wait on him... Psalm 33:20-21...

Our soul waits for the Lord; he is our help and our shield.

For our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name.

Psalm 33:20-21 ESV

Because He is our help and shield in the waiting...
our hearts are glad Him...
because we trust Him...

While we wait for Him...
to fulfill His promise...
work good from evil...
return to make things right...
we do so with joy...
because He is trustworthy...
He helps us along the way...
He shields us from so much...
most of it unknown to us...

And I wonder at the fear that overtakes my heart...
when the young man on the phone asks... Do you have any other questions for me...?
and His Spirit says... Ask Him if He knows Jesus...
and even though this young man is in Canada...
my heart clenches... the question goes unasked...
instead I end the call with... May the Lord bless you and keep you...

Wimped out...
I totally wimped out...

Conviction now clenches my heart instead of fear of man...

My unbelief and doubt in the waiting still so great...!

I'm such a bad waiter...
not serving the Lord well...
because I don't believe He is my help... my shield...

Lord... forgive me... I've failed again...

Thank You for your grace... Let me not forget Your conviction...

Bless me with another opportunity... and fearless faith...

too much truth (?)... in an unexpected place...

Another movie while away... filled with unexpected truth...
but it came like a time bomb... almost twenty hours later...

The movie... Deep Impact... picked from the bargain bin...
looking for action-adventure to please my dear spouse...

By the time it was over... I announced...
I hated it...! Too many people died... too sad...
Why couldn't more have survived...?
At least some of the heroes could've returned...!

Movies with happy endings are my thing...
I can take action... and adventure... but just let it all come out all good in the end...
good according to my definition of good...

The truth exploded the next day...
sitting quietly... resting with Him...
soft breeze blowing... blue sky... dotted with white clouds...

Thoughts of cataclysmic events came to mind...
scenes from the movie... stirring fears of my own...

In response... I praised Him...
for knowing... never being surprised... caught off guard...
for His love... for His sovereignty and faithfulness...
in all things...

Then truth comes...
That movie you didn't like... was a love story...

And I realize... no less than seven main characters... risked their lives to save others...
six died... so millions could live...
a picture of love incarnate...

"...Greater love has no one than this,

that someone lay down his life for his friends. ..." ---Jesus

John 15:13 ESV

Conviction set in for not seeing it earlier... for desiring to see mankind control... reverse... cataclysmic... out of control... scenarios...

I see my own warped sense of trusting in man and his abilities...

at least when it comes to fiction and my personal entertainment...

The truth is... we live this way each day...

in a world out of our control...

one which will one day be destroyed...

by a cataclysmic event... 

But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist

are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment

and destruction of the ungodly.

2 Peter 3:7 ESV

In the movie... the president of the US professed faith in God...

he prayed for the nation... for God to bless...

The Lord bless you and keep you;

the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you;

the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.

Numbers 6:24-26 ESV

No one else mentioned faith in Him...

The eternal destiny of those who loved... remained unknown...

But the bigger picture is...

we have One who loves us...

laid down His life...

that we might live eternally...

Those in Him... need never fear...

any cataclysmic event...

rather look for opportunities... not to control...

but to love... like Him...

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

Therefore we will not fear though the earth give way,

though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,

though its waters roar and foam,

though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah

Psalm 46:1-3 ESV

A further truth... is to remember the precarious nature of life...

and how little control... power... we have over our world... and its events...

This truth should make us look at others from an eternal perspective...

seeking to save those who are lost... connect with those He calls us to...

be prepared... to risk our lives... even if its just a little embarrassment in an awkward moment... to introduce others to Him who loves them... or love in a way that reveals Him...

Yes... changing my mind about the movie...

and wondering about unbelief still rooted in my heart...

Hmmm... a little more truth than I bargained for...

do not withhold...

Do not withhold...
words from a devotional read Tuesday...
continue echoing in my heart...

Spurgeon used the King James Version...
Keep not back...
but I went to the English Standard Version...
where I found the way He calls us to respond to the gift of faith...
woven into Isaiah 43...

