Weekly devotional for the week of May 14^th – May 20^th

Hello Everyone:

I pray that everyone had a wonderful Mother’s Day weekend.  It is always such a difficult day for me.  It seems like each year I’m memorializing my mom again but I do get really excited for everyone that still has their mom with them and are blessed to be able to shower them with love on that special day.

Our text for the week is found in Matthew 5:9 “Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.” 

This week we’re going to be talking about peacemakers.  What does it really mean to be a peacemaker?      

Most people define peace as “the absence of conflict.” 

But what does it require to achieve peace in our lives.   Look at what Jesus says in Matthew chapter 10:34 “Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.” (KJV) Jesus tells us in his “sermon on the mount” for us to be peacemakers and here he tells us that he did not come to send peace.    Jesus is referred to as the “Prince of Peace.”  So what does all this really mean? 

Have you ever scarified dealing with an issue for the sake of “peace?”  We often avoid conflict because we don’t want to stir up any problems.  

While many people think that staying away from or not dealing with situations that could possibly result in arguments, ill will, hard feelings, tension, drama etc, is the right thing to do, it actually does not solve the problems nor does it give us the peace that we desire.    There cannot be true peace without conflict.  Avoiding issues does not solve the problem and while you may agree to not discuss them, the problem still exists; we simply ceased from the discussions or decided not to deal with them because of the emotions that it will cause to surface.   

Peace is not to be sought out at the expense of righteousness.  What I mean by this statement is that biblical peace does not come without conflict.   As Christians we do not compromise righteousness or “right doing” just so we can avoid conflict.    

James 3:17 states “ But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18 Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.” True peace comes only from doing the right thing and sometimes standing up for what is right will cause major conflicts.   

Let’s think about all the situations we’ve tabled, avoided for fear of causing arguments, conflict, etc.   We really don’t have peace if we are not dealing with our situations; it’s simply an illusion of peace.  It’s still there and still shows up in our hearts, our emotions, and our mind.  When we can’t deal with something for fear of how the other person will react, then we’re truly not free.   Christ came so that we can experience freedom in every part of our lives and it’s a wonderful thing to be free. 

Next week, I will give you some practical steps to handle your situations that you are avoiding in fear of “disturbing the peace.”

Have a great week everyone.

Stay encouraged everyone and don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily. 

Weekly devotional for the week of May 7^th –May 13^th    

Good Morning: 

On last week we talked about purity and the heart and learned that purity of heart comes by a “cutting away” or pruning. 

So the heart, which is the seat of emotions, the will, mind, intellect, is made pure by in essence “going through”    Remember, the reason for pruning is so that the highest yield possible will come forth.  To experience the abundant life that Christ came to provide and to possess this “pure heart, we must go through the following steps: 

(1)  Poverty of Spirit- an emptiness of our own self righteousness and realizing that we cannot do anything without God.  We need him for all things and once we begin giving up our self-righteous we can begin allowing the word of God to transform our heart.

(2)  Meekness- Meekness has to do with accepting the will of God for our lives and knowing that God allows and is in control of all things.  A meek person does not resist or fight against the “will of God” but is one that walks humbly with an attitude of submission.  

(3)  Mourn-  Those who mourn are concerned about offending God.  The mourning is towards the fact that when we sin, we have offended God and we should have a sorrowful and repenting attitude.

(4)  Hunger and Thirst – We should always have a desire to go higher in God. We should crave it as one craves food and water when they are desperately famished.  The object of our hunger and thirst is righteousness.

(5)  Mercy-  As Christians, we should always be in a reconciliation mode and be willing to freely offer mercy and forgiveness as freely as God offers it to us even though we may have been rightfully offended.  The above are a brief summary of the beatitudes we have studied thus far.  Are you starting to see the pattern of how  those steps  would lead to “pure of heart.”  When we are in right relationship with God and others it creates singleness or purity of heart.     

Now, let’s look at the last part of this beatitude; “Blessed Are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.  The word see hear means to “behold” or to be made known to.  The word used has both a future and a present tense associated with it.   Yes, we know that we will see God when we get to heaven or the place that He has prepared for us, but a person with a pure heart can see God here on earth in each and every thing that we go though.  We will be able to see God in people that the average person would give up on.  Our compassion level will increase and our ability to discern will heighten beyond measure.  Remember, these are the steps that Jesus taught before he taught purity of heart.  

