Peace in Darkness

"Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me."
- Psalm 23:4

"What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?"
- Romans 8:31

"And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
- Philippines 4:7

Matthew 24:4-8 and 35

Jesus [said]: "Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Messiah,' and will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pangs." ... "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away."

- Matthew 24:4-8 and 35

Romantic Love - Song of Songs

"How beautiful you are, my darling! Oh, how beautiful! Your eyes are doves."

- Song of Songs 1:15


"Like a lily among thorns is my darling among the young women."

- Song of Songs 2:2


#withoutacure

Forgiveness

... "And forgive us debts, as we also forgive our debtors. ... For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins."
- Matthew 6:12 & 14-15

"Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, 'Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?'
Jesus answered, 'I tell you, not seven times, but seven times seventy.'"
- Matthew 18:21-22

Peace and Joy in the Holy Spirit

"For the kingdom of GOD is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit." 
-- Romans 14:17

The One ... (Luke 15:1-7)

Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. But the Pharisees and teachers of the law muttered, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them."

Then Jesus told them this parable: “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.”

-       Luke 15:1-7

The Trinity GOD is Love!

God can only be love because of the perfect union of the Trinity – Father, Son and Holy Spirit. If God was alone – meaning no Trinity – then such isolation would result in a non-loving being. And, with the lack of the existence of love, such a being would not have created the universe and the community of people on the earth. Without the community of the Trinity, there is no opportunity to express love – and love is action based. Indifference, which is the opposite of love, would not be a reason for the creation narrative. But thankfully GOD is love! (I John 4:8 & 16) His creation is evidence. Unfortunately, the creation separated themselves from the Creator by the act of disobedience. The good news is, His creation is given the opportunity to be a part of His perfect community by responding to His ultimate gift of love as described in John 3:16 & 15:13 and Romans 5:8 & 19.

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“For GOD so loved the world that He gave His only Son, whoever believes in Him will have everlasting life.”

-         John 3:16

“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”

-         John 15:13

“… GOD demonstrates His own love for us in this: while we were yet sinners [separated from GOD], Christ died for us.”

-         Romans 5:8

“For just as though the disobedience of one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.”

-         Romans 5:19

BE BOLD!

"... be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."

- Joshua 1:9

"... enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus."

- Acts 4:29-30

"If God is for us, who can be against us?"

- Romans 8:31b

Integrity and Humility

A person of integrity and humility does not need to convince others of said character with words.

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"Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity than one who is crooked in speech and is a fool."
-- Proverbs 19:1

"Let someone else praise you, and not your own mouth; an outsider, and not your own lips."
-- Proverbs 27:2

To Whom Do You Listen?

"... 'Which is right in God's eyes: to listen to you [rulers, leaders, governments], or to Him [Jesus the Messiah]? You be the judges! As for us, we cannot help but speak about what we have seen and heard.'" ~ Apostle Peter

-- Acts 4:19-20

To Equip His Church

"... Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining the whole measure of the fullness of Christ."

- Ephesians 4:11-13

"Do not quench the Holy Spirit."

- I Thessalonians 5:19

Three Are Stronger than One, or Two.

“Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves.

A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” 

– Ecclesiastes 4:12