Friday, June 24, 2011

It used to be different....

You know how it is... your mom repeated the same verse to you over and over while you were growing up and you just didn't get it. I know my mom, she realized one day it would sink in, right at the moment when we needed that wisdom the most... boy was she ever right! The last few weeks, I have had the same line on my heart, "Blessed are the peacemakers."
I was all ready to grab that one and run with it, "hehe," thought my prideful heart, "this one will be easy".
NOT! See it used to be different. Those used to be "words" and nothing more.

God has challenged me to really grasp the meaning of the words of Jesus from the "Sermon on the Mount" that day.... I decided (FINALLY) to sit down and spend some time in the Word- in order to get the rest of this message that has been turning over and over again in my brain.

I looked the passage up in the message bible. I know it's not the NIV or King James version, but sometimes the message just gives me the "spiritual spanking" of a lifetime.... it didn't let me off easy tonight either, let me tell ya!

Here's what it says: Matthew 5:3-12 (the message)

3"You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.

4"You're blessed when you feel you've lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.

5"You're blessed when you're content with just who you are—no more, no less. That's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can't be bought.

6"You're blessed when you've worked up a good appetite for God. He's food and drink in the best meal you'll ever eat.

7"You're blessed when you care. At the moment of being 'care-full,' you find yourselves cared for.

8"You're blessed when you get your inside world—your mind and heart—put right. Then you can see God in the outside world.

9"You're blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That's when you discover who you really are, and your place in God's family.

10"You're blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God's kingdom.

11-12"Not only that—count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens—give a cheer, even!—for though they don't like it, I do! And all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company. My prophets and witnesses have always gotten into this kind of trouble.


I'm so thankful the Lord doesn't give up on my stubborn self. I'm thankful for the trials, the heartaches, the lies, the stealing and even the cheating- all these things led me closer to my God.

Saturday, June 18, 2011

Don't waste your life

"Don’t waste another day of your life grieving over something that you cannot do anything about. Let God give you a new beginning. Your mistakes are not enough to stop God if you don’t let them." -Joyce Meyer

Sunday, June 5, 2011

Powerful Insight

"Your personal testimony, however meaningful it is to you, is not the gospel."
— RC Sproul


I came across this quote on a friend's facebook page. It challenged me not just on a spiritual level, but a psychological and social level as well. Somehow we all get the idea that the way we've experienced an event or season in life and the things we have learned should have an equal effect on those around us. However, this is not the case. Each person has to decide for themselves how they will cope, reason and learn from the trials they face.... nothing can replace the gospel.

We were created to serve a God who teaches us new things to draw us closer to Him.

"Well, think again, you idiots,
fools—how long before you get smart?
Do you think Ear-Maker doesn't hear,
Eye-Shaper doesn't see?
Do you think the trainer of nations doesn't correct,
the teacher of Adam doesn't know?
God knows, all right—
knows your stupidity,
sees your shallowness.
How blessed the man you train, God,
the woman you instruct in your Word,
Providing a circle of quiet within the clamor of evil,
while a jail is being built for the wicked.
God will never walk away from his people,
never desert His precious people.
Rest assured that justice is on its way
and every good heart put right."

Psalm 94:8-15 the Message.