The Beatitudes

I was pointed by a co-worker at The EDGE/KBHW to the Beatitudes in Matthew 5. Go look it up! The NKJV is usually my chosen version, but I believe we have a place for paraphrases as long as they are not taken to be perfect scripture. It IS a paraphrase. I could expound on all that, but I won't for space sake. Anyway, "The Message" puts the Beatitudes so well. 

"You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and His rule.
You're blessed when you feel you've lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you. 
You're blessed when you're content with just who you are-no more, no less. That's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can't be bought.
You're blessed when you've worked up a good appetite for God. He's food and drink in the best meal you'll ever eat.
You're blessed when you care. At the moment of being 'care-full,' you find yourselves cared for. 
You're blessed when you get your inside world-your mind and heart-put right. Then you can see God in the outside world. "
There's more to the beatitudes in "The Message" but that's all I'm going to share.

So yes, let's get to the end of our ropes today. A great quote I read once fits the occasion "When you feel that you're at the end of your rope, pick up your Bible and read until you get a better hold on that rope, for that Rope is God, and He will never let you go."