Which attitudes are you ‘Be-ing’?

March 1, 2019 nofearlinda1 Comment

The longest list of blessings for the blessed man/woman is in Matthew. They are commonly known as the Beatitudes. Each one points to a blessing from God that will come to the person who lives a life of faith. Reflect as you read each one and ask yourself- which of these do I see evidences of in my life? Remember that blessed means-a gift of divine favor, happiness or something that will prevent misfortune. Matthew 5:3-10

³“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (This refers to being humble- a blessed attitude, not proud or arrogant)

⁴“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. (This mourning is over our sins, and we are comforted in our salvation and redemption by Jesus. Mourning or sadness will also be comforted by God.)

⁵“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. (Here again our meekness is before God, as in humility.)

⁶“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. (I know this one to be true in my own life. Studying God’s Word creates a hunger within me that only He can satisfy. I pray that others will be blessed with this same hunger and receive the satisfaction only God can give.)

⁷“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. (This is promised compassion or mercy when we give or act mercifully. God’s Kingdom does not operate the same way the world does and in His kingdom showing compassion or mercy will be returned in kind. This is a wonderful assurance to believers.)

⁸“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. (Those who have clean hearts and attitudes will be able to see God, know God and walk with Him daily. David prayed in Psalm 51:10 “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” God desires us to have an attitude of holiness, purity and cleanness in our hearts so we can see Him clearly.)

⁹“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. (This applies to all believers as through Christ we are adopted into God’s family and are His sons and daughters. Through our redemption, we are made peacemakers as ones who love Jesus and desire others to have His peace too.)

¹⁰“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Because of our faith in Jesus, the world will persecute us. John 15:20 “Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you.” As believers we are encouraged by the conclusion of this verse-ours is the kingdom of heaven. Praise God!)

Which resonated with you today? Thank God for His gift of divine favor and presence in your life!

Linda

Faith, perseverance and blessing all rolled into 1!

February 26, 2019 nofearlinda1 Comment

James 1:12 is one of my favorite promises of blessings God has for me. “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.”

There are several truths embedded in this verse: God rewards steadfastness (perseverance, persistence, stubborn allegiance), There will be trials in life, God is always watching to see how we fare during our life trials, Our reward is eternal in nature and Our faith in God shows Him our love for Him. The Bible has a lot to say about perseverance and how it builds character. James addresses this earlier in this chapter. James 1:2-4 “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,³for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.⁴And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” Trying circumstances and people that God brings our way build our character for God and bring joy! We know that God is omniscient and watches all that we do. He is there in the nitty-gritty places in life protecting and guiding. 1 Corinthians 10:13 gives us the assurance that His watchful eye is always upon us and He knows what we can bear. “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” Our reward is eternal in nature and is received through faith in Jesus. Colossians 3:23-24 puts it this way “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,²⁴knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.” 1 Peter 1:3-4 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, ⁴to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you,” Lastly, our faith shows our love for God. Hebrews 11:6 “And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” But Ephesians 5:2 and John 3:16 remind us that God loved us first. Ephesians 5:2 “And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” John 3:16 ““For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

joyce meyer quote 2 If you are in the midst of a trial today, take James 1:12 to heart and be assured that Jesus is there with you, God is watching and your stand in faith will bear eternal rewards.

Linda

From Sin to Blessing because of Jesus

February 22, 2019 nofearlinda4 Comments

Paul makes a case for the blessed man in Romans. He is talking about the blessed state of a man who has faith. He is blessed by God because of his faith and trust in Him and the man did or does nothing to earn that blessedness. It is a gift from God through Jesus. Paul quotes David’s words from Psalm 32 in Romans 4:6-8.

⁶just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works:

⁷“Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven,
and whose sins are covered;
⁸blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin.”

Our blessedness comes from God and has nothing to do with our ‘works’ as it is all God working in us. Only God can forgive sin and through Jesus’ shed blood God covers our sins. He does not count our sins against us! Now that is blessedness! The believer is mightily blessed by God through his faith and trust in God. Jesus’ work on the cross eradicates our sin and presents us whole and blameless before Almighty God.

