Trusting

Mary trusted:

"And Mary said, 'Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.' And the angel departed from her."

{Luke 1:38}

Daniel's Friends trusted:

"'If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.'"

{Daniel 3:17-18}

What examples come to your mind?

I couldn't resist . . .

quote from somewhere online...

Blue: Trust

How much do you trust God?

"And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek you." {Psalm 9:10}

"You who fear the LORD, trust in the LORD! He is their help and their shield." {Psalm 115:11}

"When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?" {Psalm 56:3-4}

"Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us." {Psalm 62:8}

I'm afraid the answer is not enough. But the more God draws me to Himself, the more I see how worthy He is to be trusted. I'm still a work in progress, climbing higher. How about you?

Aqua...

pardon the bars...this is a Fairy Blue Bird
from the Omaha Zoo a few years ago :)

For everyone else, this is aqua week.

For me and 80 other people from my church, this is teen camp week. :) I'm super excited ~ this is my first camp experience and am honored to be a room leader! This is the first year our church has staffed our own teen camp and it will be hosted by a camp down near the Ozarks.

So while you look for aqua, I'll be looking for some fun times and hopefully a whole lot of "God-work."

Until next time...

Peaceful Lives

Because we have peace withGod, peace should show up in our lives in other ways...

We are commanded to “flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart” (II Timothy 2:22) and to “strive for peace with everyone…” (Hebrews 12:14) On the heels of “bearing with one another” and loving one another, Paul tells us to “let the peace of Christ rule in [our] hearts, to which indeed [we] were called in one body.” (Colossians 3:15)

We are instructed to leave our anxieties in the hands of our capable Father, and in doing so, we will experience “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, [which] will guard [our] hearts and [our] minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:7)

We are encouraged as Paul encouraged the Thessalonians: “Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.” (II Thessalonians 3:15)

Green : Peace

“Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 5:1)

Have you ever pondered what it means to have peace with God?

>As a Christian, I no longer am under God’s wrath. I will never know His wrath.

>One day, I will enter heaven, walk those streets of gold, and bask in the very presence of God.

“But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in His flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that He might create in Himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. And He came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. For through Him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.” (Ephesians 2:13-18)

I am brought near.

I am reconciled to God.

I have access to the Father.

I have peace.

Yellow: Joy

{16:11} 

You make known to me the path of life;

in Your presence there is fullness of joy;

at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

{21:6} 

For You make him most blessed forever;

You make him glad with the joy of Your presence.

{30:5} 

For His anger is but for a moment,

and His favor is for a lifetime.

Weeping may tarry for the night,

but joy comes with the morning.

{32:11} 

Be glad in the LORD,

and rejoice, O righteous,

and shout for joy,

all you upright in heart!

{33:1} 

 Shout for joy in the LORD,

O you righteous!

Praise befits the upright.

{35:27} 

Let those who delight in My righteousness

shout for joy and be glad and say evermore,

"Great is the LORD,

who delights in the welfare of His servant!"

{63:7} 

For You have been my help,

and in the shadow of Your wings

I will sing for joy.

{68:3} 

But the righteous shall be glad;

they shall exult before God;

they shall be jubilant with joy!

{92:4} 

For you, O LORD,

have made me glad by Your work;

at the works of Your hands I sing for joy.

{126:5} 

Those who sow in tears

shall reap with shouts of joy!