Happy Monday, everyone! :)
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Matthew 5:2 & 4
And He opened His mouth and taught them, saying:
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be
comforted."
"Mourn"--having a heart that is broken by what breaks God's heart,
that is: sin in my own life, sin and it's consequences in the lives of the world
around me, the suffering of innocent ones. It's a heart that will not only break
over the weak, vulnerable, captive and helpless but will also rise to their
defense. This "mourning" moves beyond a feeling of sorrow to action, whether
it's repenting of sin as God faithfully convicts, standing in the gap for
others, or fighting for freedom (physical, emotional or spiritual) in the lives
of those others.
And then there's the promise: "they shall be comforted." It already sounds sweet on the surface, but then I dug a little deeper. The word there for "comforted" is "parakaleo" (para-kuh-LEH-oh), which literally means "to call near". It is a word that is also translated "encourage", and can also mean "to strengthen." I am reminded of Psalm 34:18: "The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit." When we allow God to break our hearts for what breaks His, He calls us even closer to His heart, encouraging us and infusing us with His strength. Now that's comforting... :)
So, do you mind if I paraphrase this verse a bit? :)
"Blessed are those who cultivate a heart that reflects God's heart, allowing their heart to be broken over what breaks His heart. They are the ones that are called near to God, the ones He strengthens to continue the fight, the ones to whom He breathes life and encouragement."
Father, my heart is Yours! Shape it and mold it into a heart like Yours--let it be broken over what breaks Your heart and let it delight in what delights Your heart.
Dancing in the rain,
Haley "SunShine" Miller
"Exhort one another daily while it is called 'Today'" (Hebrews 3:13)
Mornin' SunShine Website
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If this e-mail was forwarded to you and you would like to receive the Mornin' SunShine e-mails on a regular basis yourself, you can e-mail me at mornin_sunshine@psalm686.com with "subscribe" in the subject line. If you would like to unsubscribe, just e-mail me at the address above with "unsubscribe" in the subject line and I will take you off the list.
Monday, September 16, 2013
Wednesday, September 11, 2013
Matthew 5:2-3
Good morning, everyone!
The Beattitudes (Matthew 5:3-12) are one of those passages in the Bible where it is really easy for me to just sort of go into autopilot mode and almost tune it out. They are so familiar, it doesn't matter how long I go without even thinking of them, I can still quote them at the drop of a hat. However, recently my boss was reading the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) out loud to us during our morning worship time at work. As I caught myself "checking out" for that first part, I prayed, "Jesus, what do you want me to learn from these verses that are so familiar?"
He replied, "You want to know what My will is? You want to know how to live out this crucified life you are called to live? Here it is, in black and white, spelled out for you!"
Then as I went through each Beattitude, He gave me deeper, more "fleshed out" meanings for each one. So, we're going to have a little mini-series for the next little while as we go through the 8 Beattitudes. :)
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Matthew 5:2-3
And He opened His mouth and taught them, saying:
"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
"Poor in spirit"--a recognition of the reality that I have nothing and am nothing without Jesus. This one can be hard, because there are times when I really want to be "good enough" in some ways. I want to think I can "do it myself", very much like a toddler trying to assert their own false sense of independence. But the reality is, I can't. And I am not "good enough" on my own!
But here's the cool thing--when it says "for theirs is the kingdom of heaven", it doesn't just mean "somewhere out there in eternity". Yes, Jesus gives us eternal life when we put our trust in Him. But He also gives us abundant life, the kingdom of heaven here on earth!! He gives us Himself--His righteousness, His strength, His love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control! 2 Peter 1:3-4 tells us that He "has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness". He gives us everything we need to live and live in such a way that honors and glorifies Him.
Without Jesus, I am nothing. I have nothing. But with Jesus, in Him, I have everything!! Now how amazing is that?!
Father, thank You that I'm not good enough on my own, because if I were I would never know the depth or the glory or the riches of all that You so freely give! You amaze me!
