Title:  A Blessed Life
Speaker:  Reverend Sheryl Shipman
Date:  08.30.03

Verses:  Psalms 1

What is a life that is blessed? What isn't? A lot of money, big houses, a fancy car, two children, etc. Is that blessed?
Sometimes church people see others that are not rich, not in good health, or having trouble with rowdy kids and they
will assume that that person "isn't living right" and is under a curse. 

But, sometimes, God let's our low points become the high points in other people's lives. Because God knows exactly
how much we can handle, he someitmes allows us go through things as a testimony to others. You're the "church", a 
"blessed" people, so others watch you. The strong has to bear the infirmities for the weak. He knows you and how 
much you can bear.
                           
                "I don't know how she keeps going with all that's going on in her life..."

Because you are so blessed God has chosen you to go through what someone else needs to witness. The way we
go through things is a clear, silent way of blessed. You don't murmur or complain because you KNOW who will see you
through. It's a silent testimony of a blessed life. People already have preconcieved notions of how you should be 
reacting to the bad. When you're in a situation don't complain, thank God that things are as good as they are! He blesses
us with our needs and gives us most of our wants. 

What we have/don't have isn't what makes us "blessed". Our walk, our talk, our living, and our giving is what constitutes
a blessed life. What you have doesn't make you blessed. The wealth of the wicked is being stored up for the righteous.
The wheat and the chaff grow up together, but they WILL be seperated. We are not our own, for we have been bought 
with a price:  The blood of Jesus.

Ways to Identify a Blessed Life:
1. Steers clear of a lifestyle that is ungodly. That doesn't mean that we should isolate ourselves completely from the wicked
    (you have to be somewhat involved to testify to them and show them the love of God). You must be in this world, but not 
    of this world. We ought NOT agree/ support everything. Love those that don't know God, but don't condone/agree with the 
    ungodly lifestyles. Don't go along to get along. 
2.  Has a Hunger for the Word of God.  The more you study, the more He reveals himself to you. As a result, you begin to 
     walk more like Him. If you want to lead a blessed life, get into the Word and meditate on it and you WILL be rich. Not 
     necessarily with $$$, but you will be rich in faith, love, peace, and joy. Material things don't mean anything! Your life will
     become enriched thru meditating on His Word.
3.  Their life has the qualities of a Strong, Fruitful Tree. Their life gives something off. Apple trees produce apples for people
     to eat, etc. A blessed life brings forth "fruit" in due season. A person leading a blessed life knows that they have an 
     unending supply of everything that they need. The ungodly are not well planted because they have no root and are not fruitful.
     They take but rarely give. When the strong winds blow and when trouble comes, they change. All of God's "trees" are evergreen.
     They do NOT change with the seasons, they remain stable, constant, and reliable. 
4. Whatever They Do Shall Prosper. When you are living in fellowship with the Lord, your thoughts, words, actions, etc are 
    guarded by the Holy Spirit.

Main Points:  A blessed life is not determined by material possessions. It's determined by how you respond to the good as well as 
                    the bad. If you KNOW Jesus and He knows you, that is a clear indication of a blessed life.