The Be-Attitudes Blog Hop Sept. 30th - Oct. 1st

Hello Friends!

Welcome to the Be-Attitudes Faith Blog Hop! Every month we choose a theme with which to honor Christ aWe are so glad you decided to join us for this month's hop that was scheduled for September 23-25. A nd become closer to Him. We then create a project to reflect that theme and boldly post it on our blogs so that the whole world sees that even our talents belong to Him! This month we have chosen the Beatitudes found on Mathew 5:3:12 and we invite you to hop through our blogs to see the Lord’s Glory manifested through the work of our hands and the stories He has written in our lives. If you arrived from Nana's blog ...hehe...you are in the right place but if you happen to come upon my blog please start at PaperTree House. Know that we have been praying for you and hope that the Lord would bring you just a bit closer to Himself…

In Matthew 5:3-12 we find the well known Beatitudes. This portion of Scripture is very peculiar because every statement begins with “Blessed are those…” and yet the attribute that is mentioned right after is NOT something desirable before the eyes of the world.

Look at the list of attributes along with the blessed reward:

Poor in spirit: Kingdom of Heaven

Mourn: comfort

Meek: inherit the earth

Hunger and thirst for righteousness: will be filled

Merciful: will be shown mercy to

Pure in heart: will see God

Peacemakers: called children of God

Persecuted because of righteousness: kingdom of heaven

“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you

If we were to be honest, we would all say that none of us would like to be considered poor in spirit, or be caught in the midst of mourning. Meekness is considered a sign of weakness and in America Hunger and Thirst for righteousness is replaced by hunger and thirst for worldly acceptance. It is very difficult to be merciful and pure in heart for our hearts are always seeking to satisfy our own needs; and we are not willing to make peace if that peace requires that we would submit to someone else’s authority. We do not want to be made fun of, or persecuted, or bad mouthed… Yet all of these things the LORD calls blessed!

The reason why they are Blessed is because only when we have these attitudes can we truly see ourselves for who we are and God for who He is. Only when we see the depravity of our being and the sin that enslaves us, can we be set free by the only ONE that is Pure and Holy! May He grant us the privilege of being called BLESSED by Him because in us are found the Be-Attitudes.

With this in mind I can say that the Beatitudes are one of my favorite passages and I realized recently that I have not read it in a while and this is something I usually do when I need to check my self against God's principals that Jesus laid out for us believers to use as guidelines to give us hope and joy. It is not easy to go against the World...it is a very difficult thing to do in fact when most people and um...gasp...even Christians say that the Bible is too hard or rigid but it still pertains to us today and God knows what He is doing and how the world was gonna be long before we were born. Lately, I have found this out for myself...my pride gets in the way and I have to remember how to treat people the way HE wants us too regardless how they treat you or the problems you have or being sick like I been and my son being sick too that lately I have not been talking to anyone lately to share my thoughts or ask for help...He doesn't want us to be miserable or unhappy, he wants us to live with joy and thankfulness in all circumstances including sickness and needs and even happy times or the sad times but in ALL times! He wants to have that understanding that surpasses what we know and only he can give. I tend to forget and he understands when we complain or groan, but he is teaching us how to deal with it...that is why the Beatitudes or as I always called them the "Attitude Adjusters". We have to change our reaction to things that happened to us or the circumstances we are in...we have to look at the positive side...which is really hard sometimes especially when you are sad or lost or grieving or in need...but there is a silver lining...sometimes it takes a while to see it. Lately verse 5:6 been speaking to me which states: Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. How I love that! and realize that I hunger for God and his word and his holy living...we tend to get caught up in the world that we forget who we follow and have to get back on track of things and not be sidetracked by the world. I been so busy doing things that I forget I am a child of a King...problems will exist, we can get sickness, lost of friends or family. I have been keeping myself busy to avoid the hurt and dealing with some things that are beyond my control and my frustrations at things that should be resolved and not an ongoing problem! I get so mad at myself when I get in the way of myself and trying to be the one in control!! God needs to be in control and God is trying to get my attention by making me sick to slow down again and look at his face...he wants me and not me to be of the world, but to live in it for him....and he knows the frustrations, the problems, the hurts and unresolved business and he has it in his hands...I have to have a better attitude towards it or it controls me...it is like the quote I found earlier today on a devotional e-mail I get everyday...I forget this person's name and didn't write it down but I have the quote: "How you begin the day controls the day!" How fitting is that when I needed this reminder today of what I have to do and change for the better of who God wants me to be, the best of Me! :) and you can do the same...be "blessed".

Here is my project and I made this card for a friend who has blessed me recently and she has helped me a lot...bless her heart I hope she loves it like I do...hehe...

