What Do You Hunger For?

Matthew 5:6

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,

For they will be filled.

There are very few times in my life

When I experience…

Fullness.

Most of the time

(Though not always)

There is that sense of…

Okay… What’s Next?

Or...

That was great...

So how could I have even more?

What about you?

What do you hunger and thirst for?
What do you... Crave?

Might it be more and greater…

Admiration or Approval
Fame or Friendship

Comfort or Cash
Position or Power
Love or Laughter...

 Hell, maybe you just want that someone would give a damn. 

Righteousness.

You know things really aren’t right in this world…

Not here... Not now... Not yet.

I have even heard it’s under a curse…

Something called…

Sin.

Ahhh…

But here is the beauty and hope of the Gospel…

There is a time coming…

A time in the already…

But not quite yet…

Where everything…

Yes… Everything

Will be made…

Right.

Oh Father God,

To be filled…

To know and experience Your Life in me…

To be consumed by Your Spirit of Life…

In all ways

All the time

Everywhere…

This is the hunger and thirst for Righteousness.

Give me this my Lord…

                                                     So that I may be filled indeed.         

Amen

How Do You Handle Your Power?

Matthew 5:5

Blessed are the meek

For they shall inherit the earth.

Meekness

Power…Under Control

What about you?
How do you handle your …

Power?

Ah, but you say…

I have no power.

Really…

No power at all?

Have you ever spoken a word…

That led someone to…

Buck up

Shut up

Give up

Or

Man up?

What about those times you smiled at someone and…

The smile was returned?

What about the times you were harsh with someone and …

Were met with anger?

Have you ever…

Embarrassed someone?

Really…

No power at all?

Meekness

The ability to control my…

Power.

Never forget…

The most powerful being to ever

Walk the face of this earth was...

Meek.

Lord Jesus

Thank You for the Life and Power You have

Poured into us.

Thank You for Your Spirit in us.

Now Lord I pray Your Life be lived out

Through us

In all…

Meekness.

Amen

Mourning.....As a Good Thing

Matthew 5:4

Blessed are those who mourn

For they shall be comforted.

What breaks your heart?

Loss…

Suffering…

This broken world…

Sometimes the Kingdom of Heaven seems so…

Backwards.

Pain...

I want nothing of it!

Here…

Maybe a cookie will help…

No?

How about a little…

Mindless T.V.

Or …

A good book

Or…

Some Final Fantasy

Or…

Sad...
But the truth is…

A great deal of my life and energy

Are spent…

Spent in a commitment

To avoid pain…

To escape mourning…

And to run away from anything that might hurt.

Cowardice.

Yet Jesus said it so clearly…

“Blessed are those who Mourn”

The Kingdom of Heaven seems so…

Backwards…

But…

At the same time…

So right.

Consider this friends…

We mourn because we can see.

Yes,  we  can see…

That things just aren’t right.

Yes and consider this as well…

We mourn because we cared…

Yes, we cared…

And this is a good thing.

So yes then- mourn my friends, 
And remember...

It is mourning that opens the way…

Yes, opens the way to receive...

Comfort.

Father in Heaven

Give me the courage of my Lord Jesus

Give me His eyes to see

Give me His Heart to care

Give me His courage to mourn

And so…

Be comforted.

Amen

Poverty as a Good Thing

Matt. 5:3 Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven

There is this desire that has been set into my heart-

A desire to matter…….

A desire for thrill and excitement.

A desire for meaning and belonging.

It is a desire deep within my soul…….

A desire that longs for Life and Fullness.

It is at my core to know…..

My life matters……

To know…..

My life will go on into eternity……

As something…..

Significant.

I want……

I want to breathe joy

I want to live adventure

I want a place in all this creation that…….

Quickens me.

“Blessed are the poor in spirit”.

Blessed are those…

Blessed am I…

Blessed are all who come to realize…

There is no hope.

No hope for the fulfillment of my longings…

No hope for the Life I hunger for…

No hope for anything good or true or right…

Apart from Creator of all that is good or true or right.

I cannot manipulate my way into what I want.

I cannot power my way into what I want.

I cannot buy my way into what I want.

The Life I long for…

The Life of the Kingdom of Heaven…

It won’t be found in the praises of men.

It won’t be found in some great accomplishment.

It won’t be found in wealth or riches.

I will not find satisfaction...

In any of these lesser gods…

Or their false promises.

I am destitute…

And this is a good thing.

John 10:10b

Jesus said, ”I have come that you might have Life…”

Father in Heaven

I pray You take away any notion

I might have of finding Life

In anything else…….

Apart from You.

Amen