Category: #gardenfaith

Justice: Micah 6:8

He has told you, O man, what is good, and what the Lord really wants from you: He wants you to carry out justice, to love faithfulness, and to live obediently before your God.

Micah 6:8 (NET)

8 He has made it clear to you, mortal man, what is good and what the Lord is requiring from you—to act with justice, to treasure the Lord’s gracious love, and to walk humbly in the company of your God.

Micah 6:8 (ISV)

We often have a list of wants we want from the Lord, and we ask Him in prayer to help us. This scripture instead speaks to what God wants from us. Our Lord wants us to carry out justice, be faithful in love, and live obediently to His word. Some versions say to act with justice, to treasure the Lord’s gracious love, and to walk humbly with your God. What a wonderful synopsis of how to live.

What actions demonstrate carrying out justice to you?

Prayer: Dear Lord, our loving Father, we thank you for your forgiveness and grace to us. Like succulent leaves are known for their ability to hold water, let us be known for acting with justice and treasuring Your gracious love toward us. In Jesus’ holy name. Amen

Abounding in Love: Psalm 103:8

waterlillies

8 The Lord is compassionate and gracious,  slow to anger, abounding in love.

Psalm 103:8-9

With the start of the new decade, much has been written about change. However, with God, there is a constancy he is unchanging. Our Father has been and is compassionate, gracious, slow to anger. As David said, “He is abounding in love.” The best change for us this new year is to follow God’s wisdom and be abounding in love.

Where could you share God’s love today?

Prayer: Our Father, we thank you for your many blessings and your abounding love toward us. Like waterlilies flourish in the water, help us to flourish by being compassionate and spread Your love. May we also learn to be slow to anger and accepting of others. In Jesus’ holy name. Amen

Growth: Psalm 47:1 (Decade tag)

1 Clap your hands, all you nations.
    Shout to God with cries of joy.

Psalm 47:1

Thanks to Matt at jesusluvsall.wordpress.com for tagging me for the decade tag. The tag is a look back at what the Lord has done in my life the past ten years. I am going to look back at my spiritual journey, my spiritual awakening.

Growing up, Sundays always included church and Sunday school. Then things started distracting me worldly things like pride, my things, me first, my schedule.

Happily, this decade God became my focus, my joy, and my path. People with kind words and caring hearts helped me find His way. My church community opened my eyes to opportunities to learn and grow.

Pastor Kay, my mentor, and friend and prayer warrior taught me many ways to pray and opened the door to healing prayer. All my fellow healing prayer warriors who accepted my quiet listening for years, until faith allowed me to step out of my fear and insecurity and reach out to others in healing prayer. Life-changing for me. As my Spiritual Director, Pastor Kay encouraged me to take my flower photographs to tie them with scripture to share them. The push needed to start this blog in June to share His word and joy.

Fran, another friend, encouraged me and showed me ways to be God’s hands and feet. Her guidance has opened my eyes and heart to local needs through the church’s soup kitchen. She also directed me into church-based fundraising projects and other local opportunities to spread God’s love.

This decade I have grown in faith found that I could escape my shyness with God at my side, that I could encourage others by Listening, Praying, and Loving.

I am leaving this tag opened ended for anyone who wants to look back and write about the changes the Lord has made in their lives, just leave a comment on this post.

Rules: To play along: 1- Please share a link to the creator of the tag- jesusluvsall.wordpress.com 2- Share some highlights for you over the past decade and if you want a few low points 3- Tag whoever you wish to. 4- Ask them some questions 5- Use any picture appropriate for such a tag. (As usual, I didn’t follow all the rules, sorry Matt.)

My question: Where have you seen God in the past decade?

Remember this new year to shout to God with cries of joy!

God Bless!