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Morning Devotional...


Blessed are Those Who Mourn

"Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted."

(Matthew 5:4)


Understanding that Christ begins the Beatitudes with a promise that the kingdom of heaven belongs only to those who recognize their poverty of spirit and thus repent and believe the gospel (Matt. 5:3) helps us avoid a fundamental error often made regarding the teaching of Jesus. The Sermon on the Mount is wellknown outside the church, and the Beatitudes are often embraced as promises of God to all people, regardless of their religious convictions. But if the blessing of the kingdom of heaven belongs only to those who repent and trust Jesus, the Beatitudes are not promises for everyone. They are promises for Christians, for those who daily take up their crosses and follow Christ (Luke 9:23).

It is particularly important to remember this when we consider the second beatitude: "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted" (Matt. 5:4). Reading this, we might immediately think it refers to God comforting us when we mourn a loved one's death. Of course, as believers we do experience God's consolation in times of loss, but this is just one way the promise of the second beatitude is fulfilled. There are other reasons that the Lord's people mourn in Scripture, and His promise to comfort our mourning applies to these situations as well.

First, we may experience the deep conviction of the Holy Spirit and mourn for our sin and its offense against our holy Creator. We see biblical examples of this in David's repentance for his sin with Bathsheba (2 Sam. 12:1–23; Ps. 51) and the response of the Jewish pilgrims to Peter's Pentecost sermon, when they were "cut to the heart" (Acts 2:1–41). This experience of mourning over sin is part of what it means to be "poor in Spirit," tying the second beatitude nicely to the first one.

We may also mourn in the midst of suffering for the kingdom. Although we have a certain kind of joy in such trouble, Scripture is honest that this pain is real. Jeremiah mourned over the prosperity of the wicked and the afflictions of the righteous remnant of Israel (Jer. 12:1–4). Even Jesus was a "man of sorrows" who mourned the wickedness of the Israelites and suffered for His people (Isa. 53; Luke 13:34–35; 22:39–46). God's comfort of His mourning people means that those who suffer for righteousness' sake will receive an eternal reward (Matt. 5:12).

Coram Deo

Though Jesus was a man of sorrows, He was able to endure suffering and pain because He knew that "out of the anguish of his soul" He would "see and be satisfied" (Isa. 53:11). We will never have to go through what Christ did, but we can look to God's promise of comfort as a similar guarantee that we will one day see our mourning is not in vain. This, in turn, will help us to suffer for the sake of the kingdom of heaven in the here and now.

Passages for Further Study

Genesis 45
Ecclesiastes 7:3–4
Joel 2:12–27
Luke 8:40–56


From Ligonier Ministries, the teaching fellowship of R.C. Sproul.  http://www.ligonier.org/learn/devotionals/blessed-are-those-who-mourn/

Hi everyone on a beautiful Sunday morning.  It is 59 degrees this morning but the sun is out.  Today is our "Send Sunday" when our church has one brief devotional period and then the congregation goes out into the community to do various things like collecting groceries at Krogers for the food cooperative, the choir goes and sings at two nursing homes, service projects are done, etc.  I think this is the 5th time this has been done.  Pat has gone to help work on the dolls.  I looked at the projects but did not sign up as saw nothing I felt I was really up to doing so I have stayed home this morning.   So I will just have a quiet day, listen to Don's Classical Music program and watch some football this afternoon. 

Buddy, thanks for the Devotional for this week. 

Buddy, thanks for getting our new week started with this new devotional. It reminds us that "mourn" doesn't necessarily only mean over the loss of a loved one, but also sorrow over sin and separation from God's Grace.

A different and unique perspective on "mourning" in this week's devotion.  Thanks for sharing this with us, Buddy!

  Thanks to Buddy for the devotions on mourning.    In the book of James, we are told to consider joy when we face trials.  A hard act to follow but the joy shows itself sometimes later after the fact.  Maybe it isn't the total joy especially when losing someone near and dear but joy can come again in another scenario.

We have the Broncos vs Seattle on - Seattle did not have an NFL team when I grew up in the formerly little and not as congested city.  We had the U of Washington and when I went to school, they went to the Rose Bowl twice.  I brought my dad to one of the games. 

