Tag: beatitudes

The Beatitudes teach us about friendship

Published on by lindseybiggsLeave a comment

I love the Beatitudes.

They illustrate beautiful qualities of character — the kind of person you want to be around.

They exemplify the perfect friend.

      • Humility — there is no quality more amazing to me than humility. It is beautiful, graceful & gracious.
      • Comforting — we’ve all had times when we’ve been down and turned to a friend for comfort. It’s a wonderful feeling. And to be able to give comfort when someone else is down gives a sense of satisfaction.
      • Selfless & generous — someone who can share and isn’t greedy.
      • Appreciates good activities (and good clean fun!)
      • Satisfaction in right-doing — does the right thing, even if it’s not popular (even if you don’t want to).
      • Forgiving — doesn’t focus on the past or hold a grudge.
      • Genuine — honest, authentic (not fake).
      • Peace-loving (instead of drama-loving) — looks for the best in you and others (doesn’t get in to gossip).
      • Loyal, faithful & devoted — to his/her beliefs as well as to your friendship.
      • Confident & courageous — stands up for what is right; sticks up for beliefs as well as friends.

See what I mean? It’s a perfect model for friendship (or business partner or neighbor). Christ Jesus exemplified this and showed us we can, too — that it is right and normal. He wouldn’t have said it if we couldn’t be it!

Enjoy giving & expressing these qualities today. You’ll be thanked for it!

Unity is our natural state of being

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This morning I was praying and awakening to a spiritual sense of unity.
Unity is the natural state to all of us. We are united by the very Source of our being.
So any sense, or temptation, of discord and division is an illusion.
These temptations or divisiveness can only scratch the surface. It can never touch the depth of being or change the spiritual reality of who we all are. I find great comfort in this and it helps me see clearly through these illusions.

Christ Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”¹

I thought this Beatitude meant to avoid conflict; we’ve all known or been one of those people who avoid conflict, or are more passive. But actually this Beatitude now means to me that even in the face of conflict we are seeing the real depth of being, the true spiritual reality or substance that comes from our Source, is not conflicted and is totally at peace. This change in consciousness is powerful. It reminds me of the story in the Bible where Jesus is attacked by an angry mob. Their intention is to push him over a cliff. The Bible says:

“All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard this. They got up, drove him out of the town, and took him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw him off the cliff. But he walked right through the crowd and went on his way.”²

Isn’t this true peace? Seeing anything that presents a lie of discord, anger, hatred is not true, is not from Deity and therefore has no power? Jesus didn’t react, and he didn’t allow this incident to corrupt his view of God’s spiritual image and likeness. He recognized it for what it was: the “carnal mind”.

“The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so.”³

So today I am praying about the deep unity of being; the unity of all of us. And recognizing that there is no power which can divide or separate us from one another. 

_________________________

¹NIV The Bible, Matthew 5:9
² NIV The Bible, Luke 4:28-30
³ NIV The Bible, Romans 8:7

Life Lessons and Spiritual Insights

Published on by lindseybiggsLeave a comment

 

I spend a lot of time looking forward or enjoying the present moment, but sometimes I seldom look back at the progress I’ve made and give thanks for the lessons and spiritual growth.

 

This next blog series is going to share these spiritual lessons – metaphysical and practical – that I’ve learned along the way through the challenges and joys in previous years.  Or the “I wish I knew this then” moments.  Many of these were learned in growing up, through teen years and early 20’s.

 

Let’s begin…

 

Love yourself.  Cherish you.  Do not condemn you.  Be nice to you.

 

If you are loving and nice to yourself, you naturally and effortlessly are loving and kind to others.

 

“Blessed (happy, spiritually prosperous) are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.” (Matthew 5:7 Amplified edition)

 

Don’t judge others, or compare yourself to them (though I see this is challenging since the world is always saying we have to compete to get somewhere).  Everyone is valuable and equal to God.

 

Keeping your focus on God and what He is seeing enables us all to be blessed.  And what does God see?  “God saw all that he had made, and it was very good” (Genesis 1:28 NIV my emphasis).  This means God saw everyone that He made, each opportunity, as very good.  See the good in everyone, including you, and in every moment.  If you see good in everyone, you will see God.

 

“ Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” (Matthew 5:8 NKJV)

 

Pure motives and thoughts allow us to see Soul, and Soul blesses us, inspires, moves us, and satisfies the longings of your heart.

 

In fact, Jesus has already given us the spiritual answers and practical lessons we need in his Sermon on the Mount.  The Beatitudes, coupled with the rest of the Sermon, are the recipe for healthy, happy relationships, minds and bodies and a secure sense of our finances.

 

Stay tuned for more insights.  And, as always, feel free to be in touch if you need help with any of these.