I’m going to spend some time on the beatitudes which are found in the 5th Chapter of Matthew. Before we look at the beatitudes it is important to understand the language, (Aramaic, which is the kind of Hebrew people spoke in that time) it says things differently than the English translation. In the English we start each of the Beatitudes with “Blessed are….” In Aramaic it starts “Oh the blessedness of…..”

“That is most important, for it means that the beatitudes are not hopes of what will be; they are not the foretelling of some future bliss; they are congratulations on what is. The blessedness which belongs to the Christian is not a blessedness which is postponed to some future world of glory; it is a blessedness which exists here and now. It is not something into which the Christian will enter; it is something into which they have entered.” William Barclay

The word blessed which is used in each of the beatitudes, is the Greek word Makarios. In Christianity it means a “godlike joy.” It is the joy that cannot be taken away even during our times of deepest sorrow, pain, or the most difficult and challenging times in our life. It comes from God and can only be found in Him. It is that peace that surpasses our human understanding, and it is what helps us to stand against the adversities of life. Nothing can take this joy away from us because it is God that gives it to us, even in our darkest of hours it is still there. “I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall. I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me. Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope; Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, the Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for Him.” Lamentations: 19 – 24.

As many of you know I have started sharing my writings through this blog. My focus is to encourage people in their faith walk by sharing the peace that I have found in God’s word. I will do this by sharing stories and studying scripture with those who come to visit “Ripples of Peace.” My hope is to write devotionals and magazine articles that will eventually be published. I am waiting on God to open the doors for me. If I am able to have thing published than my hope is to someday write a book. I’m also hoping to start a speaking and teaching ministry if God opens the right doors for me. I don’t ever want this to be about me, but about what God had done for me and the people that I know. I want God to be glorified in all that I say and write.

Your comments and feedback are very valuable to me and so I encourage you to let me know what you think. I’m open to all suggestions on how I can improve and serve the Lord through what I do.

Please feel free to share “Ripples of Peace” with your family and friends, if it is something that you think they might enjoy.

In His service,
Michelle