Larry:  You sure have found a good young friend.  Nice that he wants to help you in return for your helping him.  I just finished the binding on a purple zig-zag table runner and will bring it to AZ to give away.  The pattern is on the net - just google the words and it is so easy to make & looks complicated because of three fabrics. 

Two fire trucks came by the house & we got up to check if they were turning in - sad to think these things but this is an aging neighborhood with several WW11 veterans.   Not today.  Thanks be!

Hi, friends,

About pacing ourselves, I've needed to be quiet over this weekend. I twisted my bad knee last Thursday, so needed to be a little better to myself. I refrained from trying to climb the 11 steps to go to my church this morning to give the knee more time to heal and move back into place. It seems this has happened, though some steps I take bring on a wince as all is not quite right yet. 

I really have done some thinking about today's devotional. Thank you for giving us a fresh perspective on mourning.

I must go for tonight - God bless y'all is my prayer.

Ruth Ann

Hi everyone.  We have a nice cool and overcast morning and even saw a few drops of rain on my trip to McDonald's and back.  I have nothing on the schedule for today until this evening when I will go to my Monday night meeting.  I am looking forward to a nice quiet day and hopefully less busy week. 

Carol, that was a very exciting ending to the Denver/Seattle game yesterday afternoon.  Too bad that Denver lost. 

Ruth Ann, glad to read that you took care of yourself over the weekend and didn't push yourself to do things. 

Thank you so much, Buddy for the devotional thoughts for this week.  Lots to digest and those are the good devotionals when they cause us to think thoughtfully.

Not many posting today.

I guess Janet gets home today from her trip so maybe she'll be posting tomorrow.

Hi, friends,

I'm squeaking in just before I turn into a pumpkin. :)

Happy beginning of autumn to everyone. Our temperatures show just that, with tomorrow morning being between 44 and 48 degrees. Brrrr. Poor school children going to school for the first time with chilly temperatures. I hope they will be dressed appropriately.

I had several things on my plate for today, so am tired, but thankful for the strength to get them done.

Y'all have a wonderful night with our Lord.

Ruth Ann

Hi everyone.  I am getting an early start on reading the discussions today as it is an off day in terms of men's coffee.  It seems a bit chilly here this morning. 

Yesterday Pat and I went to Chili's and had lunch from their nice luncheon menu.  They have introduced a new computer type device on each table where you pay your bill directly, including scanning any coupons on your phone or in hand and electronically sign the credit card slip.  It sure speeds up the checkout process and I liked it. 

Last night after getting home from the meeting I went to bed and watched the PBS 1st episode of "The Roosevelts".  This episode was almost two hours but I mananged to only sort of doze off toward the end.  There are only six days left to watch the series from the PBS website so will have to stay with it.  I found it every interesting.

I will attend a meeting this morning and that will be it for today. 

Pat, hope you are feeling better.  I have missed Janet's postings here as well.  I am anxious to read about their trip and their visit with you.  I did see the pictures from your meeting. 

Ruth Ann, we are at 57 degrees today with the high to be about 75 degrees. 

I hope all who visit here today have a good day. 

Remember all those beautiful sunset and sunrise photos that you voted for?  Well believe it or not we still don't have a winner! 

We ended up with a three-way tie for first place!!!  So we're voting again - one vote only, and ending on Saturday, September 27.  Please help us out and cast a vote HERE (http://www.christianphotographers.com/community/index.php?topic=13153.msg186672#msg186672).

Hello, everybody!  We weren't scheduled to get back to Hugoton until 8:30 last night, but by leaving earlier and minimizing breaks, we got there by 5:30!  Everyone was happy about that, as some had a long way home from there.  We got to have a nice chat with our kids, me with Diane, Darrel with Jeff, as he was across the street from their store, at his car wash.  Good to catch up on all their family news.

Today I have been running like crazy, doing laundry since 5:30 this morning, now have the last load in the dryer; getting everything sorted that we brought home, putting things away, doing a little straightening up of stuff we brought in last night, as the house cleaner was to come (and did) at 1:00.  So I finally got to the computer, puff, pant!

I just hope I can remember how to post photos as Pat showed me.  I really need step-by-step instructions printed out, until I get it set in my brain again how to do it!  :-[  I have some really nice ones!