The recipe is as followed: I used a rose cardstock and taped the printed paper I had in my collection and then I embellished with two diff ribbons and then some buttons with copper wire twisted on them and then several butterflies which I stickled the little ones with pink and the big one with white glitters and then topped it with a crochet butterfly and then I stamped a sentiment and the cut the square with one of my special scissors to make it look like it was torn and shabby and then inked it with the rose ink pad I used for the sentiment...pretty! :)

There is no greater gift than that of finding Christ, but we would like to bless a group of you with some Grand Prizes from the following sponsor:

Shabby Vanity will give the winner a new Blog banner and button design for a blog! :)

To qualify; "like" Paper Tree House Studio in Facebook, become a follower of their blog, and leave a comment. Those that choose to participate by creating a project that follows the theme will have a greater chance of winning, so make sure that you create something or share your own story in your blog to then come back and share with us your creation and thoughts.

Hop on over to Diana's blog to continue in this journey… May you be filled with the “Be-Attitudes” this week.

In His Love,

Be Inspired,

Kari

Single Mom's Faith Post - Sept. 29th

Hello Friends!

Welcome to my blog! Lately it has been laid on my heart to do this series of posts and I want to explain a bit before doing the faith post below...first off I am a single mom and have been since 1986 when I separated from my now ex-husband. Been divorce since 2000. It was a rough and very difficult marriage. I for one would have loved for it to have worked out and it was not meant to be. Sometimes things in life don't go as planned...hence what I have learned and want to share with you on my spiritual journey since my split and as a single mom. Thanks for coming along on the ride!

Today's verse means a lot to me: (emphasis mine)

Psalm 31:24
Be STRONG and take HEART all of you who HOPE in the Lord.

When we are not in the position to go where we want to, but sometimes it is chosen for us that we have to walk the path that is set before us....that is not an easy thing to do. Us woman like to be validated and loved. The men in our lives have not choose to do that but go after their own ends and that makes it sad and heartbreaking for us but to go alone on the road called life. As we walk that path...we are not alone...God is there and he knows the heartbreak and the problems that are ahead of us and he knows the choices we make are not easy but are done at the time we do them...some we made were done not so wise and foolish, but also some we felt that we had no choice but to do as well the choice is made for us at times beyond our control. This is where this scripture is comforting to me where I know when I falter that my Father in heaven is leading me, guiding me and walking with me to the less traveled road that I have his heart and I am strong and victorious and I ALWAYS and I mean ALWAYS have HOPE in Him....that is something we tend to lose sight of on this road called life...

We tend to think because we have to take care of everything ourselves that we have to do it all and be in control...with our money, how we care for our children, and the problems we all have to deal with that comes along with this territory called single parenting sometimes by choice and other not by choice. It is not an easy road and it difficult and some, well I will admit most don't understand our choices we make. It gets lonely in what we do as single parents. We MISSED being with someone and yet we wouldn't take the old baggage for anything. We want our children love and protected and even at the cost of not telling the ex where we live. Jesus knew about this because he encountered many widows, divorcees, and mothers in his ministry while he was on this earth. My favorite story is about the Samaritan Woman who was at the well WHEN Jesus HAD to go through Samaria and have this amazing encounter that changed her life...she spread the gospel of Jesus to show the world that he loves us in all our conditions whether we are divorced, single mom or widowed. (There will be more on this in later posts) The love that is there for us is for us to hold on to forever! We are loved and special in his eyes! How amazing is that! How much hope we have in him to keep walking the path that is set before us each day...we just have to let him have our lives and our problems and the junk we deal with each day and lay it at his feet and leave them there and let go of that control that tries to make a mess out of us and our lives...we have courage and strength and hope and love to do it ....we just have to be willing to let go...are you ready to do that as you walk on your journey? Even when things go against us how we are going to get food, or pay the bill, or get gas in our car and the like...he is our Source and Light! so my friends I ask again...who do you trust and let lead you in your life?

You will feel peace, strength and hope to take on another day when all else fails and that Jesus will get you through no matter the struggle, doubts and fears....he is the light that shines bright out of the darkness. May he guide your heart, mind and soul today.

Here is my card I made with my favorite verse I was able to buy from Verve (one of my favorite stamps company!) :0 I planned on giving this to another single mom who needs encouragement.

The Recipe is as follow: I used light/off red cardstock (SU) and I stamped my verse on a punched out scalloped square and use my pink ink pad from Marvy Uchida and then I chalked the edges with pink again to soften it up then popped dot it (my favorite thing to do...hehe) and then I used a button out my button pack I got from my friend Amy Lewis and put a ribbon thru it to make it perty...and then I popped dot it also, then I used my butterfly punch and used Pink cardstock that I had, not sure of brand, then I stickled it and then put Hero Arts lime green self adhesive gems on the body of it to pop it up a bit and then pop dot it also to make it looking it is taking wings! then I use two different ribbons...the rose ribbon I brought on clearance from Wal-mart for 50 cents (yep a good deal! :) then I stickled between ribbons to bling it up and then I used a pink ribbon I won in a prize pack which makes it so perty! :) and voila!


Next week's post will be about church and how to feel belong.
Thanks for stopping by and I hope you get inspired to help a friend or a single mom you know that could use some encouragement today! :)
In His Love,
Be Inspired,
Kari