(1)  Poverty of Spirit

(2)  Meekness

(3)  Mourn

(4)  Hunger and Thirst (5)  Mercy

(6)  Pure In heart 

Out of a pure heart comes the ability to “See God.”  I don’t know about you but that’s what I’m striving for; the ability to clearly see God in all situations and circumstances.   

Have a great week everyone.

Stay encouraged everyone and don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily. 

Weekly devotional for the week of April 30^th –May 6^th   

Grace and Peace be unto you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

 Hello Everyone:

Matthew 5:8 “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.”  

Today we are talking about one of my favorite beatitudes; the pure in heart and seeing God. 

What does it really mean to “see God?” 

Our study for the week will simply focus on the word pure.  The word pure comes from a word that means to be made clean by pruning.  It means to be free from corrupt desire, sin and guilt, to be blameless, to be innocent.   To be made clean by pruning. 

During certain times of the year landscapers will begin their pruning process in order that the trees will grow back the following year healthy.   

Pruning in landscaping and gardening is the practice of removing diseased, non-productive, or otherwise unwanted portions from a plant.  The purpose of pruning is to shape the plant by controlling or directing plant growth, to maintain the health of the plant, or to increase the yield or quality of flowers and fruits.  (Wikipedia)

As we look at the definition of pruning, we see it is a cutting away in order to produce health and increase quality and growth.  I know we don’t like to go through difficult times, or endure pain or suffering, but I am a firm believer that every experience that we go through, there is a lesson to be learn for growth and for our own physical and mental health. 

Sometimes the situations that we encounter are “pruning” or cutting away some attitudes, mindsets, or emotions that we need to get rid of.  

Sometimes pain and suffering creates greater faith, a stronger will or determination, or it causes us to reflect on our life and pushes us to get on the right track.  The scriptures teach that “all things work together for good for those who love the Lord and are called according to his purpose.”  We see in this “pure of heart” phrase that it is developed by pruning or by a cutting away.  For our hearts to be totally pure or for us to be “single-minded” in our thoughts towards God, we must go through the pruning that is necessary to create purity. 

Now let’s take a look at what is meant by heart.  The physical heart of course is the organ in the body which is the center of the circulation of the blood and hence was regarded as the seat of physical life.   It refers to the center of all physical and spiritual life; the soul or mind- as it is the fountain and seat of the thoughts, passions, appetites, affections, purposes and endeavors.   It refers to both will and character.   

Jesus often condemned the religious leaders of his day for the things that were truly in their heart. 

Matthew 12: 34 “ O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.”  (KJV) 

Have you ever been in a heated argument with someone and you say something and then you can’t believe that came out of you.  You try to tell the person you didn’t mean it, but they say “it was in your heart.”  They’re trying to make a point that if it wasn’t in your heart to begin with, it would not have come out.   The heart is what God is after, our seat of emotions, the intellect, the mind, the will, our character.   

Let’s take a look at Matthew 6:21: “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Whatever we focus on the most is where our heart is.  Whatever we spend our most time, finances, energy, thoughts, etc, that is where our heart is.   What’s really in our hearts?  Where do we spend most of our energy, thoughts, time, finances, resources, etc?  Are they really spiritual things we invest in the most or are our treasures tied up in “earthly” things? 

This week, we’re analyzing our heart.  Take an inventory of what you think about most of the time.  Where do we put the majority of our resources? What do we meditate on?  What do we spend our spare time doing.  If you think about these things and others, you will be able to get an honest assessment of where your heart really is. 

Stay encouraged everyone and don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily. 

Weekly devotional for the week of April 23^rd- April 29^th   

Grace and Peace be unto you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Hello Everyone:

I have listed a couple of passages below to show how our forgiving others is tied to God forgiving us.   We are still on the beatitude which states “Blessed are the merciful for they shall receive mercy.”   We discussed at the beginning of this study that you can’t practice true mercy without forgiveness.  

Forgiveness simply means that you give up the right to seek justice concerning someone who has wronged you.   You let it go.  You move on and don’t seek vengeance or punishment because you have been wronged. 

The following is the Lord’s prayer.   Let’s look at this passage in the context of forgiveness.

Matthew 6:9 -15 “After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.  Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.  

