Category: In Christ

Harmony – 1 Peter 3:8

Finally, everyone must live in harmony, be sympathetic, love each other, have compassion, and be humble. 1 Peter 3:8 (GWT)

Peter wrote this letter to the Christians in Asia Minor, explaining how all Christians should act. We should live in harmony, be courteous and accept each other’s differences, listen, compromise, respect, love one another, and live in peace and unity.

Peter reminds them that if they are to be faithful, obedient followers of Christ. They need to exhibit inner qualities by being kind and sympathetic, showing compassion, and caring for each other.

Believers should reflect Jesus’ actions by being humble, forgiving, and loving one another.

8-12 Summing up: Be agreeable, be sympathetic, be loving, be compassionate, be humble. That goes for all of you, no exceptions. No retaliation. No sharp-tongued sarcasm. Instead, bless—that’s your job, to bless. You’ll be a blessing and also get a blessing.

1 Peter 3:8-9 (MSG)

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The words of Peter are still viable today; are you living in harmony and showing compassion to others?

Our Heavenly Father, help us to live in harmony with each other. Guide us to be more Christlike in our actions, showing compassion, forgiveness, and respect to all we meet. Teach us to learn to listen and be respectful to each other. Like the flowers of the bleeding heart plant are open and gathered together, let us be open-hearted and gather together in harmony. In Jesus’ holy name. Amen

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All Things – John 3:35

The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand. – John 3:35 (ESV)

God (the Father) has an eternal extravagant love for His Son, Jesus. Jesus was born of Mary but came as a divine messenger from heaven. He is a teacher, healer, and miracle worker. He is our Saviour; He died for our sins.

Those who believe in Jesus Christ are saved and have eternal life. Jesus is God; the Trinity is composed of God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6 (ESV)

Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. A person must accept Jesus for salvation; He is the one and only way to heaven and to God the Father.

God the Father has given and entrusted all things into Jesus’ hands. He has the full authority of the Father over all things.

34-36 “The One that God sent speaks God’s words. And don’t think he rations out the Spirit in bits and pieces. The Father loves the Son extravagantly. He turned everything over to him so he could give it away—a lavish distribution of gifts. That is why whoever accepts and trusts the Son gets in on everything, life complete and forever! And that is also why the person who avoids and distrusts the Son is in the dark and doesn’t see life. All he experiences of God is darkness, and an angry darkness at that”. John 3:34-36 (MSG)

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Prayer: Our Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your love and grace. For You so loved us that You gave us Your only Son, Jesus. We are saved and blessed for He died for our sins, and we realize You have placed all things in His hand. Like the camellia flowers glow and shine against winter skies, let us glow with love and shine with Your light. Amen

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Come to the Light – John 3:21

But everyone who lives by the truth will come to the light, because they want others to know that God is really the one doing what they do. John 3:21 (CEV)

To do what is true is to live by the truth, love the truth, and seek the truth. People who live by the truth and embrace what is true come to the light. The phrase, coming to the light, means following God’s truth and living a steadfast, honest, and conscientious life. Truth and light are closely related. The person who obeys God and seeks the truth by praying, reading scriptures, and following Jesus is transformed and comes to the light. In contrast, those who cling to evil hide from the light, Jesus’ light.

Light exposes falsehood and offers hope and eternal life. When we live by the truth, seek light, and follow Jesus, we are transformed; our actions are divinely approved, done in the sight of God.

19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God. John 3:19-21 (NIV)

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Prayer: Our Heavenly Father, help us to be transformed, and to come to the light. Guide us and teach us to seek the truth and live by Your truth. Let our actions be worthy and divinely approved. Like the Rudbeckia, bright flowers glow in the sunlight, let us shine brightly in the light of Jesus. Amen

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Heavenly Citizenship – Philippians 3:20

But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, – Philippians 3:20 (NIV)

As Christians, though we live on earth, our ultimate home is heaven; we have a heavenly citizenship. Things on earth are temporary, so we should focus on what pleases God rather than earthly concerns.

Our perspective should glorify God’s kingdom, while with anticipation and hope, we eagerly await Christ’s return. The joyful expectation of Christ’s return should shape our attitudes and actions.

We have a heavenly citizenship when we believe in Jesus; heaven is our future home.

20-21 But there’s far more to life for us. We’re citizens of high heaven! We’re waiting the arrival of the Savior, the Master, Jesus Christ, who will transform our earthy bodies into glorious bodies like his own. He’ll make us beautiful and whole with the same powerful skill by which he is putting everything as it should be, under and around him. –

Philippians 3:20-21 (MSG)

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Prayer: Lord Jesus, we eagerly await Your return. Teach us to listen to You and follow You. Let our focus be on our ultimate home, Heaven, rather than on things of this world. We are thankful for our heavenly citizenship. As the open flower of the lily reaches toward the sun, let us be openhearted and reach toward You, Jesus, son of God. Amen

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Faith from Hearing: Romans 10:17

13For “Everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved.” 14But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them?

