Author: Christine

Matthew 5:3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

The Beatitudes in Matthew 5 remind us, as Christians, we are blessed. Happy, fortunate, blissful (John MacArthur). As I study each beatitude, I am studying and understanding what true faith looks like.

“Blessed are the poor in spirit.” To first be called a Christian, one must make a decision. A decision that reflects the heart- empty, sinful, separated from God. The moment I first realized the condition of my own soul, that my sins separated me from God, that my good works were not what God looks at to be called His, was a life changing moment. I cried out to Jesus, trusting in His shed blood and resurrection from the dead. I submitted my soul, my heart to His will, believing His words, His gospel to save my soul. All Jesus! My life changed radically. My eternal destination set on a new course.

I am blessed, happy, fortunate, blissful for the very fact that God made a way back to Him, through the precious blood of His Son, Jesus Christ. I am reminded daily of the fact that I bring nothing to Jesus but my very soul and all He asks in return is a life surrendered to His will. I am happy to follow His path, blessed because God opened my spiritual eyes. I was blind but now I see. Jesus has made me whole and my life seeks to glorify Him.

Are we, as Christians, in awe of God? Are we amazed that He calls us blessed? When people hear the word blessed, they think of health, wealth and prosperity. The word blessed literally means: happy, fortunate, blissful. When you think of Christians as blessed by God, re-think your meaning of blessed: happy, fortunate, blissful.

In Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, we see the word “blessed” several times. The attitudes of the faithful show their complete faith and dependence on God. “Blessed are the poor in spirit, blessed are those who mourn, blessed are the meek, blessed are those who huger and thirst, blessed are the merciful, blessed are the pure in heart, blessed are the peacemakers, blessed are those who are persecuted.”

If Christians are a called out people, set apart by God and for God, He deeply cares for us and asks for our our deep, committed love and devotion for Him. We desire to serve Him, to know Him, to obey Him. All we are and have come from and belong to Him. Let us resolve to check our attitudes daily. Let us remember we are redeemed by the blood of His Son, our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. We are in a right relationship because of what Jesus has done. Let our attitudes show that we are blessed: happy, fortunate, blissful.

Our small church is a trail angel for weary travelers on the Florida Trail. They can rest their weary bodies, recharge their batteries, fill up on provisions, pick up packages from the Post Office. A recent hiker needed medical attention for her foot and our pastor gladly took her to the ER for treatment. I spoke to her that evening as I took her a meal, asked her about her foot and did she think she would be okay to go back on the trail the next day or did she need another “zero” day at our church. She said she wasn’t sure, that her foot may need one more day of healing. We were happy to oblige. She then told me once she gets back on the trail, 100-150 miles/week needs to be her pace to be able to finish in Pensacola by March. That’s quite a pace for us leisure walkers who may do 2-3 miles on a hike and call it a day!

It is nice to slow down to enjoy a leisure pace. Taking a zero day. Going faster when we must, slowing down when we can, abiding with God at all times, no matter the pace.

Busy-ness. Weary-ness. Empty-ness. As a people, we are busy. Busy with life. Busy with commitments. Busy with worry. The “busy-ness” can lead to weary-ness. Here I go again, into this job. Here I go again into this same conversation. Here I go again with this same attitude. Here I go again… Do we start to feel empty? Are we just going through the motions?

When busy-ness leads to weary-ness, when weary-ness leads to empty-ness, STOP! Your body, your mind, your heart, your soul is speaking. LISTEN! We all need to take time to hit the pause button. It is okay to say no. No, I cannot add one more thing to my work plate. No, I cannot serve on one more committee. No, I cannot attend that event this time. When we say no, we are allowing ourselves time to heal, time to rest, time to be filled. When we do take this moment, this hour, this day, this week, our bodies recover. Our minds slow down. Our souls calmed.

So, sit on the porch and relax. Take that walk. Smell that flower. Breathe. Thank God for this time and be restored in body, mind and soul.

