7 traits of a Jesus "bought by the blood" believer

The Beatitudes. Matthew 5:3-12

Matt 5:1, 2 "Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them, saying:..."

 

Large crowds followed  to hear His teachings

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HcnfT4arZtI

 5:1, 2

"Blessed" or blessedness means a person's sense of God's approval--a happiness that comes from pure character that sees sin as the fountainhead of all misery and holiness as the cure for every woe. That is true happiness! That is a happiness that the world can't offer and why the world's "happiness" is temporary. The Blessed states that the Sermon on the Mount teaches leads to true happiness. The first--"Blessed are the (1)poor in spirit"--says dump self-reliance and pride, come and receive the Spirit! This is the key into entering Heaven. We were justified and reconciled to God through Christ and receive grace by God. Now we have a part in developing ourselves into maturity. Being in poverty means that you are in need!
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The second characteristic trait of the 7 beatitudes that will affect everyday conduct is -"Blessed are those who (2)mourn, they will be comforted". That is to mourn or lament the effects of sin in the world--to weep over sin, never to be so calloused to sin that we are unmoved by it. Christians are to be joyful and that is where the comfort of The Lord comes in! The blessing comes not in the mourning, but from the results of mourning.
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The third character trait described in the Beatitudes is the quality of meekness. "Blessed are the (3)meek, for they will inherit the earth." A true believer is aware of their poverty of spirit, grieve sinful lifestyle and in meekness bows to a sovereign God like a child ----"WHATEVER pleases You, pleases me." Whatever comes to me is an opportunity to draw closer to You, in complete trust, I bow to it, to You. There is a peace there. God is holy. One day there will be a strict accounting for all the wrongs in the world, and the ones who are meek will inherit the earth.
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"Blessed are those that (4)hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled" is the 4th beatitude!
Completely relying on God for everything. Hunger and thirst are requirements for the body to live. Righteousness is whatever God decrees man to acknowledge and obey. It is what God says, not what man thinks!
If you are filled that means there is no space for want, greed, lust, envy or strife. But what is one filled with that can quench those attributes? Only righteousness can--those others never are satisfied or bring satisfaction to the soul.
A hunger and thirst for righteousness is a craving for God and His holiness over and over and over again. It starts then builds from being poor in spirit, mourning sin, submitting in meekness to Christ.
There is self-righteousness and there is a righteousness coming from God.
Do you have a genuine thirst and hunger--a longing for God and His Word, a hate for sin, is there a longing to do God's will? There are things that can increase your hunger and thirst--beware of idols, turn your eyes from the world, count all but Jesus as a loss, being in His presence, watch the company you keep, keep coming to Him and receive what He gives you!
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The 5th Beatitude character trait is mercy. "Blessed are the (5)merciful, for they will see God." v.5:7. The first 4 Beatitudes dealt vertically--between man and God and God empowering man. Now the remaining 5 traits are horizontal-- how man deals with man. How does one who mourns sin respond to a sinner? with mercy.
Mercy, kindness and love work together. Mercy and forgiveness are in sync. 

 

Grace is unearned favor that saves, mercy is undeserved favor that forgives, and peace is unsought favor that reconciles us!

