Paul McKenzie

Memory Verse, Sunday, February 8, Matthew 5:7-12

"Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
"Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
"Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
"Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
"Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you." (KJV)

While everyone is excited about some dumb football game today, I'm much more excited that I have the opportunity to fellowship with my local church this morning. And I'm excited that the family of one of my students just had a baby yesterday. They are strong Christians, who home school their children and are diligent to teach them the way of the Lord.

I was excited yesterday that I had the opportunity to give a violin lesson to one of my grandchildren, who is in turn giving me a lesson to re-learn the flute after 50 years without one. We both gave each other assignments to practice this week. Julie and I were both able to support her in her junior high basketball game as well.

I get a much greater thrill watching these kids who put their all in the game instead of mulit-millionaires "perfoming" in an event laced with godless commercials and a disgusting half time show. And I know that there will be many who lose their hard-earned paychecks gambling away their families' income on a stupid game.

It's a little frightening, I'm sure, for parents in this generation who are raising children in an environment that is not friendly to the standards of God, which does what it can to thwart God's purposes. I just heard of another case the ACLJ is working on where the children were told by the teachers that any problems should be referred to the school instead of their parents.

After spending two weeks on the qualities of a child of God in the Beatitudes, and comparing it to what so many Christians really practice, it put me into deep prayer. The Christian is the hope of the world, because God has appointed us as His "ambassadors", imploring the world to be reconciled to God. (2 Corinthians 5)

There is a real, palpable darkness engulfing the world right now. We must truly prepare ourselves, look steadfastly to heaven and reflect Christ before the world. I hope you're not skipping church to prepare for your "super-bowl party". I hope you go to the real Super Bowl, the confines of your local church. And I hope, if you are going to some event, that, while you enjoy it, you reflect Christ.

Today if you hear His voice, harden not your heart.

Memory Helps

Review the beatitudes: poor in spirit, mourners, meek, hungry and thirsty for righteousness, merciful, pure in heart, peacemakers, persecuted for righteousness, persecuted for Christ (some link the last two together).

We used little word pictures to remind us of the list of Beatitudes this week. Here are the ones I used:

My poor "Ma" (3), pockets turned out spirits flying out of them for verse 3.

My friend "Ray" (4) mourning, rhyming with "four-ming" as a mourner,

My friend "Lee" (5) handing "meek" Moses an "inheritance" deed.

My friend "Joe" (6) holding a spoon and a cup for "hunger and thirst". On the cup was a "nest writing for "righteousness".

My hockey great "Guy" (7), handing a "C-shaped" bottle of "myrhh" (Mer-cy) with his stick to Mary for the baby Jesus.

My friend "Vi" (8) driving me up to heaven to see God, but first He must touch our red hearts and make them "pure".

Restaurant icon Big "Boy" (9) with a "Peace" bubble pipe, handing it to each of nine children in baseball uniforms to reinforce 9 players on a baseball team.

Cartoon character "DaiSy" duck (10) with a cute purse full of dimes to reinforce verse 10 and persecuted.

My "Dad" (11) on trial for Christ with the prosecutor holding a "file" titled "Evil against you" (revile)

And the "TiN" (12) man receiving a great reward.

Link all those guys together and you will have verses plus the verse numbers.

Or just memorize them by rote if you like.