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The Beautiful Attitudes – Part VIII: Blessed are those who are Persecuted
"Blessed are those who are persecuted FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to them. “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you and say all kinds of evil things about you falsely ON ACCOUNT OF ME. Rejoice and be glad because your reward is great in heaven, for they persecuted the prophets before you in the same way. (Matthew 5:10-12)
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The Beautiful Attitudes – Part VI: Blessed are the Pure in Heart
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. (Matthew 5:8 NET) Have you ever noticed that when you insert an object (e.g., a straw) in a glass of liquid (e.g., water) that the straw looks like it is split in two or bent? A straw looks this way in water because the light is forced to change course or refract when it moves from air into the water. The light will again change course when it leaves the water to go back into the air. However, if there were no liquid in the glass, then the straw would not appear bent (the glass to air transition and…
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Totally Busted
I hate it when appliances stop working. They burst, explode or refuse to function. It makes me happy to think that everything that makes my life convenient will do its job. Yet, when a major appliance like my hot water heater starts spewing water everywhere, I reach a moment of crisis. I fall apart when things seem out of control. And honestly, God has decided to teach me amidst my broken appliances. For example, my oven heats up but then shuts off in the middle of baking. I think it likes it when I plead with it to stay on. Then my clothes dryer, it died a few months ago.…
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The Beautiful Attitudes – Part V: Blessed are the Merciful
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. (Matthew 5:7)
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The Beautiful Attitudes – Part IV: Blessed are those that Hunger and Thirst
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied. (Matthew 5:6 NET) The Greek word for blessed (i.e., makarios) used here has the meaning of being fortunate, prosperous, or successful. That is, successful are those that hunger and thirst for righteousness! Why? Because they shall be satisfied! Satisfied with what? Righteousness of course! What is righteousness? Glad you asked! Righteousness (1) is the spiritual condition of being found right with, acceptable to, or fully pleasing to God! That is, those that hunger and thirst to be found right with, acceptable to, or fully pleasing to God will find that hunger completely satisfied. The relevant question is…
