Winner of the Weekly He IS Able Blog Candy!

Hi Friends~


Happy Thursday!  It's almost the weekend, I hope you have something special planned.  Today we will announce the winner of the He IS Able blog's Card Set Give-Away for the week!  All you need to do to be a recipient of a card set is leave a comment and have it be randomly chosen.  And, how many cards will you receive? Somewhere between 1 and 5!  That number is randomly chosen, also!  It's that simple.  Leave your comment before Tuesday at midnight to be included in the drawing.

Today's winner is Caterina!  You will receive 2 wonderfully made cards, made by some of our fabulous He IS Able guests!  Please email me your snail mail address to show that you would like to receive these cards!  Please let me receive it by Tuesday, Midnight or...they will go back into the He IS Able blog card stash.

Here is her heartfelt comment: 

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!!! Thanking and praising the Lord for our Founding Fathers who truly followed God's principles to give us a free country. May each person today take take to read the Declaration of Independence and be blessed with each word. Love, Caterina on Blessed are the Meek, for They will Inherit the Earth _________________________ I am still having a problem getting photos from my camera to the blog.  That is why the same photo of the card on the side bar is the same.  I am working on it...and hope it will be fixed soon.  Thanks for your patience! __________________________ On Tuesday, we will be reading about another Beatitude: "Blessed are those who HUNGER and THIRST for RIGHTEOUSNESS, for THEY will be FILLED."  (Matthew 5:6)     If you haven't been with us the past few weeks, you can catch up on the posts about the Beatitudes if you look under LABELS on the right side of the blog.  Just click on the word "Beatitudes" and the posts will be listed for you to read.  On Tuesdays, I will continue to post about the Beatitudes until we have covered all of them.  On Thursdays, please stop in to see if you may have won the Card Set of the week!  And, any other news we may have to share!     On a personal note, I want to thank everyone who has been leaving comments.  You really teach me a lot, show me things I have not even thought of yet, and encourage me.  I am sure your comments do the same for our other guests who read your comment. Please keep it up!  And, please consider what I wrote a couple of posts ago, I mentioned several ways that you may Serve the Lord, and your Brothers and Sisters-in-Christ, by contributing one post to this blog.  We would love to hear your thoughts and sharing.  Just email me if you are interested or have questions.  Thank you and thank you so much for being here today! He IS Able! Traci Starkweather

Blessed are the Meek, for They will Inherit the Earth

Hi Friends~

Yes!  I have actually posted two days in a row!  That's a first for me, I believe.  I hope you all read the Big Announcement in the last post!  If you have signed up to receive an email telling you when there is a new post here on the He IS Able blog (on the top right corner), you would have known there was a post on Monday.  (We usually post on Tuesdays and Thursdays.)  Please enter your email in the section...it is confidential...even from me, this way you won't miss out on anything!

"Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth."  (Matthew 5:5)

I hope you know that we are currently in part of a series about The Beatitudes.  I am taking excerpts from the writings of Jonathan and Thelma Nambu from the 2003, Nov./Dec. issue of Discipleship Journal and sharing them with you. We are still announcing winners of the He IS Able Blog's Card Set Give-Away on Thursdays.  (By the way, my thoughts appear in purple italics through-out the posts.)

"We may be faithful in prayer, Bible study, and doing kind deeds for our neighbors, yet still miss out on the peace, joy, love, and contentment God promised His children.  Perhaps the answer lies in Jesus' words:

"Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth."  (Matthew 5:5)

The inheritance God promised is a blessing only the meek experience deeply.  It is not a by-product of their doing, but rather flows from their being. Meekness is a posture of the heart toward God--a posture of humility. Without meekness, we will not receive what we already have in Christ.

What does it mean to be meek before God?  Meekness begins with a heart that recognizes how needy, helpless, and impoverished it really is.  Until our hearts are emptied of self, we cannot be meek before God.  A destitute heart recognizes that apart from God, we can do nothing.  (John 15:5) We are utterly impoverished and dependent upon Him.  Our works will not fill our cravings for love and meaning in life.  Only God will!

