Jesus is here with you and me via His Holy Spirit.  Jesus loves You!  How are You doing at loving Yourself?  Here's a self check!


1 Corinthians 13 describes that love called "agape".


"Love is patient,  (I am patient with myself).

love is kind. (I am kind to myself).

Love does not envy, (I choose to be thankful in all things).

love does not boast, (I choose to give God the glory in all things).

love is not proud. (I choose to give God the glory in all things).


Love does not dishonor others, (I choose to honor the differences in myself and others).

love is not self-seeking, (I choose to seek the kingdom of heaven first).

love is not easily angered, (I choose to listen more, see with new eyes, and breathe deep).

love keeps no record of wrongs. (I choose forgiveness and forgetfulness).



6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. (I choose truth).



7 Love always protects, (I choose to protect myself with flexible - not rigid boundaries).



Love always trusts, (I choose to trust the LORD who works in and through me).



Love always hopes, (I choose to rest my hope in Jesus).



Love always perseveres. (I choose to to never, never, never give up).



8 Love never fails... (I already know the end of the story... LOVE WINS!)



13 ...And now these three remain: faith, hope and LOVE.

But the greatest of these is LOVE. "

~Oh, the JOY~
 
For more time in the WORD, check out our weekly posts this year for WOMEN IN THE WORD WEDNESDAY here.

HERE WITH US... GRATITUESDAY...

Can you imagine your children waking up one morning and they find that their parents have disappeared and you are not coming back.  How horrifying! 

I've worked with many children throughout my almost 40 years in education.  One thing I saw yesterday and see on a regular basis is kids who do not trust.  They've learned quickly, in their young lives, to put up walls for protection.  Their needs have not been met, nor have their wants.

I am so grateful that Jesus said, "I will never leave you or forsake you...".  The word IMMANUEL or EMMANUEL means "God with us".  The promise is that He will be with us always.  Then, why do we run from that?  Why do we distrust and say that God let us down again?

I believe it is because we do not comprehend that even when things go "wrong" He has our best interest at heart.  Our troubles are part of how we are refined and molded into His image.  Just look at Jesus' life on earth.  It certainly was not a bed of roses!

Jesus came to model for us how to live holy lives.  Just because we do not get instant gratification does not mean that He is not here with us or that He does not listen to us.

Want to live the BLESSED LIFE?  A HAPPY LIFE?  A JOY FILLED LIFE?  A LIFE BASED ON WHO HE IS AND WHO I AM IN HIM?  Jesus explained how to do that in His Sermon on the Mount.  He was already modeling it, at the time.   

Thank You, Jesus, for modeling how to live this BLESSED LIFE.  We each have a choice to make:  love myself enough to love God and do things His way.  He is here with us; He is here to help us!  We step out in faith to live like He told us to in His Sermon on the Mount:

"Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying:

³ “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
⁴ Blessed are those who mourn,
For they shall be comforted.
⁵ Blessed are the meek,
For they shall inherit the earth.
⁶ Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
For they shall be filled.
⁷ Blessed are the merciful,
For they shall obtain mercy.
⁸ Blessed are the pure in heart,
For they shall see God.
⁹ Blessed are the peacemakers,
For they shall be called sons of God.
¹⁰ Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

¹¹ “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. ¹² Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you."

~Oh, the JOY!~

HERE WITH ME... MONDAY MEDITATION...

Loving Yourself the way Jesus loves you, means you must spend lots of time with Jesus!

Love J esus!

Love O thers!

Love Y ourself!

This month, we're talking more about loving Yourself.

I was challenged by Steves's sermon, yesterday, as he looked at the life of David and his relationship with God.  Steve made some implications for our own lives. 

There were times when David was:


5)  A Non-Believer – Read 2 Samuel 12:1-15

• Satan was after David’s relationship with the LORD! What if Nathan hadn’t come?

4)  A Pretender – Read 2 Samuel 11:14-25

• David had a hardened heart! How could adultery & murder be no problem to him?

3)  A Coaster – Read 2 Samuel 11:1-5

• It was the spring of the year and David should have been – WHERE? Why wasn’t he?

2)  A  Survivor – Read Psalm 42 and/or Psalm 31

• There were times in David’s life he was barely hanging on! Can you relate? Explain.

1)  A Pursuer – Read Psalm 119:62,72,82,92,97,102,112

 
 
Steve asked for each of us to circle the one that applies to each one of us.  Try this:  with the idea of  "more of self" being the highest -  #5 NON-BELIEVER and "more of Jesus" is the lowest -  #1 PURSUER. 
Go ahead... which one?
 

• #5 - NON-BELIEVER?

