Sunday, August 24, 2008

Scripture Challenge {Week 34}

Week 34 Challenge Word: Blessed

As I was listening to the radio one day in March, the announcer said “If we are missing the daily blessings in our lives, maybe we are not listening or looking.” How true that is! God gives us blessings each and every day. Do you notice them? Do you feel blessed by what God has done for you and given you or do you long for things you don’t have? Please don’t take any blessing for granted. Everything comes from the Father for His great purpose.

Some of you may have automatically thought of the Beatitudes when you heard the word “blessed.” The Beatitudes can be found in Matthew 5:3-10. They are:

5:3 Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven.
5:4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
5:5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
5:6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
5:7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.
5:10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven.

We studied the Beatitudes this past year in BSF. Here are some of the notes I wrote in my Bible as we studied:

5:3 We need God’s help to live like He wants; depend on Him.
5:4 We are sorry for our sins and don’t want to repeat them.
5:5 We need to submit our strength to God’s control.
5:6 Loving and pleasing God is our first priority!
5:7 Take time to help and show kindness to others.
5:8 Loving God should be the most important thing in our lives.
5:9 Tell others about Jesus and help people get along.
5:10 Stand up for what is right. God’s Word is right!

I just loved those notes, and I hope you enjoy them too if you choose to look at the Beatitudes.

As we look at our own blessings, how about blessing others. As I was reading our church newsletter, I noticed a small block that said:

“Practice random acts of blessing! Speaking blessings out loud is very powerful! Bless someone you encounter today or even someone you are just driving by! Try this one, ‘Insert name here, I bless you with faith to believe God exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him! In Jesus’ name, Amen. (Hebrews 11:6)”

How wonderful! I think most of us in the papercrafting world know what a RAK is (Random Act of Kindness) but I personally had never heard of Random Acts of Blessing. I love that! I hope you will share a Random Act of Blessing with someone today! And maybe you will even create a blessings journal. Each day write down something God has blessed you with. Thank Him for each of those things each day. Have your family members keep a journal too. At the end of each week, you can share them with each other. What you share will be a blessing to those that hear it just as you will be blessed by hearing theirs.

For my card this week, I used the August kit from Create My Keepsake. There is so much in this kit, and it is so amazing. I may be using it for the rest of the year. Ha!

The scriptures I chose were:
Deuteronomy 28:6 "You will be blessed when you come in and blessed when you go out."
Psalm 34:8 "Blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him."

I pray that you will see His daily blessings, and I pray that you will share His blessings with others. Enjoy your study, and please join us at Create My Keepsake, The Scrapping Spot, Scrapjazz, and Faith Sisters for discussions and links to your cards and pages. In Him,

5 comments:

Tanis said...

Hey Patter :) I'm assuming that you're going to keep this Scripture challenge going for a long while? I'm asking because I"m in the process of trying to figure out a journal focus and this would be so perfect!!
I've been reading your scripture challenges since week 3 or so, but haven't dived in yet. I think this might be the answer to doing something meaningful for myself :) Thanks for your constant inspiration....

Anonymous said...

Hi Patter! I LOVE the Blessings Journal idea! My dh bought be the bind it all for my birthday (early bday present) and I think that will be my first project! Love that idea! Thanks! Your card is so pretty :) Hope you are doing good! I {heart} Sundays! :)
~Chelsea

java diva said...

So cool! Patter, I had no clue you did this. So excited!!

Tanis said...

Here's my first page :) I'm doing 4x6's to fit into a journal my friend is sending me. I'm so excited about this!!! YAY! Thanks Patter....
http://paperprincessatplay.blogspot.com/2008/08/scripture-challenge-34.html

Christine (All She Crafts) said...

Hi, Patter.. I just recently found your blog and started taking a walk through it this morning. Just wanted you to know this post has blessed me. I am going through a difficult time, and this has reminded me to look at the blessings I still have.

Thank you. :o)

Chris xx

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