Does this sound familiar?

How many of us have heard this kind testimony...

My life was not going well and I was at the end of my rope.

I got to a point where I didn't think I could go on and I simply began weeping before the Lord, asking Him to help me.


They then say something like "I'll do whatever you want Lord, just please help me!"

I opened my Bible and starting asking Go to show me what to do"

They tell of how God started dealing with their disobedience and they experience a time of confession and repentence.

In that place of desperation the Lord comes and shows them His mercy. Something lifts and suddenly they see things in a completely different light!

Thy experience peace as they begin reconciling with those they have hurt through their compromise, and coming to peace with God."

In the coming days things begin to change and the people around them start asking what has happened to them? They seem different!

And at that point they know that no matter what come against them they are walking the rest of their days in relationship to Jesus. 

It's a very common story for those who have been around Christians any length of time. I have probably heard this kind of story more times than I can count. But until yesterday, I had never connected these encounters to Jesus teaching on the blessed life (the Beatitude).

We have just spent the past 10 days studying the Sermon on the Mount. One of our teachers, Dr. Terri Terry (a 60 some year old woman with 5 degrees and looks like Liza Manelli) was absolutely amazing, and walked us through the beatitudes.

She showed us how they are not just a bunch of random blessings, but actually a perfect progression for emptying us of our sinful character while preparing us for the subsequent filling of God's character.


As I thought about this progression I realized that many of the testimonies that I have heard actually demonstrate this progression perfectly!



Blessed are the poor in spirit....My life was not going well and I was at the end of my rope.


Blessed are those who mourn...I began weeping before the Lord, asking Him to help me.

Blessed are the meek..."I'll do whatever you want Lord, just please help me!"

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst..."I opened my Bible and starting asking Go to show me what to do"

Blessed are the merciful, they will be shown mercy..."In that place of desperation the Lord comes and shows them His mercy. "

Blessed are the pure in heart, they shall see God..."suddenly they see things in a completely different light!

Blessed are the peace makers..."peace comes as they begin reconciling with those they have hurt through their compromise."


Blessed are you when you are persecuted..."no matter what come against them they are determined to walk the rest of their days in relationship to Jesus." 

I don't know about you but I think that is pretty cool?

But I have will have to finish this idea later because apparently my kids are waiting at the CEC because nobody came to pick them up!!!

Jon