My Uttermost for His Highest, Oswald Chambers, The Ministry of the Unnoticed

Blessed are the poor in spirit . . . —Matthew 5:3

Matthew 5 New Living Translation (NLT)

The Sermon on the Mount

5 One day as he saw the crowds gathering, Jesus went up on the mountainside and sat down. His disciples gathered around him, 2 and he began to teach them.

The Beatitudes

3 “God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him,[a]

    for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.

4 God blesses those who mourn,

    for they will be comforted.

5 God blesses those who are humble,

    for they will inherit the whole earth.

6 God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice,[b]

    for they will be satisfied.

7 God blesses those who are merciful,

    for they will be shown mercy.

8 God blesses those whose hearts are pure,

    for they will see God.

9 God blesses those who work for peace,

    for they will be called the children of God.

10 God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right,

    for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.

The New Testament notices things that do not seem worthy of notice by our standards. “Blessed are the poor in spirit . . . .” This literally means, “Blessed are the paupers.” Paupers are remarkably commonplace! The preaching of today tends to point out a person’s strength of will or the beauty of his character— things that are easily noticed. The statement we so often hear, “Make a decision for Jesus Christ,” places the emphasis on something our Lord never trusted. He never asks us to decide for Him, but to yield to Him— something very different. At the foundation of Jesus Christ’s kingdom is the genuine loveliness of those who are commonplace.

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6 Principles That Clarify What Faith in Ministry Looks Like

6 Principles That Clarify What Faith in Ministry Looks Like

Some Bible verses are so clear that their simple truth is undeniable, such as Hebrews 11:6 which says, "And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him." (NLT)

In case you missed the deep, hidden meaning of the phrase "it is impossible to please God without faith," let me state it clearly: It is impossible to please God without faith. In other words, God has spelled out for us the kind of life that He finds pleasing. It's not a life of achievement or good works or religiosity. It's a life of faith. And if our primary motivation for ministry is pleasing God, then we need a ministry of faith.

UK Ministers want answers on independence currency, The Scotsman

TWO UK CABINET Ministers have today challenged the SNP Government to provide answers on currency after Alex Salmond’s top adviser said that his post-independence plans may be blocked.

The SNP Government wants to share the pound in a currency union with the rest of the UK but this has been ruled out by the Coalition Government and Labour opposition. Crawford Beveridge, who heads up Mr Salmond’s fiscal commission working group, admitted in a keynote speech last night that “politics” could see the plans blocked and suggested using the pound without UK agreement - so called sterlingisation - could work as an alternative.

With only a week to go until postal voting starts in the referendum both Chief Secretary Danny Alexander and Scottish Secretary Alistair Carmichael are now pressing the SNP Government to set out its currency ‘Plan B’.

Mr Alexander said the Scottish Government is ‘fast running out of time’ to come up with a Plan B on currency.

Liberal Democrats at Holyrood have this morning called for an urgent ministerial statement from Alex Salmond on the currency after Mr Beveridge suggested the SNP’s threat to walk away from Scotland’s share of UK debt after a Yes vote “looks like a default and it smells like a default” to credit ratings agencies.

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PM praises gay marriage in major family speech

PM praises gay marriage in major family speech

David Cameron has said he believes in the “right of marriage for all people”, as he gave a major speech on the family.

Speaking on Monday the Prime Minister said he wanted to send a “clear message” that Britain supports commitment.

He claimed this was “just as vital whether the commitment is between a man and a woman, a man and a man or a woman and another woman”.

Huge change

David Cameron backed the introduction of same-sex marriage, which came into force in March, despite widespread opposition.

In June he praised the redefinition as a “huge, historic change”.

Now, in a speech where he said that for him “nothing matters more than family”, he has again emphasised his support for the change.

Well, Mr Cameron, we know what the Bible teaches,  Marriage is between a Man and a Woman