 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."  (John 15:5NIV)

(Here is some great news!) Surrender involves the twin actions of letting go and relaxing. Letting go requires continually releasing control over our lives and relinquishing our plan in favor of God's will.  The call to surrender is also a call to relax in the Father's unconditional love, into which we are forever invited.  Our striving, grasping, positioning, manipulating, performing, and mask-wearing can all slip away as we yield to the goodness of our Father.  He loves and accepts us as we are.  In relaxing, our souls find true rest. 

Our Heavenly Father wants to give Himself to us; He longs to be admitted into our hearts.  But He does not force His way. Rather, He waits for us to open the doors and receive Him.  (Revelation 3:20)  Our Father's love doesn't come naturally to many, perhaps because it requires the humble acknowledgment that we are limited, dependent, weak, needy, and sinful.

^"Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me."

(Revelation 3:20NIV)

Yet, unless our hearts are destitute, unless our knees are bent before God in surrender and submission, it will be hard to stretch out our hands, to wait for and receive the gift of love and mercy God is always ready to give.  As we welcome our neediness and surrender our control to God, we are released to receive all that He waits to bestow upon us. Through the hidden blessing of meekness, we inherit the earth--and all the joy our Father wants to share with us, His beloved children."

_________________________________

Wow!  I don't think I realized that surrendering also meant relaxing once you let go. I guess I didn't think of it. I felt it once, when I prayed for Josh's safety in Basic Military Training when he first joined the Air Force.  I wasn't consciously aware that I should feel that way whenever I give something to the Lord, until now. When I pray for something like someones healing...I consider it done...because God is God...I guess that is relaxing, even though I continue to pray for that over and over. The Bible says to pray without ceasing.  Is that how you feel when you pray? 

 I feel that if I do hand a situation to Him, I should feel at peace with that decision--but sometimes I think I am too controlling, and hold on to it anyway...rather than letting go.   But I have faith that there is no problem to big for God... and there is no problem too small for God. He loves us more than anyone is able... just as we are! He is on our side. I just never put the word "relax" with "turning something over" to anyone...or to God...it's an effort for me to loosen my grasp.  I find great peace in this idea, and I feel closer to Him than ever with this thought...I hope you are also.  How do you feel about this?  Did you have any thoughts while reading this that you think would be interesting for our other readers to know?  I'm sure you do. Please share your thoughts with us in the comment section!

Please join us as we pray for all of the people suffering from the heat,the floods, the storms and with the power outages.  Please also pray for our country to be more Christ-like and to take care of the hungry, the poor, the needy, the widows and the ill...and everyone else in this country.  And, may every person who lives in a country without the Freedoms we have--have them soon. 

Thank you for being here!  Happy Independence Day to our American readers. God bless! 

He IS Able!
Traci Starkweather

A Very Special Announcement

Hi Friends~

I have a special announcement to share, Monday morning at Three O'Clock!  LOL! 

First of all, I realize I have been late in getting cards out on time, and have tried to make it up to the winners by adding an extra card/envelope in their mail.  I don't know why it is such an effort for me to get them out, but I sincerely apologize.

Secondly...It has been 2 weeks since we have given away the He IS Able Blog's Card Set of the Week!  I will get back to this in a moment! 

Thirdly, June 30th was the He IS Able Blog's 2 YEAR ANNIVERSARY!!  Thank you to everyone who has been a part of the blog. The purpose of this blog is to serve our God!  The blog's mission is too to "Share His love, His Word, and His gift of Salvation by Giving Cards with Scriptures."  I want to thank, with all of my heart these people who have been my partners and encouragers and Sister Prayer Warriors and friends during these two years, and into our third year.  Joan, leads up our Prayer Team, Karen who is a Prayer Warrior, Michele who formerly wrote a monthly post about the women of the Bible and how we are so like them!  (BTW, would you like to see Precious Women of God---This Includes You! come back again?   Please leave a comment today.) And, the wonderful Christian music group Ash2Ash has been a blessing to this blog, donating their music CD's as prizes.  Their mission is to "lift up the name of our Lord Jesus Christ by sharing God’s love through testimony and song." And, thank you to my friends from other blogs who have helped me when I was down, who shared our banner or blog URL with others to find us. And, to my Beloved Husband, Dave.  Who, while still not yet a Believer, believes in me, and promotes this blog almost as much as I do.  I love you, all.

