"In what has come to be called the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus preached about the beatitides, the qualities of self-acceptance, empathy, gentleness, spirituality, sensitivity, peacemaking and endurance"

Which of these qualities is the most important to you? Why?

While I feel they are all important, to me the most important is "peacemaking." I am usually a peacemaker, or I like to think I am the 'voice of reason'! "Seek peace and pursue it" is my motto.

I don't like dissension or problems between people. I feel like I could get along with almost anyone. I try over-look people's little quirks and faults, and focus on their good qualities, because every person has something good about them. By peacefully seeking out a relationship with them, I feel like I can make the world a nicer place. I rarely ever get really mad about anything. I try to keep events in perspective and choose my battles wisely.

-- Melissa (cmnorris@1st.net), November 27, 2001

Answers

Melissa! I can indentify with your statment of "picking your battles". I too pick'm and for that I'm glad. One battle that kinda picked me is the "battle of the bulge". I was losing it for years and years until recently. Glory to God---I'm now winning! Since He healed me of cancer---another battle is being won too! I've lost several pounds and still losing. All because He healed me of cancer. Onward and upward except in the case of weight loss and it will be "downward"! old skinny, well almost, hoot gibson. Matt.24:44

-- hoot gibson (hoot@pcinetwork.com), November 27, 2001.

We have been doing the beatitudes for our sunday school lessons for the past few weeks. Last week we discussed oaths and keeping promises. If you say it you do it and that's all there is to it. Do not swear before God. But keep all your promises made unto God. What's most important to me is self accceptance. I struggle with it but I think God made us and is accepting of us and so why shouldn't we? God bless everyone on this forum and those who are just reading.

-- mindy (speciallady@countrylife.net), November 27, 2001.

I think they all go hand-in-glove. You can't be a peace maker without gentleness, sensitivity and endurance. I think the key to living the kind of life that Jesus taught is to know which quality applies in a given situation.

-- Jo (mamamia2kids@msn.com), November 27, 2001.