Day 34 of 47 for Lent Plan

God, I have been enjoying the bible reading plan You have been walking me through. I’m sorry to be so late getting them on, but with Your help we’ll get them on little by little.
No rush. Just convalescing with You, and following Your lead in sharing with others.
YouVersion (a bible app You have blessed me with)
is doing a plan called 40 Days of Lent.

Day 34 of 47 for Lent Plan – “Teaching: Love Your Enemies”
Reading: Matthew 5:43-48, Luke 6:27-36 KJV

Further Study

According to Matthew 5:44, what is the upside down gospel that Jesus preached?
– having to love your enemies, and doing good to those who hate you, blessing those who curse you, and pray for those who despitefully use you and persecute you. This all seems upside down or opposite of what we would normally do or say.
Is there a reward for loving those that love you back? Why do you think Jesus said that?
– Not in the way we think. While we seem to receive love back, and feeling good is a reward, there is nothing more powerful than to be loved and treated so kindly by someone we neglect, mock, or even insult. It’s what makes us love Jesus. He loved us when we were still vile sinners.

Reflect

Worship: Write down one attribute of God and worship Him for who He is.
– love-coach. That You, Jesus, for teaching us about true love… about its power… and for giving us the most beautiful relationship ever in You! Thank You for loving us when we were Your enemy.
Prayer: Pray for your church leaders and your neighbors.
– Dykes (BSC), Ralph Jr. (TvBC), Andrew (FCN-A), Creed (TpBC)
– Patty’s mom died (funeral tonight), Alan, family Robinsons, Rooster woman and family, Wendy and husband, trailer below, Coles, everyone.
Remembrance: Think of a time in your life when you showed love toward and “enemy.” Write about that.
– Lord, You bring to my mind Scott’s mom.She use to hate me so much and I never could figure out why. I even wondered if it was because Anthoni was mixed, but she loved him. I thought maybe it was from mixed dating, but she loved Homey. I finally asked Scott why. He said because I was a single mom living with my mom. She had assumed that I was living off my mom, but did not know my mom begged me to move in with her so she could have a much needed hysterectomy, then kept begging me to stay.
At one point, Scott’s mom had a loved one die. You, Lord, urged me to go tell her I was praying for her. I really didn’t want to, but I did. With no expectation. Nothing changed. You did allow mercy in Scott sending me word that she thought I was a good writer, loved my poetry, and thought I should pursue writing. He said she had found one of my books he had. I used to wonder if she really said it. I just took you at your word.
Self-Examination: Is it hard for you to love those who are hard to love? Why or why not?
Lord, this comes at a time that Sandra and I have been fighting. She is in the basement now. How we must make You sad, maybe even mad. I don’t know why we fight so bad, We didn’t growing up. Everyone use to be amazed that we didn’t, and try to start stuff. We only fought a handful of times, and NOTHING like we do now. There are days I feel like she thinks of me as an enemy and therefore becomes my enemy. It’s hard to show love to someone who doesn’t want a hint of it. Hate is their fuel. I know she’s not that down deep, but I’m not so sure she knows that.

A Kind Act

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God, I have been enjoying the bible reading plan You have been walking me through. I’m sorry to be so late getting them on, but with Your help we’ll get them on little by little.
No rush. Just convalescing with You, and following Your lead in sharing with others.
YouVersion (a bible app You have blessed me with)
is doing a plan called 40 Days of Lent.

Day 33 of 47 for Lent Plan – Teaching: The Beatitudes.
Reading: Matthew 5:1-12, Luke 6: 20-26

Further Saturday

According to the Beatitudes , what kind of people does God bless?
– Poor in spirit, they that mourn, the meek, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, those that are persecuted for His name’s sake.
What happens to those who mourn, those who are humble, and those whose heart are pure?
– Those who mourn will be comforted.
The humble shall inherit the earth.
The pure in heart shall seed God.
What should the attitude be of those who are mocked and persecuted? What is their reward?
– Rejoice and be exceeding glad for they have a great reward in heaven.

Reflect

Worship: Write down one attribute of God and praise Him for who He is.
– Blesser. Thank You, God, for all Your promises and blessings. You are faithful to Your Holy word!! ❤
Prayer: Pray for the people you work or go to school with.
Remembrance: Think of a time when you were mocked or persecuted for doing the right thing. Write about that.
– Lord, You bring to mind when our family used to treat Aunt Mildred (my great-aunt) so horrible. They always taught us to ignore her because they said she was crazy. They would make fun of her and provoke her, but when she left the house (or escaped into the public as they saw it.) They would call the law on her, sometimes having her institutionalized.
Through the years You taught me to treat her with just as much respect as my other elders, and with more kindness, compassion, and patience because of her illness. I thank You for the beautiful relationship You allowed between her and my son. You eventually allowed me to see she could understand… very well. She always asked about Anthoni when she lived in Richmond Hill Nursing Home, and saved candy for him that they would give the residents on holidays and special occasions.
Anthoni and I ended up taking her with us to church whenever we went. Then Gran saw Mildred could behave and enjoy time together, so she started having us get Mildred on Fridays after we got Anthoni from school, go get us all our fish dinners from Long John Silvers, and watch classic movies together. That’s where Anthoni developed a fondness for Bing Crosby.
After Gran died, the family fought over who would take care of Mildred because they assumed there was an insurance policy for whoever took care of her, or some kind of trust fund. When they found out different, they quit fighting over her. She ended up coming to stay with Mom.
After Anthoni graduated, Dad died, and not too short of a time before Charlie died, Mildred had a stroke. While she was in the hospital, the neurologist told Mom they had more advanced imaging that recognizes scars from strokes. They said her imaging had several old scars leading them to believe she had been misdiagnosed years earlier with schizophrenia. They believed Mildred had a serious stroke in her 20s, and that when her husband had her committed for being unable to talk the electric shocks made it worse. Mildred spent the last two years of her life in a palliative health care home.
Yes, I received a lot of persecution, but Mildred was the One who who suffered rejection, persecution, physically cruelty, mental torment, and a life of mockery with her own family being added cruelty. Even mocking her with laughter. Her funeral was such a disgrace. Thank You for allowing me to learn how to rightly see her, and teach my son to do right by her.
Self-Examination: Is it easy for you to see the big picture when it comes to times of struggles in your life.? Why or why not.
– Not always. Sometimes He allows insight, sometimes He remind us He is God and owes me nothing, not even explanations.