• #4 - PRETENDER?

• #3 - COASTER?

• #2 - SURVIVOR?

• #1 - PURSUER?

Steve encouraged us to love ourselves enough to love the LORD in such a way that we PURSUE HIM!!!!

We've definitely talked about the importance of this during the month of February, on this blog.  What did Steve suggest?  He shared what our teens had been challenged to do when they went to Winterfest last week, in Tennessee.  This is certainly worth meditating on:

Am I spiritually disciplined in pursuing God?  Is it time to work on spiritual disciplines in my life?  Richard Foster's book divides them up into 12 disciplines, in this way:

• THE INWARD DISCIPLINES
• Meditation
• Prayer
• Fasting
• Study
• THE OUTWARD DISCIPLINES
• Simplicity
• Solitude
• Submission
• Service
• THE CORPORATE DISCIPLINES
• Confession
• Worship
• Guidance
• Celebration

On this blog, we've looked at Christ's Be-Attitudes in Matthew 5.  He divides them this way:

• IN YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD 
• Blessed are the poor in spirit...
• Blessed are those who mourn...
• Blessed are the meek...
• IN YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD AND OTHERS
• Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness...
• Blessed are the merciful...
• Blessed are the pure in heart...
• IN YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE WORLD
• Blessed are the peacemakers...
• Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness...
• Blessed are those who rejoice in persecution for righteousness...

Oh, the JOY of loving Yourself enough to PURSUE JESUS!  It takes time, but the transformation is worth it!

~Oh, the JOY!~

HERE WITH ME... SUNDAY IN THE SON...

"Here With Me"

as sung by MercyMe

I long for Your embrace,
every single day-
to meet You in this place
and see You face to face.

Will You show me?
Reveal Yourself to me!
Because of Your mercy,
I fall down on my knees.

And, I can feel Your presence here with me.
Suddenly, I'm lost within Your beauty,
caught up in the wonder of Your touch.
Here in this moment, I surrender to YOUR LOVE.

You're everywhere I go.
I am not alone.
You call me as Your own.
To know You and be known.

You are holy!
And, I fall down on my knees.

I can feel Your presence here with me.
Suddenly, I'm lost within Your beaut,
caught up in the wonder of Your touch.
Here in this moment, I surrender to YOUR LOVE.

I surrender to Your grace.
I surrender to the One who took my place.

I can feel Your presence here with me.
Suddenly, I'm lost within Your beauty,
caught up in the wonder of Your touch.
Here in this moment, I surrender:

I can feel Your presence here with me.
Suddenly, I'm lost within Your beauty,
caught up in the wonder of Your touch.
Here in this moment, I surrender to YOUR LOVE.

HE'S STILL WORKING ON ME... FAMILY FELLOWSHIP FRIDAY...

This week, I have witnessed a great outpouring of love in God's family.  It's the kind of love that says,

"I've walked this road of learning to love myself like Jesus loves me.  The burdens seem heavy until you understand that He will never leave you and that I will come walk beside you."



Love J esus!

Love O thers!

Love Y ourself!

~Oh, the J.O.Y.!~

HE'S STILL WORKING ON ME... TRANSFORMING THURSDAY....

Want to love yourself?  Overcome your fears!

FAITH VS. FEAR: 

WHICH WILL IT BE?

Trials are not enemies of faith

but opportunities

to prove GOD'S faithfulness...

FEAR NOT!  

Love yourself enough

to allow God to s..t..r..e..t..c..h you!

 ~Oh, the JOY!~

HE'S STILL WORKING ON ME... WOMEN IN THE WORD WEDNESDAY...

We're trying to "get it" LORD!  You want us to love ourselves so that we can love our neighbors as ourselves.  Why is it so hard?  Yet, these ARE Your Greatest Commandments!

MATTHEW 22:34-40:

The Greatest Commandment = J.O.Y.
34 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

37 Jesus replied:

“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart
and with all your soul
and with all your mind.’
38 This is the first and greatest commandment.

39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

~Oh, the JOY!~

HE'S STILL WORKING ON ME... GRATITUESDAY...

God, thank You for using cracked pots like me.  I know you are still working on me.  It's evident!  Thank you that I've been able to claim this verse for my heart: 

"But we have this treasure in earthen vessels,

that the surpassing greatness of the power may be
of God

and not from ourselves."

2 Corinthians 4:7

I have recently read a Chinese fable several different times on the internet.  Thank you, God for it's message.  I am truly grateful and would like to share it here.


