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Faith, hope and love

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 “So faith, hope, love remain, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” 1Corinthians 13:13 If you want to learn what true love is, sit with the Bible. Read the Bible and bring it into your heart so that you may know and live faith, hope and love. Gardens are at that point where some of the beds can be pulled, and earth worked to be put to rest for the season. I like seasons as they mark life’s journey through a connection with earth. They also remind me of faith, hope and love. Each season brings their good points and each season bring difficulties. I plant in the spring and hope that there will be a harvest. I have faith that if I work my gardens they will produce. This isn’t always the case, but I love being able to do this. I love that I can be part of nature. Faith in a person, hope for them and love for them can help us to be part of community. Lord, today I look at where I find faith, hope and love. I pray I can trace that thread back to you and it links me to you alw...
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Mary

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  John 19:25-27 “Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.” Take Mary home today. There was a saying “what would Jesus do” but for me, I always wondered what would Mary do. As a wife and mother my life has become about: students were my kids, peers deserved the respect given to a spouse… bringing Mary home means having the lens as a wife and mother…in all that we do. Lord, help us to reflect on the qualities of a good and loving parent today. Guide us in areas that we need to be more like Mary. Provide courage to say yes like Mary and do your will as spouse and parent on the path….amen.
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Forgiveness

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  Forgiveness isn’t meant to be easy. No, it dwells in the recess of the heart. Forgiveness implies that the dept is paid and there is no need for the sin to continue to show “on the books.” Our memories and our minds have locked in the sin and to have that erased is difficult. Yet true forgiveness allows for a harden heart to see the sin in new light. The lessons learn, the strength drawn from…and the debt paid. Matthew gives an example: “His master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you your entire debt because you begged me to. Should you not have had pity on your fellow servant, as I had pity on you?” Matthew 18:32-33 God has forgiven our entire debts and expects us to forgive as God has modeled. True love allows for the recess of the heart to overshadow the unforgiving memory of the mind. What in your life needs for forgiveness? Unfold your heart, exposing the recess to allow for total forgiveness in areas of need. This allows for freedom from what h...
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Pruning

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 “A good tree does not bear rotten fruit, nor does a rotten tree bear good fruit. For every tree is known by its own fruit. For people do not pick figs from thornbushes, nor do they gather grapes from brambles. A good person out of the store of goodness in his heart produces good, but an evil person out of a store of evil produces evil; for from the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks.” Luke 6:43-45 I picked these verses because as you know, I have my “urban” orchard. A cross my backyard line I have 5 apple trees, 5 pear trees, 2 peach trees and a plum tree. My apple trees are producing, but I am waiting for the others which can take up to five years. Each year I prune these trees to get rid of any “suckers,” dead growth or unwanted branches so that I can maximize the growth and fruit. The heart of my trees is the fruit for which they will bear. I look forward to when the orchard is in full swing. These trees remind me to look at the fruit I have bear and will bear. What ha...
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Survivors

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 In life, we can either have a victim mentality or a survivor mentality. Bad things happen. It seems to be a part of everyone’s life. Here is an article that defines the difference between victim and survivor. https://ahmdshin.substack.com/p/survivor-mindset-the-opposite-of?utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=web My goal is to help in processing through and have tools to move forward. Today we remember a national tragedy, but I pray we remember as survivors. Never forget the lives lost, but never forget the lessons we learn, the strength that pulled a nation through. Scripture tells us in several places to love our enemies. Matthew 5:44-48 states: “But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing tha...
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Judging

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 “Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven. Give and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap. For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you. ” Matthew 6: 37-38 Last night NFL football started. Ahh the “Monday morning quarterback” syndrome begins. This syndrome is indicative to how we judge others. You should of…You could of…boy that wasn’t your best decision…the quotes go on. Yet we don’t know what’s going on for the person or why they decided what they did. Perhaps the person is “kicking” themselves for the decision and being judged only adds salt to their wound. Instead of judging, perhaps we can just walk with someone. If needed using love and gentle guiding help a person to get on the right path. I try to have the last line in my head so that when I begin to judge I am reminded we are...
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Burdens

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 “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:2 What is a burden to you? The term burden has a negative connotation to it, doesn’t it? Yet a burden can be an obligation that you need a break from. A burden can be just figuring out lunches every day for work or school. Burdens. Maybe today you just need a break from…Galatians reminds us that we need to help each other out. Shoulder a burden today. Lord grand us clear vision to help someone out. If we are in need of relief grant us courage to ask for help. May our burdens be shouldered today, and may they become moments of your grace on the path…
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