JS - You Are My Strength - Hillsong (cover)

"The real problem of the Christian life... comes the very moment you wake up each morning.

All your wishes and hopes for the day rush at you like wild animals.

And your first job each morning consists in shoving them all back;

in listening to that other voice,
taking that other point of view,
letting that larger, stronger, quieter life come flowing in."

C.S. Lewis

blessed are...

Matthew 5

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

The Greek word for ‘Blessed’ is ‘Makarioi’ which means ‘happy, supremely blessed, and fortunate’.

First Jesus says, “Blessed are the poor in spirit..”  What does that mean, and how can we be poor in spirit?  Is it something we just are, or is it something we attain to be?

The word for ‘poor’ in Greek (‘Ptochos‘) literally means having nothing, reduced to begging, like a beggar, totally broke.

‘Spiritual poor’ is exactly what it sounds like. It is a state when you realize that you have nothing and need constant help.

The opposite of ‘Poor in Spirit’ is ‘proud in spirit’.  So, if we want to be poor in spirit, we must not have a spirit of pride.  This may be an easier way to view things as pride is something that is easy to pinpoint.  It’s easy to know when we are being prideful.  The tricky part is that we can have a false humility which is also pride.  What I mean by that is that we can downgrade ourselves or have what would seemingly be a really sucky self esteem, and that is a form of pride.  It’s like saying, “God, you didn’t make me good enough.”  We don’t want to do that either.  It’s definitely a balance.

Also, lets look at the kingdom of heaven because I know there has been a lot of controversy regarding this subject as well lately… thanks to Rob Bell.

Kingdom of God (Heaven) is twofold:

Already Here: Luke 17:20-21: “Once, having been asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, “The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is within you.”

Yet to Come: Kingdom of Heaven will be fully realized and established when Christ will come as a King and Ruler over all earth. (Daniel 7: 13,14,27)

What a hope and promise, Jesus offers to those who are poor in the spirit. “Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.”

So… yay!  I will strive to be poor in spirit so that I will inherit the Kingdom of Heaven-both here and later when it is fully established.  That means, I will remember and live every day with Christ because I know that on my own I just can’t get it right.

Love ya Jesus!

this ones for the hubz...

anyone can watch it, but it's specifically for my wonderful hubs :)  it's amazing... and so so true :)  take a few minutes... click on the link... watch it....

Mississippi John Hurt I'm satisfied

how

God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him. (Desiring God)


So, how do we become satisfied in Him?  


Seek Him.  Speak to Him.  Listen.


Pour your heart out.  Allow Him to love you.  It may be through others, or it may be through His word.  He will give you strength.  


He will give me strength :)  I will be satisfied in him :)

and, if you're up for something a little more up my alley :)

i know, i know....

some people get really frustrated with the rob bell controversy....  if you fall in this category, feel free to stop reading here.  but, it's something that i'm revisiting.  it's something that keeps coming up in conversations.  i have wanted to stop giving it any credence, but it is what it is...  we may as well allow it to grow us.  i really, really, really get frustrated with everyone attacking so much.  sure, i don't agree with everything that rob bell is teaching.  but, i still love the guy.  he's still given me a lot to think about, and he's most definitely opened up some interesting discussion between believers and nonbelievers alike.  I do agree that we shouldn't judge something before reading the book that is being judged.  I'm simply stating these opinions based upon conversations that I've seen or read, and the effects that they are having on me.

I read an article by Eugene Peterson (author of "the Message) that I really agreed with... I especially enjoyed reading the discussions that followed...  I encourage you to read it.

I also saw an interview with Bell himself that I really appreciate...  You can see it here.  It is an hour interview, but it was a good one.

All this to say a few things... false prophets are not cool.  But, I won't put Bell in that category.  Sure, it sucks that he's bringing all this into this light (or does it?).  All I'm saying is, let's not allow our own naivities frustrate us to the point of attacks.  Or, lets not allow our own pride push us to attack.  Just saying.

Oh yeah, if I didn't mention it before... I DO NOT AGREE with 100% of what Bell is pushing, but I do still respect him and appreciate him.

things i love

.my husband

.my son

.people

.opportunities

.serving

.kids

.teenagers

.my couch

.my laptop

.dominion

.my friends

.roller derby

.good movies

.social networking

.dominion

.writing

.reading

.influencing

.Jesus

.the internet

.tennis

.taco bell

.home cooked meals (with someone else to clean them up)

.games

.sleep

.

those are just a few :)  there are too many to make an extensive list :)