(*From the Good News Bible in Today’s English Version.)

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“Happy (Blessed) are those who know they are spiritually poor;
The Kingdom of heaven belongs to them!

“Happy (Blessed) are those who mourn;
God will comfort them!

“Happy (Blessed) are those who are humble;
They will receive what God has promised!

“Happy (Blessed) are those whose greatest desire is to do what God
requires;
God will satisfy them fully!

“Happy (Blessed) are the pure in heart;
They will see God!

“Happy (Blessed) are those who work for peace;
God will call them his children!

“Happy (Blessed) are those who are persecuted because they do what
God requires;
The Kingdom of heaven belongs to them!

“Happy (Blessed) are you when people insult you and persecute you
and tell all kinds of evil lies against you because you are
my followers. Be happy and glad, for a great reward is kept for you
in heaven. This is how the prophets who lived before you
were persecuted.”

(Matthew 5.3-12)

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Doesn’t it seem like a contradiction,
All the things we must go through;
Just to obtain Father’s promises,
Still…we know His promises to be true.

I guess…when all our own efforts,
Even at best…fall apart;
We still have His blessed hope,
For our Father sees our heart.

And, isn’t this what we need to know,
That when we are weak…He is strong;
People…sometimes can let us down,
Even when they don’t mean to do wrong.

‘Tis true…that even we,
Though meaning nobody harm;
We can still be misunderstood,
Sometimes causing grief and alarm.

But, the ‘bottom line’ seems to be,
That…even if all else fails;
Our only TRUE HAPPINESS comes from,
Father’s Love…for it shall always prevail!

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March 13, 2004

Aimee Love
(LHG)