What Does Being Blessed Mean?

Introduction to the Sermon on the Mount

5 “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.

The Beatitudes

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.”

On Sunday my Pastor preached about the scripture above. During his sermon he told a story about a former neighbor of his who made a lot of money and did not mind telling people about it. It wasn’t that this man is a bad person or someone that people disliked, he is a very nice and sociable person in fact when my Pastor asked him how he was doing he said, “Man I am so blessed!” 

My Pastor said after getting in his car he thought is that really what Jesus meant when He said someone is blessed? 

Obviously when you read the Beatitudes you realize it’s the on going flipping of the worldly narrative. 

We see the poor in spirit, the mourners, the meek, the ones who hunger for righteousness, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers and the persecuted who are called blessed. 

Compare that to the world. The world’s version of being blessed is money, prosperity and happiness. Who Jesus called blessed would be considered cursed by the standards of the world. 

The world’s standards are so much different than God’s. 

I actually found a wonderful article that I think articulates the meaning of being “Blessed”. I would like to share that with you to close this weeks blog entry: 
https://openthebible.org/article/what-does-it-really-mean-to-be-blessed/

Have a (truly) Blessed Week, 
Chris 

Source: 
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+5%3A1-12&version=NIV

Full God

One of things I’ve noticed people do is they only focus on part of God. 

This is true certainly with the secular and skeptic crowd who want to focus on what they perceive as negative but it is also true of some Christians.

Let’s look at two examples.

On the one hand you have people focusing only on fearing God. They talk of His wrath, judgment and how depraved humanity is but they miss the grace, love and mercy of God. 

The other side you have people who focus so much on God’s love they take advantage of His mercy and grace. There is no fear of God at all and this means you truly don’t love God in return but instead you love yourself.

Now of course they’re other examples but let’s focus on the solution to this instead.

And that is to know God and His Word. Look at God as He is, the Great I am, the creator of the Universe, our King but also the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. 

There is no one greater than God, so love Him, respect Him, fear Him.

Know Him.

If you do you than you will have the full God.

Have a Blessed Week,

Chris

A Fantastic Article on The Attributes of God…

https://www.biblestudytools.com/bible-study/topical-studies/15-amazing-attributes-of-god-what-they-mean-and-why-they-matter.html

Daily Bible Reading

Monday – Joshua 5:9-12

Tuesday – Psalm 32

Wednesday – 2 Corinthians 5:16-21

Thursday – Luke 15:1-3,11-32

The Gospel Is The Only Thing

Famous Green Bay Packers coach Vince Lombardi once said, “Winning isn’t everything thing it’s the only thing.” While this saying did not originate with him, he made it famous.

I want to put a Christian spin on that quote. The Gospel isn’t everything it’s the only thing.

Jesus took on our sins, was crucified, died and rose from the grave to save us from hell.

Whoever repents and believes will have eternal life and be reconciled with God.

This message is everything and because eternity and reconciliation with God is on the line it’s the only thing. 

Without the Gospel nothing matters because in the end we would all be doomed.

Remember this then go out and spread the Gospel.

Have a Blessed Week,
Chris

Daily Bible Readings Scripture
Monday – Deuteronomy 26:1-11

Tuesday – Psalm 91

Wednesday – Romans 10:8-13

Thursday – Luke 4:1-13

True Story of St. Patrick

Re-Posting this from a couple years ago. True Story of St. Patrick’s Day. Hope those who read this have a good and blessed week.

The Good Word

Hello everyone.

I am having a bit of a hectic day today. Hoping you all are doing well. I read this article about St. Patrick’s Day from CBN. I know I am a day late but for this week’s post I am going to pass the story on. I’ll be back next week.

http://www1.cbn.com/patricius-the-true-story-of-st-patrick

Have a blessed week,
Chris

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God Handles Your Mistakes Differently

The world will never let you forget your mistakes.

They will be constantly brought up to you, people will resent you for your past. You will always have that blemish in people’s minds.

Heck in the middle of a mistake the world won’t even let you stop it. They will remind you that shouldn’t have done it in the first place. It doesn’t matter that you immediately tried to fix what happened.

But with God it is the opposite.

God will forgive you.

God won’t resent you, God won’t forsake you.

He asks you to repent and when you truly change your ways God won’t bring up your mistakes.

The Bible says in Micah 7:19, “He will again have compassion on us; he will tread our iniquities underfoot. You will cast all our[a] sins into the depths of the sea.”

And in Psalm 103:12, “as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.”

