Known By God – 1 Corinthians 8:3

But if someone loves God, he is known by God. – 1 Corinthians 8:3 (NET)

Paul is stressing what matters in life is love. In verse three, He uses the Greek word agapao for love, which means selfless love, to love dearly, to take pleasure in, to wish well, and to esteem. Our goal as Christians is not only knowledge; our main guiding principles are to love God and love and exhibit kindness to others.

But if anyone loves God [with awe-filled reverence, obedience and gratitude], he is known by Him [as His very own and is greatly loved]. -1 Corinthians 8:3 (AMP)

As verse three states, those who love God are known by God. God loves them, and they belong to Him, children of God.

Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called children of God; and such we are. -1 John 3:1 (ASV)

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Prayer: Our Heavenly Father, our guide, our strength, and our protector. Guide us in Your truth and light. We are thankful that we are known by You and for Your unconditional love for us. May our love for you be shown in all we do. Like the blue hydrangea flower brings joy to summer days, let us flower and spread Your joy and love to all. In Jesus’ holy name. Amen

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Depths of the Sea – Micah 7:18

You will once again have mercy on us; you will conquer our evil deeds; you will hurl our sins into the depths of the sea. – Micah 7:19 (NET)

Micah was an Old Testament prophet. He was upset with the moral decay in Judea and admonished his people to return to God. He denounced the evil that had taken over his land. He warned that God’s judgment would destroy Samaria and Jerusalem. Micah stated, “Faithful men have disappeared from the land; there are no godly men left.” (Micah 7:2)

He encouraged the people to come to God in repentance and faith. In verses 18 and 19, Micah extols the greatness of God; He is a God of forgiveness, mercy, and love.

There is no other God like you! You forgive sin and pardon the rebellion of those who remain among your people. You do not remain angry forever, but delight in showing loyal love. – Micah 7:18

Micah extols God; there is no other God like Him. For our God is willing to forgive us and restore us, for He loves us and wants to free us from the bondage of sin. If we repent of our sins, He will forgive us and not hold those sins against us.

You will once again have mercy on us; you will conquer our evil deeds; you will hurl our sins into the depths of the sea. – Micah 7:19

God will have mercy on us; He will hurl our sin into the depths of the sea. Our sins will be out of sight, never remembered, completely removed, and forgiven.

Our God has compassion and mercy; He loves us and forgives us.

Where is the god who can compare with you—
wiping the slate clean of guilt,
Turning a blind eye, a deaf ear,
to the past sins of your purged and precious people?
You don’t nurse your anger and don’t stay angry long,
for mercy is your specialty. That’s what you love most.
And compassion is on its way to us.
You’ll stamp out our wrongdoing.
You’ll sink our sins
to the bottom of the ocean. – Micah 7:18-19 (MSG)

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Prayer: Our Heavenly Father, we thank You for mercy and grace. Thank You for Your compassion and forgiveness of our sins. Teach us to reach out to You and confess our sins, that You will forgive and sink to the depths of the sea. As an open blossom of a water lily flourishes in the water, let us be open-hearted and flourish in Your love. In Jesus’ holy name. Amen

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Greater than All – John 10:29

My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. John 10:29 (NIV)

Great is our God! How great is our God? He is greater than all! He has incomparable, unmatched power. He created heaven and the earth, and He is loving, merciful, and forgiving. He is great, greater than all; all creatures, angels, and men.

Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom. – Psalm 145:3 (NIV)

By God’s authority, the ones who know Jesus’ voice (His sheep) are given to His Son, Jesus. God has placed us (Jesus’ sheep) under Jesus’ care. Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross saved his followers, giving believers eternal life.

God is greater than all and more powerful. No one can snatch believers away from Him.

My sheep recognize my voice. I know them, and they follow me. I give them real and eternal life. They are protected from the Destroyer for good. No one can steal them from out of my hand. The Father who put them under my care is so much greater than the Destroyer and Thief. No one could ever get them away from him. I and the Father are one heart and mind.” John 10: 27-30 (MSG)

No one can snatch believers away from Jesus, for Jesus and His father God are one, one in heart and mind. ⁂

Prayer: Our Heavenly Father, You are great greater than all. We thank You for Your grace in sending Your Son to save us sinners. We are in awe of Your power and strength that keeps us safe in Your hands. Like the flowers of the Viburnum are opened and gathered together, let us be open to Your love and gathered safely in Your mighty hands. In Jesus’ holy name. Amen.

I am taking a short break from writing – back in a couple weeks. 🌺

Heart, Soul, and Mind – Mark 12:30

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’
Mark 12:30 (NIV)

To love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength means to put God first in your life. Making Him the center of your life. How do we show our love for God? We show our love by obeying Him, focusing on Him, and doing His will.

And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.
2 John 1:16

The word love in this verse comes from the Greek word agape. Agape love is showing, goodwill and compassion, delighting in and acting on another’s behalf. With agape love for God, we recognize Him as being true, honorable, and trustworthy. We trust in Him and want to follow His direction and to love others as He loves us.

Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart,
Psalm 119:2 (ESV)

When we love God, we obey Him, follow His commands, and strive to do His will.

To seek the Lord with our whole hearts means to pursue with priority and commitment and to keep our focus on Him. When we love God, we yearn to be more like Him, to grow closer to Him in thought and deed.

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Prayer: Lord, we thank you for Your grace, mercy, and love for us. Teach us to love You with our whole hearts. To love You, with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. To follow Your commands and strive to do Your will. Like the bleeding-heart plant blooms and grows in the spring light, let us bloom and grow with love in Your light. In Jesus’ holy name. Amen

Immortal, Invisible – 1 Timothy 1:17

Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
1 Timothy 1:17 (NIV)

Paul is describing God; He alone is eternal, the only God. He is immortal, invisible, and King of the ages. God is eternal; His reign is unshakable and timeless. God is immortal, He transcends time, He never dies, and He reigns forever. God is invisible to human eyes, but He is seen in His works, His creation.

Which brings to mind the hymn Immortal, Invisible. The first verse of the hymn:

Immortal, invisible, God only wise,
In light inaccessible, hid from our eyes,
Most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days,
Almighty, victorious, Thy great name we praise.
Walter C. Smith, pub.1876

May we spend our days giving honor, glory, and praise to the Lord. Let us sing, praise, and worship our God and Saviour. Giving Him honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen

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God’s Love – Romans -8:38-39

Click for a free Download print of the God’s Love photo with cherry blossoms and scripture.

38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans -8:38-39 (NLT)

Neither death nor life or angels or demons or fear and worries about today and the future, nor can the powers of hell separate us from God’s love; nothing can. Nothing that occurs today or thousands of years from now can change God’s love. God, by His nature, is love. His love for us is forever.

We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them.
1 John 4:16 (NLT)

God’s love for us is shown in His sending Jesus Christ, His only son, to provide salvation for all believers. (John 3:16) Through Christ, we are saved eternally forever. Our salvation is secure; God will not abandon or forsake us; we are secure in His love. Since Jesus loves us, he intercedes for us, His redeemed people, speaking to God on our behalf.
God so loves us that He gave us His Son Jesus, who loves us so much that he died for us sinners and intercedes for us.

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Are your worries or past hindering you from feeling secure in God’s love? Rest assured, God loves you!

Prayer: Our Heavenly Father, we thank You for your amazing love. Help us to love each other as you love us. Teach us to trust and have faith in You. Like the cherry tree is full of blossoms, let us blossom under Your love, following Jesus. Amen

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Yes in Christ: 2 Corinthians 1:20

For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God.
2 Corinthians 1:20(NIV)

Yes, in Christ, through Jesus is God saying yes to all the promises he has made. God’s promises for deliverance and salvation are found in Jesus. Our loving God, through Jesus, offers us redemption, forgiveness, and a glimpse of God’s glory. By accepting Christ, we are claimed as children of God.

For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
Galatians 3:26 (NLT)

The definition of Amen is to express solemn ratification, as an expression of faith, or heartfelt agreement and approval. (Merriam-Webster) God says yes, in Christ, and we say Amen.

20Certainly, Christ made God’s many promises come true. For that reason, because of our message, people also honor God by saying, “Amen!” 21God establishes us, together with you, in a relationship with Christ. He has also anointed us. 22In addition, he has put his seal [of ownership] on us and has given us the Spirit as his guarantee.
2 Corinthians 1:20 (GWT)

Our Heavenly Father adds His seal, His pledge to us by giving us the indwelling Holy Spirit; our guide and guarantee of what is to come.

God, through Jesus says yes to us, and we reply with heartfelt Amen!

Amen, to the glory of God!

20-22 Whatever God has promised gets stamped with the Yes of Jesus. In him, this is what we preach and pray, the great Amen, God’s Yes and our Yes together, gloriously evident. God affirms us, making us a sure thing in Christ, putting his Yes within us. By his Spirit, he has stamped us with his eternal pledge—a sure beginning of what he is destined to complete.
2 Corinthians 1:20-22 (MSG)

Prayer: Lord, we thank You; You are our rock, strength, and caring Father. Thank You for Your son, Jesus, who was crucified for our sins and upholds your promises. Teach us to stand firm in faith and be guided by the Holy Spirit. Like a geranium plant that blooms spring through autumn, let us spring forth with gratitude and respond with a heartfelt grateful Amen. In Jesus’ holy name. Amen

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God’s promises are stamped yes, with Christ. Have you accepted the yes of Christ?

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Living Hope – 1 Peter 1:3

3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
1 Peter 1:3 (NIV)

Peter, an apostle of Jesus, says in this verse that we should praise and bless God for his great mercy, for He has blessed us with His son, Jesus. Through God’s grace, Jesus came to earth, was crucified for our sins, and resurrected from the dead. His death and resurrection gave us a new birth, born of God, and a living hope. In this verse, the Greek word hope means to have eager, confident expectations. Through Christ’s death and resurrection, we have a confident living hope and the promise of salvation. We are born anew by grace and through faith.

By God’s steadfast love and through His grace, those who believe in Christ and repent their sin will be saved. Christ lives; He is our living confident hope for eternal life.

4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you,
1 Peter 1:4 (NIV)

God, in His grace, gave us His son Jesus, our Savior, our Living Hope, and our salvation.

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Is your hope, your Living Hope, in Jesus?

Prayer: Our Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your mercy and grace. Teach us to rest in Your promises during difficult times. Let us grow in trust and faith, secure in the knowledge that we are born anew by Your grace. We thank You and praise You for giving us Your son, Jesus, to forgive our sins. He is our Living Hope and Redeemer. Like the three open tulips are facing skyward, let us be open to our triune God and keep our faces turned toward You. In Jesus’ holy name. Amen

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The Great Commandment: Deuteronomy 6:5

5You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.
Deuteronomy 6:5 (NKJV)

In Deuteronomy 6:5, Moses is addressing the Israelites, instructing them before they enter the promised land. Telling them the Lord your God wants love from them, a complete love. To love God with our whole heart and soul, to love for Him with all we’ve got.

5 Love God, your God, with your whole heart: love him with all that’s in you, love him with all you’ve got!
Deuteronomy 6:5 (MSG)

Jesus called loving God with all our heart, soul, and strength the Great Commandment.

37 Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. 38 This is the first and greatest commandment.
Matthew 22:37-38 (NLT)

God created us, loves us, provides for us, sustains us, and protects us. He is our refuge and our strength. God wants us to love him with our whole heart, soul, and mind.

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Do you love God with your whole heart; with all you’ve got?

Prayer: Our Heavenly Father, we are in awe of You and Your love. We know You love us with everlasting love. Help us to follow Your Great Commandment. Teach us to open our hearts to You, to love You, God, with all our heart, soul, and strength. Like the flowers grow and thrive in the sunshine, let us grow and thrive with love. In Jesus’ holy name. Amen.

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Worries and Cares: 1 Peter 5:7

Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.
1 Peter 5:7 (NLV)

Peter is writing to the Christians in Asia Minor, encouraging them to take their heavy burdens and give them to God. When we try to carry our worries and concerns on our own, we become weary and discouraged.

Why should we give our worries and cares to God? Because He cares for us. By casting our cares and worries on God, we are showing our trust in Him and His promises, realizing that He is willing and able to carry our heaviest burdens. When we give the Lord our worries, He gives us rest.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Matthew 11:28 (NIV)

How do we give our burdens to God? By reaching out to Him in prayer, understanding God cares about us and that he will sustain us and get us through this.

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Do you let go of your burdens by giving your cares and worries to God in prayer?

Prayer: Our Heavenly Father, we thank You for your care and love for us. Teach us to turn our worries and cares over to You. Help us to grow in trust and faith. Guide us, teaching us to be humble and loving to others. Like chrysanthemum flowers brighten autumn days, let us brighten everything around us with Your light. In Jesus’ holy name. Amen

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