Although this message was sent to the south, and referred to the seed of Israel, it may profitably be a summons to ourselves. Backward we are naturally to all good things, and it is a lesson of grace to learn to go forward in the ways of God...

... If you have talents keep not back from using them. Hoard not your wealth, waste not your time; let not your abilities rust or your influence be unused. Jesus kept not back, imitate Him by being foremost in self-denials and self-sacrifices.

---Charles Spurgeon, Morning and Evening

And my question has been... my prayer...
What does it look like...? for me to not withhold...?

The opposite of withholding... pouring out...
I feel like I pour myself out here...
everyday... words written... vulnerability faced...

But I sense Him pressing me... to do more...
to reach out more broadly...

Be bolder in loving others...
connecting... sharing...
what I know of Him...

What does it look like...? for me to not withhold...? 

What about you...?
How are you pouring out...?
Or are you withholding a gift too...?

Feeling convicted... pressed... yet excited...
wondering what freedoms... will surely come...
with busting loose... pouring out...
no longer withholding...

Freely you have received, freely give.

Matthew 10:8

What depicts...? this pouring out...? bursting forth...?

Water... freely flowing... no restraint...

Hands... open wide... 

Seeds... bursting life... 

But still...

What does it look like for me...? to not withhold...?

Lord... I know longer want to withhold...

what You're doing in me...

I know longer want to withhold...

Your love from those in need...

I no longer want to withhold...

my love for You...

convicted...

I found myself convicted today... for complaining...
a mild complaint... but a complaint nonetheless....

The complaint centered on something that should only bring joy...

Self-centeredness... the root of complaint...

As I write... I'm reminded for what I have been set free...

For you were called to freedom, brothers.

Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh,

but through love serve one another.

Galatians 5:13 ESV

I suppose all complaints... or most to be sure... are rooted in selfishness...

His love... frees us to serve others... in love...

therefore should free us from complaining...

Do everything without complaining or arguing.

Philippians 2:14

Grateful to be set straight...

Grateful for the Holy Spirit who convicts...

Grateful for the freedom to serve... in love...

Have you complained today...? 

Perhaps it's time to examine its root...

bent...

A dusty book on the shelf caught my attention this morning...

On inspection... dog-eared and underlined...
I knew I'd read it... but couldn't remember when...

Browsing through the pages... a passage on revival...

Bend the church and save the world. James E. Stewart claimed that this is the secret of every true awakening. Christians must humble themselves and get right with God so that the Spirit can break through in converting power. There must be no hypocrisy; the Christian must BEND to all the will of God for his life in perfect obedience before the Spirit of God is released. When we are bent to the will of God we will be intercessors, because as He "ever lives to intercede" for His people, we will do the same if we are abiding in Him.

---Rick Joyner, Shadow of Things to Come

Revival... it's something I'd like to see...
in me... my family...
my church family...
His whole church...

So I wonder... Am I bent...? to His will...?

Driving home at dusk...
sun setting behind...
moon rising before...
sorrow... weighs...

Sorrow... at feeling more coarse... than clean...
sorrow... over His church... its division... its lack of power...
sorrow... over those who call themselves Believers... but live something completely different than the Word...

Longing to be bent to His will...
obedient to His Word...
pure in heart...

Longing for the Spirit's power to be released...
through me... through His people...

Longing... for... revival...

Where are you when it comes to being bent...?
How do you feel about the church...?
or your personal walk with Him...?

Me...?
I will pray to be bent...

Lord... bend me to Your will...

Search me, O God, and know my heart!

Try me and know my thoughts!

And see if there be any grievous way in me,

and lead me in the way everlasting!

Psalm 139:23-24 ESV

examen...

A challenge in Bible study...
a spiritual discipline...
the Daily Examen...

The Daily Examen is a technique of prayer reflection on the events of the day in order to detect God's presence and discern his direction for us. The Examen is an ancient practice in the Church that can help us see God's hand at work in our whole experience.