And a very special thank you to each of you...from so many different nations of the world...for showing up and letting us know how we can best pray for you, for encouraging us, for sharing your thoughts and ideas with us and everyone who reads the blog.  You are so precious to us.  And, even if I were to tell you in every post how appreciated you are...I don't think I would be saying it enough.

SO...EVERYONE who has left a comment in the month of June will be receiving 5 cards that people have donated to us to give out! I will include some extra goodies in each package.   My email is: 

tracistarkweather@gmail.com 

 If your name is listed below, please email me your mailing address, here in the States.  (I am not on a Design Team for a company, so I can not afford postage overseas.)  I have been searching for someone to donate a Digital Card that I could share with our Over-Seas friends...there are so many of you, and you are such faithful readers!  We appreciate you, too! If you have this special gift and are willing to create a card cover, please contact me. (I know many of you could be in danger for coming to a Christian blog, however, I can't see who you are...just what country you are from.  And, I would never tell anyway!)

Grace N.

jcb

Michele G.

Karen C.

Please send your mailing address, even if I have it already and before next Tuesday, the 9th at midnight.  This shows me that you wish to receive your package.  (Sometimes, people have so many cards at home, they don't want any more.)

We would love it if you prayerfully considered joining us in sharing on this blog.  We could always use more people on the Prayer Team.  You can pray as much or as little as you like.  It is a great way of serving.

And, as in the past two years, but even more now, I believe it has been laid on my heart to ask you to please think about writing a post for the blog.  Just one.  And, if your English isn't wonderful...neither is mine.  But, I will help you.  I want for this to be a place for people to share their Testimonies, or how God has stood by them in times of trouble, or your favorite Scripture (one of them) and why it is so.  You could write about how Christmas or Easter are celebrated in your country, special recipes passed down.  You could write about a person in your life who you now know has always been on your side Spiritually.  Maybe they prayed for you every day, or with you, maybe they were your go-to person about the Bible and it's Truth.  Maybe they were a teacher. 

There are so many things you could write about.  A person in the Bible you especially admire, and why.  It doesn't have to be long.  Just from your heart...which is full of love, and God is love.  So, how could you go wrong?  Just think of the delight your loved ones will have when they find it written in a page in your Bible, or in a drawer, or here on the blog.  You could write in honor of someone or in memory of someone, or write anonymously.  Please, please consider this...if you look under the labels...you will see a heading for "Rebekka's Testimony."  If you go and read that, you will see how powerful sharing your memories can be.  And, it can be as simple as writing telling that you pray while you wash the dishes each day.  It's all up to you. 

If you would like to donate a card or cards, please email me, and I will send you the information and my mailing address.  This is a great way to have fun and serve at the same time!

Happy 2 Year Blog-o-Versary Friends!

For our American friends, I pray you will have a joyful 4th of July, our Day of Independence.  I pray you are safe whether travelling, or setting off fireworks.  I pray you see God in everything, and see hope for the areas where it looks dim.  I pray that you thank someone who has stood for your Freedom, whether a Military Member, a parent, or a teacher who taught you about it.  I pray that everyone will pray for those of you who do not yet have Freedom.  Let that come to be soon!  God Bless!  In Jesus' Name.  Amen!

He IS Able!

Traci Starkweather

...For They Will Be Comforted Amen!

Hi Friends~

I know I said I would take a few days to recover from our big trip to my FIL's 90th Birthday,  Wow, did I need it, plus it has been pouring and tornado warnings just about every day. That really takes it's toll on my body.  While up north Dave and I walked around a bit of Washington D.C.  We took the metro (a train that goes underground)  And, we really were focused on seeing the rather new Martin Luther King, Jr. Monument.  It was amazingly huge.  It had quotes of his, around him on walls, and the statue of the man looked as if he was saying "Don't mess with me." It was wonderful to see people of all colors sitting and standing and just remembering and being hopeful.

