Insights into the Blessings from the Sermon on the Mount

I was reading Ann Voskamp's blog about the Sermon on the Mount this morning and I went to read it again. I have read the Sermon on the Mount many times in my life and I have to admit it has gotten to the point that I skim it and read the parts that I felt were made for me. Well, this morning I started to read it in the NIV and then I switched and started reading it out of The Message translation. If you have not done so, please do it. The Message may open your eyes.

I realized that all of these years I have read each blessing as being for a group of people, like: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven." I considered that one group of people. But this morning as I read The Message its translation was “Blessed are the times when you are at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.” I realized that each blessing that Jesus said over the people was a blessing spoken over all of us. He was taking snapshots of pictures of each person's life, moments in time that we will each go through and blessing us through them and giving us reasons for each moment. It was such a heart squeezing, mind altering, paradigm shatter experience I just sat there basking in it. It was the sweet oil of revelation being poured out on me that I just had to enjoy it and share with others. 

Below is the Message Translation of the Beatitudes, please enjoy and be blessed in whatever snapshot you find yourself today.

You're Blessed

1-2 When Jesus saw his ministry drawing huge crowds, he climbed a hillside. Those who were apprenticed to him, the committed, climbed with him. Arriving at a quiet place, he sat down and taught his climbing companions. This is what he said:

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.

Go and be God-blessed!

Is It Under the Tree?

This season I have heard more and more of my friends talk about running around getting gifts and stating that they hope the receiver likes what they got. Now, I have also been guilty of this thought process, but then my husband said to me, "Give as unto the Lord, not unto the person."

I realized that the wise men never wondered if Baby Jesus, Joseph and Mary would like the presents they got them or if they would use them wisely, they brought what was in their heart to give and gave it gladly. It was like they had to bring gifts to make themselves worthy to see the babe, just coming to see him themselves wasn't enough, they wanted to bless him. They didn't look for the praise and thanks afterward; their praise and thanks was in their hearts toward Jesus, the gifts were inconsequential.

This brings the question to mind: "Why do we give each other gifts at Christmas?" Yes, I know where the tradition started but why am I continuing to do it? Am I giving gifts to receive the praise and thanks from my loved ones or are the gifts inconsequential? Is the importance on the One who made it all possible?

I take this lesson from my three-year-old son. He knows that he has presents under our tree, one very big one that he has been eyeing for a week and a half now. Do you know, he never goes and touches the presents, but every single day he goes to the Nativity and picks up baby Jesus and gives him a kiss and arranges the people and animals so that they are all looking at Jesus. It doesn't matter if I go and move them back later I will come by and they are back like he had them before. It just fascinates me that even before he truly understands who Jesus is, his being responds to the fact that all the people and animals should be looking to Jesus. Now, normally I don't get too religious where my children are concerned but because I needed to learn a lesson here it became a very stark example for me. My question to you is, "Why are you giving gifts?" and "Is it necessary to run yourself ragged to be able to squeeze one more present onto the pile?" "Will you feel blessed to just be part of the season with your loved ones or are the gifts under the tree that important to you?"

I truly hope that you feel blessed by the season and each of you has a very Merry Christmas!

To Fight or Not

So, this morning I was praying and asking the Lord to make me joyful and a blessing on the inside as well as the outside. I can usually portray it on the outside whether I'm feeling that way on the inside or not, meaning I can hide my emotions when I want to. 

Okay so I have been selling clothing on eBay for a few months now. I've always gotten rave reviews for the items I've sold, the shipping being fast and the great state of my clothing (no rips, tears or stains). This is until I received an email just this morning. A woman bought two lots of my clothing and then emailed me a not so nice note stating she was disappointed with her product and I mislead her and what was I going to do about it. 

Now when someone calls me out on something and they aren't right I usually get mad, the reason for this is it hurts my feelings that they are calling me a liar. I always do my best to be truthful and honest in my dealings with others even at my own cost. It's a major pet peeve of mine when people aren't honest with me so I try and be very honest with others. 

So, I got mad this morning and wrote a scathing email back to her but before I sent it I felt I should send it to my pastor and see if I wasn't justified in my thoughts and feelings. Yeah my pastor is also my Dad and he and I share very similar personalities. Basically, I was sure I had a cheering section in this situation. 

Therefore I was surprised to read the reply email from him explaining that my situation brought up in his mind 1 Corinthians 6:7-10:

(When you resort to litigation it is a) blot on your community. Wouldn’t it be far better to just take it, to let yourselves be wronged and forget it? All you’re doing is providing fuel for more wrong, more injustice, bringing more hurt to the people of your own spiritual family. Don’t you realize that this is not the way to live? Unjust people who don’t care about God will not be joining in his kingdom. Those who use and abuse each other... don’t qualify as citizens in God’s kingdom.  (1Corinthians 6:7-10 THE MESSAGE translation)

In essence he was asking me to let it go...let it go!!!! This lady was calling me a liar and he was asking me to let it go.  I then realized as changed as my spirit felt that God was asking me to let it go. In response I found that my heart really wanted to do the right thing and somehow make this situation a blessing. This is when I suddenly remembered my prayer of about 30 mins before, how quickly I had forgotten. 

