If you think about it, when it comes to studying the "Beatitudes," most believers already have a set idea of the themes that will be hashed out. We have read them. We have heard them. We love them...

To His disciples, Jesus starts off His lesson quite boldly... "Happy, blessed, honorable, and fortunate, are those who are 'poor in spirit,'  for they have access to and ownership of the Kingdom of Heaven." ...

When I read this, I think to myself “why would I want to be blessed for mourning?” Who wants to mourn? When I think of mourning, I usually associate it with the physical act of crying...

There is something powerful and relaxing about meekness. When in the presence of a gentle spirit, they echo peace. Their calmness leads those around them to calmness. Their sense of gentle security gives off a rare feeling of safety. And even if you do not know the individual personally...

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness..." Do you really hunger and thirst for righteousness?  Do you long for righteousness? Are you really desperate for it?...

In Christ, we are caught in a middle point of mercy's touch; between the mercy received and mercy yet needed...

Of all the beatitudes, "blessed are the pure in heart" feels the most unattainable. My mind jumps right to the perfectionistic tendencies that I know all too well. I can very easily read this and see "blessed are perfect, flawless people who make no mistakes, for they will be the only ones to see God...oh and you don't belong." ...

World peace. This phrase brings to my mind two completely different images. The first is a gut reaction back to the movie Miss Congeniality...the perfect answer to any pageant interview question...

Per·se·cu·tion (noun) : hostility and ill-treatment, especially because of race or political or religious beliefs. synonyms: oppression, victimization, maltreatment, ill-treatment, mistreatment, abuse,ill-usage, discrimination, tyranny...

Without a second thought, we can quickly think that Jesus is repeating Himself with today's verse. It seems to - once again - just speak of those who are persecuted. But I have to tell you, verse 11 is a challenging call...