Today is Monday, March 26th, 2007; Karen's Korner #1026

An email forward from Shirley Choat:
 
"Jesus went up on a mountain side and sat down,
His disciples came to Him and He began to teach them, saying,  
 
'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 after righteousness,
for they will be filled.
 
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will shown  mercy.
Blessed are the pure of heart,
for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are peacemakers
Blessed are those who ar 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 5:2 -12
 
 
     HOW TO FIND HAPPINESS!
 
  Each beatitude tells how to be blessed, "Blessed" means more than happiness. It implies the fortunate or enviable state of those who are in God's kingdom. The Beatitudes don't promise laughter, pleasure, or earthly prosperity. To Jesus, "Blessed" means the experience of hope and joy, independent of outward circumstances. To find hope and joy, the deepest form of happiness, follow Jesus no matter what the cost.
 
  There are least four ways to understand the Beatitudes. (1) They are a code of ethics for the disciples and a standard of conduct for all believers. (2) They contrast kingdom values (eternal) with worldly values (temporary). (3) They contrast the superficial "faith" of the Pharisees with the real faith Christ wants. (4) They show how the Old Testament expectations will be fulfilled in the new kingdom. These beatitudes are not multiple choice, pick what you like and leave the rest. They must be taken as a whole. They describe what we should be like as Christ's followers.
 
     Since there is no complete goodness on earth, there can be no complete happiness. The central happiness of the Christian, however, includes this, that he sees God busy with the problems that destroy happiness. Evil speaks of His patience, nature of His glory, and the Cross of the Crown.
 
     "Rejoice in Him!" Again, again
     The Spirit speaks the word,
     And faith takes up the happy strain:
     "Our joy is in the LORD."
 
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY - The Christian's happiness is not determined by happenings.
 

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