       Mercy sees a need and meets the need. Mercy is not for the worthy, but for the needy! We all have a need for mercy. And it must be shown to all, or it won't be shown back.
Mercy says: If you see a need and can met a need, then do. Fully forgive those indebted due to their behavior & attitude. Give understanding rather than judgement.
Showing mercy to different personalities: Some need assurance, give them assurance; some are insecure, affirm them; some weak, support them; some are timid, encourage them; some are reserved, spur them on. God is mercy!
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I had a friend tell me one time, lay off from reading the cleansing Word of God a day or two and the stench of your flesh will rise up! That's what the 6th Beatitude talks about purity.
"Blessed are the (6)pure in heart for they will see God." Matt 5:8
This pure is a "cleansing" of an evil conscience (heart) that we received by the blood of Jesus.
The heart is a mercy-seat of grief or joy; desires or affections; perceptions or thoughts; understanding or reasoning; imagination or conscience; intentions or purpose; will or faith. And thus it means the purity of actions, thoughts, desires, motivations, and proper reasoning.
To stay pure, after the initial cleansing, we must continually cleanse our heart, to continually see God in reality.
Cleansing habits: Read daily the cleansing Word; confession of sin and restitution to others, if needed, must be done to be in right standing with God and men; watch thoughts; watch the company kept; and set your mind on things of God.
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Peace. Where in this bloody world is peace?! Even in countries at "peace", a battle rages within it's borders between men. That's why the last beatitudes fit well together. "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God" Matt 5:9 "Blessed are those who are (7)persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom."
Peace signifies harmony, not just absence of war. Horizontal embracement between parties--in spite of differences. That kind of peace comes from outside a man's deceptive heart. But wait-- what about purity of heart in the previous beatitude? That purity came from Jesus, who brings a peace. It comes from---the Prince of Peace. Does Jesus bring Peace on Earth? Scripture says He brings peace among men. Division will come because some aren't reconciled to God--so persecution follows the peacemakers-- those who are reconciled to Him,
What makes a peacemaker? Having peace with God, having peace w/ the body of Christ, and having a ministry of reconciliation. That is reconciling wayward men to Christ--sharing the gospel with your adversary. Peacemakers and the persecuted, go hand and hand.
"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad! because great is your reward in heaven for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."
Persecution is a given. Trials are a given. Stand strong in the Lord and His teachings and you will be blessed or His word is a lie and I believe Him, do you? We are on the way to maturity and God is full of grace, mercy and love!
Praying that you desire to please God, take on these character traits and then walk in them every step of the way, developing and maturing in the love of God!   Ash
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Shame and Blame

Shame. Blame.

.... and exchange at the Cross

 

2 Corinthians 1:4 

He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.

There are these two things that most of us encounter in our lives. These two things are called shame and blame. These things can linger and live underneath other thoughts, actions and feelings. These things can be the actual reason that our decisions sometimes can surprise even ourselves after they are made.  It is time to take a closer look at these. It is time to give them up. It is time to take them to the cross.

There are two types of shame.
Most of us have both and get them confused. Let's take a look at them and sort them out so we know how to give them up.

The first is received shame. Take this to the foot of the cross, leave it there. This shame is the result of someone else. You were never intended to carry this shame. Although you have blamed yourself, you are not at fault.  Take this shame to the foot of the cross, leave it there for the person responsible to come and pick it up and place in the hands of Jesus. If no one comes to pick it up, Jesus will claim it. He died for it. It is not yours to blame yourself for anymore.

The second is deserved shame. You are the one responsible for this shame. The shame and blame has been chasing you anywhere but toward the cross. You should head that way now. Jesus has His hands out to take this burden from you. He died for your sins. While you are there look down at the foot of the cross. Pick up what is at His feet that you are responsible for and place it in his hand so that others can heal as well. 

This was a message for me on how to heal and help heal. I wanted to share it with you because I found it so important. Please take this message and with it take your shame and blame to the cross where you can exchange it for peace and love. I know that He is waiting for you. 

Love, 
Andrea

Fight Apathy or Don't.

Apathy is dead.

Fighting apathy on the home-front

There are many people that I meet as a reporter that  invite me into their lives and share with me their hopes and desires, and express their problems to me on such a deep level that I walk away praying that God meets their needs, "Surely, if any one needs a miracle, they do Lord!"

I walk away from them, but really they are still with me, in my mind, on my heart ever present in my thoughts.  And I am left with this sentiment of what can I do? How can I help them?

  It can be a disheartening feeling to walk away from a cancer patient, or from a mother with a sick child that has shared their story and in need of a miracle and well,  just leave them there -with no solution.

   And I am sincere when I say that at times, after I walk away like that-- I am disillusioned because I see the pain and anguish, and feel the heavy hearted heaviness of the situation and something compels me to want to do something. 

  But what can I do?  But pray and ask God to open doors or close doors, to bring healing or intervene in some huge way that impacts their lives. And to give me wisdom that if there is something that I can, then I do it.

  I am a firm believer that people don't just happenstance into our lives. We are there to encourage, aide, give to the ones around us in whatever way that we can. And often I would say, we are there to show great compassion.

We may not be able to physically heal a person, but we can provide emotional healing to one another.  Being there is saying --I hear what you are saying and although I may not have the answers, I am here. You're not alone in your thick depression, by yourself in this horrible sickness, weathering a bleak dark storm without a friend.  We have our own lives to live each day that the sun rises, but with the state of the world falling to such a degree of hate, we must take the time to show the ones around us that we care. 

