Blessed, happy! (HAPPY NEW YEAR!!)

Whenever one gets encouraged to give out more, it’s easy to get a little guarded or how I like to describe, a little “twitchy”.  It seems like another demand on our time, another sacrifice to make.  And to be perfectly honest, that’s true.  We ARE called to a higher level of awareness of others needs.  When we are motivated to be aware of others’ needs and not our own personal interest, it takes “serving” or “hospitality” to another level.   Our attitude about this concept makes all the difference.  I’ve not always been perfect in this area, but I’ve learned that my responses in life are usually based on my attitude towards the situation.  If my attitude reflects a motivation to serve God by serving my family and His people, then it’s not just a chore or another demand on my time.  It’s a different kind of service, one of obedience to God’s Word, yes, but rooted in a love for God and His people.  Not mere legal compliance to the Bible, but out of what God is doing in me.  That way we are not on our own, or bound by the approval of people, but it’s based on a reverence for God. 


I love how the Bible instructs us on how to live, to really make a life in God.  We are not left to figure it out on our own but Jesus gives us the tools to come alive in our relationship with God in our daily life.  In Matthew 5 Jesus gives the Sermon on the Mount also known as the Beatitudes.  It could be called a code of ethics for all believers, instructions to live by.  When we live by these instructions, we will be happy, or more importantly, blessed.  Beatitudes:  Latin beatus meaning “blessed, happy”.  Blessed is a state of well being in relationship to God that belongs to those who respond to God”.   There are a couple verses that really jumped off the page when I read this chapter. 

Matthew 5:7-8 (Message)"You're blessed when you care. At the moment of being 'care-full,' you find yourselves cared for.  "You're blessed when you get your inside world—your mind and heart—put right. Then you can see God in the outside world.”

We see there’s a great reward to “caring” for others.  We are cared for in the process.  It’s just like God to build that in to what He’s instructing us to do.  I like to apply this to everyday living.  Although there are many wonderful things that come with caring for a family, there are also mundane, “anybody can do it”, not extremely exciting or fun things that have to be done as well.  Laundry, housework, cooking, driving, .... the list is endless.  But, if my attitude reflects one of “giving” or being hospitable to my family, my response can be right in accordance with how God’s Word says I should respond – putting their needs before my personal interest.  I can see my work as service to God benefitting my family, but also benefitting me!  Your family should be the greatest beneficiaries of your quest to be a more hospitable Christian.  How can we export something that’s not working at home?  We can’t.  But, we can work on both areas at the same time – starting with our attitudes towards our family and then on to the others in our lives.  Like verse 7 describes, “....your mind and heart – put right.  Then you can see God in the outside world.”  There’s a great motivation right there. 

The last verses in Matthew 5 also really spoke to my heart:  Matt 5: 14-16 (Message) "Here's another way to put it: You're here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We're going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don't think I'm going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I'm putting you on a light stand. Now that I've put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you'll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.”   We are not called to be everything to everyone – but God desires us to be all we can be to those He’s called us to – our families, the people we come in contact with every day and those in our realm of influence.  It takes prayer, creative ideas, work, and sometimes intense effort.  But giving attention to these things in our lives develops us in our Christian walk, develops our life skills to be all that we can be in God.  And the best thing is that God wants to HELP us achieve this work in us!  We are not on our own, but He wants to help us in every way possible.  J  I hope these nuggets make you think about how you can be more open in your life, in your home, to point people towards God.  Not only to be happy which is solely based on temporary circumstances, but to be blessed!

With Love and blessing,

Laura (and Anne)