For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. (KJV) 

Look at those last two verses, “14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: 15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”  

A clear example of how our forgiving others is tied into God forgiving us.   

Now let’s look at another passage:

Luke 6: 35 But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.

36 Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.  

37 Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven.

In this example both mercy and forgiveness are to be done first in our lives which initiates God being merciful and forgiving towards us. 

These scriptures clearly show how our unforgiving nature hinders our relationship with God and how development and growth in God is tied to our relationships with others.   

As Christians, we “must” practice a forgiving nature.  It is not an option, it is required by God.  The only thing hindering us is our pride. 

God freely forgives us when we sin against him.  Sin wounds the heart of God and yet He is still waiting with open arms to forgive us.  I know that we have been wounded by people and for some of us the wounds are deep, but just as we desperately offend and wound the heart of  God when we sin, and God forgives us, we are to show that same compassion.  That’s just the simple truth of the matter. 

Jesus does not sugarcoat the gospel.  If we are saved, we are required to practice a forgiving nature. 

I hope you took inventory this past week of the people that you haven’t forgiven and of all the pain that you’re holding on to from not dealing with issues and from having un- forgiveness in your heart.   I know I did and I can safely say that “all is well.”    Just begin the dialogue and ask God to help you. 

Yeah, pick up that phone, ask for a meeting.  I gave you the steps on last week concerning how to resolve conflict according to the scriptures.  It’s time to grow, live in joy, and experience true peace.   I sure hope you’re taking this journey with me because I’m experiencing growth beyond what I imagined, and it feels great.  God bless. 

Stay encouraged everyone and don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily. 

Weekly devotional for the week of April 16^th-22^nd  

Grace and Peace be unto you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Hello Everyone:

Our subject last week was mercy from Matthew 5:7 “Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.”   Mercy and forgiveness are often studied together because to truly have mercy on someone you have to forgive the debt. 

For this week’s lesson, I want to discuss the proper way as Christians to handle conflict or disputes between each other.  This particular story refers to conflicts among believers and not with non-believers. 

This teaching is design to reconcile conflicts among “the body of Christ” so that as believers, we can live together in unity.     Jesus tells the following story concerning this issue. 

Matthew 18:15 ”If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. 16 But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’

17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector. 18 ”I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.

19 ”Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.”

Step #1      Try to settle the dispute among yourselves privately.  When someone wrongs us, we should go to that person in private no matter how difficult it may be and we should try to work out the issues.  Yes, I know this is not easy.  Often times we isolate ourselves, or become bitter, or start gossiping about the situation, which only causes us to hold on to the hurt that was created which eventually ends up hindering us in our walk with God and in our own personal development.  A lot of times, we don’t feel that we should be the one to reach out in an attempt to reconcile because “they wronged us.”   We feel like they should come to us and apologize.  SORRY!!!!!   The scriptures teach that we are to go to them and show them what they did to us.  Sometimes people have offended us and they may not even know that we were hurt by something they did or said.   If we feel as if we have been wronged, we are the ones that should initiate the “reconciliation” efforts, even if we have done nothing wrong. 

Step #2      if they do not hear us, then we are to take one or two people with us and go to that person again in an attempt to reconcile the matter.  Sometimes, it is difficult for people to forgive and reconcile especially if both parties think they were right in the matter.  Sometimes we need an objective ear to go with us that will listen to both sides and guide us according to the word of God and help to reconcile the matter. 

 Step #3      If the party still refuses to submit to the principles of reconciliation according to the word, then Jesus says we should now expose it to the church.  Yes, we tried to handle it on our own, now we should take it to the proper “authorities “in the church to help you reconcile with your sister or brother in Christ. 

Step #4      If none of the above works, then it is off of you.  That is all that Jesus requires of us is that we make an honest effort to reconcile.  We can’t force anyone to do the right thing; we can only obey God’s word and leave the rest in the hands of God.  Once you have honestly (from the heart) attempted to reconcile your relationship and all attempts fail, you can let it go and move on.   Many of us have moved on and never attempted to mend our relationships.  We have just counted them as losses.  Many times our attitude is:  “I wasn’t the one that did anything wrong, so they should come to me and ask for forgiveness.

NOW!!!!!  The next issue is; “How often should we forgive someone who offends us.”  Well the disciples asked Jesus this same question, let’s look at the text. 

