I want to be a "Those" instead of a "They"

Are you counted in the "those" camp, or are you a "they"?

I just finished studing Matthew 1-4 and have been really blessed by how Jesus was on mission from His conception onward, (to save His People from their sins) and the lessons we can learn about keeping the mission alive through the examples of Joseph, Mary and Jesus.

Now I am into HAPPINESS, the beatituds in Matthew 5. :0)

and HAPPY are THOSE...(uh, yeah, these are the ones I want to be like)

1. Who are poor in spirit. You know people like this. They aren't puffed up, but humble, lowly, opposite of those who need to "make themselves big/heard/known". All they have is not their own, but God's. They are God-dependent and claim nothing to themselves. These lucky duckies receive the Kingdom!
2. Who mourn: These lovelies sorrow over sin, the grieve over it. And not just their own sin, but sin in the world. They walk in true repentance and are compassionate. Their reward? They will themselves be comforted!
3. Who are meek: These happy darlings are forgiving - they turn the other cheek when smited. They think more highly of others than of themselves, and they shall inherit the earth. No retribution or vengance in this camp!
4. Who hunger/thirst for righteousness: Christ's righteousness satisfies them, and they shall be filled! They recognize that their own self-righteousness is rags, a blanket to short to cover them. They eat "heavenly manna", bread from heaven, and don't live by man's declarations. They keep looking Up.
5. Who are merciful: These happy ones spread the joy when they give others a second chance, extending grace and favor to others. They look for the best in people, forgive wrongs, seek to help. In return? They will receive mercy.
6. Who are pure in heart: "to the pure all things are pure". They believe the best and live in right/clear conscience before God and men, all to please Him - and they will see Him! Their motives are Godly.
7. Who are peacemakers: These beautiful people create peace instead of stirring up strife, and they are called sons of God. They unite instead of divide.
8. Who are persecuted for righteousness sake: chew on this! They are persecuted a) for taking a righteous/godly stand, or b) by the self-righteous indignation of others, or c) for Christ's righteousness - their faith. Theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

and lastly, when "they" revile, persecute, say all kinds of evil against you falsely for His sake, REJOICE and be exceedingly glad!

I want to be a THOSE, a happy one who helps to create that truth in others. I don't want to be a THEY who acts against "those" . Let's be happy and spread it around to others!

Letting God Talk

Stop.

Just stop, right now.

Stop moving, stop talking, stop trying to figure it out.  

Stop.

And listen.

Do you hear Him?

Wait and listen for His voice.

Let it cut through the striving frenzy of human emotion and the opinion of man.

Let it brush away the confusion.

What is He saying?

What does He want?

In YOUR life?

I am intrigued and baffled by the insistence we have at gazing at everyone else's navel when we haven't cleaned our own out yet.  God speaks to us, and our job is to follow Him.  

I recently did something that I knew I needed to do.  It was the right thing to do.  I did it, and it turned out well for all involved, and I was glad.  Mission accomplished.  And yet.

Days later God whispered in my heart, and He wasn't impressed.  Although it was the "right" thing to do, and it turned out well, I had missed what God wanted.  See, I was happy to do what I knew was right, and I had my eyes on myself.  But God had really been interested in my motivation.  He didn't want me to do it for me or to be satisfied with the result I received.  It hadn't been about me.  I needed to hear what He wanted me to hear in the situation.

It can be hard to understand clearly what God is doing, but if we'll stop and listen, we'll hear Him.

I read this recently:

"...'and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of Man will be accomplished'...But they understood none of these things...." (Luke 18:31,34)

God was working out His purpose, and the disciples weren't understanding it.  From their vantage point, it didn't make sense.

"God called jesus Christ to what seemed absolute disaster.  And Jesus Christ called His disciples to see Him put to death, leading every one of them to the place where their hearts were broken.  His life was an absolute failure from every standpoint except God's.  But what seemed to be failure from man's standpoint was a triumph from God's standpoint, because God's purpose is never the same as man's purpose.  

This bewildering call of God comes into our lives as well.  The call of God can never be understood absolutely or explained externally; it is a call that can only be perceived and understood internally by our true inner-nature.  The call of God is like the call of the sea--no one hears it except the person who has the nature of the sea in him.  What God calls us to cannot be definitely stated, because His call is simply to be His friend to accomplish His own purposes.  Our real test is in truly believing that God knows what he desires.  The things that happen do not happen by chance--they happen entirely by the decree of God.  God is sovereignly working out His own purposes.....If we have a purpose of our own, it destroys the simplicity and the calm, relaxed pace which should be characteristic of the children of God."  Oswald Chambers.

Things can look wrong but be right.  

Things can look one way and be another.

Let's hear God.  Give Him the room to speak into our hearts.  Let Him direct and re-direct us.

When's the last time you heard God redirect you the way you were thinking about something?