We also saw, by accident, the WWII monument.  It was majestic, and beautiful, it had large fountains in the center, and a huge piece of marble cut in a rectangle around the fountain, to represent each state in a circle around it.  It had the engraved name of each state on it, as well as a beautiful metal wreath attached to it.  At the entrance, you walk through this entrance and there are 3 enormous, metal eagles with ribbon above us.  It was such a grand monument.  So beautiful...so sad, and so happy that we are past that.  I want to take a trip into the city to see a different monument every time we go up to see Dad...about every 3 months.

This past weekend, Dave and I drove 3 hours each way to visit our 3 grand-sons and their parents, of course.  It was such a wonderful visit, and the children were so well behaved, even after being cooped up in the house for what must have seemed like forever to them.  I started writing this at 3:30am this morning to try to avoid the stormy lightning which means "lights out" here in Central Florida. 

Speaking of Central Florida, are any of you going to the "STAMPfest" in Orlando this weekend? I am so excited to go with my mother.  I would really like to meet any of you.  :)  My email is on the side bar...let me know if you will be there. Perhaps we could meet.

I hope you have read the last post.  It was written by Pastor Larry Libby for the Discipleship Journal from November/December 2003.  As you may know, we have been reading and sharing about the Beatitudes.  He had some fabulous insights for the first half of the Scripture: "Blessed are those who MOURN."  Well, today we will be finishing up Matthew 5:4 (at least for now.)  We will be focusing on the second half of this Verse...God's promises..."For They Will Be COMFORTED."  Again, I will be sharing excerpts of the article that deal with this section.  (If you have any thoughts or anything that you have learned about this Verse, please share it in the comment section.  It is a place to exchange knowledge...I'm sure we would all want to read what you say...we are here to encourage each other also, so if you have a prayer need, please don't hesitate to let us know.)  I suggest everyone read the comments from the last post, there were wonderful truths to read about dealing with grief.  A winner of the He IS Able Blog Card Set will be chosen on Thursday...maybe even more than one!  So, please be sure to leave a comment, before midnight on Tuesday next week.

____________________________

This is what Pastor Libby finished the first part with:

"I am in distress, my eyes grow weak with sorrow, my soul and my body with grief.  My life is consumed by anguish and my years by groaning;  my strength fails because of my affliction, and my bones grow weak."

(Psalm 31-9-10 Written by David.)

For now, there are other days.  Days when the storm parts, when the clouds become sheer, and I glimpse another time, another land, another place.  Through tears, I see comfort. On up ahead.  It will come.

For now, there is mourning.  I am sad for the loss of my companion and best friend.  I grieve for the years we might have shared had God spared her.  I grieve for my children, who must navigate the rest of life without their mother who loved them.  I struggle with the loneliness, the heaviness, and the days when the bottom seems to drop out of life altogether.

BUT, it will not always be so.  COMFORT WAITS AHEAD.  I have seen it through the clouds.  I have glimpsed it on the edge of the storm.

A mountain of white.

A sky of blue.

A land golden with morning light.

I am heading in that direction.  One day I will leave this climate zone for that one.  I will see Jesus, and I will see Laura.

Is my comfort, then, all future?  IS there nothing today?

There is and it is this:  Through the worst year of my life, the darkest 12 months I can imagine. I have found the best of friends.  At one time, friends were a pleasant accessory to life, a nice diversion.  Now, I need them desperately, and my brothers and sisters in Jesus have walked steadfastly by my side.

And I have found my Savior as never before.  I used to pray politely, using all the right phrases.  Now I cry out like a lost and lonely child.  I have prayed on my face.  I have reached for the hem of His garment.  I have held my arms aloft in the darkness of the night, needing the firm grasp of His hand.

I never used to pray that way.  I never used to to hope that way.  Now I do.

In the middle of the storm, I have found those who walk with me.  When the storm parts, if only for a moment, I have seen comfort shimmering on the horizon...Not so far away."