Verse 21: Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?” 22 Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.

The phrase but seventy seven times does not mean that you actually keep track of how many times you have forgiven a person, it is simply an expression that means as many times as they sincerely come to you and ask for forgiveness.  The heart should never shut down on a person that is sincerely trying to make things right with someone that they have wronged.  Okay, I know I gave you a lot to think about this week and on next week, we’ll continue to study acts of mercy and forgiveness. 

Stay encouraged everyone and don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily.

Weekly devotional for the week of April 9^th -15^th

Grace and Peace be unto you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Hello Everyone:

What a wonderful Resurrection/First Fruits Weekend…   I love the entire Passion/Holy Week.  It is one of my favorite times of the year. 

Our memory verse and text for this week is Matthew 5:7 “Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.” This is our fifth beatitude.  Did you notice how the first four dealt with our inward part concerning our state of emotions, mind, will, intellect, thinking, etc, which are all inner developments. 

Today’s beatitude deals with people.  Before I get into the heart of this beatitude, I want to focus today’s lesson on defining mercy.   Many people get grace and mercy confused or view them as synonymous.    Grace is unmerited favor.  What I mean by unmerited is that you didn’t do anything to deserve it.  You didn’t earn it or work for it.  It was just issued to you without meeting any particular criteria.  It is favor.   

Mercy presupposes guilt.  What I mean by that is when a person needs mercy, they have all ready been declared guilty of some act or crime and they are asking for leniency in the punishment or sentencing.   With all that in mind, you can see that over the next few days, we are going to be dealing with people who have actually wronged us.     

This sometimes is the most difficult one to do.  It is difficult to begin letting go of the hurt and pain of those who “legitimately” have wronged us.  All I want you to do for this week is simply to get those people in your mind.  Make a list should you desire of people who you have not forgiven and hurts you have been holding on to from those people.    

YES!!!!!!!  It’s time to deal with it.   I know it’s painful, but it plays a major part in helping us to reach those levels of happiness that Jesus taught.  

Please don’t ignore this exercise.   The assignment again is to write down on a sheet of paper a list (if any) of people that you know in your heart that you hold some type of animosity towards whether great or small.  Once you write the person’s name down then next to it write a summary of what that hurt was.  Sometimes the animosity has existed for so long that you may find out you don’t even remember the details of why there is tension between you.   Once you have completed the name of the person and actions that were committed towards you that caused you to hold unforgiveness in your heart towards them then write out how you feel what they have done to you has held you back, hindered you, saddens you, etc.  In other words, how is this pain playing out in your life? 

Now, on another sheet of paper write out what you look your life would look like if this pain were gone and you were free from these feelings associated with being wronged.

Now… One more task…  Make a list of people you have wronged and what you did to them and honestly assess whether you attempted to make the wrong right. 

On next week, we will begin discussing biblically what to do with those lists.     You will find that writing out your emotions concerning these issues can be instrumental in beginning the healing process. 

Have a great week and Stay encouraged and don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily.

Weekly devotional for the week of April 2^nd-8^th

Grace and Peace be unto you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Hello Everyone:

Our memory verse and passage of study for the week is still Matthew 5:6 “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.” (KJV) 

Last Week, we talked about the hunger and thirst part of this scripture.  Today, we want to deal with the last part; “for they shall be filled.”   

We talked about the continuous action of hungering and thirst, how it is a way of life and not just a onetime event.   As we hunger and thirst, we shall be filled.  The more we hunger and thirst, the more we shall be filled.  

What I love about this Christian life is that we will never reach a stage where we “have arrived” or a state of perfection.  There are always higher levels to achieve.  We go from faith to faith and glory to glory.  How awesome.    

Sanctification is a process. We do not accept or rest at the level that we’re on.   So as we hunger and thirst, we shall be filled and the more we hunger and thirst, the more we shall be filled.  It goes on and on, hungering, thirsting, yet filled and satisfied, but longing for more, never having enough.

WOW!!!!!!!  We can be fully satisfied, yet longing for more of HIM.  OHHHHHHHHH , I just LOVE GOD!!!!!!!   

Don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily. 

Stay encouraged everyone and don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily.

