Category: The Lord Jesus

Counting Blessings

Matthew 5:1-12

Introduction to the Sermon on the Mount

5 Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them.

The Beatitudes

He said:

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

11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad,because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

We have many things to thank and bless the Lord for what he’s done for us, in fact so many things than we care to mention . The Beatitudes is one of my favourite pieces of scripture and in the video Basically we we are advised if we are feeling down, in despair or disheartened to  remember to count our blessings and see what God has done

Covid-19 Lockdown 11

Photo by Gustavo Fring on Pexels.com

First of all I’d like to apologise for being a little late with this Lockdown issue.

You see it’s all down to Nicola Sturgeon who in case you didn’t know is the first minister for Scotland. On Friday past she eased the lockdown situation here in Scotland so that upto eight family members could meet outside, still social distancing.

As the weather has been brilliant here (sun splitting the trees) so to speak, well there was no stopping us visiting our family who also live in the same town.

There was also an ease on a couple of sports, Golf, Outdoor tennis and Fishing.

I hate to add although the above are the official guidelines, with the weather being the way it is some people were breaking the guidelines by going to the beach etc.

So the easing of the lockdown has begun in Scotland has begun and what will be the next step for Scotland.

Stories of Jesus

1 John 1:1-4 New International Version (NIV)

The Incarnation of the Word of Life

1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. 2 The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. 3 We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 4 We write this to make our[a] joy complete.

When reading this verse of scripture and title I am reminded of the hymn I learnt as a child.

  1. Tell me the stories of Jesus I love to hear;
    Things I would ask Him to tell me if He were here;
    Scenes by the wayside, tales of the sea,
    Stories of Jesus, tell them to me.
  2. First let me hear how the children stood round His knee,
    And I shall fancy His blessing resting on me;
    Words full of kindness, deeds full of grace,
    All in the love light of Jesus’ face.
  3. Tell me, in accents of wonder, how rolled the sea,
    Tossing the boat in a tempest on Galilee;
    And how the Maker, ready and kind,
    Chided the billows, and hushed the wind.
  4. Into the city I’d follow the children’s band,
    Waving a branch of the palm tree high in my hand;
    One of His heralds, yes, I would sing
    Loudest hosannas, “Jesus is King!”
  5. Show me that scene in the garden, of bitter pain;
    Show me the cross where my Savior for me was slain;
    Sad ones or bright ones, so that they be
    Stories of Jesus—tell them to me.

Following Hard — GraceSpeak

We had this beagle named Freckles. Freckles was a great dog. She nurtured kittens and visited neighbors. She played with growing toddlers and searched out lost bunnies. She nuzzled her way into the heart of our family. But Freckles’ great love was trailing. She would periodically escape the confines of the yard and take off […]

Following Hard — GraceSpeak

Gods love through Christ

Romans 8 New International Version 

More Than Conquerors

31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written:

“For your sake we face death all day long;
    we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”[j]

37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[k] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Entrusted — GraceSpeak

When we realize the preciousness of the trust we hold, its pricelessness will supersede our rights, our need to be first, our impatience. We are entrusted with a treasure – not to hoard or hide, not to hold tightly, grasping. We are entrusted with a treasure – the Gospel of Christ – to give, to […]

Entrusted — GraceSpeak