As I read this in my daily devotional study time this morning, this truth “God waits” illuminates in my mind. It is like a bright light is lit in my brain. God waits. He drew me to Him and patiently waited as I searched the scriptures, searched my heart and finally cried out to Him. God is patient with us, not wanting any to die without Him (2 Peter 3: 9, 15).

What if we meditate on this: God waits. If God is patient with me, and oh how patient He is with me, then He is patient with all of us. What has God laid on your heart that you are pushing away? What sins do we need to confess and clear out of our lives? If we want to actively search the scriptures, to know God more, we must put aside self to imitate Christ. God is waiting for us to give our lives completely to Him. Let us surrender today.

Finishing up a workout goal. Enjoying the last sip of my morning tea. Completing my devotional book that I have read and journaled about over this last year.

Now what? I have begun a new workout program. I will make tea again later today. I am now in search of a new daily devotional book, I think, or do I want to do a bible book study? I feel the latter is more my need right now. To dig deeper into God’s word. To study more, to meditate and be in prayer with God.

A new year is upon us. Are you looking forward to starting something new this year? Are you like me: saying good-bye is hard. Beginnings can be scary, anxious. Taking this new journey starts with step one, day one. Pray for guidance, direction. Listen. Believe. Trust. Go.

Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.”

Is my devotional time a sense of duty, discipline or delight? Can I say yes to all three?

As a Christian, it is my duty to know my Savior more and more every day. To know His words, His truths. To follow Him means to trust Him, to be obedient to Him, to believe in Him. 1 Peter 2:17: “Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.”

As a Christian, I want the daily discipline of sitting with my Savior. To learn at His feet. To memorize His words. To read His word to set my mind, my thoughts on Him before going out and facing the day, the world. Romans 12:2: “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

As a Christian, my delight is in Him. My joy is complete in Christ. Praising and worshipping my Savior delights my heart. No one or no thing delights me more than to praise God. Psalm 63:3-5: “Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you.
I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you.”

A.W. Tozer “We pursue God because, and only because, He has first put an urge within us that spurs us to the pursuit (and) when the Holy Spirit shows us God as He is we admire Him to the point of wonder and delight.”

Roosters crowing. Pigs oinking. Birds tweeting. Squirrels rustling in the branches. Good morning. Wake up. Time to eat. Search for food. The winds are blowing. Are they mindful of the weather? Always moving. Alert. What was that noise? Pause to listen. Survival depends on alertness.

Taking in the sounds of the morning. Enjoying the music of God’s creation.

The shepherds come to visit her baby. Angels are singing and praising God. Mary is quiet, thoughtful, reflective. Much has happened over the course of the last nine months. Now, He is here. The Promised One. The anticipated Messiah. Jesus, born in a humble manger on a quiet night. The shepherds are walking around Bethlehem, telling everyone they meet that Jesus is here. The Savior of the World.

Mary is taking all of this in. Perhaps the gravity of raising the King of Kings and Lord of Lords has finally hit her. She gets to raise her Savior, your Savior, my Savior. God’s Son, who came to save us all.

As quiet reflective Christmas Eve gatherings are taking place across this blessed land, let us be like Mary and ponder these things. Let us take in the gravity of the birth of Jesus. Let us be like the shepherds and tell all we meet of the birth of Jesus. Let us be like the angels and praise God for sending us His Son. On this most holy night, let us glorify and praise God for loving us so much He offered the world His Son, to save us from our sins, to be the Savior of the World.

Riding the Jimmy Fallon ride at Universal, it simulates driving through New York City and suddenly you have an aerial view of the city, then you are out in space, landing on the moon. As your view changes, your attitude also changes.

This busy Christmas season is upon us. Looking for that perfect gift, remember tis better to give than receive. Wanting the house, the meal, the people to be the best, remember God already gave us the perfect gift of all, His Son, Jesus.

I pray your view of this Christmas season is on God and His Son. Enjoy the merry-making. Enjoy the noise of the holidays. Keeping God in view.