Weekly devotional for the week of March 26^th- April 1^st

Grace and Peace be unto you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Hello Everyone:

Our memory verse and passage of study for the week is Matthew 5:6 “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.” (KJV) 

1.    The word hunger means; to suffer want, to be needy, to crave ardently, or to seek with eager desire (Strong’s Concordance)

2.    Figuratively, those who are said to thirst who painfully feel their want of, and eagerly long for, those things by which the soul is refreshed, supported, strengthened.  (Strong’s Concordance)

The words hunger and thirst speak to desperate means.  This is not just a casual “I’m hungry” or “I’m thirsty”, but this is a craving, a starving.  The starving person will do anything to get their needs met. 

When it comes to God, we must be willing to do whatever it takes to pursue HIM.  While this is easier said than done, sometimes it requires letting go of certain relationships or friends that have proven to be unhealthy, not putting ourselves in situations that constantly provide no source of encouragement or strengthening, not engaging in conversations that are not edifying, and the list goes on and on and on. 

Each one of us knows what’s hindering our relationship with God and what’s blocking us from “entering into his presence.”   For some reason, holding on to things and accepting life as it is has become a norm, but the benefits in “breaking out” and changing are so much more rewarding.    

Remember, a starving person will do anything to get fed.  If you look up these two words in the original Greek, you will see that the tense of these words are in what is called the “present participle.”  This is a continuous action.  It speaks of one who is hungering and thirsting, not just a one time action but as a lifestyle. 

Then look what the object of our hungering and thirst should be; “righteousness”.  We are to hunger and thirst for integrity, virtue, purity of life, rightness, correctness of thinking and feeling, etc, which are all attributes of righteousness.

Next week , we’ll talk about “being filled.”  Let’s do an honest analysis of our life.  What are the things that make us happy, what are the things that make us depressed, what friends improve our life or add to it, what friends constantly hold us back or hanging around them always leave us depressed or frustrated, or in a worst condition than we were.  What conversations do we need to stop having because they only lead to emotions that are not healthy for our mental state?  What things are we holding on to that we know we just need to let go. 

Are you at a state where you just want to “please “God?  Is your heart aching for the things of God?  Do you have a desire to go further, Are you ready for change.

Stay encouraged everyone and don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily.

Weekly devotional for the week of March 19^th-25^th

Grace and Peace be unto you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Hello Everyone:

Our memory verse and scripture for the week is:  Matthew 5:5 ”Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.” 

Today, our journey through the book of Matthew takes us to this third beatitude.  Please remember that this is Jesus’ teachings on true happiness and what the character should be of the “citizens of the kingdom.”  

The word meek here means mildness of disposition and gentleness of spirit.   Meekness toward God is that disposition of spirit in which we accept his dealings with us as good, and therefore without disputing or resisting. 

In the Old Testament, the meek are those wholly relying on God rather than their own strength to defend them against injustice.  Thus meekness toward evil people means knowing God is permitting the injuries they inflict, and that He is using them to purify His elect, and that He will deliver His elect in His time.  (Strong’s Concordance) 

The essence of meekness results in the inner attitude of submission to God. 

Meekness requires an inner emotion or will that will surrender and know that God is in control of every circumstance and situation.  Whatever we are going through, God knows and your enemies can’t get to you unless God allows it. 

 Find comfort today in the words of Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

Rest in the fact that God is in control and take on an attitude of meekness which is total submission to God.  Stop fighting, just let it go. 

Now I would like to talk about the second part of the verse which is to “inherit the earth.  I want you to look at this concept of “the meek inheriting the earth” from the Psalms below.  In this particular Psalm, David is encouraging God’s people to not be discouraged, envious, jealous, bitter, etc, because of what is happening with the unrighteous, in terms of their physical prosperity and their success.   Have you ever just watched people around you that have no interest in God, lead ungodly lifestyles, act as if they have no consciousness of right or wrong and just seem to prosper and succeed, while you’re attempting to please God and live “holy” before him, yet it seems like you just “can’t get a break.”   Sometimes, we may have even cried; “God, It just don’t seem fair.” 

David encourages us to trust in the Lord and in due season, God will unfold his perfect plan and deal with “evil doers”.  In the concept of meekness from the Old Testament; this perspective was to know and accept that God is in control and even the evil that happens in our lives; there is a purpose for it in the plan of God. 

Psalm 37:1 Do not fret because of evil men or be envious of those who do wrong; 2 for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away.

