The Blessedness of the Meek
The poor in spirit recognize their position as beggars who are in absolute dependence on the Father…
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Stephanie Pavlantos: Joy Comes in the Mourning
A few weeks ago, I explained the meaning of the phrase Blessed are. It means, O the blessedness of, the gladness of, or we could say happiness is…
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Stephanie Pavlantos: Do You Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness?
The hunger mentioned in Matthew 5:6 is not this kind of hunger but means a poor person who works to fend off starvation. The Hebrew word for this kind of hunger is reab and it means famine, dearth (the scarcity of something), and hunger….
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Stephanie Pavlantos: Shalom
How blessed are those who make peace! For they will be called sons of God. ~Matthew 5:9 CJB I am a middle child. I have three older sisters and two younger ones. My eldest sister, Cindy, is nine years older than me, while my youngest sister, Melanie, is nine years younger. The term most often applied to middle children is peacemakers. That was my role as a child in our loud and sometimes chaotic family. I hated conflict and strove … Continue reading →
Stephanie Pavlantos: The Pure in Heart Sees God Everywhere
How blessed are the pure in heart! For they will see God. ~Matthew 5:8 CJB I read a great quote on the Beatitudes by Skip Moen, Ph.D. He says, “[A Beatitude] is not a “blessing” that implies one party granting a favor to another party. A Beatitude is really a macarism, an announcement of an existing state, a status of happiness. https://skipmoen.com/2018/02/character-1/ Today, we will explore the sixth Beatitude of Matthew 5. As said above, these are not blessings over you … Continue reading →
Stephanie Pavlantos: Mercy!
How blessed are those who show mercy! For they will be shown mercy. ~Matthew 5:7 CEV One of my mom’s favorite expressions of surprise is “Mercy!” Imagine that with a Southern accent. My youngest son, Michael loved to imitate her by repeating it when she visited. My mom always got a kick out of it. Even though my mom is no longer able to drive up to see us–and for now is living in South Texas–Michael will occasionally go around … Continue reading →
Stephanie Pavlantos: The Poor in Spirit
And you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth. ~Revelation 5:10 ESV Biology was and is my favorite subject. I loved learning about the different plants, animals, cells, and fungi in the world, especially how we as humans fit into it all. This world belongs to our Creator and everything in it He made it with a purpose—except mosquitos….I’m not sure of their purpose other than to feed bats and … Continue reading →