---Ignatian Spirituality, The Daily Examen 

The process is generally five steps...
Ask the Spirit to make His presence known...
Review the day with thanksgiving...
Consider when you felt closest to God during the day...
And then when you felt the farthest...
The final step... respond...

On the drive home...
in the quiet of the car...
I walked through examen...

The surprise... the time I felt closest to Him... was as He revealed the points of the day I was the farthest away...

In conviction... I felt His presence...
not cold and hard...
but tender... forgiving...

"... And when [the Helper] comes, he will convict the world

concerning sin and righteousness and judgment...

John 16:8 ESV

In response...
confession...
repentance...
thanksgiving...

convicted... when it comes to hospitality...

This morning's treadmill read... convicted...

This is a living word --- keep listening. And continue to embrace this church with its profound gift of hospitality, where over and over and over again we are invited to the Table to eat and drink our Lord's life in the company of his friends. We are not used to this. To shopkeepers we are customers, to our physicians and counselors we are problems to be fixed. To the unscrupulous we are victims to be exploited. Otherwise, we are strangers to be avoided.

---Eugene Peterson, Practice Resurrection

These words of Peterson's describe the Church... as it is supposed to be... this church with its profound gift of hospitality...

The words convicting to me... an introvert... with pragmatic tendencies... strangers to be avoided...

How often have I taken intentional steps to avoid strangers... in church... in the neighborhood... extended family members... and most recently at an occasion I co-hosted...

Images of ladies whom I sent invitations... fill my head... faces I cannot connect to names... because instead of introducing myself... stepping forward to get to know another person... I avoided...

Letting fear of man rule... rather than the grace of God...
remaining self-centered... rather than other-centered...
practicing avoidance... rather than hospitality...

Yes... I'm the worst when it comes to connecting with others... but I know He's growing me in this area... because as He brings this to mind today... reveals my sin... the conviction comes with grace... and... peace...

Today I stand convicted... of avoiding those for whom He died... those created in His image... those who are or potentially are friends of His... who sit at His Table...

Lord... thank You for continuing to reveal

 what needs to change in me... thank You for Your grace and peace 

with which conviction comes...

Bless me with the faith and opportunities to practice hospitality... 

"This is my commandment, that you love one another

as I have loved you. ..." ---Jesus

John 15:12 ESV

Where have you been convicted today...?

gladness...

Spurgeon's morning devotional stuck with me through the day...

Be glad of heart, O believer, but take care that thy gladness has its spring in the Lord.

---Charles H. Spurgeon, Morning and Evening

I can tell when gladness springs from the Lord... because nothing can steal it...

But lately... my gladness... has been based on accomplishment... and self's strengths... setting joy... in a precarious position...where it's quickly snatched away... in the face of unmet expectations...

This morning... Spurgeon's preaching convicted... as I realized my recent struggle with pendulous emotions... and the source of gladness...

Thou hast much cause for gladness in thy God... That He is wise should make us glad, knowing as we do our own foolishness. That He is mighty, should cause us to rejoice who tremble at our weakness. That He is everlasting, should always be a theme of joy when we know that we wither like grass. That He is unchanging, should perpetually yield us a song, since we change every hour. That He is full of grace, that He is overflowing with it, and that this grace is covenant He has given us, that it is ours to cleanse us, ours to keep us, ours to sanctify us, ours to perfect us, ours to bring us to glory--- all this should tend to make us glad in Him.

Today... as I felt my heart start to shift toward its hourly change... I thought of...
His wisdom... my foolishness...
His might... my weakness...
His eternal nature... my fleeting flesh...
His steadfastness... my flighty heart...
I thought of His amazing grace...
And told myself... Be glad...!

Then I will go unto the altar of God,

Unto God my exceeding joy...

Psalm 43:4 KJV

seeing... hope...

A daily prayer journal... instructs during the time of confession...

Ask God to reveal sins you need to turn from. 

Confess. Repent.

I asked... and was convicted by the answer...

Hopelessness...

Yes... I tend to be a pessimist... a pragmatist...

Hope-full... is a place I fall short...

After confession... I seek repentance... How do I make this u-turn...?

And I recognize... it is done... by faith...