Once upon a time there was an elderly Chinese woman who owned two large clay pots. She would hang each pot on the ends of a pole which she carried across her neck. Each day she would walk from her house to the nearby stream to fetch water. She would fill up both pots, pick up the pole and walk back to her house. One of the pots had a crack in it while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full pot of water. At the end of the long walk back to her house, the cracked pot always arrived only half full. Because of the crack, half the water had leaked out during the
trek.
For two full years, this happened daily. The Chinese woman arrived home with only one and a half pots of water. Of course, the perfect pot was proud that it had never lost a drop of precious water. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its imperfection, and was miserable. The cracked pot thought of itself as a complete failure. One day, the cracked pot was so tired of failing that it spoke to the woman. The cracked pot said (remember this is a fable), “I am ashamed of myself because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your house. I have failed you, and I’m sorry. Maybe you need to replace me with another pot that isn’t cracked.”

The old woman smiled and said gently, “Did you notice that there are flowers on your side of the path, but not on the other pot’s side? I have always known about your flaw, so I planted flower seeds on your side. And every day as I’ve walked back you’ve been watering those seeds. For the past two years I’ve been able to pick the flowers to decorate my table. Without you being just the way you are, there would have been no beautiful flowers to grace my home.”

So stop concerning yourself with your inabilities and weaknesses, simply contain the treasure that God has given you and let Him do the rest! And when you do you will realize God, in profound yet humbling ways, still uses cracked pots!

~Oh, the JOY!~

HE'S STILL WORKING ON ME... MEDITATION MONDAY....

Love  J esus
Love  O thers

Love  Y ourself

This month, I am focusing on the Y in the acronym JOY.  I am convinced that I cannot truly love myself without the J - the love of Jesus.  To love myself, with all the flaws and imperfections that are me, is to allow myself to be loved by J esus and to allow Him to work on me, in me, and through me. 

There are several scriptures that sustain me... that renew me... that make me "feel" loved...  They connect so beautifully with the two greatest commandments that are currently our theme verses.  Here are two of my favorites:

MATTHEW 5:
¹ Now when Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, ² and he began to teach them.

The Beatitudes

He said:
³ “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. ⁴ Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
⁵ Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
⁶ Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
⁷ Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
⁸ Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
⁹ Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
¹⁰ Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
¹¹ “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.

 

 

 

 

Salt and Light

¹³ “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.

¹⁴ “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. ¹⁶ In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.


QUESTION:  What makes me salt and light to the world?

ANSWER:  When the kingdom of heaven permeates every fiber of my being as in the BE-ATTITUDES of Jesus Christ - that He describes above. 

 When that begins to happen, then I can understand these verses more clearly:

1 CORINTHIANS 4:

⁶ For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,”made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.
⁷ But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us... 

¹⁶ Therefore we do not lose heart... 

~OH, THE JOY!~

HE'S STILL WORKING ON ME... SUNDAY IN THE SON...

HE'S STILL WORKING ON ME

by: Joel Hemphill 

  CHORUS: He's still working on me to make me what I ought to be.
It took Him just a week to make the moon and stars,
The sun and the earth and Jupiter and Mars.
How loving and patient He must be, He's still working on me.  1. There really ought to be a sign upon the heart,
Don't judge her yet, there's an unfinished part.
But I'll be perfect just according to His plan
Fashioned by the Master's loving hands.  CHORUS 2. In the mirror of His Word reflections that I see
Make me wonder why He never gave up on me.
He loves me as I am and helps me when I pray
Remember He's the Potter, I'm the clay.  CHORUS

SO LONG SELF... 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 topic on this blog, we each  must learn to LOVE ourselves by pouring ourselves out and allowing Jesus to fill us up.  What follows is becoming more and more like Christ in:

1. Mourning over the sinful condition of our world.
2. Meekly living in the midst of that world.
3. Hungering and thirsting for His righteousness in all I do.
4. Merciful ministering to all those who my life touches each day.
5. Keeping a pure heart in all things.

I'm thinking of some of my friends this weekend in terms of FellowSHIP...

•  FellowSHIP:  What does that look like while chaperoning a busload of teens on a multi-state trip?
•  FellowSHIP:  What does that look like when a mommy hosts a bunch of young ones for a slumber party?
• FellowSHIP:  What does that look like when a group of mommies get together and have lots of time to gab while the kids play?
• FellowSHIP:  What does that look like when you are along with just your family at home?

 NONE OF SELF! 

BLESSED ARE THE POOR IN SPIRIT!

~OH, THE J.O.Y.~

SO LONG SELF... TRANSFORMING THURSDAY...

