THE SECRET TO BEING BLESSED...

Oh, goody. Now that I have your attention... I thought that title might get you here... :)

QUESTION: Where are you at right now??
I'm in my basement, freezing my toes off. I should probably just go get a pair of socks but I am too lazy to haul my butt up the stairs. hahaha... what? :)

Okay, okay...seriously...
I don't mean where are you PHYSICALLY--I mean, where are you at spiritually?
CLOUD NINE ALL THE TIME!?
Shootin' cute little picture messages on facebook telling everybody to "live today like it's their last"?
Debbie Downer, making sarcastic jokes about all the people who post all the cutesy "live like it's the last day yadda yadda blah blah blah, kill me know" things on facebook? :)

Can I just tell you that wherever you have been on the spectrum I have probably been there, and the REALLY kinda sad truth about me is that I can be all those people in one day if I do not keep my mind and heart in check.

WHATEVER SEASON YOU ARE IN ON YOUR JOURNEY,
GOD WILL BLESS THAT THING WHEN YOU BRING IT TO HIM.

Chew on that for a minute. We, in our human nature, are so quick to judge one another based on the one or two things we understand of a person's situation.

With God it's different. So wonderfully, refreshingly, and radically different.
GOD sees the BIG picture. He embraces the WHOLE of you...not just the part of you. I believe God can, and does, love you unconditionally when no one else can because He gets the intricate parts of you that no one else can. Sorry if you have heard me say this before. I believe it bears repeating since it applies in this context. He designed you, and then he watched you. He has seen when you hurt, and when you rejoiced. He has seen when you laughed til you cried, and when you cried til you puked. He mourned with you when you hunched over life's breaking points and and then He rejoiced over you when you climbed out of those things in victory as you reached your breakthrough moments. Oh, Sweet, sweet victory in Christ Jesus.

HE LOVES YOU ON YOUR WORST DAYS
AND ON YOUR BEST DAYS.

Read what He has to say to you from Matthew 5...

"Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them."

The Beatitudes

He said:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

“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."

~Matthew 5:1-12

Blessed are you... no matter what you are going through.
Why? Because God loves you, sees you, and cares about you.
You are not alone, no matter what you are going through. There is a GOD who LOVES you and who redeems the worst of circumstances in your life, heals the brokenness in your heart, and lovingly restores the things that have been shattered or broken...
This is such GREAT NEWS for all of us! Isn't it?

No one has to beat themselves up in their brokenness. Why? Because it was NEVER God's will for you to stay stuck in your brokenness. BLESSED are you when you come to Him with your need, because it is THERE that GOD can give you what you need and make things right again either on this side of Heaven or on the other side...and you can be at peace on this side of Heaven knowing that He is in control. It is also where He can be, and will be, glorified.

BLESSED ARE YOU WHEN YOU NEED HEALING.
Our church did an anointing service today. The message was wonderful for people who need "healing" of any kind: spiritual, physical, emotional, whatever else I am leaving out. My mind is still kind of on those people today. If you are someone who needs healing, BLESS YOU! I plan to post the link to the message my Pastor shared later so others can hear it, so come back to my site in a couple of days. I happen to think my Pastor is dynamite and I think you will too. In the meantime, for all of us whether you are needing healing or not, hear this message.

The voice of God says this to us...

"Blessed are you when..."

and then, later in Matthew we read this...

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:22-30

There is no "baggage" in that message. There is no reason for any baggage with that message. It is a message of grace and mercy and love. THAT IS MY GOD!!! He is your God too. Hold your head high. YOU are SOOOO LOVED!!!!



If you are reading this, I am praying a special blessing for you today as I prepare to publish this post.