEN."

Honestly, that's a tough one for a 42 out of 42 Choleric personality type. Yet, that is what He is calling all of us to do when we come to Him. If we want the Kingdom of Heaven, then let's give ourselves up, pour ourselves out, empty our pockets of the 'me' factor...from selfish to selfless....from crowned with worldly stuff to crucified with a crown of thorns....hmmmmm....



You might be tempted to think whether or not this Kingdom of Heaven is even worth the "poor in spirit" thing. Well, before you give in to the temptation to X out of these challenging thoughts, how about today...just for a few minutes...read through what Matthew says about the Kingdom of Heaven. Did you know that the only place in the Bible that the phrase Kingdom of Heaven is found is in Matthew? So, let's do this...read through the Matthew passages and get a glimpse of this kingdom...and then meditate on whether or not you think it is something that is important to be a part of. If so, then, I guess we need to meet back here tomorrow and talk about that "poor in spirit" thing.


Here are those Matthew scripture references...but before you start, know this:

From the Vine's Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words, Copyright (c)1985, Thomas Nelson Publishers - "The Kingdom of Heaven is always the Kingdom of God, but the Kingdom of God is not limited to the Kingdom of Heaven, until in their final form, they become identical,
Rev 11:15, RV; John 3:5; Rev 12:10."


In the verses below "it" is the KINGDOM OF HEAVEN:

Matt 3:2..... J. Baptist preached-repent, it’s near!
Matt 4:17... Jesus preached – repent, it’s near!
Matt 4:23... Jesus preached it's good news!
Matt 5:3..... It belongs to those who are Poor in Spirit
Matt 5:10... It belongs to those who are persecuted for righteousness.
Matt 5:19... Some in it are least.
Matt 5:19... Some in it are great.
Matt 5:20... Some will not enter it.
Matt 6:10... It's the Fathers and it’s coming.
Matt 6:33... Seek it first.
Matt 7:21... Not all who say “LORD” will enter it.
Matt 8:11... Abraham, Isaac, Jacob at its feast.
Matt 8:12... Subjects of it thrown out.
Matt 9:35... Jesus preached its Good News!
Matt 10:7.... Apostles to preach It’s near.
Matt 11:11... We are greater in it than J. Baptist.
Matt 11:12... It’s forcefully advancing.
Matt 12:25... Will be ruined if it’s divided.
Matt 12:28... It has come, if H.S. drives demons out.
Matt 13:11... It’s secrets given to disciples.
Matt 13:19... It’s message can be misunderstood.
Matt 13:24... It’s like a man sowing good seed.
Matt 13:31... It’s like mustard seed.
Matt 13:33... It’s like yeast.
Matt 13:38... It’s sons are the good seed.
Matt 13:41... Angels will weed out its sin.
Matt 13:43... Righteous will shine like sun in it.
Matt 13:44... It’s like a treasure hidden in a field.
Matt 13:45... It’s like a merchant looking for pearls.
Matt 13:47... It’s like a net.
Matt 13:52... It’s like the owner of a house.
Matt 16:19... Peter given keys to it.
Matt 16:28... Some won’t die before J.C. comes in it.
Matt 18:1-3.. Unless like little ones, never enter it.
Matt 18:4..... Humbled like child, are greatest in it.
Matt 18:23... It’s like a king who wants to settle…
Matt 19:12... Some are eunuchs because of it.
Matt 19:14... It belongs to childlike people.
Matt 19:23... Rich men have a hard time entering it.
Matt 19:24... Easier for camel than rich to enter it.
Matt 20:1..... It’s like a landowner hiring workers.
Matt 20:21... It belongs to Jesus.
Matt 21:31... Tax collectors/prostitutes entering it.
Matt 21:43... It’s given to those who produce it’s fruit.
Matt 22:2..... It’s like a king preparing wedding banquet.
Matt 23:13... Teachers of law... Pharisees shut it.
Matt 24:14... It preached in all the world-then end comes.
Matt 25:1..... It’s like ten virgins who meet bridegroom.
Matt 25:34... It’s prepared for you since creation.
Matt 26:29... Jesus drank in it with apostles.

 ~BLESSED~

...Oh, the JOY!

BLESSED ARE THE POOR IN SPIRIT - GRATI-TUESDAY

 

At the top of this blog, it says, GOD BLESSES AND TRANSFORMS. It is so true!  God isn't Santa Claus or the Good Fairy. His ways are not "magical", they are transformational. His WAY is a journey and a process. God is God!  God is good!

My relationship with God, begins and continues with me BEing and living His BE-attitudes. This week as we talk about the first be-attitude, I am grateful that He has made it clear that this is how I can be blessed.  This is how He wants me to think/live/be:

BLESSED ARE THE POOR IN SPIRIT... Lord, I want to be transparent... no masks! This is me, God, with all my warts, inconsistencies, and woundedness. Thank You for introducing me to Your HOLY SPIRIT, sending Him to live inside of me, and allowing me entrance into the Kingdom of Heaven. You, Jesus, are MY KING!

Today, our youngest daughter turns 26 years old.  I am so thankful for "C" and her heart!  I want for her to continue to walk in the JOY of  the Good Shepherd, as He walks this journey with her.  I want for her THE BLESSED LIFE!  Each of the be-attitudes begins with the words "Blessed are..."  Another way to read each be-attitude is to begin with, "Oh, the JOY of being...".  Whichever way the be-attitude begins, I am thankful that Jesus teaches us how to be:

~BLESSED~

OH, THE JOY!

BLESSED ARE THE POOR IN SPIRIT - MEDITATION MONDAY

TODAY IS "APRIL FOOL'S DAY"! 
I WANT TO BE A FOOL FOR CHRIST...
AND THIS
IS
HOW
IT
BEGINS...

THE BLESSED LIFE?

Step One:  Jesus begins His "Sermon on the Mount" (in Matthew 5,6, and 7) with these words:

Matthew 5:3


BLESSED ARE the poor in spirit...

...for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.

Put this verse to memory!  Think deeply on what Jesus meant.  To help us ponder / meditate more on what this means to each of us, as daughters of God, here are three of my very favorite songs on this topic. BE BLESSED!



Be sure to pause the playlist above before viewing these 3 songs via 2 embedded videos and one video link:

1. Just As I Am

2.  I Surrender All

3. Broken and Spilled Out

BLESSED:  OH, THE JOY!

BLESSED ARE THE POOR IN SPIRIT - SUNDAY IN THE SON

IT'S EASTER SUNDAY...

IT'S ABOUT THE CROSS...

IT'S TRANSFORMATIONAL...

IT BEGINS BY BEING POOR IN SPIRIT...

TODAY AND EVERY DAY...

IF YOU WANT TO LEAD THE BLESSED LIFE!

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~BLESSED~