Strength & Joy: 1Chronicles 16:27

Splendor and majesty are in his presence. Strength and joy are where he is.
1 Chronicles 16:27 (GWT)

1 Chronicles 16 is a song, a hymn of thanksgiving. It was sung on the day of the Ark of the Covenant’s arrival in the city of David. The song celebrates and glorifies the Lord and praises and proclaims his miraculous deeds.

8 Give thanks to the Lord!
Call on his name!
Make known his accomplishments among the nations.
9 Sing to him! Make music to him!
Tell about all his miraculous deeds.
10 Boast about his holy name.
Let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice
1 Chronicles 16: 8-10 (NET)

Our Lord is majestic; He set in place the planets, moon, and stars; he designed and made all living things. The magnificent beauty and diversity of the world declare His glory. Splendor; describes the Lord’s supernatural glory, His grander, and His moral perfection. The Lord is great; splendor and majesty; are found in His presence.

The Lord is our source of strength and joy; they are His dwelling place. He radiates; strength and joy. When you trust and believe in the Lord, you find strength and hope. Living in faith, living in the presence of God, brings joy. Joy is not dependent on circumstances; joy is internal, a gift from God. Joy is found by walking daily with the Lord, living in God’s presence, and through prayer and rejoicing.

25 And why? Because God is great – well worth praising! No god or goddess comes close in honor.
26 All the popular gods are stuff and nonsense, but God made the cosmos!
27 Splendor and majesty flow out of him, strength and joy fill his place.
1 Chronicles 16:25-27 (MSG)

How majestic is our God; splendor emanates from Him, and He is the source of our joy and strength. ⁂

When you are overwhelmed and feel lost, do you reach out to God, our source of joy and strength?

Prayer; Our majestic Heavenly Father, you are our source of strength and joy. We worship you with song and praise with thanksgiving for your support and care. We thank you for the beauty and splendor of your handiworks; and the diversity of nature. Like the beautiful lilies, glow with your light; let us find strength through you and glow, with joy and light. In Jesus’ holy name. Amen

Steadfast: 1 Corinthians 15:58

Therefore, my beloved, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord, because you know that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
1 Corinthians 15:58 (NRSV)

Paul is addressing the Corinthian church, expressing his love, and asking them to be steadfast, immovable, and always excelling in the work of the Lord. Paul asks them to be steadfast, meaning faithful to the Lord, and firmly committed to His ways. He is entreating them to be immovable, firm, stable, strong in their beliefs, and uncompromised by their culture. The goal for their church and all churches; is to excel in the work of the Lord, doing His will, upholding Christian virtues, and spreading the gospel and love. Labor for the Lord is not in vain; it is to His glory and is rewarded in heaven.

Would you describe your faith as steadfast, immovable, and your behavior as excelling in the work of the Lord? How can you improve?

Prayer; Our Heavenly Father, help us be steadfast and immovable in our faith. Teach us to excel in doing Your work and sharing Your Word. Open our hearts to Your way, sharing Your love. As the crabapple blossoms enhance the tree, let our actions enhance Your kingdom. In Jesus’ holy name. Amen

Full of Light – Matt 6:22

“The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light.
Matthew 6:22 (NIV)

How is the eye a lamp to the body? When the eye is focused on worldly things, we see dimly; we don’t see the light and truth of Jesus. Our eyes are like a window. When the window is clean, light comes in and illuminates the room. When our eyes focus on worldly things, the window is dirty; the light is blocked, the room dark and dim.

But when your eye is unhealthy, your whole body is filled with darkness. And if the light you think you have is actually darkness, how deep that darkness is!
Matthew 6:23 (NLV)

When our eyes are good, our bodies are full of light; helping us to perceive what is true and right. Helping us to discern the correct path.
Our eyes are the gateway to our hearts and mind. They allow us to see when people are hurting, needy, or lost. Enabling us to help others and spread the light of Jesus.
When our eyes are open, and we seek His kingdom first, our bodies will be full of light; illuminating the darkness.

How is your sight? Are you seeing things clearly; is your body filled with light?

Prayer; Our Heavenly Father, may our eyes be healthy and fixed on You. May our bodies be full of light and our actions humble and loving. Teach us to perceive what is true and right. Like the Gerbera daisy glows and reflects sunlight, let us glow and reflect Your light. In Jesus’ holy and loving name. Amen

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Do Not Be Afraid: Isaiah 41:10

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Isaiah 41:10 (NIV)

This verse has always been a go-to verse for me. This encouraging verse calms me when I am overwhelmed, gives me hope when I am discouraged, and strengthens when I am afraid. For God is encouraging us not to fear, instead to trust in Him, for He is with us, He is powerful, and no situation is greater than He is. God will support, comfort, and strengthen us. He is our ever-present help during trouble; He can be relied upon. Yes, God will uphold us with His pure, faithful, and righteous right hand.

God says, “Do not be afraid, for I am with you.” When you are overwhelmed, weak, or afraid, do you reach out to God?

