POST #42: JESUS' SERMON ON THE MOUNT: HE tells us how to be a light in darkness!

Just as the moon is the reflection of the sun,

We are to be a reflection of the SON.  

JESUS tells us how to go light our world...

...and in doing so, we will be blessed...

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Matthew 5:1-16
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1 Now when Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to Him, 2 and He began to teach them.

He said:

3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4 Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.

5 Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.

6 Blessed are those who hunger
and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.

7 Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.

8 Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.

9 Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.

10 Blessed are those who are persecuted
because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.

14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven."

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BLESSED!

OH, THE JOY!

GIGATTAATTGIG

POST #41: JESUS' SERMON ON THE MOUNT: LIGHT in darkness

This year, our church family theme is IN HIS IMAGE.  
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Each family has been provided a mirror.  There will be a different memory verse, each month, to help us focus on "transforming into HIS IMAGE".  Yesterday, Steve's lesson was on "LIGHT in darkness".  

The apostle John says in 1 John,

"This is the message 

we have heard from HIM 

and announce to you, 

that GOD is LIGHT, 

and in HIM 

there is no darkness at all."

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"The one who loves his brother 

abides in the LIGHT..." 

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Did you know that at the creation of the world, there was LIGHT before the sun was created?  Read Genesis 1:1-3.

Without the sun, GOD is still LIGHT!

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If you've been going through Jesus' "Sermon on the Mount" with me, I've addressed 7 of the 9 "be-attitudes of JESUS" that HE begins HIS sermon with.  Living out those "be-attitudes" are part of our transformation to live IN HIS IMAGE.  In fact, let's just skip talking about "be-attitudes #8 and #9" for a few days and talk about what comes after the "be-attitudes".  

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That's right!  If we are living the "Blessed Life" (Be-attitudes 1-9), then we will be LIGHT and SALT in a dark and tasteless world. The more we choose to live out the "be-attitudes", the more we are transforming into HIS IMAGE... and the more we are transforming into HIS IMAGE... the more LIGHT we are in this dark world! 

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BLESSED

Oh, the JOY!

GIGATTAATTGIG

POST #40: JESUS' SERMON ON THE MOUNT: Have the MIND OF CHRIST... Forgive... even when persecuted...

Yesterday evening, I visited over dinner, for 3 hours, with 6 lovely ladies "from Mississippi".  We discussed many things... one of those topics was "forgiveness".
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I am so convinced that the storms of life are weathered when we "look up", "see the light", and choose to be grateful that we know the LIGHT OF THE WORLD and that He allows us to partner with Him as light of the world.

Living out the Be-attitudes is to have THE MIND OF CHRIST. It is that MIND OF CHRIST that is light and salt in a dark and tasteless world. There are a few threads that run through these attitudes.... one that I see is FORGIVENESS. I am thankful that I have been called to FORGIVE like JESUS, I have considered that:

• I must be poor in spirit to FORGIVE.


• I must have mourned over my own sin and the sins of a lost and dying world, to FORGIVE others.


• I must be willing to be meekly led by the Master to FORGIVE in His way as I live in His timing, not mine.


• I must hunger and thirst to FORGIVE because it is righteous.


• I must have mercy on the one whom I am FORGIVING.


• I must FORGIVE from a pure heart with pure motives.


• I must go in peace, as I FORGIVE.


• I must understand that even if I FORGIVE in all the above ways, I still may be persecuted.

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Those who FORGIVE - shine! 
Thank You, JESUS for teaching us how it's done!

~BLESSED~

Oh, the JOY!

GIGATTAATTGIG 

POST #39: JESUS' SERMON ON THE MOUNT: So thankful! Sweet peace!

