tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-740924465958245224.post6838195448834601071..comments2024-03-10T00:44:49.280-05:00Comments on This & That: Matthew 5 - The Beatitudes ConcludedSusannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03115294023069458287noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-740924465958245224.post-11622186350748714582010-04-05T18:10:17.093-05:002010-04-05T18:10:17.093-05:00Amber, glad you liked so many things from K. Baile...Amber, glad you liked so many things from K. Bailey's thoughts on this topic! I enjoyed them as well.<br /><br />I'm sorry forgiveness is such a struggle in relation to this one person. Actually I'm really sorry someone hurt you that badly. I pray that one day God will enable you to do the impossible with His help. Not for "his" sake, but for your own. Because YOU are worth it. (Didn't that sound so trite?) :-/Susannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03115294023069458287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-740924465958245224.post-19061876209297578322010-04-05T12:14:33.622-05:002010-04-05T12:14:33.622-05:00I like the commentary from Mr. Bailey. Seems to be...I like the commentary from Mr. Bailey. Seems to be very spot on to me. <br /><br />Forgiveness is the *hardest* thing. At least for me, that is. I struggle with it with one person in particular, and I think that's going to last until the day I die (because I'm certain my hatred is going to outlive him...). I think it's hardest because it is impossible for the harm to ever be made up for. In forgiving, we're being asked to count as 'balanced' something that can never really be balanced. A person can say they're sorry. They can pay for an object they broke, etc. but that doesn't ever undo what was done. As a friend of mine likes to say, she'll forgive, but she won't forget. She won't keep bringing up the 'incident' (whatever it might be), but she never forgets about it. She judges the person according to this knowledge. What we're asked to do here, though, is to forgive *and* forget. Because that's what we'd like God to do for us. Forgive our sins and 'forget' them. Don't look at us and see them, anymore. <br /><br />Oohh...the paragraph about the critical shift and how Jesus is the perfect example of all the Beatitudes is excellent.Amberhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09002997517784638068noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-740924465958245224.post-25432760969996773182010-03-10T15:02:29.084-05:002010-03-10T15:02:29.084-05:00Niki, I know. I want your nightmare to be over too...Niki, I know. I want your nightmare to be over too! :(<br /><br />Sarah, thank you! I'm glad you are still reading along with me. I enjoy your comments. :)Susannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03115294023069458287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-740924465958245224.post-27779281742435019282010-03-07T16:28:57.027-05:002010-03-07T16:28:57.027-05:00I'm still reading, and enjoying your posts on ...I'm still reading, and enjoying your posts on Matthew. I guess my feeling about the beatitudes is that they are so counter-intuitive, they really make you stop and think. That seems to be Jesus's style. ;)Sarahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11320601087412404116noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-740924465958245224.post-20753526778091390502010-03-06T16:53:17.533-05:002010-03-06T16:53:17.533-05:00"To show mercy or to forgive is extremely dif..."To show mercy or to forgive is extremely difficult for those who have been deeply wronged. But the alternative is self-destruction through nursing grudges or seeking revenge..."<br /><br />Yep.<br /><br />"[Additionally], this Beatitude claims that the merciful 'shall obtain mercy.' ... That is, the merciful will obtain the mercy of God. The mercy of their fellow human beings may be in short supply but the mercy of God will never fail them.'"<br /><br />God has been merciful to me while going through what we're going through, but I'm still waiting on His mercy to bring us out of this completely. As I've said before, It's time for the nightmare to be over. *sigh*Nikihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09936343470015553888noreply@blogger.com