It was so wonderful to hear Pat calling excitedly, "Janet!  Janet!" when I stepped off the bus in Niagara Falls!  There she was with a huge smile and outstretched arms to greet me!  We had a wonderful, but too short, three days together, and for sure, must NOT wait another ten years to see one another again!

Our visit with Gord and Noreen was short but very enjoyable, and I also got to see Ruthie again.  I wish our other Canadian friends could have been there, as well.

Of course I had to go visit Beth today.  She had lots of painful headaches while I was away, and she always misses me a lot.  I prayed for her and promised her a longer visit tomorrow.  I must leave soon to go to a concert in Garden City, so time is limited.  I feel as if I have run a marathon today!  Whew!

I didn't find a vote button in the challenge, but stated the one I wanted to vote for, anyway, and hope that works!

I'm really glad that I have a chiropractor appointment tomorrow, as I am sore from so many days riding in the bus.  He will fix me up!  ;)

I have caught up on all the posts I missed during my 10 days' absence.  Please forgive my not addressing each of you today.  I will do better when I get caught up a little.

I can't log onto Facebook, have no idea why it won't accept my password.  That site really annoys me!  Seems I have TWO FB accounts, and now I can't use either of them, and do not know how to delete them.Anybody have any ideas?

Back to check email again, I am waiting for an answer from Pat!

Loved loved loved all of the pictures.  You are all so talented.  I had to vote for Cold and Lonely - the landscape with the forgotten former home.  Just looking at the empty house can bring on a ton of memories - who lived there before?  Where is the family now?  Why?  Please fill the house with laughter and people who do good on earth.  Thanks all for your photos.   

It is rather warm today after one day of almost winter weather.  A wonderful fall day here.  Tonight is quilting and I have to drive about a half hour to Ken Caryl ranch area.  Neither rain, nor snow, nor sleet......  We leave in 5 or 6 days so the fridge in the garage is empty today and I have been forcing myself to face facts with stuff that needs to be taken care of before leaving the house. Then, an unexpected nap happened while making out a list in a comfy chair.  It was so quiet.  Don had a yearly appointment at the VA early this morning which means really rising early to beat the traffic.  His dermatologist froze two spots and otherwise told him to use sun screen daily. 

Ruth Ann:  Are you sure you don't need to have your knee looked at by the doctor? 

Larry:  Yes, that was a close and good game.  That is just the way the ball bounces at times. 

Tomorrow is bible study and one of the gals who just moved into a care-free apartment living situation wants us all to go to lunch - so we will.   

Hi, friends,

I think God is letting the painful knee improve daily, but He knew I needed a day off, so I found I was tired enough to rest in bed most of the day.

Y'all have a wonderful night with our Lord.

Love to all,
Ruth Ann

Hi everyone on a cool morning here in Georgia.  It is 57 degrees and I decided I needed to put on a sweater for the morning.  Today will be our normal Wednesday of coffee at McDonald's, Bible study with the minister, and then a time of fellowship at Dunkin' Donuts.  Pat hasn't told me yet whether she plans to go or not. 

Jeanne, I did cast my ballot on one of the three entries.

Janet, glad you are safely home and sure home looked mighty good to you after being away for a few days.  I am sure 3 hours less on a bus was very welcome.  What a busy day after you have had and sounds like you picked up right where you left off when you started your trip.  I wish I could help you with Facebook but seldom look at it. 

Carol, are you headed back to Tuscon in a few days?  Living with a quilter I understand your statement about not missing the quilting meeting.  Right now Pat hasn't felt like being involved with any of the quilting groups in our area and has limited herself to an occasional visit to a quilt store with her good friend. 

Ruth Ann, glad you were able to have the day of rest and take care of yourself. 

If any of you who are already my friends on Facebook get another friend request from "me" please just ignore it.  Seems I've been hacked again!  Phooey!

As soon as we get the problem figured out, I will attempt to post more photos of our trip.  Sorry for the delay!

I went to a concert last night in Gaden City, but should have stayed at home, as I was just too tired to enjoy it.  It was really good, a man named Steve Lippia, singing Sinatra songs, mostly, and accompanied by a 10-piece band.  What a voice he has!

I decided to not go to the gym yet, think I need another day to 'recover.'  Hope I didn't gain weight on the trip!

