Do Not Be Afraid: Isaiah 41:10

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Isaiah 41:10 (NIV)

This verse has always been a go-to verse for me. This encouraging verse calms me when I am overwhelmed, gives me hope when I am discouraged, and strengthens when I am afraid. For God is encouraging us not to fear, instead to trust in Him, for He is with us, He is powerful, and no situation is greater than He is. God will support, comfort, and strengthen us. He is our ever-present help during trouble; He can be relied upon. Yes, God will uphold us with His pure, faithful, and righteous right hand.

God says, “Do not be afraid, for I am with you.” When you are overwhelmed, weak, or afraid, do you reach out to God?

Prayer; Our Heavenly Father, we thank you for being our shelter during life’s storms. You are our hope when we are discouraged and our strength when we are afraid. Teach us to bring You our fears and not be afraid. Help us to rely on You, strengthen our faith, and guide us in Your truth. Like the petals of the peony flowers are gathered together reaching upward, let us gather our fears and reach upward in prayer to You. In Jesus’ holy name. Amen

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Truth: John 8:32

31 Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. 32 And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”  John 8:31-32 (NLT)

To be a disciple of Christ requires being faithful to His teachings and abiding in His Word. Jesus wants us to remain in His Word to mature spiritually, grow in grace, and learn the truth. What is the truth? Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6) We need to take time to know Jesus, to accept Him, and to remain faithful to his teaching. His Word, the truth, will set us free; from the bondage of sin. When we choose His will for our lives, then true freedom is found.

Do you want to be a disciple of Jesus, abide in His Word, and know the truth?

Prayer; Jesus our Light and Redeemer, we thank you for your patience and forgiveness. Teach us to follow Your teachings and abide in Your Word. Lord, help us to grow in spirituality and grace. Forgive us our sins, and guide us to the truth. Like the purple flowers and clematis vine needs support to grow upward, let us lean on Your support, grow in faith, and know the truth. Amen

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My God will hear me: Micah 7:7

But as for me, I watch in hope for the LORD, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.
Micah 7:7 (NIV)

Micah was upset and saddened by the ungodly activities and sinful ways of the people and rulers Israel and Judea. We all have a choice to follow worldly pursuits or to move forward and trust in God. To move forward in faith, embrace truth, and let go of sinful ways. The remedy for a sinful world is to turn to God for help. For our God of mercy, power, and truth, our Savior; can and will help. As Micah says, my God will hear me. He will listen; He will receive my prayers.

Micah’s lament is as timely now as it was around 700BC. Our hope and future is God; we need to move forward in hope, faith, and prayer; God will hear us. Do you watch in hope for the Lord?

Our loving Heavenly Father, we thank You for your patience, forgiveness, and being open to our prayers hearing us. Guide us on Your path of righteousness. Teach us to embrace Your truth and direction. We wait in faith and watch in hope for You, Lord. Like the obedient plants, purple blossoms glow with sunlight, let us glow with Your light, and open our hearts to Your Word. In Jesus’ name. Amen

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God filled life: Titus 2:11-14

11-14 God’s readiness to give and forgive is now public. Salvation’s available for everyone! We’re being shown how to turn our backs on a godless, indulgent life, and how to take on a God-filled, God-honoring life. This new life is starting right now, and is whetting our appetites for the glorious day when our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, appears. He offered himself as a sacrifice to free us from a dark, rebellious life into this good, pure life, making us a people he can be proud of, energetic in goodness.
Titus 2:11-14 (MSG)

Salvation is available to everyone through the grace of God. Christ Jesus died for our sins; His sacrifice freed us from darkness and brought us into the light. The light of Jesus a shining, illuminating life, freeing us from our dark, sinful world. He transforms our life, bringing peace, hope, and direction. He opens our hearts to love and teaches us to turn our back on a godless, indulgent life, to lead a God-filled, God-honoring life. A life that reflects the life of Jesus; be self-controlled, upright, godly, and doing good works. A God-filled, God-centered life while expectantly awaiting the glorious return of Jesus.

Through God’s forgiveness and grace in Jesus, salvation is available to everyone. Is your life God-filled and God-directed?

Prayer; Our Heavenly Father, we are in awe of your grace, forgiveness, and love. You have made salvation available to all who believe in Your Son, Jesus. We thank you for Jesus, who has brought love and light into our world. Teach us to let go of worldly things and live a joyful, God-filled life. Like the allium flowers are gathered together, open to the sunlight, let us gather together, open to and transmitting the light of Jesus. Amen

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Save the World: John 3:17

God sent his Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but to save the world.
John 3:17 (GWT)

Jesus came to save people. The leaders of Israel wanted a Messiah that would rescue them from Roman rule. Jesus didn’t come to condemn or to judge people; He came to save the world. The whole world, Jews and gentiles. He was on a saving mission, showing God’s love for all His people. Jesus is still on a saving mission; He’s a Savior to all people who believe in Him. He came to lead us on the path of love, to guide us in righteousness, and to spread God’s salvation to the ends of the earth. Jesus came so the world through Him could be saved.

¹⁶For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁷For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
John 3:16-17 (NIV)

God so loved the world that He gave us His one and only Son. Have you opened your heart and accepted Jesus, who came in love to save the world?

Prayer; God, thank you for Your amazing love for us. Thank you for sending Your Son Jesus to save us from our sins. Teach us to spread Your love, Your Word, Your truth, and salvation found in Jesus. Thank You for not condemning us but instead sending Your Son Jesus to save the world. Like the three petals of the trillium form a flower, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit lead us and transform our lives. In Jesus’ holy name. Amen

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Future: Psalm 37:5

3Trust in the Lord and do what is right! Settle in the land and maintain your integrity!
4Then you will take delight in the Lord, and he will answer your prayers.
5Commit your future to the LORD! Trust in him, and he will act on your behalf.
Psalm 37:3-5 (NET)

Psalm 37; considered a wisdom psalm, sharing practical advice about how to live. It was written by David, in his older years. He advises us to trust in the Lord, take delight in the Lord, and commit our future to the Lord. To commit our future is an act of will, an act of faith; it is to believe in the Lord and follow His way, and to make His way our way. Letting God guide our steps, commit our future, letting go of trusting our abilities, and being patient; rest, trust, and lay our worries and burdens on Him.

Have you committed your future to the Lord?

Prayer; Our Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your love and care for us. Let us grow in faith, open our hearts, trust in You, and commit our future to you. Lord, teach us to go to you in prayer, with our worries and concerns, and to put our trust in You. Like the camellia buds open to beautiful flowers every year, let us open our hearts and trust in You always. In Jesus’ holy name. Amen

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Seek Him: 1Chronicles 16:10-12

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10 Exult in his holy name; rejoice, you who worship the LORD . 11 Search for the LORD and for his strength; continually seek him. 12 Remember the wonders he has performed, his miracles, and the rulings he has given,
1 Chronicles 16 10-13 (NLT)

This is a hymn/psalm of David, his rejoicing with a thankful heart. This hymn; was sung when the ark arrived in Jerusalem. It was a praise hymn to rejoice and glorify God to proclaim His holy name. It was a hymn of remembrance of the wonders the Lord has performed. It was a reminder to seek the Lord and His strength. A reminder for the people to give thanks and continuously seek the Lord. It reminds us that it is good to give thanks and remember all that God had done for us. To share and make known to all God’s marvelous works and wonders.

10 Glory in His holy name; Let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the Lord! 11 Seek the Lord and His strength; Seek His face evermore! 12 Remember His marvelous works which He has done, His wonders, and the judgments of His mouth,
1 Chronicles 16 10-13 (NKJV)

Do you take time to dwell on the wonders the Lord has performed; and continually seek Him?

Prayer; Our Heavenly Father, we thank You and raise our voice in praise, proclaiming Your holy name. Our hearts rejoice in Your mercy and grace. Lord teach us to follow Your ways and continually seek You. Help us to draw nearer to You, to seek Your face evermore. Like the beautiful soft blossoms of the cherry tree, seek the sun; soften our heart, and teach us to seek You always. In Jesus, holy name. Amen

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Perfect Love: 1 John 4:12

12 No one has seen God, ever. But if we love one another, God dwells deeply within us, and his love becomes complete in us – perfect love!
1 John 4:12 (MSG)

We haven’t seen God’s image physically, but it was displayed in Jesus’ life. God, through the Holy Spirit, dwells within the hearts of His people. When we abide in Him, He transforms us until His love becomes complete in us; and we move away from worldly action becoming, more Christ-like. We are transformed and act with love and compassion; His love completes us – perfect love! Let us be recognized as Christians by our love.

No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God resides in us, and his love is perfected in us.
1 John 4:12 (NET)

Do others see God in you, by your love? Are you striving to be more Christ-like and perfected in love?

Prayer; Our Heavenly Father, we might not see you, but we feel your presence and are comforted by You. Thank You for Your love and compassion for us. Lord, teach us to be open-hearted and abide in You. Guide us to learn from and submit to the Holy Spirit to live in truth, so Your love becomes complete in us. Like violets are recognized by their delicate purple flowers, let us be recognized through our Christ-like actions and perfected love for one another.

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Reach Upward: Philippians 3:12-14

12 Not that I have already attained this – that is, I have not already been perfected – but I strive to lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus also laid hold of me. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself to have attained this. Instead I am single-minded: Forgetting the things that are behind and reaching out for the things that are ahead, 14with this goal in mind, I strive toward the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:12-14 (NET)

Paul’s testimony was about the way to perfection and his zeal to be perfected. He was explaining that the work of the Lord was not yet complete in him. He was still pursuing his goal, doing the work of the Lord, reaching upward toward the prize. He had a past of persecuting Christians, but he was able to leave the past behind. To focus on moving forward, reaching upward, toward the prize of heavenly life, striving for perfection to be more like Jesus.

Do you have troubles in the past that you need to release and reach upward, striving toward the prize, God’s heavenward call in Jesus Christ?

Prayer; Our Heavenly Father, we are in awe of your love and forgiveness. We thank you for your Son Jesus. He was an example of perfection, who died for our redemption. Teach us to rely on You, to leave the past behind, and reach upward toward the goal of becoming more like Jesus. Like the magnolia blossoms are open and reaching upward toward the sun, let us be open-hearted and reach upward toward the prize God has provided through Christ Jesus. In Jesus’ holy name. Amen.

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Take Heart: John 16:33

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
John 16:33 (NIV)

Jesus is comforting and preparing His disciples, explaining that He will not be with them much longer. His words are ones of reassurance, strength, support, and hope for the disciples and us. Jesus shares his grace and promises us peace. We may have troubles, but His peace, a peace that surpasses all, understanding is always with us. Jesus’ died on the cross, overcoming the authority of Satan. He delivered us from the domain of darkness. So take heart for Christ, died for us, paid the price, and overcame the world.

Are you relying on your abilities or faithfully taking heart in Jesus’ victory?

Prayer; Jesus, our rock and redeemer, we thank You for Your sacrifice and love for us. Teach us to reach out to You and rely on Your strength during times of trouble. Help us to let go of our problems and learn to dwell in Your peace. Jesus, let us take heart and realize that You have overcome the world. Like the strong, beautiful petals of the native sunflower, let us be strong in faith and rest in your beautiful peace. In Your holy name. Amen

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