Dancing in the rain,
Haley "SunShine" Miller
"Exhort one another daily while it is called 'Today'" (Hebrews 3:13)
Mornin' SunShine Website
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If this e-mail was forwarded to you and you would like to receive the Mornin' SunShine e-mails on a regular basis yourself, you can e-mail me at mornin_sunshine@psalm686.com with "subscribe" in the subject line. If you would like to unsubscribe, just e-mail me at the address above with "unsubscribe" in the subject line and I will take you off the list.
The Beattitudes (Matthew 5:3-12) are one of those passages in the Bible where it is really easy for me to just sort of go into autopilot mode and almost tune it out. They are so familiar, it doesn't matter how long I go without even thinking of them, I can still quote them at the drop of a hat. However, recently my boss was reading the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) out loud to us during our morning worship time at work. As I caught myself "checking out" for that first part, I prayed, "Jesus, what do you want me to learn from these verses that are so familiar?"
He replied, "You want to know what My will is? You want to know how to live out this crucified life you are called to live? Here it is, in black and white, spelled out for you!"
Then as I went through each Beattitude, He gave me deeper, more "fleshed out" meanings for each one. So, we're going to have a little mini-series for the next little while as we go through the 8 Beattitudes. :)
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Matthew 5:2-3
And He opened His mouth and taught them, saying:
"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
"Poor in spirit"--a recognition of the reality that I have nothing and am nothing without Jesus. This one can be hard, because there are times when I really want to be "good enough" in some ways. I want to think I can "do it myself", very much like a toddler trying to assert their own false sense of independence. But the reality is, I can't. And I am not "good enough" on my own!
But here's the cool thing--when it says "for theirs is the kingdom of heaven", it doesn't just mean "somewhere out there in eternity". Yes, Jesus gives us eternal life when we put our trust in Him. But He also gives us abundant life, the kingdom of heaven here on earth!! He gives us Himself--His righteousness, His strength, His love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control! 2 Peter 1:3-4 tells us that He "has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness". He gives us everything we need to live and live in such a way that honors and glorifies Him.
Without Jesus, I am nothing. I have nothing. But with Jesus, in Him, I have everything!! Now how amazing is that?!
Father, thank You that I'm not good enough on my own, because if I were I would never know the depth or the glory or the riches of all that You so freely give! You amaze me!
Dancing in the rain,
Haley "SunShine" Miller
"Exhort one another daily while it is called 'Today'" (Hebrews 3:13)
Mornin' SunShine Website
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If this e-mail was forwarded to you and you would like to receive the Mornin' SunShine e-mails on a regular basis yourself, you can e-mail me at mornin_sunshine@psalm686.com with "subscribe" in the subject line. If you would like to unsubscribe, just e-mail me at the address above with "unsubscribe" in the subject line and I will take you off the list.
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
Philippians 2:5-8
Good morning, all!!
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Philippians 2:5-8
Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though He was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
These, of course, are very familiar verses, since they are some of the most oft-quoted! However, that familiarity in no way diminishes the depth of their meaning, nor does it mean that I will not occasionally see something new in them!! :)
That clause, "which is yours in Christ Jesus", jumped out at me recently. This mind of humility, of emptying self and being obedient to God no matter the cost is mine already in Christ Jesus! It is not something I come up with or accomplish on my own, but something that Jesus bought and paid for with His very life in order to give to me. How often do I find myself struggling, fighting for this in my own strength and failing miserably because it was never meant for "me" to obtain it alone. I can only have "this mind" when I come to Jesus and say, "Give me Your mind, Your heart!!"
Father, I'm done with trying to do this on my own! I will choose to walk in "this mind" that Jesus already gained for me and that only You can give!
Dancing in the rain,
Haley "SunShine" Miller
"Exhort one another daily while it is called 'Today'" (Hebrews 3:13)
Mornin' SunShine Website
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If this e-mail was forwarded to you and you would like to receive the Mornin' SunShine e-mails on a regular basis yourself, you can e-mail me at mornin_sunshine@psalm686.com with "subscribe" in the subject line. If you would like to unsubscribe, just e-mail me at the address above with "unsubscribe" in the subject line and I will take you off the list.
