Peace of Christ: Colossians 3:15

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.
Colossians 3:15 (NIV)

To let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts we need to have and maintain a relationship with God, to have a thankful, loving heart toward God a sense of unity with Him and our neighbors. To have faith in the Lord, His Word, and to trust Him always. It is an open door a choice for us to decide often moment to moment which path, to embrace ours or the Lord’s. His peace is always available.

In life, we are faced with numerous choices daily and often are stressed out looking for peace. Where do you turn to when you are confused or making decisions and need peace? Does the peace of Christ rule in your heart?

Prayer: Our heavenly Father, we praise and thank you for your love, patience, and forgiveness. Teach us to turn our faces and hearts toward you to follow Your path and to find the peace of Christ. Like the white blossom of the iberis grow close together, teach us to draw close to each other, and grow in compassion, love, and peace. In Jesus’ holy name. Amen

Loving Grace: Ephesians 2: 4-5

Guzmania Bromeliad

The Guzmaina plants absorb their nutrients from above. The roots only anchor it to what it is growing on rocks or trees.

⁴But God, being rich in mercy, because of his great love with which he loved us, ⁵even though we were dead in offenses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you are saved!
Ephesians 2:4-6 New English Translation (NET Bible)

God is rich in mercy, great in forgiveness, and amazing in grace. He loves us with unconditional, unending love. We have sinned, ignored God, and rejected His word. However, with merciful love, God has forgiven our sins and brought us salvation through His son Jesus, who died for our sins. By the grace of God, we are saved! Glory be to God!

Who do you know that needs God’s love and grace?

Prayer: Our Father, we are in awe of your care and love for us. Like the Guzmania absorb their nutrients from above and gets support from the rock, help us to reach to You for guidance and lean on You for strength and support. We praise you for forgiving our sins, giving us hope and saving us by Your grace. In Jesus’ holy name. Amen

Pure Heart: Psalm 51: 9-10

Montauk Daisy

9 Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity. 10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Psalm 51: 9-10 New American Standard Bible

God, make a fresh start in me, shape a Genesis week from the chaos of my life.
Psalm 51:10 The Message

When we make ourselves available to God’s direction, and start afresh, with a renewed spirit and open hearts. Then God will blot out our iniquities and create in us a pure heart. God is waiting to build us anew have a Genesis (creation) week to transform our lives. So we are a new creation transformed by God.

Where do you need to start fresh, with a pure heart and be renewed with God’s steadfast spirit?

Prayer: Dear Lord, we thank you for your grace and forgiveness help us to make a fresh start create in us a pure heart. Like the Montauk daisy reaches toward the sun, let us reach out to You and be renewed with a steadfast spirit and shine in Your love. In Jesus’ holy name. Amen

Possible: Matthew 19:25-26

Snapdragon blossoms

²⁵When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?” ²⁶Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
Matthew 19:25-26 (NIV)

²⁵The disciples were staggered. “Then who has any chance at all?”²⁶Jesus looked hard at them and said, “No chance at all if you think you can pull it off yourself. Every chance in the world if you trust God to do it.”
Matthew 19:25-26 (The Message)

God is omnipotent all-powerful, with God all things are possible. God alone can save sinners, and give them eternal life. Yes, all things are possible with God, but we must learn to submit to Him to His plan. Trust Him to do what is best for us. For, nothing is impossible when our trust is in God.

What worries are keeping you from trusting God, through whom all is possible?

Prayer: Dear Lord teach us to rely on You, to trust Your direction, and to follow Your path. The beauty of the snapdragon blossoms and the majesty of nature that surrounds help us perceive Your amazing power. God help us to realize that all is possible through You. In Jesus’ holy name. Amen

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)

⁸He 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

Prince of Peace: Isaiah 9:6-7

Poinsettia – Pink, White, Red

6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.
Isaiah 9:6-7

For us, a child is born, a son is given. Jesus the Prince of Peace, Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father may He open our hearts to love and peace. To find His peace of no end and feel His unconditional love. We praise and worship You, Jesus.