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for,

conviction of things not seen.

Hebrews 11:1 ESV

All the things for which I hope... for me... family... friends... church... are currently unseen... hidden... by time...

The image that comes to mind... is a seed... planted... underground... unseen... in the dark...

So I look at the nothing... put my hope in Him... and thank Him for the work He is doing... in the unseen... 

Lord... I can't wait to see what You bring forth...

from this darkness...

Hope... is only hope... when it is unseen...

For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

Romans 8:25 ESV

There's the rub... patience... 

Impatience... continues to raise its head... 

as I wait... 

           and wait... 

                     and wait...

The picture of God at work in the unseen... underneath the surface... bringing life... and growth... as only He can... fuels... my... hope...

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

Romans 15:13 ESV

Amen...!

blanks filled...

Any thoughts on what went in the blanks of yesterday...?

Well... here they are... filled...

There is a word that comes to my mind when I think about our company and our people. That word is "love." I love Starbucks because everything we've tried to do is steeped in humanity.
Respect and dignity.
Passion and laughter.
Compassion, community, and responsibility.
Authenticity.
These are Starbucks' touchstones, the source of our pride.

--- Howard Schulz, ceo of Starbucks, Onward (emphasis on the words added, they fill in the blanks)

 Yes... a company... centered on coffee...

Howard Schulz... his book filled with passion and sacrifice... for coffee and people... along with the desire to create and maintain... the Starbucks Experience... in each of his stores... thousands nationwide... and around the world...

A man whose efforts... has drawn millions... to his stores daily... through the promise of coffee... and community...

As I've read Onward... and just a first few chapters so far... I think...

What if... the Church... God's people... were as passionate about Him... as this man is about espresso...?

What if... the Church... had even half the belief in the power of the Holy Spirit... as Howard Schultz does in coffee... and the ability to foster an experience... for each visitor to one of his stores...?

Aren't we called to a singular... passionate... relationship... with our Creator...?

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.

Deuteronomy 6:5

What could His people accomplish...? how many could be drawn...? if we believed... and pursued the experience of the Spirit... He promises...?

They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

Acts 2:42-47

What if... what we loved... most... and... best... was Him... His Word... and His Way...?

What do you love most...? to what are you truly devoted...?

words... the power to diminish... or multiply...

Opportunities to diminish others... abound... through criticism... judgmental attitudes... micro-management...

With fresh opportunities before me... I remember a lesson from the Summit... one I need desperately today...

The speaker shared ways that multiply the leadership potential of those around us... but also revealed ways we diminish others... often unintentionally... not recognizing the power behind our actions and words...

A message that convicted... as a mom who has... longing to build up... most likely discouraged and diminished my children at times... without even knowing it...

Today... a critical point... I must resist... the temptation to fall into the pattern of diminishing...

Those around me need... their confidence... competence... and courage... multiplied...

So I remember... and pray...

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths,

but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion,

that it may give grace to those who hear.

Ephesians 4:29 ESV

(my emphasis)

corrupt... to change from good to bad in morals, manners, or actions... rot, spoil... to cause disintegration or ruin...

Corrupting talk... it changes those who hear it... from good to bad... rots... spoils... their spirit... causes disintegration or ruin... in an attitude...

grace... good will, loving-kindness, favour... the merciful kindness by which God, exerting his holy influence upon souls, turns them to Christ, keeps, strengthens, increases them in Christian faith, knowledge, affection, and kindles them to the exercise of the Christian virtues...

Words that give grace... build up... turn others to Christ... encourage... strengthen... kindle... the desire to pursue His Way...

Those are the words... attitudes... I need to emit today...

Lord... remind me... the diminisher in me is dead...

I am a new creation in Christ... You live through me...

You provide... the words... attitudes... needed today...

apart from You... I cannot multiply... those I love...

I can do all things through Him who gives me strength.

Philippians 4:13 NASB95

thoughts from the summit... courage...

As I look back on two fully packed days of leadership teaching... at the Summit... a recurring theme... was courage... which, of course, is only needed in the face of fear...