The first beatitude of Christ's Sermon on the Mount screams, "So long self!"  In the book, Christ of the Mount, the author refers to being poor in spirit as the "renunciation of spirit".  The author, E. Stanley Jones says, "To sum up: The renounced in spirit gain the kingdom of heaven, the mourners gain the kingdom of inner comfort, the meek gain the earth.  So the world above, the world within, and the world around belong to this (wo)man.  Wanting nothing (s)he inherits all worlds.

Then come the next 3 beatitudes:

• BLESSED are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

• BLESSED are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.

• BLESSED are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

Mr. Jones continues, "While the first 3 beatitudes strike at the aggressive attitudes toward life, they do not end there.  They end, not in a quietism, but in a quest.  And the quest for righteousness can now safely take place, after renunciation in spirit; the righteousness produced will not now be a self- righteousness, for the self has been laid down.  Nothing is more beautiful than righteousness; nothing is more hideous than self-righteousness."

Have you ever observed that many "righteous people" are not merciful towards the shortcomings of others?  Mr. Jones says that, "Righteousness without mercy produces an indigestion countenance... mercy without righteousness is mushy."  Righteousness and mercy put together, as Jesus models, becomes purity of heart. Purity of heart is a passion for righteousness and a compassion for people.

As a believer, how do you love Yourself?   It begins with the first 6 Beatitudes:

• Be poor in spirit...
• Be a mourner...
• Be meek...
• Be hungry and thirsty for righteousness...
• Be merciful...
• Be pure in heart...

~Oh, the JOY!

SO LONG SELF... WOMEN IN THE WORD WEDNESDAY...

True love is selfless...True LOVE is Jesus... it's called "agape".
Thank You, Jesus, for teaching us how to truly AGAPE LOVE.

Love J esus (first)

Love O thers (your closest other is your spouse and then children)
Love Y ourself (this is a healthy God-filled love that helps you love others better)


1 Corinthians 13:4-13 articulates what this AGAPE LOVE looks like.  Today, I use these verses like I did yesterday, except this time let's change the focus a little bit.  Ask yourself this: 

IS IT HARD FOR YOU TO LOVE OTHERS WHEN IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A HEALTHY AGAPE LOVE FOR YOURSELF?

J esus (my LORD and Savior)
O thers (specifically, my best friend husband, Steve)
Y ourself (that means me!)

"My love for me is patient,
My love for me is kind and is not jealous;
My love for me does not brag and is not arrogant,
My love for me does not act unbecomingly;
My love for me does not seek my own selfish want,
My love for me is not provoked,
My love for me does not take into account a wrong suffered,
My love for me does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth;
My love for me bears all things,
My love for me believes all things,
My love for me hopes all things,
My love for me endures all things.
This agape love never fails...


^...But now faith, hope, agape love, abide, these three; but the greatest of these is AGAPE LOVE."


The cross of Jesus is the key to opening my heart and your heart to AGAPE LOVE...

~OH, THE JOY!~

SO LONG SELF... GRATITUESDAY...

True love is selfless...

True LOVE is Jesus... it's called "agape".

Thank You, Jesus, for teaching us how to truly AGAPE LOVE.



Love J esus (first)

Love O thers (your closest other is your spouse and then children)

Love Y ourself (this is a healthy God-filled love that helps you love others better)


1 Corinthians 13:4-13 articulates what this AGAPE LOVE looks like.  Today, I use these verses to recommit this AGAPE LOVE to:

J esus (my LORD and Savior)
O thers (specifically, my best friend husband, Steve)
Y ourself (that means me!)

Steve, this is for you:

My love for Steve is patient,
My love for Steve is kind and is not jealous;
My love for Steve does not brag and is not arrogant,
My love for Steve does not act unbecomingly;
My love for Steve does not seek my own selfish want,
My love for Steve is not provoked,
My love for Steve does not take into account a wrong suffered,
My love for Steve does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth;
My love for Steve bears all things,
My love for Steve believes all things,
My love for Steve hopes all things,
My love for Steve endures all things.
This agape love never fails...

^...But now faith, hope, agape love, abide, these three; but the greatest of these is AGAPE LOVE.




The cross of Jesus is the key to opening my heart and your heart to AGAPE LOVE...



~OH, THE JOY!~

SO LONG SELF... MEDITATION MONDAY...

We've journeyed, on this blog, so far this year from Jesus' love to how we see ourselves in view of His love for us.  Yesterday morning, as I sang with my church family, the songs spoke to me in the same way as this blog has been doing. 

First, we sang FAITHFUL LOVE:  "Faithful love flowing down from a thorn covered crown...".  Wow!  I love that song, but most of all I love my LORD who is the one with the FAITHFUL LOVE.