Thank you Jesus for your work on my behalf!

May you have a blessed day as you consider your privileged position before God- pure, blameless and saved from eternal destruction through your faith in Jesus the Son.

Linda

Can you stand the heat of life?

February 19, 2019 nofearlindaLeave a comment

Our blessings passage today comes from Jeremiah 17. Like in Psalm 1 where the blessed man was contrasted with the wicked man, so Jeremiah presents God’s description of the blessed or God favored man versus the worldly or self-sufficient man. I looked at this passage in several translations but really liked the Message as it seemed to explain the essence of this passage the best. Jeremiah 17:5-8

^5-6God’s Message:

“Cursed is the strong one
    who depends on mere humans,
Who thinks he can make it on muscle alone
    and sets God aside as dead weight.
He’s like a tumbleweed on the prairie,
    out of touch with the good earth.
He lives rootless and aimless
    in a land where nothing grows. The man who depends on himself or this world is not rooted or grounded in anything but like a tumbleweed, rolling around in life, not producing any fruit and bumping from one thing to another.

^7-8“But blessed is the man who trusts me, God,
    the woman who sticks with God.
They’re like trees replanted in Eden,
    putting down roots near the rivers—
Never a worry through the hottest of summers,
    never dropping a leaf,
Serene and calm through droughts,
    bearing fresh fruit every season. The men and women of God are quite the contrast being rooted, growing, flourishing, trusting and bearing fruit even when storms, droughts or things get ‘hot’ in life.

Which type of person are you? I know from time to time we can all be tumbleweeds- tossed to and fro by the winds of the world, but we have learned that trusting and clinging to Jesus can bring us through every situation. Walking with Him keeps us steady and calm in the midst of life’s storms and gives us a life that is fruitful and honoring towards God.

I challenge you to walk like the blessed man today. See if you don’t have a song of praise in your heart and your steps are lighter as you trust and cling to Jesus.

Linda

How to Live Towards Blessings

February 15, 2019 nofearlindaLeave a comment

In Isaiah 56:1-2 the Lord reveals that blessings come from doing what is right, supporting justice, looking forward to God’s salvation, keeping the Sabbath and staying away from doing evil. God promises that living a life based in His righteousness leads to blessings.

This is what the Lord says,
“Maintain justice and do righteousness,
For My salvation is soon to come,
And My righteousness and justice is soon to be revealed.
“Blessed (happy, fortunate) is the man who does this,
And the son of man who takes hold of it,
Who keeps the Sabbath without profaning it,
And keeps his hand from doing any evil.” Isaiah 56:1-2 (AMP)

Blessings are gifts of divine favor that bring happiness into our lives. Living our lives with a desire to do what is right is a gift from God. Seeking His righteousness that He reveled through Jesus will help us walk with Him each day and bring blessing. I love the way God tells us to take hold, grab onto this lifestyle so we can receive His blessings and favor to the fullest. Keeping the Sabbath, a day devoted to worship, family, praise and one that is a respite from our days of working that life requires, will bring blessing. We must really strive to live apart from the world and its ways that are based in greed and self-fulfillment. I like the description James gives us in 1:26-27 “If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless. ²⁷Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.” Watching what we say is of upmost importance, doing good for others and keeping ourselves unstained by the world’s standards and acts is what God is looking for in our lives and in our hearts as we seek to show love and devotion to Him.

“Blessed (happy, fortunate) is the man who does this, is the goal God has set before us. Knowing that a life lived for God is based on His righteousness and reflects His justice, love, mercy, compassion and hope for the world around us. Look for His blessings as you walk with Him today. He is forever faithful and will do as He promises.

