There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. — Galatians 3:28
There is no longer Jew nor Gentile.
Neither slave nor free.
No longer male nor female.
We are all one in Christ Jesus.
Jumping for joy.
Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household. — Ephesians 2:19
And we are no longer strangers to God.
Rather, we are fellow citizens with God's people.
Citizens of a new heaven.
Members of the Lord's household.
Identified as His possessions.
Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.” — John 6:29
God calls us to do His work and to believe in Jesus.
God sent Jesus to earth for us.
To pay the penalty for our sins.
And to prepare a place for us in heaven.
Yesterday my friend's brother-in-law died after being diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer in January.
His family is grieving and my friend's sister is feeling the great loss.
But he went peacefully and is now without pain and living with Jesus his Savior.
And we are grateful.
You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. — Isaiah 26:3
Even when our minds are racing furiously.
Even when the world around us comes crashing in.
And especially when our friends and family are going through tough times.
God's peace overcomes them all.
He keeps our minds steadfast.
And we trust in Him.
For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. — Romans 12: 4-5
These members all have different functions.
In Christ we form one body, even though we are many.
Each member belongs to all the others.
And each is beautiful in its own right.
Just as this Plumeria is beautiful.
God created us for beauty too.
I love the Lord, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy. Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live. — Psalm 116:1-2
God's majesty and glory was evident in the architecture, the music, and the sculptures.
I love the Lord.
He heard my voice.
God heard my cry for mercy.
He turned His ear to me.
And He answered my cry.
I will call on Him as long as I live.
When I said, “My foot is slipping,” your unfailing love, Lord, supported me. When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy. — Psalm 94:18-19
His unfailing love surrounded me.
When I felt my foot slipping, he held me up.
When anxiety should have been great within me, I was at peace.
God's consolation brought me joy.
His right hand held me and supported me.
