- congenital eye/vision challenges for 31 years
- a 24/7 migraine for 19 years
- stage 4 cancer of the colon, liver, ovaries, uterus, and pelvic wall (diagnosed in April 2014)
The depth of our grief is often indescribable! Yet, Steve and I are so thankful, that because of the love of JESUS, our daughter, Jessica was/is a member of the Kingdom of Heaven... our sister-in-Christ... our forever friend...
As I begin this journey of revisiting Christ's Sermon on the Mount, with you, I am encouraged to testify that in spite of vision, migraine, and cancer challenges, our daughter Jessica, and our family continue to believe that GIGATTAATTGIG.
I am a huge fan of Christ's Sermon on the Mount. I have heard it called the "Magna Carta of the Christian Faith". A Magna Carta, according to several dictionaries, is "any fundamental constitution or law guaranteeing rights and liberties." I like to call it my "Declaration of Dependence".
Years ago, Steve and I read a book by E. Stanley Jones called Christ of the Mount. It wet my appetite for continual revisiting of Christ's Sermon. Join me, over the next months, as I look again at the Sermon on the Mount. There's a whole lot to think about, as we begin with Christ's "Be-attitudes" of THE SERMON, in Matthew chapter 5.
BLESSED ARE THE POOR IN SPIRIT...
Hmmmmm...that's how Christ starts out! That's His first point! That's His first "Be-attitude":
"Blessed are the POOR IN SPIRIT for theirs is the KINGDOM OF HEAVEN."
That is what He is calling all of us to do when we come to Him. If we want the Kingdom of Heaven, then let's give ourselves up, pour ourselves out, empty our pockets of the 'me' factor...from selfish to selfless....from crowned with worldly stuff to crucified with a crown of thorns....hmmmmm....
You might be tempted to think whether or not this "Kingdom of Heaven" is even worth the "poor in spirit" thing. Honestly, if this oldest child... strong-willed woman... 42 out of 42 Choleric personality type recognizes how important this first step into kingdom living is... then, so can you!
Well, before you give in to the temptation to X out of the challenging thought of becoming poor in spirit, how about today...just for a few minutes...read through what Matthew says about the "Kingdom of Heaven". Did you know that the only place in the Bible that the phrase "Kingdom of Heaven" is found is in Matthew? So, let's do this...read through the Matthew passages and get a glimpse of this kingdom...and then meditate on whether or not you think it is something that is important to be a part of. If so, then, I guess we need to meet back here a few times each week and talk about the Kingdom of Heaven and begin by looking more into that "poor in spirit" thing.
Here are those Matthew scripture references...but before you start, know this:
From the Vine's Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words, Copyright (c)1985, Thomas Nelson Publishers:
"The Kingdom of Heaven is always the Kingdom of God, but the Kingdom of God is not limited to the Kingdom of Heaven, until in their final form, they become identical,
Rev 11:15, RV; John 3:5; Rev 12:10."
In the verses below "it" is the KINGDOM OF HEAVEN:
Matt 3:2..... J. Baptist preached-repent, it’s near!
Matt 4:17... Jesus preached – repent, it’s near!
Matt 4:23... Jesus preached it's good news!
Matt 5:3..... It belongs to those who are Poor in Spirit
Matt 5:10... It belongs to those who are persecuted for righteousness.
Matt 5:19... Some in it are least.
Matt 5:19... Some in it are great.
Matt 5:20... Some will not enter it.
Matt 6:10... It's the Fathers and it’s coming.
Matt 6:33... Seek it first.
Matt 7:21... Not all who say “LORD” will enter it.
Matt 8:11... Abraham, Isaac, Jacob at its feast.
Matt 8:12... Subjects of it thrown out.
Matt 9:35... Jesus preached its Good News!
Matt 10:7.... Apostles to preach It’s near.
Matt 11:11... We are greater in it than J. Baptist.
Matt 11:12... It’s forcefully advancing.
Matt 12:25... Will be ruined if it’s divided.
Matt 12:28... It has come, if H.S. drives demons out.
Matt 13:11... It’s secrets given to disciples.
Matt 13:19... It’s message can be misunderstood.
Matt 13:24... It’s like a man sowing good seed.
Matt 13:31... It’s like mustard seed.
Matt 13:33... It’s like yeast.
Matt 13:38... It’s sons are the good seed.
Matt 13:41... Angels will weed out its sin.
Matt 13:43... Righteous will shine like sun in it.
Matt 13:44... It’s like a treasure hidden in a field.
Matt 13:45... It’s like a merchant looking for pearls.
Matt 13:47... It’s like a net.
Matt 13:52... It’s like the owner of a house.
Matt 16:19... Peter given keys to it.
Matt 16:28... Some won’t die before J.C. comes in it.
Matt 18:1-3.. Unless like little ones, never enter it.
Matt 18:4..... Humbled like child, are greatest in it.
Matt 18:23... It’s like a king who wants to settle…
Matt 19:12... Some are eunuchs because of it.
Matt 19:14... It belongs to childlike people.
Matt 19:23... Rich men have a hard time entering it.
Matt 19:24... Easier for camel than rich to enter it.
Matt 20:1..... It’s like a landowner hiring workers.
Matt 20:21... It belongs to Jesus.
Matt 21:31... Tax collectors/prostitutes entering it.
Matt 21:43... It’s given to those who produce it’s fruit.
Matt 22:2..... It’s like a king preparing wedding banquet.
Matt 23:13... Teachers of law & Pharisees shut it.
Matt 24:14... It preached in all the world-then end comes.
Matt 25:1..... It’s like ten virgins who meet bridegroom.
Matt 25:34... It’s prepared for you since creation.
Matt 26:29... Jesus drank in it with apostles.
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DO YOU WANT TO BE PART OF "IT"?
NOTE: As we begin this study, I plan to provide notebook materials for study, on our FB page: GIGATTAATTGIG
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~BLESSED~
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