the blessing box--the beatitudes

My pastor is doing a sermon series on "Living Under God's Blessing".  This Sunday's message was of The Beatitudes from one of Jesus' messages.  This was really eye opening to me and such a nice refreshment on the fact that I am blessed simply by who Jesus is and what Christ has done in my life.  I don't need anything else.  Jesus' view of blessings are a far cry from the world's view of blessings. Although the worldly things are from God and are a blessing, we should feel most blessed because of what God does in our lives and who He helps us to become through His grace.

Matthew 5:  1-12

 ¹Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, ²and he began to teach them saying:
 ³"Blessed are the poor in spirit,
      for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
 ⁴Blessed are those who mourn,
      for they will be comforted.
 ⁵Blessed are the meek,
      for they will inherit the earth.
 ⁶Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
      for they will be filled.
 ⁷Blessed are the merciful,
      for they will be shown mercy.
 ⁸Blessed are the pure in heart,
      for they will see God.
 ⁹Blessed are the peacemakers,
      for they will be called sons of God.
 ¹⁰Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
      for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

 ¹¹"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. ¹²Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Blessings!