Linda

Happy Valentine’s Day with a Thankful Heart

February 14, 2019 nofearlindaLeave a comment

The cynic might say Valentine’s Day is the day for florists, candy and card makers to earn a great deal of money. I walked into a local supermarket yesterday, and I was overwhelmed by the amount of flowers, cards and candy that were on display. On the love side, Valentine’s Day is a day when we can express our love for one another freely and not be thought of as sentimental or mushy. How about God? How does God express His love for us? Here is a familiar verse that gets right to the heart of God.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that who ever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For He did not sent his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” John 3:16-17

How much more love could God show towards us than sacrificing His only Son on our behalf? He loved us that much. He sent Him so that through faith in Jesus we could be saved and not condemned. Only sinless Jesus could erase our sin and present us whole and perfectly clean before our Holy God.

When you say ‘thank you’ today for a Valentine gift you receive, a card, note, flowers or someone simply saying ‘Happy Valentine’s Day’, think about thanking God too. Thank Him for sending Jesus. Thank Him for making a way for your salvation and eternal life with Him. That is the best Valentine I can think of that is filled with all of God’s love for now throughout eternity.

Blessings on this Valentine’s Day.

Linda

God’s Blessings effect our ENTIRE Life!

February 12, 2019 nofearlindaLeave a comment

Psalm 128 gives a summary of blessedness for the believer who follows God and clings to Him in the midst of a sinful world. The list of blessings is not all inclusive nor does it mean that because we do not experience these blessings something is wrong. Rather, the believer can rest assured that God will bless him/her. A truth that is seen throughout the Bible is that God blesses His people. Faith brings blessings.

128 Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord, The believer is gifted by God who walks in his ways! as he walks with him each day.

²You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands;
you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you. Your work is blessed.

³Your wife will be like a fruitful vine
within your house;
your children will be like olive shoots
around your table. Your home and family are blessed.

⁴Behold, thus shall the man be blessed
who fears the Lord.

⁵The Lord bless you from Zion!
    May you see the prosperity of Jerusalem
    all the days of your life! Your city and nation are blessed.
⁶May you see your children’s children! Your life will be long
    Peace be upon Israel! and filled with peace.

God blesses us each day as we walk with Him. The blessings will look differently for each one of us but the truth of this psalm is that God’s blessings effect our entire life. From our selves to our work to our home to our city and nation. He blesses in all areas of our life and desires that we make an impact on those around us for the sake of the gospel. Paul summarizes his reasons for work and ministry in 1 Corinthians 9:22-23 “To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. ²³I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.

As you walk with the Lord today, look for His blessings in your life. Seek to share God’s blessings with others so they may come to know your Savior and seek Him too.

Linda

Stressed? Rest in Him and Be Blessed!

February 8, 2019 nofearlindaLeave a comment

Today’s blessing passage is found in Psalm 127. The entire psalm, verses 1-5, set forth the idea that all of life’s securities and blessings are gifts from God.

Unless the Lord builds the house,
    those who build it labor in vain.
Unless the Lord watches over the city,
the watchman stays awake in vain. Man strives or toils in life building and watching over their ‘things’ but the psalmist is saying that unless God is in it and watches over it all the work is in vain, worthless and meaningless.   ²It is in vain that you rise up early
    and go late to rest,
eating the bread of anxious toil;
for he gives to his beloved sleep. God brings purpose to our days and rest to those who rest in Him so unless He is in your day you will feel anxious, stressed and restless.

³Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord,
    the fruit of the womb a reward.
⁴Like arrows in the hand of a warrior
are the children of one’s youth.    God’s gift to man is family, home and children to extend one’s legacy and work for the Lord.
⁵Blessed is the man
    who fills his quiver with them!
He shall not be put to shame
when he speaks with his enemies in the gate. God blesses us through our children. One can have both physical children as well as spiritual children. Both are as sign of God’s favor to us. They can attest to our love for God, our character and our great hope in Him. Truly, the man with many children is blessed.

The psalmist gives us hope and assurance that all of life’s securities and blessings are gifts from God. Is God in your home? Is He with you at work? Do you take seriously the teaching of both your physical and spiritual children so that they see your love for God, your trust and hope in Him? Take a moment today and thank God for His protection, direction and guidance and for His great gifts you you. Blessings are God’s undeserved favor coming into your life. What marvelous gifts!