We may not be able to fight terrorism  abroad, but we can fight apathy at home.  

But that will require dying to indifference.  
Who knows? If we take the time to uncover what that other person has gone through, it could be of value to us---because we are facing it. Or what one has acquired during their own trying times, is what that other person needs to hear.

That may sound "pokey" in a world that is spewing meanness and hatred, but really it is not. Meeting a person in their hour of need thwarts chaos and brings stability in our community.  

No matter where you are on the map, we all are on God's radar,  and how we treat our neighbors makes all the difference in our world and it makes a world of difference in peoples' lives.  

  ~~Praying for you and for me, Ashley

"But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness." Psalm 86:15,

"Pursue a righteous life—a life of wonder, faith, love, steadiness, courtesy. Run hard and fast in the faith. Seize the eternal life, the life you were called to, the life you so fervently embraced in the presence of so many witnesses." 1 Timothy 6:12, The Message Bible

Everybody's looking for something....

In 1983 Annie Lennox and David Stewart, known then as the Eurythmics (a British new wave duo), wrote and released this song -- Sweet Dreams-- that, for some reason, was stuck in my mind as I woke this morning. Back in the day, I thought this was a really cool but kind-of scary song. I looked up the lyrics --although I was sure I knew them well-- just to make sure I had them right and try to come up with a reason this song was playing in my mind! I had not heard it lately so I assumed it was there for a reason!!

The song is about living life in this world of sometimes evil intentions from man's (and/or woman's) perspective. It is about constantly looking for something and never being satisfied... and dealing with the people doing the same around you.  It is about people who you cross paths with in your life and how they will treat you and how you treat them. This is the meaning I got from the lyrics anyway!

I began my bible study for the day shortly after reading the lyrics to the song. I was feeling a little uncomfortable with the message I was getting but read these verses and soon realized... maybe there was a message in this experience after all!

ASK! SEEK! KNOCK! and Everybody's looking for something.....

Matthew 7:7-8
7 Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. 

These were words spoken by our savior Jesus during his Sermon on the Mount.

Just like in the song "Sweet Dreams", everybody really is looking for something... and in these two verses, Jesus gives us all a threefold representation of how to find it!

ASK: Come with faith to prayer as a means of obtaining needs... with emphasis on the words COME IN FAITH!!

SEEK: AGAIN- In prayer, seek God... if it is his will for you, you will receive what you ask for.

KNOCK:  If you feel shut out, knock on the door of mercy! Have faith and that faith will be the key that opens the door.

Keep reading for assurance!!

Matthew 7:9-11
9 Which of you,  if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give goods to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!

Jesus is saying this in a way us parents can relate to here!! If my children come to me and ask me for something to eat... I will surely give this to my children. I know my children have to eat to live and I love my children, so I will provide this for them. And sometimes my kids want a little extra... sometimes they get "the wants"!... and I love my children so much that sometimes I give them little gifts, little extras to show them how much. And sometimes when my children WANT, I tell them no because I know that there is a need greater than the want.

What Jesus is saying to us in these verses is; If me, a sinner, can take care of my children and love them in this way... then just imagine how well our FATHER in HEAVEN will take care of us when we, his children, ASK, SEEK, and KNOCK!

Jesus sums up these things by saying this--
Matthew 7:12
So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

HUH? What does what we need and want have to do with this last verse?? I believe this "Golden Rule" is a command to us so that we might be deserving of what we ask for. My pastor said something so special while speaking yesterday. He said "Everyone is Precious". He went on to explain how everyone, even those who dislike us or those who have done wrong to us, is precious to God. This statement really made me think of this verse. No matter what people have done to me, they are still precious to God. I have to forgive and treat these precious other people how I want them to treat me before I can even fathom asking for something for myself.

Some of them want to use you. Some of them want abuse you. Everyone is looking for something.

BUT

Everyone is PRECIOUS to GOD, EVERYONE can ASK, SEEK, and KNOCK, everyone must live this life in this world of sometimes evil intentions. Everyone must realize how important it is that we treat each other how we want to be treated. And if we follow Jesus' instructions for our lives, not only will we learn how to love one another, we will find that something we are all looking for.

Love,
Andrea

My Single Valentine

Where O' Where is my Valentine?! 