The opening message... focused on the courage leadership requires...

Be strong and courageous.

Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged,

for the Lord your God will be with you

wherever you go.

Joshua 1:9 NIV

The speaker said... Courage is critical to vision...

Vision defined as... a vision of the future that inspires passion in people...

Here is a message that pierces my heart... standing with a vision given by God... and fear... that threatens to paralyze...

EVERY vision God puts in your heart

requires courage...

Visions of how things should be... visions of transformation... healing... and freedom... they require courage...

How many have I let slip away... thinking... I'm not the one... I don't have the ability... the influence... to make that happen... What if I fail...?

How many times have I let fear... abort... a... vision...

That's the word he used... abort... 

When fear causes us to abort a God-given vision... it's a colossal tragedy...

This is how I wrote it in my notes...

Fear induced abortion = a colossal tragedy

Sounds harsh... but I know it to be true...

I am reminded... courage is required... to even begin sharing... voicing... the possibility of change... for something better...

Courage... it's only required... in the face of... danger... fear... or difficulty... so why be surprised when He tells us... 

Be strong and courageous...

...that fear... or danger... or difficulty... will be a part of entering the promised land... 

I pray... I will not allow fear to kill... when it comes to God-inspired vision... 

Father God... I choose courage... trusting that You are with me... stepping out to share Your vision... not allowing fear to abort... what You desire... trusting You... for each step of the way... boldly speaking for You... Your kingdom... and Your love...

Choose to trust Him... with the blessing... of a vision...

Have you allowed fear to abort... a Spirit-filled inspiration... ? 

Ask forgiveness...

Have you boldly allowed Him to work it out in you... 

bringing the vision full-term...? 

Thank Him for His strength...

whew...

Another Summit... a day spent absorbing world-class leadership training...

The message... it pierces the heart... with...
conviction...
encouragement...
inspiration...

My heart hears...
You cannot stay quiet...
Compassion... an inviolable value...
Get over self-consciousness...
This is not about me...
Pour it out...
Do not be a poser...

All delivered... in an atmosphere of grace... and love...

The resounding reminder...

Be strong and courageous. 

Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged,

for the Lord your God

will be with you wherever you go.

Joshua 1:9 NIV

All a much needed reminder...

Whew... there's another day tomorrow...

Lord... make room in my heart... mind... will... for MORE...

do not allow me... to go away... unchanged...

what's a friend...?

A word for the year... obedience... continues to teach...

Through this word... I've come to realize... the world has skewed my definition of friend... worked its way into the subconscious realm...

In the receiving of the word... obedience... God led me to a Word that defines...

And this is love:

that we walk in obedience

to his commands.

2 John 1:6

He followed it with...

A friend loves at all times...

Proverbs 17:17

...and a call to wear a charm that reads the same... a blessing confirming... that I am His friend... and He mine... through acts of obedience... acts of love...

However... the Spirit... He has revealed... a flaw... a brokenness... in my understanding... of... friend... 

Not an understanding I adhere to consciously... but one... that the world... culture... has woven into my heart... mind... will... emotion...

As I began to become comfortable with being God's friend... and considering Him my Friend... my obedience... my striving... exercising... ears-tuned-into His call... has relaxed... 

I believe the Spirit has told me... I'm not such a great friend lately... at least not to Him... mind wandering... and perhaps a hint of complacency... in my relationship with Him... after all... He's a friend...

The emotional struggles of the past few weeks... a warning...

As He brought this thought to mind... I could see it... this definition of friend... one that let's you get by... get away with... overlooks discrepancies... in judgment... words... actions...

Friends... according to the world... help you cover up... go along with... lies... cheating... stealing... even join you... steal for you... lie for you... sin with you... i.e.... friends with benefits... really!... 

Somewhere in my mind... I've believed God would cut me some slack... I'm not talking grace here... that's the cheap kind... I'm talking... overlook slights... judge differently... because we're friends...

This attitude... is destructive... and ungodly... disrespects... diminishes... denigrates... His sacrifice... the sending of Son... the beating... the spitting... the nail piercing... of His only Son... for the forgiveness of sin... mine... yours... the whole world's...!

