Hi Everyone~
We were sharing about the Beatitude back on July 24th. Somehow, when I automatically set it to post, it didn't. This was one of the sections to do with this Scripture: "Blessed are the PURE in HEART, for THEY will SEE GOD." (Matthew 5:8) Please feel free to scroll and find the post from the 24th to refresh your mind with where we left off. Sorry about the confusion! Computers! Can't live with them...Can't live without them! I don't want to do that again!
God longs for our view of Him to grow wider and clearer and brighter, so that the "glass" through which we see "darkly" at last gives way to our encounter with Him "face to face." (1 Corinthians 13:12) To see Him is to know Him, and to know Him is to love Him, shares Paul Thigpen as we continue to share his insights in this second part of this Beatitude from the Discipleship Journal of Nov./Dec. 2003.
Unfortunately, sin has blinded us, leaving our spiritual eyes swollen shut. Only the healing light of divine grace can restore our sight, can begin to open our eyes to the glory of the one who calls us to Himself.
Most often, God is not in view simply because we aren't paying attention to Him. We are otherwise occupied. Recall how the 10 lepers were miraculously healed by our Lord, yet 9 of them dashed off to celebrate without even a backward glance or a word of thanks. (Luke 17:11-19) In much the same way, we receive "grace upon grace" (John 1:16), only to desert our Redeemer again and again in our pursuit of lesser things. Our distractions blind us to God. All the while the Father stands close by, waiting for us to turn around and run into His arms.
That is why the pure in heart are blessed. If we desire the holiness, the goodness, and the beauty of God above all things, then we will in the end see face to face to what we have desired. We will become holy and good and beautiful--like Him--and we will experience utter blessedness.
I thank those of you who have been praying for my healing. My mother has asked for me not to go into details, but to ask for your prayers for healing. God knows what she means. Please lift both of my Jewish parents up, as you have me and our other guests as they leave requests. I thank you for doing this with all of my heart.
He IS Able!
Traci Starkweather
We were sharing about the Beatitude back on July 24th. Somehow, when I automatically set it to post, it didn't. This was one of the sections to do with this Scripture: "Blessed are the PURE in HEART, for THEY will SEE GOD." (Matthew 5:8) Please feel free to scroll and find the post from the 24th to refresh your mind with where we left off. Sorry about the confusion! Computers! Can't live with them...Can't live without them! I don't want to do that again!
God longs for our view of Him to grow wider and clearer and brighter, so that the "glass" through which we see "darkly" at last gives way to our encounter with Him "face to face." (1 Corinthians 13:12) To see Him is to know Him, and to know Him is to love Him, shares Paul Thigpen as we continue to share his insights in this second part of this Beatitude from the Discipleship Journal of Nov./Dec. 2003.
Unfortunately, sin has blinded us, leaving our spiritual eyes swollen shut. Only the healing light of divine grace can restore our sight, can begin to open our eyes to the glory of the one who calls us to Himself.
Most often, God is not in view simply because we aren't paying attention to Him. We are otherwise occupied. Recall how the 10 lepers were miraculously healed by our Lord, yet 9 of them dashed off to celebrate without even a backward glance or a word of thanks. (Luke 17:11-19) In much the same way, we receive "grace upon grace" (John 1:16), only to desert our Redeemer again and again in our pursuit of lesser things. Our distractions blind us to God. All the while the Father stands close by, waiting for us to turn around and run into His arms.
"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God." (Matthew 5:8)
In this context, we must understand pure to mean what is intended when we say, for example, "pure gold"--that is, unmixed, unadulterated, unalloyed. If our vision of God is to grow wider, clearer, and brighter, our will must be united in a single focus on Him and on an overriding desire to know and love Him.
"We all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord,
are being changed into His likeness from one degree of glory to another."
(2 Corinthians 3:18)
That is why the pure in heart are blessed. If we desire the holiness, the goodness, and the beauty of God above all things, then we will in the end see face to face to what we have desired. We will become holy and good and beautiful--like Him--and we will experience utter blessedness.
______________________________
I thank those of you who have been praying for my healing. My mother has asked for me not to go into details, but to ask for your prayers for healing. God knows what she means. Please lift both of my Jewish parents up, as you have me and our other guests as they leave requests. I thank you for doing this with all of my heart.
He IS Able!
Traci Starkweather
TRaci- praying for healing for your family.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much! Prayers mean so much and are so powerful!
DeleteHis,
Traci S.
Paula Pike, a friend dealing with cancer, having a birthday the end of this week. We'd love to shower her with birthday cards. Her address:
ReplyDelete61 Penhurst Drive,
Brooklin, ON L1M 2E1
Thanks!!
Will do, Karen! I hope that our readers will share some of their art with your friend. If you don't make cards, maybe you can buy one. I'm sure it will be a blessing to Paula, Karen.
DeleteHis,
Traci S.
Dearest Traci, asking Jehovah Rapha to shower down His powerful protective healing over your mother.
ReplyDeleteSending baskets of love and hugs.
Love,
Caterina
Wow! Thank you so much, Caterina. I think you know what a big step this was for my mother. I thank you for praying for her, it means so much to me.
DeleteHis,
Traci S.
praying for you mother and you! Take care my friend!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much. It meant so much to me to have my Mom ask to be prayed over. If any of you have non-Believers in your family, I think you would understand why it is wonderful why my Mom asked for you all to pray for her. Thanks so much!
DeleteHis,
Traci S.