Have you ever been hungry? I mean really hungry; to the point all you could think about was food? There are times Alisha will ask me if I am ready for lunch, dinner etc. There are times when she ask this, I am not really hungry, so I reply “I could eat”. This is actually something which I could do throughout the day. In this post I am not talking about “You could eat”, I am talking about being HUNGRY.

“Blessed are the meek for they will inherit the earth” (Matthew 5:5, NIV). “God blesses o those who are humble, for they will inherit the whole earth” (Matthew 5:5 NLT). This is the third beatitude. In some ways this is probably the hardest for us in the U.S. to swallow. We live in a society which is all about advancements, having the latest and greatest.

What is God trying to say to you? What is it he is preparing you for? Before we look deeper at those questions. Let me say I prepare my sermon list, a year in advance. Two and a half years ago, I preached a message entitled “Giving Thanks in the Valley of Darkness”. Little did I know, a few days later my brother would die in a car accident. On Sunday February 11th of this year, I continued my series on the Beatitudes. My sermon was on those who mourn.

Sunday we began a new series on the Beatitudes. This series will be a nine week series which looks in depth at each of these. Beatitudes are what Jesus set as the attitude or attributes He is seeking in His disciples.

Well, looking back on my post. It is apparent, I have not posted a thought of the week since 2017. I know, ha, ha that was only a few days ago. But here we are in a new year. With all of the joys, anticipation and fear which comes with new things.

“Giving is an exercise that makes a healthy heart” (Hedlund). I thought we would go back to the Gem of the week. This one seems perfectly placed. Have you noticed since New Year’s Day it seems no matter what station, at what time of day you watch? There are several diet commercials, healthy eating tips and gyms offering free to reduce membership for the New Year.

When we think of breaking, we think of something bad.  When I was a child, I was very active; to say the least. I was always into something. At times this could not only get me into trouble it could also get on the nerves of those who were babysitting me; like my Grandma D.  But there was one woman, my Great Aunt Margaret who not only got me, but knew how to calm me down. She would sit me on her lap and sing “Shorting Bread”.

I like to live dangerously. If you do not believe me. Ask my wife. She will tell you, I know how to push her buttons, and I do so often. I have often lived this way. Beginning with taking the curves to fast on my bike. Or weaving in and out of traffic on the interstate on my bike cutting off big trucks. Is this living dangerously, on the edge or just being stupid? Well I will leave that up to you to decide.

Is the church proactive or reactive? Do we preach judgement or grace? Do we truly believe all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God? Or do we act as if there are some who are so fallen they do not deserve the free grace and forgiveness of God?

I grew up hearing, when God closes one door, He opens another. Of course this was said during times of transition. But it always signified a new beginning our opportunity. If you have been following these post you know we have been looking at what constitutes a healthy church. More specifically we have been looking at the seven churches in Revelation, and learning from once healthy churches which were in danger of dying out.