Valentine O' Where is my Valentine?

 So, here I am,  another year without a Valentine! But since I am here-- I choose to be content in it--believing that He knows what I need and who I need!

But what is a single girl or guy suppose to do on a dateless Valentines Day/Night  when it seems like most of the ones around us are true-lovin'?

• First, realize it is okay! No fretting about the fate you're in--we have it established that our hearts will contain His desire for our "whats, whos and wheres" so we hold on to that in faith!  "Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart." Psalm 37:4

• Second, we open eyes to see the countless other singles that are out there. You truly are not alone! "A friend loves at all times and a brother is born for adversity." Proverbs 17:17 

So, if for you, Valentines is a biggie and may make you feel down in the dumps, organize a group outing with some of your single friends. Go to the spa, shopping, out for a meal, go fishing, gather around a fire and probe the meaning of life, but get out and enjoy yourself with people that really love you--your family and friends.

If you're not the social type,  then how about taking the time to "fall in love" with yourself! Do things that you enjoy doing and treat yourself well. Cook your favorite meal, watch your favorite movie, read your favorite book, work on your favorite project, or get lost in your favorite chapter in the Bible and thank God for the many blessings that He has given.

Valentines is a day of love and devotion. Commit to expressing your love to God and to the others around you, including yourself!~~LOVES, Ash

Depression is a state of mind and body

No hope in or for life is depression.

Depression is a real condition that may affect you or a loved one. But we have a promise that is just as real!
Jesus opened his first sermon addressing this condition. He looked out and seeing the multitudes distressed, opened his mouth and gave out a promise,
"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those that mourn for they will be comforted."
Matt 5:3&4

The condition of depression is cruel but can be cured! There is hope for the hopeless! It begins by faith and not by sight for both those witnessing and those affected by depression. The link below goes into detail about that more. Let me say that managing depression is in itself a means of curing depression. And medical science has studied how to accomplish that through medication. But never underestimate the power of God to move in your spiritual and physical life.
http://m.christianpost.com/news/christian-counselor-depression-demands-living-by-faith-not-by-sight--9370

What should a christian do if overwhelmed with depression? Below is a helpful link in addressing that question.
http://www.christiananswers.net/q-acb/acb-f001.html

I am praying for the downcast and depressed today that you be encouraged in your faith and surrounded by people to help lift you out of hopeless darkness and into this new bright day that was created for you to live in! ~Ash

An assignment of LOVE!

One of my sons told me this morning about an incident at school .... his entire class got in trouble with a substitute teacher for talking. The substitutes chosen discipline was to have all of the students write a paragraph "about 50 times" according to my son! I asked him what the paragraph said....

He replied, "I don't know".

I know it would seem that if someone wrote the exact same paragraph over and over  or  even "50 times" they would surely remember what the sentences of that paragraph were. But so many times, I am like my son. I write, I study and I am given the same lessons over and over, but yet I just go through the motions of life never really letting the true meaning of things sink in!!

I talked about my habit of doing this in my first post on this blog called "Return to Faith" when I said, at the end of the post in the prayer, "Thank You for putting me in a place where You once again attempted to reach for me."

I look back at my life now ....there were situations I was in, moments when someone said something to me, or times I went through some experiences where I know God was attempting to reach out for me. I was so blinded by the world that I couldn't see the hand, the plan and the path he had for me even when it was right in front of my face!!!

Ephesians 2:3-5
3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. 4 But because of his great LOVE for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions - it is by grace you have been saved.

I am now trying to write the paragraph AND absorb the lesson! Each bible verse I read, I attempt to learn how to use it in my own life.  Each bible verse I write, I know that it is directed toward myself but is a lesson not from me but God and can be used for a greater purpose.

I have recently written these verses several times:

1 Corinthians 13:4-7
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Valentine's Day is near. I know that each of us are born with a desire to love and be loved, but may not know how to truly love one another. God's love is the only example of TRUE LOVE! I think these verses describe true love. I know that I am writting it over and over again and thinking about it for a reason. Maybe my LOVE is not yet true... Maybe God is having me write this paragraph over and over so I can begin to learn and understand how to truly love. 

Maybe you can join me and write this verse for yourself... write it 50 times if you need to!!

Today I am thankful that
God is TRUE LOVE and that he wants ME (and YOU) to learn how to love like him.

Love, 
Andrea