You were born to sit in speechless awe at the sheer power of a God ruling and reigning over every atom and every element of human history.

You were born to be overwhelmed at His undeserved affection, devotion and desire to give you the best life possible.

Your were born to be see your God towering over all your problems, fears, and concerns so that you live above your circumstances.

You were born to wake up each morning to a continual discovery of His greatness, character and love so that knowing Him would become your greatest pleasure in life.

You were born to be astonished at the unending stream of wise & perfect actions and plans for the earth to create the greatest good for the greatest number of people over the greatest time.

You were born to be deeply moved at His grace in forgiving you of your sin, unconditionally accepting you the way you are and always giving fresh starts when you stumble.

You were born to luxuriate in how devoted your heavenly Father is to you and how much He loves Fathering you and is pleased with you.

You were born to be drawn to Him with increasing love and loyalty wanting to please Him, interact with Him and discover more of Him.

You were born to be stunned at the difference between God’s majestic power, wisdom, love, integrity, and trustworthiness-and your own wisdom and character.

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Enjoying God in the midst of Disappointment

It is clear to me I am being called to enjoy God in the midst of disappointment, fear and significant financial loss. Reading Rudyard Kipling’s poem, adding a few notes and they reading the Sermon on the Mount lifted my spirits.

IF

If you can keep your head when all about you

Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;

Finding joy in God alone

If you can trust God’s view of you when all men doubt you,

But make allowance for their doubting too:

If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,

Allowing God to be your Sovereign

Or, being lied about, don’t deal in lies,

Or being hated don’t give way to hating,

And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise;

With no self righteous pride

If you can dream—and not make dreams your master;

Confident God’s dreams for you are vastly are better

If you can think—and not make thoughts your aim,

If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster

And treat those two impostors just the same:

Knowing the true Author and Architect of every outcome

If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken

Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,

Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,

And stoop and build’em up with worn-out tools;

If you can make one heap of all your winnings

And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,

And lose, and start again at your beginnings,

And never breathe a word about your loss:

If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew

To serve your turn long after they are gone,

And so hold on when there is nothing in you

Clinging to Him for strength!

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,

Or walk with Kings—nor lose the common touch,

If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,

Because your only true Friend always loves you

If all men count with you, but none too much:

If you can fill the unforgiving minute

With sixty seconds’ of grace and kindness toward the weak,

Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,

And—which is more—you’ll be a godly Man, my son!

Rudyard Kipling: my comments in Bold

Now read Jesus’ announcement of blessings He eagerly wants to give us.

1 Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

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

5 Blessed are the gentle,  for they shall inherit the earth.

6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

7 Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

10 Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11 Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.

12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

New American Standard Bible : 1995 update. 1995 (Mt 5:3-12). LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.