Do Not Seek Revenge

“‘Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.'" — Leviticus 19:18 

Today is our bluegrass Sunday at church.

And afterward, we have a courtyard fellowship with more bluegrass music plus pies!

So I spent the morning baking pies for the fellowship time and for our friends who share their fresh fish with us.

Blueberry and cherry. Yum!

This verse hit home with me last week as I was struggling with a colleague who has not been treating people well.

Even so, God really convicted me about not holding a grudge.

And not excluding them when we invite others to join us to celebrate our anniversary in October.

It's so easy to hold a grudge.

But God commands us to love our neighbor as ourself. Even when they don't treat us well.

Help me, Lord, to obey.

Anyone Who Loves God Must Love Their Brother

And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister. — 1 John 4:21 

God has commanded us to love others.

Sometimes it's hardest to love those who are members of our earthly families.

But God reminds us that anyone who loves God must also love their brother.

Not just their brothers in Christ.

And anyone who loves God must also love their sister.

Even if we don't get along.

Even when we don't agree.

We show our love for God by. how we show our love to others.

Even when it's not convenient.

Even when it's not part of my plan or I have other things to do.

Or other places to be.

Help me, Lord, to love you with all of my heart and mind.

Praise from People

We were not looking for praise from people, not from you or anyone else, even though as apostles of Christ we could have asserted our authority. — I Thessalonians 2:7 

I often look for praise from people.

I am really pleased when they tell me what a great job I'm doing.

Even though God asks us not to look for praise, I can't resist.

Paul truly was not looking for praise from people.

As an apostle of Christ, he certainly could have asked for praise.

But when people praised him, he gave the glory to God.

Lord, please help me to do the same.

Obey Jesus' Teaching

Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. — John 14:23

It is not always easy to obey Jesus' teaching.

Especially since I don't even know the whole Bible by memory.

Even so, He asks me to get to know His Word, and I try to read it every day.

His Word guides me in the way I should go.

And His Holy Spirit lives inside me to guide and direct my thoughts and actions.

To convict me when I start down the wrong path.

And to keep me humble.

One way I can show my love to Jesus is to obey His teaching.

Help me, Lord, to obey.

Great Is His Unfailing Love

Though he brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love. For he does not willingly bring affliction or grief to anyone. — Lamentations 3:32-33

God's love is unfailing. It never ends.

Even though he brings grief our way, He also shows us compassion.

My friend just had a very close friend who died.

That is so hard, and causes such grief and sadness.

God does not willingly bring affliction or grief to anyone.

But we live in a sinful world, and grief is part of that.

So is affliction.

Even so, we can say, "Blessed be the Name of the Lord."

So great is His unfailing love.

Today we celebrate Abby's birthday. 

God's love is great.

The New Creation Has Come

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!  — 2 Corinthians 5:17

Now that I follow Christ, my old sinful and dirty self is being put aside.

The old has gone. 

The new is here!

If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation!

Sunday I made strawberry sorbet. 

It turned out a bit soft so it's now hardening in the freezer.

Even so, it was very tasty. 

I topped it with a sprig of mint from our garden.

My next recipe will use coconut cream.

We'll see which version we like best with a taste test.

Just as the strawberries became new when I made them into sorbet, how much more is God transforming me into a new creation!