Next song?  I AM MINE NO MORE:  "I am mine no more!  I am mine no more!  I've been washed with blood.  I am mine no more! ...Jesus is my LORD!  Jesus is my LORD! And He rules my life!  Jesus is my LORD!"

The final songs summed up a powerful service:  DO YOU KNOW MY JESUS?  and MY JESUS KNOWS JUST WHAT I NEED.

During communion, Derek reminded us how Jesus kept silent before His accusers.  Then, when it was time for the sermon, the LORD spoke powerfully through Steve.  A few of the gold nuggets connected so beautifully with what we've been talking about on this blog:

1. BASILEIA:  This is the Greek word for "kingdom".  It refers to the REIGN and RULE of God.  "The Kingdom" is much more than a place!  It is about the reign and rule of God in everything, including our lives.  It is a state of BE-ing.  Aha!  The BE-attitudes!  Isn't the first BE-attitude, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the KINGDOM of heaven."  The LORD wants to reign and rule in me!
2. THE BATTLE:  God vs. satan!  God vs. evil! Spirit vs. flesh! It's a battle of "love".  Steve took us to 3rd John and the story of two men.  One man was known as "the first to love."  The second man "loved to be first."  Which one was poor in spirit?

I couldn't help but think of the lives of Peter, James, and John:  opinionated, impulsive, judgmental... wanting to be first.  It was a journey of many encounters with Jesus that moved them from those who "loved to be first" to men who were "the first to love" because they had given up control of their lives for the reign and rule of the LORD.

~Oh, the JOY!~

SO LONG SELF.... SUNDAY IN THE SON....

So Long Self

As sung by Mercy Me

Well if I come across a little bit distant
It's just because I am
Things just seem to feel a little bit different
You understand
Believe it or not but life is not apparently
About me anyways
But I have met the One who really is worthy
So let me say

So long, self
Well, it's been fun, but I have found somebody else
So long, self
There's just no room for two
So you are gonna have to move
So long, self
Don't take this wrong but you are wrong for me, farewell
Oh well, goodbye, don't cry
So long, self

Stop right there because I know what you're thinking
But no we can't be friends
And even though I know your heart is breaking
This has to end
And come to think of it the blame for all of this
Simply falls on me
For wanting something more in life than all of this
Can't you see

Don't feel so bad (don't feel so bad)
There'll be better days (there'll be better days)
Don't go away mad (but by all means)
Just go away, go away

~ OH, THE JOY~

CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST... FAMILY FELLOWSHIP FRIDAY...

The fellowship of suffering... there truly is a bond of fellowship that runs deep in this type of fellowship in the family of God.  In the last few weeks, my heart has been full of grief for many dear friends and family:  death of a parent, death of a second parent, death of a grandparent, job losses, pay cuts, chronic pain, rare disorders, tumors, cancer, surgeries, norovirus, children turning away from God...

Then, last night, again, I read these words from E. Stanley Jones' book, THE CHRIST OF THE MOUNT. 

"In choosing the way of the cross, we find ourselves in an intimacy of companionship with Christ who toils up that same road, and there in that way we hear words that make the heart sing amid its sacrifice.  Then can the soul say, 'Might one little drop of what I feel fall into hell, hell would be transformed into paradise.'  The comfort is not a sickly sentimental thing-it is not the wiping of tearful eyes, but the re-inforcing of the heart.  The Beatitudes put no premium on mere mourning...  ... There is nothing so absolutely blessed as to be able to suffer well.  The sorrow of the world brings death, but this sorrow brings life."

I observed the Beatitudes lived out in the life of my friend, Tanya.  As we are focusing on the first 3 of the Beatitudes, this week, I can't get Tanya off my mind. 

• Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
• Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
• Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

  You will be forever blessed by reading this written about Tanya, on this blog, on the day she died:

http://momstransformed.blogspot.com/2010/01/go-light-your-world-be-transformed.html

She had learned how to love Jesus, love herself, and love others:

~Oh, the JOY!~

CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST... TRANSFORMING THURSDAY...

As we continue to look at loving ourselves by looking at Matthew 5, please join me in once again looking at the first Be-attitudes:

BLESSED are the poor in spirit... is the end of the egotist; the stopping of self centeredness; the renunciation of who I am...  the vacating of my vessel so that Christ can valiantly and victoriously fill me up!

BLESSED are those who mourn... understands that sin separates us from God; grieving for the lost, the dying, the disenfranchised to come to know Jesus...

BLESSED are the meek... not the weak; it is a combination of the first two be-attitudes that make for the God-led suffering, servant, slave

The person above is HOLY SPIRIT filled and led...

CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST...
~OH, THE JOY!~

CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST... WOMEN IN THE WORD WEDNESDAY...

 

Sometimes it helps to get the big picture, to see where we are going.  Jesus loves you and me and we love Jesus. Last Wednesday I asked, "How do You and I live to show Him our love for Him?"

I think I'll ask the same question again today!  THIS IS SO IMPORTANT!  Join me again this Wednesday as we consider how He says we should live.  The first part of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount has 27 marks of:

• THE BLESSED LIFE
• THE CHRISTIAN LIFE
• THE JOY-FILLED LIFE
• THE LIFE OF LOVE

Instead of numbering the verses of Matthew chapter 5, I'll number those "27 marks" for us to consider.  The italicized words are scripture; the non-italicized words summarize the longer thought in scripture.

The Sermon on the Mount:

When Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain; and after He sat down, His disciples came to Him. He opened His mouth and began to teach them, saying,

1.  Blessed are the poor in spirit ...
2.  Blessed are those who mourn...
3.  Blessed are the meek (gentle)... 
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 have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness... 
9. Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you...Rejoice and be glad...
10. You are the salt of the earth... 
11. You are the light of the world... 
12. Your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees...
13. You are devoid of anger with brothers/sisters:  ...who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court;
14. You use no contemptious words:  "...whoever says to his brother, ‘You good-for-nothing,’ shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell.
15. You do not allow a brother or sister to hold anything against you:  First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering...
16. You have the spirit of quick agreement:  Make friends quickly with your opponent... 
17. You have no inward lustful thinking: ...everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye makes you stumble, tear it out and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. If your right hand makes you stumble, cut it off and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to go into hell...
18. You have right relations with your spouse:   It was said, ‘WHOEVER SENDS HIS WIFE AWAY, LET HIM GIVE HER A CERTIFICATE OF DIVORCE’; but I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except for the reason of unchastity, makes her commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
19. You are relentless about anything that offends against the LORD:  Again, you have heard that the ancients were told, ‘YOU SHALL NOT MAKE FALSE VOWS, BUT SHALL FULFILL YOUR VOWS TO THE LORD.’ But I say to you, make no oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is the footstool of His feet, or by Jerusalem, for it is THE CITY OF THE GREAT KING. Nor shall you make an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black.
20. You have truth in speech and attitude:  But let your statement be, ‘Yes, yes’ or ‘No, no’; anything beyond these is of evil.
21. You turn the other cheek:  You have heard that it was said, ‘AN EYE FOR AN EYE, AND A TOOTH FOR A TOOTH.’ But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.
22. You give your cloak also:  If anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, let him have your coat also.
23. You go the second mile:  Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two.
24. You give to those who ask of you:  Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you.
25. You love your enemies:  “You have heard that it was said, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies and...
26. You pray for those who persecute you:  ... pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.  For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?
27. You are to be perfect (mature), as your heavenly Father is perfect (mature).

I invite you back here each day, through the month of February, to learn more about how to love yourself enough to do it Jesus' way!  It hurts because it begins with BROKENESS!

~Oh, the J.O.Y!~

CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST... GRATITUESDAY...

 
BLESSED are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

BLESSED are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.


This morning, I am sad on more than one account:

1.  When I turned on my computer, this morning, the first thing I saw was the words of someone who grew up in christianity, yet has now chosen to become a Jesus basher. 

2.  Then, when I came to my blog, I realized once again that another song with the word CHRIST in it has been taken off my playlist.  What?  So, I went to my playlist to add it again - to no avail!  As you can see above, our theme song, is listed on the playlist as both song 1 and song 2, but they do not play.  The playlist skips on to song 3.  In the last few months, when I try to post a song with Christ or Jesus in the title, it seems to mysteriously not be able to stay as my theme song.... hmmmmm....

To be honest, I'm frustrated... I'm mad... I'm sad...  Yet, I am reminded that Jesus wants me to LOVE MY ENEMIES.  Is the playlist's website my enemy?  Oh, I think it's greater than that... but scripture comforts me with these words from Romans 8:

  ³⁷ But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who LOVED us. ³⁸ For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, ³⁹ nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the LOVE of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

~Oh, the JOY~

CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST... MEDITATION MONDAY...

Each year, I try to spend time focusing on Christ's sermon on the mount.  His sermon is a call to discipleship for His followers.  His sermon is the way to THE BLESSED LIFE.  His sermon begins with crucifixion!

• Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
• Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
• Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

I've learned a lot by reading a book written by E. Stanley Jones in the early 1900's - CHRIST OF THE MOUNT.  Here are some concepts I am meditating on today as I considered the life and will of our LORD:

• PAGE 56:  "Self renunciation is far deeper than world renunciation, for one may give up the world and not give up (her)self.  I have seen many a sadhu who was poor in material things, but not poor in spirit, for if you crossed (her), (s)he would flash back in anger.  No (wo)man is free until (s)he is..."

• PAGE 57a:  "...free at the center.  When (s)he lets go there, (s)he is free indeed.  When the self is renounced, then one stands utterly disillusioned, apart asking for nothing.  (S)he anticipates the sorrows, the buffetings, the slights, the separations, the disappointments of life... it is life's supreme strategic retreat.  You can then say to life:  "What can you do to me?  I want nothing!"  You can say to death:  "What can you do to me?  I have already died!"  Then is a (wo)man truly free...   Asking for nothing, if anything comes to (her), it is all sheer gain.  Then life becomes one constant surprise."

• PAGE 57b:  "The gospel begins at the cross, so that a (wo)man chooses to be utterly  vulnerable - (s)he wounds (her)self to death.  Then, (s)he is impervious to wounds. You cannot defeat a (wo)man who has already accepted defeat; you cannot break brokenness.  You cannot kill a (wo)man who has chosen to die - (s)he is now deathless."

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

~Oh, the JOY!~

CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST... SUNDAY IN THE SON...

VERSE 1:

As I look back on what I thought was living
I'm amazed at the price I choose to pay
And to think I ignored what really mattered
Cause I thought the sacrifice would be too great
But when I finally reached the point of giving in
I found the cross was calling even then
And even though it took dying to survive
I've never felt so much alive.

CHORUS:

For I am crucified with Christ and yet I live
Not I but Christ that lives within me
His Cross will never ask for more than I can give
For its not my strength but His
There's no greater sacrifice
For I am crucified with Christ and yet I live

VERSE 2:

As I hear the Savior call for daily dying
I will bow beneath the weight of Calvary
Let my hands surrender to His piercing purpose
That holds be to the cross but sets me free
I will glory in the power of the cross
The things I thought were gain I count as loss
And with His suffering I identify
And by His resurrection power I am alive

(CHORUS)

BRIDGE:

And I will offer all I have
So that His cross is not in vain
For I found to live is Christ
And to die is truly gain

(CHORUS)

~Oh, the JOY!~

LOVE THE LORD... FAMILY FELLOWSHIP FRIDAY...

Sometimes good intentions don't get the job done!  After injuring my knee further and spending most of the morning in water therapy and at the doctor's office, I now am walking with a cane AND a boot.  This is really gonna slow this girl down!  But never fear... I've got FAMILY and FRIENDS!

Brenda arrived at my house to clean.  While she did that, I was able to make my list of phone calls and do school work on the computer.  Then, I got to sit and be encouraged by reading my daughter-in-love's blog about our 2 grand-girls.  Afterwards, Brenda chauffered me to the University where I had a meeting and office work.  A professor friend helped me gather my files for an hour and a half to prepare for the testing I'm giving all day tomorrow.  Chauffeur Steve arrived just in time for my friend to carry my files to his truck while I hobbled along.

As I thought more about being "Poor in spirit!"  I knew that I was being taught today in multiple ways.  I cannot do life on my own strength!  Humility!  Non-resistance!  Service!  Love!  Those were all in my face today!

Also "in my face" today was my GRANDdaughter C.  Oh, she is not here!  But some things she has done/said recently remind me of the "poor in spirit heart of a child". 

"C" story #1 remind me to BE poor in spirit, BE mournful when things go wrong, BE meek enough to be moldable:



When "J"  commented, "Sad,"  "C" piped up, "What's sad, mom?"


"J" said, "I was just sad the ice cream place had closed, but it is fine." 

"C"  immediately said, "We need to pray for it. And then maybe it can open back up."

"J" and "J" smiled. Then they prayed. And they thank God for this moldable little heart and the ways He's already working in it.

 

 

"J" has begun to work on the ABC Scriptures with 2 year old "C".  Here is "C" story #2:

 

When they did the "A" verse, "J" wrote:  It's week 2 with the verse, so we made a craft today.

"As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."Joshua 24:15

 

 

Later, "J" wrote, "Last week we were supposed to finish B. We read the story of the Good Samaritan, and talked about how he built another up. When I finished, "C" asked me, "Can I give the Good Samaritan a hug?" Sweetie! 

First, we wrote ways that we can make others feel love, or build them up.

"C" came up with

a)play with them

b)be a nice friend

c) make them something with cute things

d) say something nice

 e)share

f) give a hug.

 

We wrote each inside of a heart, and she colored it."