I need to find a new hairdresser; my friend Pat is leaving today for her new home in Seminole, Texas.  We gals like our hair to look nice.  I can do my own, but am never satisfied with the results.   ???

This world crisis with ISIS is making me really dig into the Word.  God promised (in Isaiah) to tell us His plans beforehand; now to be able to understand what He tells us.  :-\

I hope all of you are enjoying a good day with the Lord.  Our weather is delightful, with no wind as yet today!  ;)

Ruth Ann, glad you were able to rest yesterday and give that knee more time to heal!  God bless!

Hi, friends,

I stretched that 1 rest day into 2. Now, my knee is no longer hurting, thank God.

Now, to go eat a bit - I've planned new potatoes and green beans with pieces of ham and some onions for my dinner. Yum, yum.

Y'all have a good day.

Ruth Ann

Hi everyone.  It is a cool, overcast morning here in Georgia but will get up into the mid-70s later today.  Today is a pretty quiet day.  I have my regular Thursday Men's Luncheon at 11:30 and then a friend will be stopping by for an hour or so later this afternoon. 

I have been watching the PBS series "The Roosevelt's" the last few days and have one more of the two hour episodes to go.  When I started them they were going to be available on PBS.Org for only seven more days so have had to keep at it.  These were recently shown on the PBS television stations, as some of you already know.  It is a wonderful history lesson and features insets for several of the biographers who have studied and written about the Roosevelt's. 

Janet, sorry to read that you were too tired to enjoy the concert.  Hope you are scheduling more time for yourself to rest for a few days so you can recover physically from the trip. 

Ruth Ann, glad you are no longer hurting with your knee. 

We are about to run out to  Goodwill today for a special discount.  A neighbor just came over to tell us they have sold their house, well, an offer after only 4 days.  Don had just returned from taking that neighbor to coffee at our church and was able to take him on a tour.  He seemed impressed but the stained glass in the chapel and the entire surroundings but they do not "do church".  They are a good couple and will be visiting us in AZ - they are actually moving to AZ. 

Larry:  Yes, to Tucson.  The drive should be colorful as we leave this weekend.  I am trying to not be upset but am unsettled by news that grandson has a broken bone in his hand from where a puck hit him.  Perhaps up to six weeks in a cast.  Every year there is some major event in his life that stalls him - I know and believe there is more in his life than playing hockey and truly there is something to be gained in all of this.  Just hope he can keep his spirits up. 

Janet:  You really need a good night of sleep. 

Ruth Ann:  Yes, thankfulness is the word of the day - have a good night of sleep too. 

Hi, friends,

As it turned out, I'm in my third day of a "work hiatus." This time I was sidelined by a cook at the restaurant where I chose to go - she cooked everything from scratch, so it took longer than I planned.  Then, when I went for a much needed haircut, I had to wait on someone else. So, again, more time was taken up than I had planned.

Ahhhh, but I can firmly state that I really feel good for the first time in 6-8 weeks. :) Thanks be to our Lord.

It's so interesting to read of the things happening to my friends here at CP.  Y'all know how much I love and appreciate each one of you.

Have a great rest of the day with our Lord. How sweet the daily walk with Him.

Love to all,
Ruth Ann

Good evening everyone, Sorry I've not posted anything for a week or so. I just didn't have much to say and didn't want to come here to complain about  problem at the clinic. It is solved now  thank you Jesus.

Some of the kids came down from Portland last week and brought the new twins (3 months old now.) I posted pictures on face book but i haven't edited any to share here I know the originals would be too big I will resize some  in the next couple of days and get them posted.

Hi everyone.  It is another overcast 62 degree morning here in Georgia.  We had a little rain during the night but didn't realize it until I opened the garage this morning and saw the roads were wet.  We had a small turnout at the Senior Center for coffee this morning.  My slate is clean for the rest of the day so don't have to rush to accomplish anything that I know of today.  Pat's appointment with the podiatrist has finally arrived and she will see him this afternoon. 

Carol, so sorry to read of the break in your grandson's hand.  However, I suppose injuries like this are a part of hockey, which isn't a sport for wimps.  Is he continuing his schooling to get the background he will need once it is necessary for him to give up hockey?  I saw your posting in another place yesterday that you would not be going to stay for the winter but just getting things ready and then returning to Denver. 