Linda

Fear the Lord-it leads to blessings!

February 5, 2019 nofearlindaLeave a comment

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom is a classic line found multiple times in the Old Testament. Within each reference we are told additional reasons for fearing the Lord. Psalm 111 tells about the Lord’s greatness and ends with verse 10 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise.” This verse closes Psalm 111 and leads into Psalm 112, one which scholars call its twin. Psalm 112 speaks of a godly man and how following the Lord brings him an abundant life. Praise the Lord! Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in his commandments!” The phrase ‘fear of the Lord’ is equated with reverence, awe and respect. So having great respect for the Lord and His Word and following the precepts (principles) of His Word will bring blessing and delight. The psalmist continues on for 8 more verse explaining how fearing the Lord brings blessings to the believer.

His offspring will be mighty in the land;   Children productive and blessed.
    the generation of the upright will be blessed.
³Wealth and riches are in his house, He will have physical
and his righteousness endures forever. and spiritual success before God.
⁴Light dawns in the darkness for the upright; He will be of good character.
    he is gracious, merciful, and righteous.
⁵It is well with the man who deals generously and lends; His character will be
    who conducts his affairs with justice.   filled with generosity and justice.
⁶For the righteous will never be moved; He will stand firm in faith and
he will be remembered forever. be well remembered.
⁷He is not afraid of bad news;
his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord. He trusts the Lord in all circumstances.
⁸His heart is steady; he will not be afraid,
    until he looks in triumph on his adversaries.
⁹He has distributed freely; he has given to the poor;
his righteousness endures forever; He will reap the fruits of his
    his horn is exalted in honor.   generosity and faith.

What amazing blessings await the man who fears the Lord and delights in Him. The psalmist concludes with verse 10 which is a striking contrast to the blessed man. ” The wicked man sees it and is angry; he gnashes his teeth and melts away; the desire of the wicked will perish!”

As you journey through this day, ponder how wonderful it is to fear the Lord and how blessed you are for finding your delight in Him!

Linda

Got Blessings? Are you willing to follow and listen?

February 1, 2019 nofearlinda2 Comments

When I began this series on being blessed and what it means, I started with the definition of blessed. Being blessed is receiving a gift of divine favor, receiving good wishes or approval or receiving anything that gives happiness or prevents misfortune. Today’s scripture in Psalm 94:12 emphasizes the receiving of happiness and stopping of misfortune which results from being open to God’s instruction and discipline. Psalm 94:8-13 is a bit longer in the Amplified version, it brings clarity to the passage.

Consider thoughtfully, you senseless (stupid ones) among the people;
And you [dull-minded] fools, when will you become wise and understand?
⁹
He who made the ear, does He not hear?
He who formed the eye, does He not see?
¹⁰
He who instructs the nations,
Does He not rebuke and punish,
He who teaches man knowledge?
¹¹
The Lord knows the thoughts of man,
That they are a mere breath (vain, empty, futile).

¹²
Blessed [with wisdom and prosperity] is the man whom You discipline and instruct, O Lord,
And whom You teach from Your law,
¹³
That You may grant him [power to calm himself and find] peace in the days of adversity,
Until the pit is dug for the wicked and ungodly.

The psalmist asks us to consider God and what He has done and what He knows. God can and does bless the one who follows His teachings, accepts His correction and direction and pays attention to the details of His Word. The blessing comes when one follows God’s Word and finds God’s peace in the troubled times in which we live.

Have you experienced God’s blessing of wisdom and success in your life? Did the greatest blessings come when you followed His Word and walked with Him? Was it a peace-filled time even though the world’s circumstances were in turmoil around you? According to scripture, you have been blessed. The psalmist felt that way and finished this psalm in verses 23-24 with total dependence and trust in God and His power to defend and vanquish all his foes.

But the Lord has become my high tower and defense,
And my God the rock of my refuge.
²³
He has turned back their own wickedness upon them
And will destroy them by means of their own evil;
The Lord our God will wipe them out.