POST #16: JESUS' SERMON ON THE MOUNT: It's time for us to grow up!

It often helps to get the big picture, to see where we are going. This is now my 16th post and I've sure spent a lot of time on Beatitude #1 and #2!  Are we ever going to get through JESUS' "sermon on the mount"?!???!!
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THIS IS SO IMPORTANT!    Just the first chapter (Matthew 5) of Jesus' three chapter sermon has 27 marks of:

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

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Mature?  Yes!  
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Instead of numbering the verses of Matthew chapter 5, I'll number those "27 marks" that we are considering.  Notice #27. When reading this verse, people often get hung up on the word "perfect".  How can I be perfect?  First of all, that word, in the Greek, means the same thing as our word "mature".  #1 - start with being "poor in spirit"... begin living a life based on #1 through #26... and then #27 will just happen.
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Below, you will also find the italicized words are scripture (with blanks - if we have not gotten there yet); 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 _______... 
5.  Blessed are the ________...
6.  Blessed are the _________ ...
7.  Blessed are the _________...
8.  Blessed are those who have ________________... 
9. Blessed are you when _________________...Rejoice and be glad...
10. You are the _________________... 
11. You are the __________________... 
12. Your righteousness surpasses __________________...
13. You are devoid of _______________________... 
14. You use no ______________________... 
15. You do not _______________________...
16. You have the spirit of  _________________...
17. You have no ________________________.... 
18. You have right  __________________...
19. You are relentless about ________________...
20. You have truth in ___________________... 
21. You turn ______________... 
22. You give your ________________... 
23. You go ___________________...
24. You give _____________________... 
25. You love  _____________________...
26. You pray for  ___________________...
27. "You are to be perfect (mature), as your HEAVENLY FATHER is perfect (mature)."

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I invite you back here , over the next few months, to learn more about loving yourself enough to do it JESUS' way!  It hurts because it begins with BROKENNESS!
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~BLESSED~
~Oh, the J.O.Y!~
GIGATTAATTGIG