Of course there may be earthly consequences for your actions and that is a part of the repentance process. But to God once your repentance is complete, that is it. He loves you and will not hold your sins against you.

His grace and His sacrifice is sufficient for you.

Even if the entire World hates you as long as God loves you can be joyous. 

Because He is enough.

Have a Blessed Week,
Chris

Below I have attached the online service of Heritage Baptist Church

Links:
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Micah+7%3A19&version=ESV

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%20103%3A12&version=ESV

All Saint’s Day

Today is All Saint’s Day. It’s a day we remember the believers who died and are now with Christ.

Whether a believer in Christ died this year or in years past today is the perfect day to think of them and thank God for the effect they have had on our lives and in the church as a whole.

I found this wonderful prayer that I would like to share with you…

“Dear God, thank you for the example of the Saints. I desire to join in their company, worshiping you forever in Heaven. Please help me follow their footsteps, and yours, Jesus Christ. Please help me to conform myself to Your image, seeking Your will in all things, as the Saints did. Please help me to devote myself, and all that I do, to Your glory, and to the service of my neighbors. Amen.”

Have a Blessed Week,
Chris

Links:
Prayer
https://www.praymorenovenas.com/prayer-saints-day

History of All Saint’s Day
https://www.christianity.com/church/church-history/all-saints-day-november-1.html

Heritage Baptist Church

The Importance of Rest II

Labor Day was just last week a day designed for the worker to have a day of rest and be celebrated. Unfortunately now a days it seems like most or at least too many are not given that day off. Quite the contrary actually many stores and businesses say it is one of their busiest days or weekends of the year.

Two years ago I wrote a blog called, “The Importance of Rest”. Unfortunately I feel that things have gotten worse in the world when it comes to rest and not better. I know for me personally I continue to struggle with recognizing the importance of rest. This past week I went to bed later and later and woke up earlier and earlier. Not good. By the end of the week I felt sick every time I returned from work due to the lack of sleep.

Luckily I have been resting well this weekend and been able to get better.

A lot of us were forced to take a rest this year for an extended period of time but for most the stress of their jobs, finances or a desire to just keep busy kept them from resting and they were more tired than ever despite being stuck at home.

I said this in my previous blog on this subject, I can’t begin to tell you the importance of rest.

It is true.

We know we are not greater than God and yet God chose to rest and told us to do the same.

You need to rest, so do so not because anyone else tells you but because God tells you to.

So rest in the arms of the Lord and Have a Blessed Week,
Chris

PS-Here is a link to Bible verses on rest.
https://www.biblestudytools.com/topical-verses/rest-bible-verses/

True Freedom Means Dependence On God.

This past Saturday we in American celebrated Independence Day. A day where we celebrate our freedom but the truth is many in this country and in the world are not free no matter what type of country they live in or what type of government they have.

In reality true freedom comes from God.

Only He provides you with true freedom.

Freedom from sin and destruction.

Freedom from this world that hates what is good and loves what is evil.

Freedom from all your past mistakes.

Freedom from those chains that hold you down.

Freedom from the darkness in your life.

Freedom from the lies of this world.

God is the truth and the truth can set you free.

Have a Blessed Week,
Chris

Seek Joy

When are you going to stop seeking pleasures of the flesh and start seeking God?

Why do you pursue things that bring you only temporary happiness that fades away?

Instead pursue joy which truly is only found in God.

God’s love is never ending.

The joy that comes from God’s love is never ending.

Even the darkest moments in your life you can still know joy if you know God.

Know God and know joy.

Have a Blessed Week,
Chris

Father’s Day 2020: You Will Always Have a Father

Happy Father’s Day’s to all the fathers out there who are reading this.

My wife and I’s fathers passed away a few years ago so this day can be a somber day for us. I know this is true for many people as their fathers have also passed away and  sadly for some they may never have truly know their father or any father.

If any of that describes how you feel I want to tell you, today can still be joyous.

Because while our earthly fathers might not still be in our life or ever were in our life we have THE Father who is there and who wants to have a personal relationship with us.

If you’re missing your dad or never felt fatherly love from someone know that God made you, God loves you and God is your Father.

I thank God for everything He is done for me, I thank God for creating me and I thank God for creating my earthly father Richard and my wife’s earthly father Ralph. Both who brought blessings and wonderful moments in my life.

Thank you God, Thank you Father, I love you. Happy Father’s Day.

Have a Blessed Week,
Chris

Here is two great links to look at today…
https://www.openbible.info/topics/god_the_father

https://www.christiantoday.com/article/5-prayers-for-fathers-day/88623.htm