Prayer; Our Heavenly Father, we thank you for being our shelter during life’s storms. You are our hope when we are discouraged and our strength when we are afraid. Teach us to bring You our fears and not be afraid. Help us to rely on You, strengthen our faith, and guide us in Your truth. Like the petals of the peony flowers are gathered together reaching upward, let us gather our fears and reach upward in prayer to You. In Jesus’ holy name. Amen

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My God will hear me: Micah 7:7

But as for me, I watch in hope for the LORD, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.
Micah 7:7 (NIV)

Micah was upset and saddened by the ungodly activities and sinful ways of the people and rulers Israel and Judea. We all have a choice to follow worldly pursuits or to move forward and trust in God. To move forward in faith, embrace truth, and let go of sinful ways. The remedy for a sinful world is to turn to God for help. For our God of mercy, power, and truth, our Savior; can and will help. As Micah says, my God will hear me. He will listen; He will receive my prayers.

Micah’s lament is as timely now as it was around 700BC. Our hope and future is God; we need to move forward in hope, faith, and prayer; God will hear us. Do you watch in hope for the Lord?

Our loving Heavenly Father, we thank You for your patience, forgiveness, and being open to our prayers hearing us. Guide us on Your path of righteousness. Teach us to embrace Your truth and direction. We wait in faith and watch in hope for You, Lord. Like the obedient plants, purple blossoms glow with sunlight, let us glow with Your light, and open our hearts to Your Word. In Jesus’ name. Amen

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Dwell in the House of the Lord: Psalm 27:4

One thing I have asked of the LORD, and that I will seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD [in His presence] all the days of my life, To gaze upon the beauty [the delightful loveliness and majestic grandeur] of the LORD And to meditate in His temple.
Psalm 27:4 (AMP)

David’s prayer and life priority were to have a deep relationship with the Lord. He was seeking to be in close communication with God; he longed to be closer to Him, for he wanted to dwell in the house to the Lord, to set up residency for all the days of his life. David longed to behold and to gaze upon the beauty, glorious majesty, of God. To be able to meditate in the gracious presence of the Lord. To take time to praise and worship His power, mercy, and grace. What a beautiful sight it will be for faithful followers to behold the beauty of the Lord.

Are you asking and seeking to dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of your life?

Prayer; Our Heavenly Father, we thank You for your grace and love. We seek to be near to You. We ask to dwell in Your house, the house of the Lord, all the days of our life. We long to experience the wonder and to behold the beauty of You, Lord. Like the beauty of butterflies and flowers brighten spring, seeking the beauty of Your kingdom brightens our days. In Jesus’ holy name. Amen

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Empowered: 2 Timothy1:7

For God did not give us a Spirit of fear but of power and love and self-control.
2 Timothy 1:7 (NET)

Paul is writing his friend and protégé Timothy. In this encouraging letter, he reminds Timothy that the Holy Spirit empowers and directs him. Power for our life comes when we rely on Christ, who strengthens us when we are weak. This power gives us energy, courage, a spirit of love, and the ability to make sound judgments. God has given us the Spirit of love which, carries us through opposition. Strength in God’s Spirit of power and His guidance for self-control. Faith in God empowers and casts out fear.

Are you empowered; do you rely on the power of God to cast away your fear?

Prayer; Our Heavenly Father, we thank you for your love and care. Teach us to seek your direction, rest in Your strength, and rely on Your power. Lord empower us, strengthen us when we are weak. Let us embrace your Spirit of power, love, and self-control. Like the three camellia blossoms are open and closely gathered on the branch, let us have open hearts, closely gathered to the Holy Trinity. In Jesus’ Holy name. Amen

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Leave a comment or message me on the contact page. 🌺

Founded on Rock: Matthew 7:25

The rain fell, the flood came, and the winds beat against that house, but it did not collapse because it had been founded on rock.
Matthew 7:25 (NET)

In life, rain pours down, floods drench and devastate, and storm winds buffet against our houses and lives. A house founded on rock stands firm, and; a life founded on The Rock, Christ stands strong. A life dedicated to God, obedient to the Word, and guided by Christ’s teaching is not undermined or destroyed. In times of trial, faith lets us weather the storm, knowing God is with us.

Are you founded on Christ, “the Rock”? Does your faith help you weather life’s storms?

Prayer; Dear Lord, help us to grow in faith and follow Your ways. Like a house founded on rock survives the storm, a life founded on Christ can weather life’s storms. Like the rocks, shelter the red rose blossoms, let us learn to find shelter in Jesus, our rock and redeemer. Amen.

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Shelter of the Most High: Psalm 91:1

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
Psalm 91:1 (NIV)

Believers who trust in God, and have a close fellowship with Him, dwell in the shelter of the Most High. For God is the Most High, exalted above all, He reigns over the universe. God is our shelter during storms, our refuge, and our strength. Resting in the shadow of the Almighty is to rest in faith, knowing God is our shield; He keeps us safe under His wings. When we dwell in the shelter of the Most High, we can rest secure knowing that God is with us; He is our strength, hope, and salvation.

When your day is overwhelming, where do you find rest? Where is your safe place? Do you reach out to God to rest and dwell in the shelter of God Almighty, the Most High?

Prayer; Our Heavenly Father, we give thanks for Your protection and grace. Help us to grow in faith and have a closer relationship with you. Teach us to release our worries to you to dwell in the shelter of (You) the Most High, and to rest and find peace in Your shadow. Like the beauty of the begonias and artemisia, growing, closely together, let us grow in faith, drawing closer to You, finding rest in Your shadow. In Jesus’ holy name. Amen

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