_____________________________________

I hope everyone learned at least one thing about grief.  I learned quite a bit.  And, I really like this Pastor's writing style.  This was all taken directly from the magazine, Discipleship Journal.  I just love how much information they squeeze into one issue.  Next week, we will fine some very interesting information on the Beatitude "Blessed are the MEEK, for they will INHERIT the earth."  (Matthew 5:5)

I am kind of grieving in the future right now.  My son will be going to an Air Force base in England very soon...for 2 years...and then 3 years minimum to go somewhere after that.  That is a very long time for this Mom to go with only 2 visits. He'll come home once, and hopefully, we will go up there once.  I am grieving what we will be missing out on.  He's getting sad about it, also. He won't even share his new current mailing address.  He told me he'd better get used to not getting birthday or Hanukkah or Christmas or Thanksgiving cards...I told him the mail will reach him.  He just doesn't want to think of what he is missing out on.  But, he will have so much to do there.  The 22 year old (past) Traci is envious of the opportunities he will have there.

I can't wait to read your comments about grieving and being comforted. If you are grieving about ANYTHING, please...open your heart, share your pain with us...you don't have to use names. We would love to help carry your burden. Most of us think of grieving as a death. It could be a divorce, a job lost, a child going off to college...leaving you with an empty nest...even a pet passing causes grief. We are here for you! And, believe me, we get so much encouragement and ideas from you...it is a two-way street.

So sorry this post rambled on.  I had a lot to share.  I will be here Thursday, and hope you will be here also!

He IS Able!

Traci Starkweather

"Blessed are Those Who MOURN...

Hi Friends~

I hope you all had a fabulous weekend, and are beginning your week off with some quiet time with the Lord, and fun activities...maybe making some cards? This is a HUGE card making week for me.  My Mom's birthday, my FIL's birthday, one of my step-son's birthday, 3 Father's Day Cards (Dad, FIL, and my husband).  Whew!  Let's hope I can get them all made!  We are going up north to visit Dave's family.  It is his father's 90th birthday on Saturday!  And, then Father's Day will be wonderful with all of the Dads there.  Anyhoo...I will be taking a few days off. 

I wish that you would all subscribe to this blog.  It is on the top of the right side column.  You put your email in...and whenever I am able to post...you get a notice in your email.  I can't see your email. Since I am disabled, and hurt so much so often, it is a good idea, because that way if I miss a post, and decide to write it when I am feeling good...on a day that isn't my usual post day--Tuesday and Thursday.  You would be notified when I do write.  Please think about it.  It really is innocent.  No awards. It just keeps you from missing cards and posts.

_____________________________

Today I wanted to share a writing from Pastor Larry Libby.  He wrote it in the series on the Beatitudes in the November/December 2003 issue. of Discipleship Journal. 

"Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted."  (Matthew 5:4)

He wrote about how his wife had gone to be with the Lord only a year before writing this piece.  He remembered those words in the Beatitudes and seemed angry.  He asked, "Yet where is the blessedness of mourning?  Where is the comfort?"  He continued in the following excerpts:

What I hear in Jesus' words these days is ssomething like this:  "If you are filled with grief today, don't give in to black despair.  Cling to My promise:  It will be better.  The worst is here now, having its day.  But the better is coming.  Comfort is coming.  I tell you it is almost here."

As temporary residents of a fallen world, we mourn for many reasons.  We grieve over missed opportunities, broken dreams, unfulfilled desires, personal failures, dashed expectations, and difficult curcumstances.  We weep over lost health, lost innocence, annd lost security.  Disappointment and sorow are as much a part of our planet's atmosphere as nitrogen and oxygen.

But Jesus, who is in a position to know, says it won't always be so.  He says comfort is coming.  I can hold on to that assurance.  And, I do, as best I can.  I may not be able to explain it, but I cling to His Words and wait on Him.

Sometimes in his car on this one area he can see so clearly.  He can see the tiniest details on the mountain tops.  Other times there will be terrible storms where he can't even see the mountains.  He continues:  Some days that has been the way with my sorrow, too.  The storm closes in, obscuring all.  I can't see more than a few feet.  I mourn.

With David, I whipser my pain into gathering darkness:

"I am in distress; my eyes grow weak with sorrow, my soul and my body with grief.  My life is consumed by anguish and my years by groaning;  my strength fails because of my affliction, and my bones grow weak."

(Psalm 31:9-10)

_______________________________

I think we will stop here...on the first part of this Scripture...

