Treasures: Matthew 6:19-21

19 “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. 21 Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.
Matthew 6:19-21 NLT

In these verses, Jesus is explaining to His followers how to live and act. Our life should not revolve around earthly treasures, which are easily lost or destroyed. Instead, we should store our treasures in heaven by living the way God asks us to live, by loving our neighbor as ourselves, guarding against evil, helping the less fortunate, and loving the Lord with all our hearts.

“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’
Matthew 22:37b

Where is your treasure? Is it on worldly success and building wealth?

If so, that’s where the desire of your heart is; what your heart is focused on.
If our focus is on heavenly rewards, our hearts are focused on honoring God; and enjoying that treasure forever.

Prayer; Lord Jesus, teach us to store our treasures in heaven. Help us to embrace the correct priorities in life. Encourage us to love God with all our hearts, and help us to love others as You have loved us. Like orchid blossoms are beautiful to behold, let our treasures be beautiful to God. Amen

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Come Close to God: James 4:8

7So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.
James 4:7-8 (NLT)

Come close to God, and God will come close to you. God is waiting for you to knock on the door, to reach out to Him. God is waiting, ready to accept us with open arms. When we reach out to God, He welcomes us and draws near to us. Pride causes resistance to God; being humble brings us close to God.
Washing; cleaning our hands means reforming our ways, ceasing to do evil, and amending our actions. A pure heart is free of evil desires and false teachings and is focused on God. It is a heart full of love, compassion, purity.
Our prayer should be; “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” Psalm 51:10 (NIV)
Our loyalty is to God. Our hearts are not pure when divided between God and worldly things. A pure heart fully trusts in God.

Will you come close to God, follow His word, praise Him, and go to Him in prayer with a pure heart?

Prayer; Our Heavenly Father, guide us in Your truth. Help us to come close to You, and cease to do evil. Create in us a pure heart, O God focused on You. Like the open and bright flower of the Gerbera Daisy, may our hearts be open and shine brightly with Your love. In Jesus’ holy name. Amen

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Jesus is the same forever: Hebrews 13:8

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
Hebrews 13:8 (NLT)

In this turbulent, fast-changing world, it is good to know that Jesus Christ, our Savior is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Jesus never changes, and neither does His Gospel. God never changes; neither does His Word, truth, or promises. Men have changes in mind, attitude, and priorities, but Jesus is steadfast for us in His love, His forgiveness, and His salvation. We can rely on Him; He is our strength and security in this turbulent world.

For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.”
Hebrews 13:5b

Jesus is as faithful as He has always been; we can have confidence that He will continue to take care of us, He will not abandon us. He is our High Priest at the right hand of God the Father, interceding for us yesterday, today, and forever.

When you are overwhelmed by the news and worry about changing policies, do you find peace in knowing that Jesus Christ and His love are the same yesterday, today, and forever?

Prayer; Jesus, we thank you for caring for us and listening to our prayers. We are in awe of your steadfast unchanging love, your comfort, and your everlasting peace. When the word is turbulent; and we are confused, teach us to put our trust in You. We know we can rely on You, for You will not forsake us. The flowers in bloom vary with the seasons, but you are constant in our lives; the same yesterday, today, and forever. We are grateful that You will never fail us or abandon us. Amen

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True, Honorable, and Right: Philippians 4:8-9

8 And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. 9 Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.
Philippians 4:8-9 (NLT)

Paul is writing the Philippians, advising how to handle disagreements, and explaining how to focus on things that are pleasing to God instead. He stressed the importance of deliberately focusing on positive things; true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, and admirable things. To meditate on these good things, not the bad things; to focus on things to praise rather than bemoan; to exhibit fruits of the Spirit. To embrace spiritual fruits; like love, kindness, patience, gentleness, and self-control. These spiritual fruits increase when we have strong faith and; our minds are focused on Christ; instead of on problems and difficulties. Practice kindness and love, have holy thoughts, and live holy lives; and the God of peace will be with you and guide you.

Do you allow disagreements and discord to rule your life, or do you fix your thoughts on what is true, honorable, and right?

Prayer; Our Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your guidance, forgiveness, and grace. Teach us to respond to others as You do to us; with love, kindness, and gentleness. Encourage us to fix our minds on Christ; and focus on what is true, honorable, right, and admirable. Like the daisy flowers are open and reaching toward the sun, let us be open to positive actions, and reach toward You and receive peace. In Jesus’ holy loving name. 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.🌺

Love and Faithfulness: Proverbs 3:3-4

Let love and faithfulness never leave you;
bind them around your neck,
write them on the tablet of your heart.
Then you will win favor and a good name
in the sight of God and man.
Proverbs 3:3-4 (NIV)

Solomon is sharing his thoughts on the value of obedience, love, and faithfulness. The (NIV) version of Proverbs 3:3 says, Let love and faithfulness never leave you; other versions say to let; loyalty and kindness, mercy and truth, loyalty and faithfulness, kindness and truth, never leave you. The underlining theme is love and trust wholeheartedly in the Lord always. Binding these loving actions around your neck (keep them close to you), and write them in your heart. A believer is to be continually loyal to God; faithful in following God’s ways. Also, believers need to show mercy and truth to others; always. Then you will find favor with God and gain the respect of people. We should still follow Solomon’s advice by embracing love and faithfulness and binding them to our hearts.

As Christians, we need to focus on letting love and faithfulness guide us in our daily lives. Where are love, faithfulness, and kindness missing in your life?

Prayer; Our Heavenly Father, we thank You for your mercy and grace. Guide us in Your Word and truth. Help us to embrace love and faithfulness and to write them on our hearts. Teach us to treat each other with kindness, mercy, and love. Like the bright flowers of the butterfly weed seem to be reaching outward, let us glow brightly with Your truth and reach out to others with love and faithfulness. In Jesus’ holy name. Amen.

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