3 Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. 4 Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.

5 Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this: 6 He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.

7 Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. 8 Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret–it leads only to evil.

9 For evil men will be cut off, but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land. 10 A little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be found. 11 But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy great peace

In simple terms, being meek means to “relax”, don’t panic, don’t get upset with people’s level of progress verses yours.  Don’t envy others accomplishments, dreams, visions and lifestyles.   Don’t fret because of evil doers.  Don’t get discouraged because you’re trying to do the right thing and others who aren’t trying to live right just seem to be flourishing in all areas of their lives. 

Meekness is acceptance that God is in control.  God knows what is going on with you.  The enemy can’t get to you unless God allowed it, and whatever is happening to you, we must learn from it because God is teaching us something in all things. 

Okay, at this point, let me clarify some things.  I am in no way, saying to just “shut down” and stop working on your goals, dreams, and desires and God will make a way without you doing anything.  This concept of meekness in the text is accepting that things are going to happen outside of your control and that even when you have done the very best that you can, things still can go really wrong. 

Meekness is an attitude of submission, that God will work it out for my good and for His glory and that in our trials and tribulations, God will bring us out and we will be stronger for having “gone through.” 

In the concept of “inheriting the earth” , it means that we will reign over our circumstances and situations through the power of the “Holy Spirit.” 

We do not have to worry or be afraid of our circumstances or anyone because God is in control and we will get what is promised to us.  We will inherit what belongs to us, what has been allotted to us, what we are an heir to in God.   For the meek shall “inherit the earth”. 

So Hold on and don’t let go, In due season, we shall reap if we faint not.  

Stay encouraged everyone and don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily.

Grace and Peace be unto you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Hello Everyone:

I hope you had a wonderful weekend.  I had such an incredible weekend.  You know that Sundays are my absolute favorite day of the week.  It is a chance to gather together with the saints, be in the presence of God in the sanctuary and fellowship all day with family and friends.  Sunday is also my own personal day that I take just for myself to do whatever I want to do.  It’s my day to spend time with me and I love it.  It’s the best.    I preached on yesterday and my heart was so encouraged in the word of God.    I was given the theme of “What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits towards me?” (Psalms 116)  I talked about what drove the Psalmist to the point where he would even utter those words.    Whooh….  Lord have Mercy….  The Word is so powerful to mean. 

Today, we will pick up our journey on the beatitudes.     Our second one is “Blessed are they that mourn.”   Here is the text. 

Matthew 5:4 “Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.” 

We talked about in the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, he goes upon a mountain and he begins teaching what has become known as the “sermon on the mount.”  He opens up with the beatitudes.  The beatitudes are a guide to what true happiness/blessedness is and gives the characterization of the citizens of the kingdom.  Our first beatitude was blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.   The overall concept of poverty of spirit is the emptying of our own self righteousness or our own way of thinking and realizing that we are in total need and reliance of God.   

The next beatitude deals with the blessedness in mourning.  The word mourning here takes on what is known as a present participle form.  This means that it is not a onetime event but a present continual experience.  Mourn means to lament, to wail, to grieve, and to be sorry.  Because the word form represents an attitude or way of life and not a single experience the we can conclude that this mourning is not over a loved one dying because we should never stay in sorrow over death.    We mourn for a season but we don’t live in it.  So then what should we be mourning for, or why should we stay in a state of sorrow over something?  

The context of this beatitude suggests that our mourning should be over our “sinful” state.  Our consciousness should be such that we are aware that we sin daily, both sins of omission and commission and we should constantly be sorrowful before God for our sins.   If we can continue to violate the principles of God’s word and feel no conviction, then something has gone wrong.  The scriptures teach that a person who mourns, who is sorry for their sins and genuinely seeks God for help and deliverance shall be comforted.   

The word comforted means to “call to one’s side, call for summon to address, to exhort, to encourage and strengthen, to provide instructions to admonish.  In other words, a person that has a sorrowful heart towards sin or “missing the mark” will be encouraged and strengthen by God.    They will be given instructions through the word on how to pick themselves up and move forward.  God does not want us to live in condemnation. 

We move on and keep going and if we have a sincere heart towards wanting to be right in his presence, GOD WILL HELP US. 

Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted. 

Stay encouraged everyone and don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily.