Everything We Need – 2 Peter 1:3

3We have everything we need to live a life that pleases God. It was all given to us by God’s own power, when we learned he had invited us to share in his wonderful goodness.
2 Peter 1:3-4 (CEV)

In this letter, Simon Peter is writing to the churches in Asia Minor. False teachers were leading them astray. He explains that following Jesus and the Word of God; gives us access to everything we need to live a life that pleases God.

1 This letter is from Simon[a] Peter, a slave and apostle of Jesus Christ. I am writing to you who share the same precious faith we have. This faith was given to you because of the justice and fairness[b] of Jesus Christ, our God and Savior. 2 May God give you more and more grace and peace as you grow in your knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord.
2 Peter 1:1-2 (NLT)

The Lord’s divine power is available to believers who embrace Jesus and His lifestyle. God’s power gives us everything we need to lead the life He is calling us to. When we believe, God equips us with the skills we need. These God-given gifts; are our’s; we need to choose to use them.

4 God made great and marvelous promises, so his nature would become part of us. Then we could escape our evil desires and the corrupt influences of this world.
2 Peter 1:4 (CEV)

God’s strength is available to us when we reach out in prayer. His promises are true; He gives us eternal life through His son, Jesus. Grace, peace, and God’s great promises and ours when we believe and follow Jesus escaping the corrupt influences of the world. God gives us everything we need.

3 Everything that goes into a life of pleasing God has been miraculously given to us by getting to know, personally and intimately, the One who invited us to God. The best invitation we ever received! 4 We were also given absolutely terrific promises to pass on to you – your tickets to participation in the life of God after you turned your back on a world corrupted by lust.
2 Peter 1:3-4 (MSG)

Prayer; We thank you, Lord, for loving us; and giving us everything we need to live a life pleasing to you. Teach us to follow Jesus, guide our path, and keep us away from evil. Like the yellow gerbera daisy brightens the garden, let Your spiritual gifts brighten our lives. In Jesus’ name. Amen

Love and Patience: 2Thessalonians 3:5

May the Lord lead your hearts into a full understanding and expression of the love of God and the patient endurance that comes from Christ.
2 Thessalonians 3:5 (NLT)

Paul is praying for the Thessalonians, for the Lord to direct their hearts. So they comprehend the steadfast love of God.
Paul encourages them to embrace the patience and endurance found in Christ. He is praying for them to be steadfast in God’s ways and to learn to be patient like Christ. May they have endurance while being conformed day by day more like Christ.

Have you embraced the love and patient endurance that comes from Christ?

Prayer; Lord, we thank you for your abundant love. Teach us to open our hearts and embrace your love. Guide us to follow Your word and path for us. As we grow in faith, teach us to be loving and patient. Like the heart-shaped leaves of the caladium brighten the environment, let our hearts be shaped by Your love and enlighten the world. In Jesus’ name. Amen

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Rescued: Colossians 1:13

13 For He rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Colossians 1:13-14 (NASB)

These verses are a portion of Paul’s prayer for the Colossian church. In it, he encourages them to give joyful thanks to God the Father. Reminding them that they were rescued by God, from the domain of darkness, from the bondage to sin, and delivered them into the kingdom of light.

12 and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you[b] to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light.
Colossians 1:12 (NASB)

The kingdom of light; is the kingdom of God’s beloved Son, Jesus. Through Jesus’ death on the cross, we are redeemed from the power of sin and death and have confidence in our eternal destiny. ⁂

Have you embraced the truth and light of Jesus? Are you rescued are, your sins redeemed?

Prayer; Our Heavenly Father, we are in awe of Your love, grace, and mercy. Thank you for sending Your Son, Jesus, to rescue us from our sins. Let us shine with Your light and spread Your Word. Like the cardinal plant glows in the sunlight, teach us to glow with your light and shine it into the darkness. In Jesus’ holy and loving name. Amen

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Freedom: Galatians 5:13

For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity to indulge your flesh, but through love serve one another.
Galatians 5:13 (NET)

In the United States of America, today is Independence Day, causing me to think about freedom. Freedom through Christ. How are we free? By following the teachings of Jesus and by being His disciple; by believing in Him, and walking in obedience. We obtained freedom by Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. Through our faith in Christ, we live in freedom, freedom from the slavery of sin; our sins are forgiven. We belong to God; we are His chosen.

In freedom, we are allowed to make choices. Choices we will be held accountable for. Our freedom is not to be used as an excuse to indulge ourselves, but instead to serve one another in love.
As the Message bible version of Galatians 5:14 states: “For everything, we know about God’s Word is summed up in a single sentence: Love others as you love yourself. That’s an act of true freedom.”

^13-14It is absolutely clear that God has called you to a free life. Just make sure that you don’t use this freedom as an excuse to do whatever you want to do and destroy your freedom. Rather, use your freedom to serve one another in love; that’s how freedom grows. For everything we know about God’s Word is summed up in a single sentence: Love others as you love yourself. That’s an act of true freedom.
Galatians 5:13-14 (MSG)

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By God’s grace, we have freedom. Is your freedom as a Christian focused on self-satisfaction or on serving others in love?

Prayer; Lord Jesus, we thank you for setting us free from slavery to sin. We thank You for the freedom you have granted us through Your grace. Guide us to use this freedom to be more like You in our actions. As the Gomphrena, Fireworks pink blossoms with tiny yellow flowers spread outward in all directions; let us spread Your love outward to others, in all directions. Amen

Renewed: 2 Corinthians 4:16

16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.
2 Corinthians 4:16-17 (NIV)

Paul is stating not to give up or lose heart. Though his body was in chains and wasting away, his inward body (spiritual body) was renewed, strengthened, and invigorated daily by faith and grace.
Having faith in God and believing in Christ’s resurrection gives us hope. This hope is greater than any difficulty on earth.
For Jesus overcame the world, achieving eternal glory for all who believe in Him.

I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In the world you have trouble and suffering, but take courage–I have conquered the world.”
John 16:33 (NET)

Is your hope in Christ greater than your difficulties. Does this hope renew and strengthen you?

Prayer; Lord Jesus, we ask you to strengthen us so that we don’t lose heart; but are inwardly renewed. Teach us to take our difficulties to You in prayer and move forward in faith and hope. Let us find comfort and rest in the knowledge that you have conquered the world. Like the clematis grows back and renews every spring, let us grow in faith and hope and be renewed daily. Amen

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Jesus, Our Salvation

(Save the World) – Jesus didn’t come to condemn or 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.

https://gardenfaith.com/2021/05/10/save-the-world-john-317/

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(Jesus is Lord) – By His grace, God offers salvation to all who believe in Christs’ resurrection from the dead. For all who believe in their heart that Christ is our Savior, that he died for our sins, you are made right with God.

https://gardenfaith.com/2021/11/08/jesus-is-lord-romans-109-10/

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(Take Heart) – Take heart Christ died for us; He paid the price and overcame the world.

https://gardenfaith.com/2021/04/05/take-heart-john-1633/

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(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, accept Him, and remain faithful to his teaching. His Word, the truth, will set us free; from the bondage of sin.

https://gardenfaith.com/2021/05/31/truth-john-832/

A re-share of a few Jesus posts. May you feel His peace, joy, and love this week and always. 🌺

Light of Jesus: John 1:5

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
John 1:5 (NIV)

Jesus, Son of God, came into the world; to be the Light of the world. When we accept Him and follow His Word, He illuminates our hearts and souls. Christ came as God’s light; to shine light into the darkness; to expel the darkness of sin.

As foretold years earlier by Isaiah;

The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.
Isaiah 9:2 (NIV)

God represents goodness, light, truth, and salvation. Darkness is the absence of light and represents evil and sin. The light of Jesus glows eternally. He is the resurrection and the light.

I have come as a light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in me will no longer remain in the dark.
John 12:46 (NLT)

The darkness has not overcome Jesus’ light and never will. His light is ever shining, in the past, present and future. ◊

Have you opened your heart to the light of Jesus? Do you let the light of Jesus shine and illuminate the darkness?

Prayer; Our Heavenly Father, we thank you for the light of Jesus. Teach us to walk in faith and light. Jesus, Light of the World, guide us in Your truth. Like the trillium’s white flowers glow in the sunshine, let us glow with Your illuminating light. Amen

Grace: Ephesians 2:8-10

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
Ephesians 2:8-9 (ESV)

It is not because we are good or deserving that we are saved. God doesn’t only accept good people. By, His grace, His freely given blessing, His gift, we all can be saved.

Grace can be described as God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense. Christ died for our sins. We don’t need to be “good enough” for salvation, we just need to believe and have faith, in God and Christ’s goodness. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, faith: is belief and trust in and loyalty to God.

10For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
Ephesians 2:10 (NLT)

Good works are not the cause of salvation; good works are the purpose of salvation. God saves us to do good works in His name, which brings Him glory.

In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
Matthew 5:16 (NIV)

Prayer; Our Heavenly Father, we thank you for Your love and grace. Let our faith and trust in You direct our lives. Guide us to follow Your path, and do good works, to glorify Your name. Like the mallow flowers are open and illuminated by sunlight, let us be open to Your Word and illuminated with Your love. In Jesus’ holy name. Amen

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If you need prayer, I will be glad to pray for you. Leave a comment or message me on the contact page. 🌺

Mercy: 1 Timothy 1:16-17

But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life. All honor and glory to God forever and ever! He is the eternal King, the unseen one who never dies; he alone is God. Amen.
1 Timothy 1:16-17 (NLT)

In 1 Timothy, the Apostle Paul is instructing his protege Timothy. In verse 16, he explains that God had mercy on him, a foremost sinner. For, Saul, as he was known then, was persecuting the followers of Jesus, trying to stop the spread of Christianity.
When Saul was traveling to Damascus, Jesus appeared to him and changed his life and mission. Paul’s conversion is a testimony to the great mercy and forgiveness of the Lord.
Jesus came into the world to save sinners, as Paul had been. Paul converted and became God’s representative taking the gospel to the Gentiles.
Paul’s testimony highlights the mercy and infinite love of Jesus; and its transforming power.
The Lord is still patiently waiting for sinners to believe and repent.
In Verse 17, Paul closes with heartfelt praises to God, the Eternal King; all honor and glory to God forever and ever belong to Him!

What testimony can you share of God’s mercy and love for you?

Prayer; Our Heavenly Father, we thank you for Your Son Jesus; and His saving grace. Jesus, we are in awe of Your mercy, forgiveness, and infinite love. We admire, worship, and praise our Triune God for all You have done for us. Like the beautiful trumpet-like blossoms of the azalea, we raise our voices in praise and thanksgiving for your mercy and grace. Amen

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I believe in the power of prayer. If you need prayer, I would be glad to pray for you. Leave a comment or message me on the contact page. 🌺

To Serve: Mark 10:45

42 Jesus called them and said to them, “You know that those who are recognized as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those in high positions use their authority over them. 43 But it is not this way among you. Instead whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant, 44and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Mark 10: 42-45 (NET)

In Mark 10:37, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, brothers, and disciples, requested, to Jesus; “Permit one of us to sit at your right hand and the other at your left in your glory.” This request caused the other ten disciples to become angry at this grab for power and authority (Mark 10:41). Jesus responded to His disciples. “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.” All power is entrusted to Jesus, the Son of Man, yet he acted as a servant, as an example, His kneeling to wash His disciple’s feet. Jesus’ teaching and His way of life illustrated the difference between worldly and spiritual greatness. He taught that the path of greatness was achieved through humility and by learning to be a servant thereby glorifying God. Jesus’ final act of service was when He gave his life as a ransom for many.

This verse is also found in Mathew:

just as the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Matthew 20:28 (NET)

How do you measure greatness? Do you feel to serve others is a worthy goal?

Monarch caterpillars feeding on a butterfly bush

Prayer; Jesus we thank you for your healings, guidance, and love for us. Teach us to be humble, and to help others by being Your hands and feet. Encourage us to seek spiritual goodness rather than worldly gain. Like the butterfly weed provides a host plant for monarch caterpillars and nectar for butterflies; teach us to help and to serve others. Amen

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I believe in the power of prayer. If you need prayer, I would be glad to pray for you. Leave a comment or message me on the contact page. 🌺