Ruth Ann, see God is slowing you down because he knows it is best for you.  Glad you are feeling so much better. 

Marilyn, good to see your posting.  What fun it must have been to be around the twins and to know you are not responsible for their care  (the joys of being grandparents). 

POOF! my first reply suddenly vanished, so here I am again. :)

It's been a good day including a lunch with my son who lives in Houston, TX.  Se had the unfortunate misadventure for him to be waiting in the restaurant, while I was anxiously awaiting his arrival. So, when all was straightened out, we had a good laugh with the staff at the restaurant. :)

Now, I await a telephone call from another son. How great to be in contact with them.

Much love to all today,
Ruth Ann

I have again spent many hours on this machine, trying to get photos selected to post, and to share via email with fellow travelers.  I did get them selected, but, computer whiz that I'm NOT, that's as far as I got, till now. :-[  Not sure if my FB thing is sorted out or not, I did get the password changed.

Pat, I am still waiting for your call.  I have a book signing tomorrow at Hastings in Garden City, so maybe you can call Sunday?  Drop me an email and let me know, please.

Being on the computer really wears me out!  I'm ready to quit for the night, but want to do a quick email test first, not sure I remember how to do that (sending photos via email.)  I haven't done it in ages.

Good to read all your posts!

Janet, did you succeed in send photos by email?  If not, let me know and I'll "walk" you through it.   :thumbsup:

Hi everyone on a misty and cool Georgia Saturday morning.   We had some rain during the night.  I plan a very quiet day of football watching and rest today.  Pat has a women's luncheon to attend at the church.  This is the luncheon where some of the ladies take a table each and furnish the dishes and decorations and they have a speaker. 

Pat saw her podiatrist yesterday and he told her foot surgery wasn't advised for the Morton's Neuroma in the bottom of her foot.  She had surgery for that on the same foot several years ago.  He said she would have to be on crutches for at least six weeks and she is not stable enough on her feet to use crutches.  He gave her a cortisone shot in her foot so hopefully that will help the pain for several months. 

Ruth Ann, nice you could have lunch with your son and that you have good contact with your children. 

Janet, I suggest you check out a website called PhotoPeach at http://photopeach.com/home .  You create a free account and then simply upload your photos using their site and can then email them to others or copy the link of the album you have created.  It is very simple to use and you create a nice album. 

  We have a lunch with one of the boys & part of the family.  Two are driving from Minneapolis here today and they can't be at lunch and another is driving from Montana and can't make it either and our DIL is flying in from Singapore and she is going straight home.  We will have to hear  about her work week later.  So, none of the grands can make it either. 

Larry:  That grandson is a whiz kid at math so I am not going to worry about him - after all, we are never in control.  Man proposes, God disposes. Yes, he takes online classes. 

I'm kinda "tuckered out" today. Went for the last time to sister in law's house to gather some things, and now can't unload them because there aren't either flatbed or shopping carts available for me to take them in. They will just stay in my car till Monday when maybe I can get help from the maintenance people.

In the interim, I'll just rest up tonight and look forward to church tomorrow and the joys that being in God's house bring.

Love to all,
Ruth Ann

Ruth Ann, I'm a bit "tuckered out" this evening, too.  Up really early, hair appointment at 8:30, left for Garden city as soon as I got back.  We ate lunch at Ward's Garden Center, it was a nice change; then did Sam's, Walmart's, Dillon's, and I had a book signing at Hastings from 3-5.  Then went to check out the brand new Hobby Lobby store, but we were too tired to want anything or remember what we did want, so we came home.  But it's been a good day.

Yes, I did figure out and partly remember how to email photos, got that done last night.  Thanks for offering your help, Jeanne.  I will keep it on tap for future reference, if you don't mind.

And Larry, thanks for the URL, I will check that out as well.

Oh, another thing I did today was to get some photos printed at Walgreen's.  Pretty full day!

So....guess where Janet is headed now?  Right..... :sleep:  It's been a long time since 4 AM!

Larry would you please recommend a  good Tablet? I am thinking of getting a tablet when my $$ arrives from the state of California controllers office.

A new week HERE (http://www.christianphotographers.com/community/index.php?topic=13156.new#new)