The Beatitudes

Shalom (God’s gift of peace and contentment) is God’s gift for those who are poor is spirit or not so full of themselves and their egos. These folks will inherit, not earn, or even deserve, God’s Kingdom. Shalom is God’s gift for those who mourn their regrets--those things they have done and/or said as well as those things they have left undone or unsaid. God says they shall me comforted. Shalom is a gift from God for those who are meek and thereby controlled by God’s guidance and desires rather than their own ego’s, plans, and ideas. God says these people will inherit the earth. Shalom is a gift from God for those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, which is right relations with God, the earth with its land, water, air, trees, flowers, etc., as well as right relationships with others, as well as their own self. God has promised that these folks will be filled or satisfied. Shalom is a gift from being merciful. Stop the judging and complaining and learn to become full of mercy for everyone, including yourself. God says that you will receive mercy for your merciful attitude and behaviors. The pure in heart shall have Shalom. Pure in heart surely means being of a single mind, purpose of following Jesus. It is not a wandering mind and/or behavior. God says that these folks will get the opportunity to see God. Shalom belongs to the peacemakers; note it is the peacemakers not the peacekeepers. Peacemakers trust themselves, with their attitudes and behaviors, not to make situations worse as they are involved. Peacekeepers look for opportunities to avoid any conflict. Peacemakers are those who are following the above beatitudes. Peacemakers are the less anxious among us who are attentive to their emotions, attitudes, thoughts, and behaviors. These beatitude folks will have difficulties because they are different from most of us. Nevertheless, God says that Shalom will be theirs for they belong to the Kingdom of Heaven