Aunt Shirley--You Will Always be Remembered

I have mixed emotions of happy and sad today because my beloved Aunt Shirley passed away.  I am happy because I know she will be in a place specifically prepared for her by Jesus! Amen. (John 14:2).  I am sad because I miss her already.  I shall miss the lengthy telephone conversations.  I shall cherish the wonderful memories. 

Aunt Shirley, you no longer have to imagine what it will be like when you walk by God's side.  Remember the above song?  Now, I am the one who can only imagine.  Rest in Peace!  You will always be remembered!  Until I see you again, "Good night, sweet dreams, I love you!"

Turn to God's Holy Word

The Lord wants me to continue in relationship with Him through His Word, however, for the time being, He wants me to discontinue writing this blog.  Christ's Word stands for all of us in the Bible.  Amen!

Walk Continued through the Book of Matthew

We are all faced with good and evil everyday.  In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus expands on the laws of the Old Testament to help us overcome evil.  We must always keep alert to avoid Satan's subtle snare.  Search and you will find ways to overcome evil in Jesus' teachings.  Through Jesus we will overcome!  Matthew 5:21-48 and Matthew 6 and 7 continues the walk through the gospel of Matthew.

Moving Forward Through Jesus

Matthew 5:17-20 (KJV): Words of Jesus

17) Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
18) For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
19) Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
20) For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Jesus came to fulfill the law, not to destroy it.  It is through Jesus that believers in Him will move forward from the law to surpass the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees to enter the kingdom of heaven.

Our Lord Teaches, Preaches and Heals

Teaching, preaching and healing take place in the presence of the Lord (Matthew 4:23-25).  Today, we can have Jesus to come into our presence through praying, reading His Word and/or worshipping Him.  Recently, He visited me through tears of joy as I humbly praised Him through a version of the above song.  Maybe you have encountered the Lord in the same way.  Glory to God! Amen!

We are the 'salt of the earth'; the 'light of the world'

I believe this song and video are a great representation of Matthew 5:13-16 (KJV):

13) Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
14) Ye are the light of the world.  A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
15) Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
16) Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

The righteousness that we do to serve God through our good works is for the glory of God (Matthew 5:16).  When others persecute us for righteousness' sake, we are blessed by God (Matthew 5:10,11).  We are to rejoice and be glad (v. 12).

When we rejoice as the 'salt of the earth' and 'the light of the world' (vs. 13, 14), we keep our salt savory and our light shining to overcome evil.  God, our Father in heaven, will be glorified.

Blessedness

A number of years ago I worked in an area of the city known as the 'Hilltop.'  Stories were certainly circulating about the criminal activity of the area.  Considering the reputation of drugs and gangs in the area, though, many of the people were 'happy.'  This 'happy' was not the kind of happy you might associate with drugs or drinking, but the kind of 'happy' associated with being blessed by God.  I would ask the people--"How are you?" Some replied--"I am blessed."  Some would respond--"I am blessed.  Blessed means happy."

The peoples' use of 'blessed' in their greeting response was unique to me because where I moved from in Northeast Tennessee, I often heard the phrase "Bless your heart" or the common "Bless you" after a sneeze, but I do not recall anyone saying they were blessed when asked, "How are you?" Most often I had heard the word used in a church setting, not in a retail setting.

Despite all the Hilltop crime that many of the citizens had lived around or were living through, they were set apart in their blessedness.  This was a good thing.  To me, those who were 'blessed' stood out like beacons on the Hilltop.  Their countenance radiated happiness.

In the opening words of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus bestowed happiness and rewards upon His followers who produced the good fruit of His teachings.  These teachings are known as the beatitudes in Matthew 5:3-12:

3) Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4) Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
5) Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
6) Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
7) Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
8) Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
9) Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
10) Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11) Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil agaist you falsely, for my sake.
12) Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

As we are blessed by God, we have the opportunity to bless or praise God in return.  This exchange of blessings is exactly what is shown in the praise song--"Blessed Be Your Name" by Matt Redman.

Praise God through the good times and the bad! Amen!