“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 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 that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matthew 5:43-48 NIV)
A 4 year old Child‘s “art love” to an elderly doggie’s sickness and the doggie was not even hers
As I sit quietly and contemplate the depth of love from the brush of a child artist expressing her love for an invalid doggie only days away from death;
I ask myself am I coloring and painting to closely inside the drawn lines?
“If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
“Be Perfect as Our Heavenly Father is perfect!” The enemy pierced the side of his son as He hung on a cross and water and blood were poured out for ALL. Did blood drops cover His enemies as well as family and friends?
I reflected on my art of love I’m afraid I may like to stay within my lines of just family and friends that I love! It’s a bit messy outside the lines don’t you think? I wonder what it would mean if Jesus had made his decision to stay in heaven with his father and the heavenly host and their nice neat family lines of separation from his enemies?
Passion without compassion is the opposite of the teachings of Jesus? Yes? No?
Can we have one without the other? Yes? No?
Dictionary pertaining to passion and theology;
Theology.
the sufferings of Christ on the cross or His sufferings subsequent to the Last Supper.
the narrative of Christ’s sufferings as recorded in the Gospels.
Compassion, dictionary;
“a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering.”
Crucifixion of Jesus
We are in a season many Christians refer to as lent. This year the dates are, Wed, Mar 5, 2025 – Thu, Apr 17, 2025.
“The season of Lent lasts for forty days (not including Sundays). It is a time when Christians reflect and prepare for the celebrations of Easter. We often use 3R’s to daily remind us, reflection, repentance and reconciliation. “
“Christians often observe the season by choosing to give something up, whether it’s a particular food or drink, a habit, or some other behavior.”We give thought to Jesus and his 40 day fast.
“The “Passion of Jesus Christ” is the story of Jesus’ suffering, arrest, trial, and crucifixion. The word “passion” comes from the Latin word patior, which means “to suffer” or “to endure.”
Did Jesus have compsssjon for the whole world by giving us an account of His Passion for you by a symbol of The Cross in YouTube form? Or, has this story been told by eye witnesses so His story would become your story. Why did God, the Father, have so much passion for the world that His Love for humans turned into such compassion that “The Cross” became our cross? Or, has it?
And, why do we need “The Cross”? Or, do we even need the cross.
““For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (“John 3:16)
“For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” (John 3:17 NKJV)
“Then Jesus said to all of them, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me.” (Luke 9:23)
Thanks for sharing your 3R’s …reflection, repentance and reconciliation be it here, there or wherever you might be!
Tammy Holton, a friend and contributor of the Lily, just celebrated a Birthday.
She was gifted by her family a “winter” weekend to a North Carolina beach. She was kind enough to share with us through text and photos the joys of her Birthday celebration. A wife, mother, and grandmother photos were delightful as was the Birthday Cake! 🎂
Tammy, also shared a photo of a scene that often causes a pause to our souls as we bathe in what seems like a lonely winter ocean where sun bathers often shy away from!
Yet, It seems to me at times a view of the ocean on a clear winter windy day speaks volumes that I might hear only when the ocean is alone! The Psalmist might have felt the same.
“For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him.” (Psalm 62:5 ESV)
“…like a leaning wall, a tottering fence?” *Psalm 62:3 ESV
Happy February Birthday Tammy! And, thanks for the share!
“…Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John (13:34-35 NIV)
“They (we) know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them (us). For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they (we) have no excuse for not knowing God.” (Romans 1:19-20 NLT)
The LORD is a safe place for the oppressed a safe place in difficult times. (Psalm 9:9 CEB)
“The Lord is a shelter for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. Those who know your name trust in you, for you, O Lord, do not abandon those who search for you.” (Psalms 9:9-10 NLT)
Psalm 136:9: “The moon is a testament to God’s enduring love
Psalm 121:6: The moon is a symbol of God’s protective care over His people
Isaiah 30:26: The moon is depicted symbolically as reflecting the glory of God’s future kingdom”
Have you ever felt fear, doubt and unbelief? I have? There have been times I thought others to be “Light” only to find darkness. And, others have felt that way about me. Surely, we have seen times we thought we had it right and they in their blindness, like us, also thought they had it right. We close the door and lock ourselves, at least our minds, away until they agree with us. That probably will never happen.
Mind Movies running 24/7! Do we reallly want to, or know others that want to play the villain in their own movie?
We only have to open our door or even a window and look up to realize God with us! God in us! God loves us!
A few nights ago when the world news surely distorted my faith I walked my precious goldendoodle to the door and “The Moon” greeted me!
Do you have a moon story? A moon song? A moon poem? A moon…? one that has helped you to make you faith stronger?
“…the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control;” (Galatians 5)
Let Love Grow
A few weeks before Christmas, 2024, I was gifted with this beautiful “Red Amaryllis”. I was surprised that it listed, no water required. That was exciting for me. I was extremely curious will it really bloom? I have been patiently watching day by day for a bud. I have a bud just as I’m preparing for Valentine’s Day!
We, @theLily, have been sharing from Galatians 5 focusing on folllowing the guidance of the Holy Spirit and enjoying the benefits of sharing with one another.
Today, let’s think on patience? What type of things or situations have taught you patience? Some days I wondered if my amaryllis was really going to bloom since it was only sitting in my window sill growing slowly and requiring only that I “love” it enough to give it a prime sunny spot in my home.
Do I feel “joy” watching it day by day grow but slowly? Am I having “peace” in knowing I was being “loved” by the grower and then the giver. Then our scripture list, “patience”?
I thought on my joy from spotting this red bud (in photo) this morning and jumped into motion how to share with others with my little setting. I didn’t think of “kindness” at the time I created my setting for dinner! And, can hardly wait to share my battery candle lights (for safety) with my soon to be five year old granddaughter and others. Also, you by thinking of each of you that study with me and offering a prayer of gratitude!
Our next word, kindness? Am I showing kindness by sharing a bud-photo-prayer that I have patiently waited for?💛
My family and I were gifted with a apple painting from my sister-in-law, Yvonne, for Christmas 2024. She gave us a pear painting this year for my BD. They together make a very lovely setting.
Relaxing in the visual of snow outside my window and hot coffee I thought to pause and enjoy Yvonne’s art and share with you.
I feel so grateful for the beauty of fruit and artist that share their gifts and talents of art.
I’ve found fruit has a way to bring my mind quickly to its spiritual benefits. My first remembrance of an apple was found in a garden with a snake, of all things, inviting others to take a bite from the apple to become great in the world! Did the mind take a couple on an Ego trip? This story in found in Genesis 3.
Interesting story with many variations of how it’s told and believed. Yet, the Apostle Paul gives us a clear view of fruit from its natural to spiritual results. Paul writes;
“So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses. When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.” “But The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” Galatians 5: 16-23
I don’t want to incorporate the fruit of the spirit in my life I want to get well acquainted with the fruit of the Spirit!
Jesus taught in Matthew 7 that we will be known by our fruit.
Matthew 18:15 by Carolyn Larsen, The Illustrated Words of Jesus for Women
A) Have you ever followed this advice? Did you have success?
B) Has other pointed out to you your faults? If so, how did you respond?
C) Have you been a part of a church where the next level occurred? what happened?
“But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’ And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.” Matthew 18:16-17 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/mat.18.16-17.NKJV
We often read and hear about the great value to others as we tell our stories. Let’s be great story tellers in 2025!
“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” Psalms 46:10 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/psa.46.10.NKJV
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