 

WHAT A HEART FULL OF JESUS' LOVE

LITTLE MISS "C" HAS!

 

If you would like to get yourself and

your children started on this spiritual

journey of understanding and  memorizing God's word,

go to Jenae's blog at:

http://www.icanteachmychild.com/2011/10/abc-printable-scripture-cards/

 

Love Yourself like Jesus loves You!

 

Blessed are the poor in spirit...

Blessed are those who mourn...

Blessed are the meek...

 

OH, THE JOY!!!

LOVE THE LORD... TRANSFORMING THURSDAY...

Love the LORD?  Then, love Yourself enough to follow Him!

Jesus says, in Matthew 5 that the way to get started with His kind of life is to BE a certain way.  That's why people call this part of His Sermon on the Mount - THE BE-ATTITUDES.  In fact, if we call ourselves christians, there is no other way for us to BE.  Let's look at the first one today (and a little bit at the second one):

• Be poor in spirit (then yours is the kingdom of heaven).
• Be a person who mourns over your sinfulness (then you will be comforted).

This is something that I've written about on this blog in the past.  Please join me in reading the following posts.  I think all of them will be very worth your while, but if you only have time for one, then I believe the last one would be the one I suggest:

http://momstransformed.blogspot.com/2008/07/for-when-i-am-weak-then-i-am-strong.html

http://momstransformed.blogspot.com/2008/07/for-theirs-is-kingdom-of-heaven.html

http://momstransformed.blogspot.com/2008/07/blessed-are-poor-in-spirit.html

http://momstransformed.blogspot.com/2008/07/pour-it-out.html

BLESSED ARE THE POOR IN SPIRIT

Love Jesus!

Love Yourself!

~OH, THE J.O.Y.~

LOVE THE LORD... WOMEN IN THE WORD WEDNESDAY....

J.O.Y.

Jesus loves you and me and we love Jesus. Now, how do You and I live to show Him our love for Him?  Today let's listen to Him and consider how He says we should live.  The first part of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount has 27 marks of:

• THE BLESSED LIFE
• THE CHRISTIAN LIFE
• THE JOY-FILLED LIFE
• THE LIFE OF LOVE

Instead of numbering the verses of Matthew chapter 5, I'll number those "27 marks" for us to consider.  The italicized words are scripture; the non-italicized words summarize the longer thought in scripture.

The Sermon on the Mount:

When Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain; and after He sat down, His disciples came to Him. He opened His mouth and began to teach them, saying,

1.  Blessed are the poor in spirit ...
2.  Blessed are those who mourn...
3.  Blessed are the gentle (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 have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness... 
9. Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you...Rejoice and be glad...
10. You are the salt of the earth... 
11. You are the light of the world... 
12. Your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees...
13. You are devoid of anger with brothers/sisters:  ...who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court;
14. You use no contemptious words:  "...whoever says to his brother, ‘You good-for-nothing,’ shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell.
15. You do not allow a brother or sister to hold anything against you:  First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering...
16. You have the spirit of quick agreement:  Make friends quickly with your opponent... 
17. You have no inward lustful thinking: ...everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye makes you stumble, tear it out and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. If your right hand makes you stumble, cut it off and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to go into hell...
18. You have right relations with your spouse:   It was said, ‘WHOEVER SENDS HIS WIFE AWAY, LET HIM GIVE HER A CERTIFICATE OF DIVORCE’; but I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except for the reason of unchastity, makes her commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
19. You are relentless about anything that offends against the LORD:  Again, you have heard that the ancients were told, ‘YOU SHALL NOT MAKE FALSE VOWS, BUT SHALL FULFILL YOUR VOWS TO THE LORD.’ But I say to you, make no oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is the footstool of His feet, or by Jerusalem, for it is THE CITY OF THE GREAT KING. Nor shall you make an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black.
20. You have truth in speech and attitude:  But let your statement be, ‘Yes, yes’ or ‘No, no’; anything beyond these is of evil.
21. You turn the other cheek:  You have heard that it was said, ‘AN EYE FOR AN EYE, AND A TOOTH FOR A TOOTH.’ But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.
22. You give your cloak also:  If anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, let him have your coat also.
23. You go the second mile:  Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two.
24. You give to those who ask of you:  Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you.
25. You love your enemies:  “You have heard that it was said, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies and...
26. You pray for those who persecute you:  ... pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.  For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?
27. You are to be perfect (mature), as your heavenly Father is perfect (mature).

I invite you back here each day, through the month of February, to learn more about how to love yourself enough to do it Jesus' way!

~Oh, the J.O.Y!~