"Blessed are those who mourn... We will continue with... for they will be comforted." (Matthew 5:4) next week.

_________________________________

How do you deal with the death of a loved one?  What if they were not Saved at the time?  Had you tried to witness to them?  This is my hardest subject to deal with in life.  When my Jewish Grand-Father died, I was in such deep grief.  I asked several of my Christian friends (from the internet) what to do.  They all told me that He is just; He is fair, Trust in Him, Pull closer to Him.  I found myself a bit angry with God, and I could not face the number of relatives who would die and not go to Heaven.  It was just too big for me to deal with.  It still is, even though I have a much closer relationship with the Lord now.  So, I am asking you...How do you get through these times---especially if they were not yet Saved?  I would love to read your reply in the comment section.  Write as much as you want.  I promise you--it will comfort more people than just myself.  Oh, that was another answer my Christian friends reminded me of--talk with, pray with, cry with, laugh with other Christian friends.  Thank you so much for being here.  I appreciate you so very much.  God bless!

He IS Able!

Traci Starkweather

Two He IS Able Card Set Winners!

Hi Friends,

I apologize for taking so long to write.  We have had so much going on.  It was great to see Josh just last weekend.  Wow, it seems like it was so long.  I miss him so much.

I was supposed to post on Thursday...but spent a couple of days in the hospital instead.  No, not for me.  Dave went to the hospital with chest pains, and it took two days for them to be sure he didn't have or wasn't having a heart attack.  Dave is home now...doing fine.  Even went on a short hike on Sunday.  They aren't sure what is causing the "twinges" as he now calls them.  I wish we had a definite answer of what was happening and what to do.  The cardiologist told him he has a heart that is in such great shape he should be able to "leap tall buildings in a single bound."  I have been recovering.  It took a lot out of me emotionally...and I stayed in the chair in the room all night and days...so it caused me quite a bit of physical pain.  We both feel he had very good, thorough doctors, nurses and techs looking out for him.  So, life goes on.  And, I am so thankful that the Lord spared Dave.  I don't know how I would go on without him.  OK-----

I have a couple of He IS Able Card Sets to give away.  These cards are donated by other card-makers.  We try to have A2 size cards that are mostly blank inside---so the person can leave a message telling about their love for the Lord, or appreciation for how He has acted in his or her life.  The outside of the cards can be decorated in any way, using any materials or techniques.  We prefer to have Scripture on the cover, or Christian symbols.  This helps to further the Great Commission.  Share His Word. 

One of the recipients of the Card Set with 3 cards wrote:
"Hi, your blog really touches me, have been reading it for a while... Just wanted you to know about a website i started ReadYourBiblesChurch.com... It's a place for Bible study guides.. I also put a forum in that can be viewed from a mobile device.. I couldn't find where to contact you privately so I'm commenting, hope that is okay. :) God Bless!"

Please email me with your mailing address!  I will be stopping by your website soon.  You may leave comments of any type here...including prayer requests.  Please be sure to contact me before next Tuesday at Midnight, or you will lose your cards.  I can only afford to mail these packages within the United States, if you don't live here, please still contact me-there are other ways to get the cards.

The other recipient of the Card Set wrote this:

"Great introduction. I'm really looking forward to the excerpts you will be sharing on each of the Beatitudes! Thank God that Jesus Christ is not only our Teacher but also our Savior - transforming us into what we should be (like Him)! I so appreciate the time you take to research and share such wonderful teachings with us! Have a wonderfully blessed day!"

Congratulations Charlotte Ann!  What a beautiful comment!  We will continue our walk through the Beatitudes on Tuesday.  We will be talking about the Beatitude that reads, "Blessed are those who MOURN, for they will be COMFORTED."  Please send me your address via email again.  This lets me know you are interested in more cards. My email is located on the right side bar. Please join me on Tuesday so that we can all share our thoughts after reading some of Pastor Larry Libby's thoughts on the Beatitude,  "Blessed are those who MOURN, for they will be COMFORTED."  I am sure there will be many different opinions and stories shared after reading the post.  I look forward to reading your opinion.  Please leave a comment so that you will be eligible for next week's He IS Able Card Set Give Away!  God Bless! He IS Able! Traci S.

p.s.  I have no idea why Blogger is posting part of the writing as a column.  Has anyone run into this problem on your own blog or someone elses?  Thanks for any input.