Romans 10:13-14

Paul is encouraging people to spread the Good News about Christ to everyone, Jews and Gentiles.

So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ.

Romans 10:17 (NLT)

Faith comes by hearing, by hearing about Christ, hearing what the Lord says through Christ.
Christians need to share Christ’s message and bring the Good News to non-believers. To believe in Him, people need to hear about Christ and His message. Faith comes from hearing and applying. How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news. (Romans 20:15b)

15And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!”

Romans 10:15 (NLT)

Faith comes from hearing and sharing the gospel, by grand processions of people, telling the Good News of Christ. Sharing the gospel allows everyone who believes and calls on the name of the Lord; to be saved.

14-17 But how can people call for help if they don’t know who to trust? And how can they know who to trust if they haven’t heard of the One who can be trusted? And how can they hear if nobody tells them? And how is anyone going to tell them, unless someone is sent to do it? That’s why Scripture exclaims,

A sight to take your breath away!
Grand processions of people
telling all the good things of God!

Romans 10:14-17 (MSG)

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Faith comes from hearing the message of Christ. Have you shared Christ’s message?

Prayer; Our Heavenly Father, we; thank You for your forgiveness and love. Teach us to be Your hands and feet, to be messengers telling all the good things of God. Let people grow in faith from hearing our message. Like the gazania’s bright and open flower, let us brightly shine with and be open to sharing your Word. In Jesus’ name. Amen

Happy Independence Day – July 4th. 🌺

Clothe yourself:Colossians 3:12-14

 13Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.  13Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. 14Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. 

Colossians 3:12-14 (NLT)

When we accept Jesus into our lives, we are changed, transformed, and holy. As holy people, we need to emulate Jesus to put on a heart of compassion. Letting go of sin, pride, anger, and unforgiveness, clothing ourselves in patience, kindness, humility, gentleness, and compassion.
When we allow Christ to rule in our hearts our lives are transformed. We learn to act as Jesus did and forgive others as He forgives us. We clothe ourselves with love, learning to love one another as He has loved us.

12-14 So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.

Colossians 3:12-14 (MSG)

Are you clothing yourself by putting on kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience?

Prayer; Our Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your grace, compassion, and forgiveness toward us. Teach us to clothe ourselves with mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Help us to forgive others as you have forgiven us. Guide us, and teach us to clothe ourselves with love. Like the straw flowers are gathered close together, let us gather together with love in perfect harmony. In Jesus’ loving name. Amen

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Noel: Unto us a Child is born…

Noel or Noël comes ultimately from the Latin natalis via Anglo-Norman and Middle French. Originally an exclamation of joy at the birth of Christ, in the middle ages it was also used to refer to the Christmas period.

http://www.macmillandictionaryblog.com/

Noel (lyrics)
written by, Chris Tomlin

Love incarnate, love divine
Star and angels gave the sign
Bow to babe on bended knee
The Savior of humanity
Unto us a Child is born
He shall reign forevermore
Noel, Noel


Come and see what God has done
Noel, Noel
The story of amazing love!
The light of the world, given for us
Noel
Son of God and Son of man
There before the world began
Born to suffer, born to save
Born to raise us from the grave
Christ the everlasting Lord
He shall reign forevermore
Noel, Noel
Come and see what God has done
Noel, Noel

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The story of amazing love!
The light of the world, given for us
Noel
Noel, Noel


Come and see what God has done
Noel, Noel
The story of amazing love!
The light of the world, given for us
Noel

Enjoy Lauren Daigle singing Noel:

Unto Us, a Child is born. He shall reign forevermore.

Noel! Peace, Joy, and Merry Christmas! Have a healthy and happy New Year! Blessings! ✨

I am taking a short break from blogging; returning in January. 🌺

A New Creation: 2 Corinthians 5:17

17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV)

Christ can make all things new. When we are united in Christ through faith, we have a new identity, new knowledge, and a new path. We are renewed, a new creation, with open hearts filled with love and purpose. The new year is a wonderful time to embrace Christ’s way by living righteously and take time to meditate on heavenly things. To be open-hearted, sharing His love and compassion with others.

Are you in need of a new beginning? Christ can make you new invite Him into your life today.

Prayer; Jesus, You are our hope, and our redeemer help us to embrace Your way. Fill our hearts with love and compassion for others. Teach us to concentrate on heavenly goals and let go of our worldly concerns. Like the new blossoms on the flowering cherry tree, let us blossom as new creations through You, Christ. Amen

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