Have you embraced Jesus’ peace?

Prayer: Help us to be more like You, Jesus. Teach us to spread compassion, love, and hope. Prince of Peace, help us to follow your path and guide us in your truth. Like the poinsettia symbolizes the season help us to exemplify Your birth. As we celebrate Your birth help us to seek your kingdom of righteousness and justice. Amen.

May peace, joy, and Jesus’ love encompass you this Christmas.
Merry Christmas! – Jeanne 🎄

What I desire: Psalm 27:4

Clematis Vine and Flower

I have asked the LORD for one thing—
this is what I desire! I want to live in the LORD’s house
all the days of my life, so I can gaze at the splendor.
Psalm 27:4 New English Translation (NET Bible)

What I desire, is to live in the Lord’s house all the days of my life. My first response is Amen. Then when I continue and read the NIV version of this verse, it says, “to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.” Wow! Yes, this is my goal, my dream, and my hope. Can you even imagine?

Who or what has influenced your growth in the path toward God’s kingdom?

Prayer: Dear Lord, let our faith be bold and bright like the clematis flowers. Like the clematis plant twines around its support, lead us to pursue your path, and to rejoice in your splendor. Lord help us obtain our desire to live in Your house all the days of our life. In Jesus’s holy name. Amen.

Do All: Colossians 3:17

Gomphrena ‘Fireworks’

Let every activity of your lives and every word that comes from your lips be drenched with the beauty of our Lord Jesus, the Anointed One. And bring your constant praise to God the Father because of what Christ has done for you!
Colossians 3:17 The Passion Translation (TPT)

Do all in the name of the Lord Jesus. Start your day and end your day with Him. Pray for His direction and His wisdom in all you do. Let your lip be drenched with the beauty of Jesus, share His love. Praise His holy name!

Prayer: Dear Lord, like the Gomphrena fireworks, flowers, shoot out in many directions, similarly, our life bursts forth in diversified directions. Jesus, help us to do all; words and deeds to Your glory. As the blossom tips appear to be rimmed in shimmering gold help us to glow and shine with Your peace and love. We praise and love You! Amen.

Delight: Psalm 37: 3-4

3Trust in the Lord, and do good;
dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness
⁴Delight yourself in the Lord,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Psalm 37: 3-4 English Standard Version (ESV)

Today delight in the Lord and do good. Praise His name and dwell in the land of faithfulness. Trust the Lord. When we delight in the Lord, He fills our heart with compasion and love.

What way do you delight in the Lord?

Prayer: Dear Lord you are our delight you bring sunshine and brightness to our days. Like these blossoms cluster together, help us to gather together to do good. The flowers are exuberance in color and form let us be exuberant in praise to God. In Jesus name. Amen.

*Special thanks to Matt at https://jesusluvsall.wordpress.com for nominating me for Sunshine blogger award. His site is great, new content daily, plus a lot of diversity, compassion, and fun.

*Special thanks also to Jacquie at https://joycottage.blog for nominating me for the Liebster Award. Her blog has great content, plus many thoughtful and encouraging articles.

Perfect Harmony: Colossians 3:14

¹²Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, ¹³bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. ¹⁴And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.
Colossians 3:12-14 (ESV)

Lord, help us to learn to practice kindness. Teach us to practice humility, meekness, and patience. Let compassion fill our hearts; love as our cloak. Lord, give us the wisdom to forgive and strive for perfect harmony.

Where in your life do you need to give forgiveness and put on love?

Prayer: Dear Lord, like these petals, turn inward toward the center help us to turn inward and be humble. Help us to be meek and patient like this immature blossom rather than brash, and worldly. Lord let your unconditional love be a model for us to clothe ourselves in love and find perfect harmony. In Jesus holy name. Amen