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Philippians 2:5-8
Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though He was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
These, of course, are very familiar verses, since they are some of the most oft-quoted! However, that familiarity in no way diminishes the depth of their meaning, nor does it mean that I will not occasionally see something new in them!! :)
That clause, "which is yours in Christ Jesus", jumped out at me recently. This mind of humility, of emptying self and being obedient to God no matter the cost is mine already in Christ Jesus! It is not something I come up with or accomplish on my own, but something that Jesus bought and paid for with His very life in order to give to me. How often do I find myself struggling, fighting for this in my own strength and failing miserably because it was never meant for "me" to obtain it alone. I can only have "this mind" when I come to Jesus and say, "Give me Your mind, Your heart!!"
Father, I'm done with trying to do this on my own! I will choose to walk in "this mind" that Jesus already gained for me and that only You can give!
Dancing in the rain,
Haley "SunShine" Miller
"Exhort one another daily while it is called 'Today'" (Hebrews 3:13)
Mornin' SunShine Website
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If this e-mail was forwarded to you and you would like to receive the Mornin' SunShine e-mails on a regular basis yourself, you can e-mail me at mornin_sunshine@psalm686.com with "subscribe" in the subject line. If you would like to unsubscribe, just e-mail me at the address above with "unsubscribe" in the subject line and I will take you off the list.
Monday, September 9, 2013
Psalm 143:12
Happy Monday, everyone!
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Psalm 143:12
Dancing in the rain,
Haley "SunShine" Miller
"Exhort one another daily while it is called 'Today'" (Hebrews 3:13)
Mornin' SunShine Website
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If this e-mail was forwarded to you and you would like to receive the Mornin' SunShine e-mails on a regular basis yourself, you can e-mail me at mornin_sunshine@psalm686.com with "subscribe" in the subject line. If you would like to unsubscribe, just e-mail me at the address above with "unsubscribe" in the subject line and I will take you off the list.
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Psalm 143:12
"And in Your steadfast love You will cut off my enemies, and You will destroy all the adversaries of my soul, for I am Your servant."
So, unless your life is wildly different from mine, I would guess that none of us have people who are such enemies that they are actually hunting us down to kill us like David had. However, I still read this verse and think, "What a beautiful, wonderful, terrifying promise this is!"
Since my main "enemy" is actually my own sinful flesh, and the "adversaries of my soul" are mostly my own sinful desires and attitudes and addictions and thoughts or ways of thinking, this verse points to the destruction of all things "me" (that is, "the old man" or "the flesh", according to Bible terms). It is the absolutely necessary crucifixion of self that must happen in my life.
See, there is a crazy beauty in destruction when Jesus is the one tearing things down and throwing them out. When I want Him more than anything, I long for His fire, His "wrecking ball", His "bulldozer" to be brought to bear on my life and destroy everything that is not purely Him! There is such a sweet finality in that word "destroy". When something is destroyed, it's done, finished, game over. When He destroys those things that pull me away from Him, whether it's sin or a simple distraction, I am "set free indeed"! (John 8:36) And best of all is the knowledge that this destruction is motivated by His steadfast love for me!!
Father, I will not fear the destruction You bring, knowing that Your love for me is greater than anything I can imagine. And I want You more than anything else! So destroy those things in my life that would keep from growing ever close to You--I am Yours!
Dancing in the rain,
Haley "SunShine" Miller
"Exhort one another daily while it is called 'Today'" (Hebrews 3:13)
Mornin' SunShine Website
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If this e-mail was forwarded to you and you would like to receive the Mornin' SunShine e-mails on a regular basis yourself, you can e-mail me at mornin_sunshine@psalm686.com with "subscribe" in the subject line. If you would like to unsubscribe, just e-mail me at the address above with "unsubscribe" in the subject line and I will take you off the list.
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