So, I sent her a very nice email apologizing and letting her know that my faith wouldn't allow me to engage in contentions like this and let's just lay the blame on me. I told her that I would refund her money and she could keep the clothes and do with them as she wished and I blessed her and sent her on her way. Yes, I literally mean I blessed her and sent her on her way. I blessed her with my words, my actions but more importantly I blessed her in my heart.  In other words I pardoned her in my heart and went on about my day, which by the way suddenly got much better.

Imagine if we did this more often with others. I challenge you that the next time you find yourself mounting into confrontation or dumped into the middle of it that you take a moment and see if you can't swallow your pride, lay down the blame game and just bless the person. This can come in various forms and ways. Here's the thing, we all know how to do it because Christ did it for us, we just choose not to. 

I trust you all have Merry and Blessed Holiday Season that is full of joy and festivities! Happy Holidays!

Intimacy with God

Intimacy with God

“Therefore I am going to allure her;

I will lead her into the desert and speak tenderly to her.”

Hosea 2:14

Today is a new beginning for me. New beginnings always brings to mind a sunrise spilling itself so sacrificially over the earth. It shines on the just and the unjust. It matters not whether what it touches is lovely or unlovely. It doesn’t mask itself with pretenses or thoughts of who should or shouldn’t receive its goodness and warmth. It’s there for all alike to share and bask in. You can ignore it, trapped in your own world and bondage or you can accept its gift of light, warmth and growth. It’s a choice, a decision we each have to make to look beyond ourselves, our own world and look deeper into the heart of God. To see through His eyes and spill yourself out regardless of who accepts and who rejects: regardless of the lovely or the unlovely. To be poured out selflessly and allow yourself to be loved and shunned by turn. Isn’t it what we were made to do? Accept the Father’s love and then share and show by example regardless of how it affects us?

The Father even experiences what we do in being accepted and rejected and it hurts Him more than us. Does He stop pursing His love? Does He stop wooing and calling to His beloved ones? No, hurt though He may, He keeps seeking and searching us. Not just non-believers but those of us that know Him and love Him. Why must He seek us? Because our lives are busy, too busy and in the bustle we fail to hear His soft words calling us away, calling us to Him into intimacy with Him. Why do we fight and try to continue on? Is it because we are afraid? Afraid of the all consuming love and force that seeks us? Is it that we fear we will no longer exist after He has enveloped us? Would that be so bad? The world won’t end if we run away with Him. Everything will continue for the world but for us, what awaits us our there in the desert with Him? Intimacy, love, understanding, forgiveness, brokenness, sacrifice, healing, passion, knowing the Father’s heart.

Intimacy as with a husband and wife can include all of those things. But most of all it is the losing of oneself to gain the shared life, the shared love, the shared heart, the becoming one. No wonder we fear but for just a moment does your heart quicken at the thought of it? To be intimate with the Lover of your soul. Try it. Go with Him and see where your journey takes you. All of the things you will find are the things the world can’t give you but you can show others upon your return. He is seeking and calling. Can you hear Him? Do you want to? Listen for Him and go when He calls and see what He has especially for you.

Generosity in the Face of Disappointment

Generosity in the face of Disappointment

My question is how do you face deep disappointment and not let it affect your spirit of generosity. If you have a giving heart by nature and those around you start to disappoint you, many times the predictable human reaction is to stop putting yourself out there.

What if your purpose was to put yourself out there? Being generous and giving an over-abundance of kindness on those that disappoint you as well as those that bring you joy. Just as God pours the rain and the rays of sun on the just and the unjust equally you pour yourself out to others. 

Why do we feel that it is our place to judge which ones are worthy of our generosity and kindness? Doesn't the Scripture talk about pouring blessings on your adversaries?  Basically one meaning of having an adversary is engaging in antagonistic activities against another.  I have to ask myself: "How many people are you antagonistic against?" At times that can be a lot depending on how much traffic I'm in. :) I find that when I am hurt through disappointment I want to lash out and the easiest and probably the most conniving way is to retreat with my generosity. The person may not suspect it but in my heart I have already committed the transgression. Yes, I believe it is a transgression to withhold something from someone that they need so desperately. Don't we all desperately need generosity from God and from each other? Isn't that what brings joy and grace to us? Generosity provided extends grace to that person. 

By generosity I am not just necessarily talking in monetary terms, which it can be that form, but the other ways too, such as, your time, your attention, your creativity, your cooking, basically your doing something for someone else to help them out, to bless them.

During this season I am trying to be generous even when I don't seem to have anything to offer. I want to be generous in return even when I am hurt, be generous through my disappointment. Honestly, I think that when generosity is given during these moments it means so much more and I feel so much more blessed that I did it; because after all when I do something I'm doing it as unto the Lord not unto an individual.