Not to mention... denying His Holy Sovereignty... His role as Supreme Judge... the One whose throne's foundation is Righteousness... belittling the magnitude of His gift of grace... poured out in all His infinite power...!

This is NOT a friend... according to Him...

A friend... does not let you slide... 

A friend... is a True guide...

A friend speaks the truth in love... protects... from harm... doesn't let you get off track...

A friend is more concerned for you... than how you feel about them...

A Friend... is a Counselor... Advocate... Comforter... and when He brings the truth in love... revival... repentance... they follow... refreshing a soul...

But if the voice... comes with condemnation... guilt that shames... paralyzes... it's a sure sign... that it's not your Friend... but your enemy... the Accuser... who does not want you to move forward... he wants you to stay stuck... bound... condemned...

Jesus... our True Friend... He forgives... faithfully...

In Him... we have peace with the Father... and can freely receive His Counsel... with grace... and hearts prepared to turn...

Today... I added a charm... next to the one reminding me of obedience... it's a compass... one given by a true friend... several years ago... a charm that reminds... God is the one "True Guide"...

Whether you turn to the right or to the left, 

your ears will hear a voice behind you, 

saying, "This is the way; walk in it."

Isaiah 30:21

A Word... that deepens the understanding... of the word for the year... and cleanses... soul... and purifies... heart... just a little... bit... more...

Father God... thank You for revealing... this flaw... woven into my heart... now that it's in the Light... remove it fully... forgive me for cheapening our relationship... with hidden attitudes... thank You for Your patience... continue to grow me in grace... and knowledge... of You...

Teach me to do your will,

for you are my God!

Let your good Spirit lead me

on level ground!

Psalm 143:10 ESV

[Note: a fresh Quote du Jour has been served up...]

gray... is... NOT... ok...

This evening... after a full day... a service of ashes...

Ash Wednesday... the branches of Palm Sunday... burned as a reminder of Good Friday...

A time to contemplate sin... the need for rescue... the reason He chose to hang on a cross...

Head bowed... considering me... the confession it came...

Forgive me for being OK with gray...

Gray... light mixed with dark...

How many places do I compromise...? don't engage with a whole-heart...? concern myself with me... more than others...?

This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you:

God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.

If we claim to have fellowship with him

yet walk in darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth.

1 John 1:5-6

(emphasis added)

No darkness... is Light... 

a half-truth... a lie...

a gray-life... a walk in darkness...

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light,

we have fellowship with one another, 

and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

1 John 1:7

(emphasis added)

The reason... for the ashes... the Good... in the upcoming Friday...

a reminder... that He has work to do... in me...

and tonight... unexpectedly... a heart prepared...

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;

a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

Psalm 51:17

Thank You... Jesus...

insight... from a word... reversed...

Treadmill reading... brought me to a word... that convicts... encourages... and affirms...

Philip Yancey... he shares a rendering of the Beatitudes... written by JB Phillips... a reversal that applies to the kingdom of this world:

Happy are the "pushers": for they get on in the world.

Happy are the hard-boiled: for they never let life hurt them.

Happy are they who complain: for they get their own way in the end.

Happy are the blase: for they never worry over their sins.

Happy are the slave-drivers: for they get results.

Happy are the knowledgeable men of the world: for they know their way around.

Happy are the trouble-makers: for they make people take notice of them.

I see myself... and others... among these worldly...

... the hard-boiled... a temptation I deal with... when things are hard... easier for me to harden... than bear the agony of love...

... they who complain... at times... this is me... and others around me... working words... to make a way...

... the blase... here I see a loved one... understand a heart... that chooses to be blind to sin...

... the slave-driver... a demeanor I could easily choose... with the blase-rebel... currently under my roof...

Convicted... by the tendency... to embrace the way of the world...
Encouraged... by the insights revealed...
Affirmed... in my sense... of what's going on in another...

Inspired... to remember... to eat... the Words... of the One full of grace...

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 

Matthew 5:3-10