...For Theirs Is the Kingdom of Heaven

Hi Friends~

Thank you for your well wishes on Joshua's recent visit home.  I hope each of you had a special weekend full of prayer time with the Lord.  I tell you what--since Josh has joined the Air Force, my prayer time has at least quadrupled!

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven."

(Matthew 5:3)

Last week I was sharing an article from the Discipleship Journal, Nov./Dec. 2003.  This article was written by David W. Henderson.  I shared the part of the article that spoke about being "poor in spirit." I thought it was very insightful, and if you haven't had a chance to read it, I hope you will skip down to the post that is 2 spots down and read it. Today we will read about the second part of that Scripture, which is, "for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven."


We ended the first section with 2 Corinthians 3:5:  "It is not that we think we can do anything of lasting value by ourselves.  Our only power and success come from God."  Do I hear an "Amen" out there?  I will be quoting excerpts from this article.  We left off with...

"Coming up short and knowing it: that is what it means to be poor.  And that's what God wants us to see.  I have, I am nothing."

 OK--that is where we left off, and some of you left some very interesting comments to get us thinking about our own state of heart.  Thank you for that.

Today we are moving on to talk about:

The Super-Abundance of God

"A second recognition must join the first:  God has, God IS, everything.  We must see our poverty against His plenty.  God delights to bring us to the end of ourselves, to expose our deficiency, that His sufficiency might show forth.  For instance, when half a country ambled hungrily about the hillside, the disciples brought the problem to Jesus.  (Luke 9:12-13)

Jesus:  You feed them.

Disciples:  Impossible.  We have only five loaves and two fish.

Jesus:  Now you're talking.

Not until the disciples saw their limited resources for what they really were did Jesus go into the fast-food business, taking their little and multiplying it such that "all ate and were satisfied."  (Luke 9:17)

Scripture is replete with promises of the superabundance of God:  His grace sufficient for our every frailty.  (2 Corinthians 12:9);  His wisdom adequate for our every perplexity (Jas. 1:5); His peace ample for our every anxiety (Phil. 4:6-7); His forgiveness equal to our every iniquity (1 Jn. 1:9).  God IS enough!  (Praise His Holy Name for that, shall we?  He is enough for all of our circumstances.  He is MORE than enough for all of our circumstances!  Amen?  Amen!)

We begin to comprehend what Jesus meant when He promised His followers, "All I have is yours." (Jn. 17:10) 

 There's just one catch.  Only one occupation exists in the Kingdom of God: beggar.  The white clothes with which Jesus dresses us are beggar's robes.  To the beggar alone the cupboards, the pantries, the warehouses of God are thrown open wide.

For theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven."

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Wow!  That gave me a lot to think about.  What about you?  If you want to share more than a comment's worth about any of the Beatitudes, feel free to let me know.  You just send me an email with what you know about one of them, and I will share it...if it is Biblically correct of course!


Next week we will be reading a section by Larry Libby.  He has written many articles in this Journal, and I love what he has to say.  He will be sharing about this Beatitude:  "Blessed are those who MOURN, for they will be COMFORTED." (Matthew 5:4)  A very difficult topic for this formerly Jewish--- now Christian woman.

I look forward to reading your comments on today's piece.  I can't wait to continue through these Beatitudes.  There is so much good information here.  I will see you on Thursday, when 2 winners will win He IS Able Card Sets of the Week.  Just leave your comment before midnight on Tuesday to be eligible.  I can not afford international postage...so this is for people with an address in the United States.  Perhaps a friend or relative who live here would be willing to mail them to you?  We are SO very glad you are here.  Anyone can leave their comment on any thought. 

If you enjoy this blog.  Please consider signing up as a Google "Blog Follower."  The more people signed up...the more who will learn about the Bible, Jesus, and our lives with Him as our Lord and Savior.  Thank you for taking this step to show others you like this blog.  (Yes, use a user name or a "fake name."  God Bless!


He IS Able!
Traci Starkweather