Today is 1/11/16.  As I continue considering JESUS' "be-attitudes", I've meditated on several things in the last 11 days: 

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I am a symbolic thinker.  Often times, when I see multiple #1's together, it settles my soul... it reminds me of peace...the Prince of Peace:
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1)  11 - two ones together remind me of the path... the journey of life that leads me to an eternity with JESUS. So thankful!  Sweet peace!
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2)  11 - two ones together remind me of two friends walking side by side, giving support to one another, on the journey.  Best friend?  JESUS!  Sweet peace!
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3)  111 - three ones together remind me of our three in one GOD:  THE FATHER, THE SON, THE HOLY SPIRIT.  So thankful!  Sweet peace!
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4)  1111 - four ones together remind me of JESUS and me walking together along the path or life OR me hanging out with our amazing three in one GOD. So thankful!  Sweet peace!
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5)  1111 - four ones together also remind me of the family of GOD walking along this path of life together, with our big brother JESUS... who paid our debt... who erased our sins... who forgives us when we fall short... who is there for us 24/7... So thankful!  Sweet peace!
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Isaiah prophesied, "For unto us a CHILD is born, unto us a SON is given: and the government shall be upon HIS shoulder: and HIS name shall be called 

• WONDERFUL, 
• COUNSELOR, 
• THE MIGHTY GOD, 
• THE EVERLASTING FATHER, 
• THE PRINCE OF PEACE."  Isaiah 9:6

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That CHILD came and lived on the earth for 33 years! That CHILD, THE PRINCE OF PEACE grew up and said,  

"Blessed are the peacemakers, 

for they shall be called the children of GOD."

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 BLESSED!

Oh, the JOY!

GIGATTAATTGIG

POST #38: JESUS' SERMON ON THE MOUNT: Wonderful Peace... coupled with Mercy...

I saw a very sobering news documentary reporting that almost 25% of the children in the USA live at the poverty level. In one county alone, they were an additional 5-15 students a week reporting that they had become homeless. Many families live in one motel room, sometimes sharing it with another family.
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I thought about something someone said, this year, as our church family looked at 2 Peter and James,
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"Have you ever noticed the scriptures that use the words 

'grace, mercy, and/or peace' in the same verse?" 

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Yes!  

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Two of those words also go together

 in consecutive verses 

in Christ's Sermon on the Mount.

Be-attitudes 6 and 7 say:

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"Blessed are the merciful, 
for they will obtain mercy."

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"Blessed are the peacemakers, 
for they will be called the children of God."

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As I shared the other day, James writes:
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"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."

~James 3:17~

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A few other scriptures to meditate on today, read like this:
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1 Timothy 1:2
"Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord."
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2 Timothy 1:2
"Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord."
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2 John 1:3
"Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son, will be with us in truth and love."
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Jude 1:2
"Mercy, peace, and love be yours in abundance."
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~May we live our new year in such a way that we are 
BLESSED with grace, mercy, and peace in abundance!~

Oh, the JOY!

GIGATTAATTGIG

 

POST #37: JESUS' SERMON ON THE MOUNT: Peacemakers are the children of GOD

I remember back in 2011, a young boy, who I'll call "D", was sooooo excited after his Wednesday night Bible class. He came out of his 1st and 2nd grade classroom carrying the angels that he had made, while squealing, "Mommy, Mommy look at what I made..." over and over again.

"Glory to GOD in the highest

and on earth PEACE to men

on whom HIS favor rests."
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~Luke 2:14~

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I've watched "D's" daddy and mommy see to it that he knows the PRINCE OF PEACE. It is only IN JESUS that any of us have GOD's favor. It is only IN JESUS that we have GOD's PEACE THAT PASSES UNDERSTANDING.

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There's a whole lot of talk 

these days about "peace".

It starts in the heart... in the home...

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Glory to GOD for families who are

IN JESUS...

"BLESSED are the peacemakers,

for they will be called

the children of GOD."

May you begin this year, 

desiring to be a child of GOD.

It's the best way to start the new year!!!

~BLESSED~

Oh, the JOY!

GIGATTAATTGIG