So whatever

you wish that others

         would do to you,

do also to them.

             Matthew 7. 12

(The golden rule

is at the core of loving God

               and loving others well.

It is not that which is selfish

       but that which is self-less.

Have I even considered

           God's way in this?

Or only my own?)

Is anything

   too hard for the LORD?

               Genesis 18. 14

(Nothing lies beyond the realm

                     of His power,

no one beyond His grace,

nothing that He cannot redeem

                     for His glory.

His steadfast love reveals

   that He always has

        a more profound vision.

"Follow Me in this.")

    

You have heard that it is said,

"You shall love your neighbor

and hate your enemy."

But I say to you,

"Love your enemies

and pray for those

         who persecute you.

...For if you love those

       who love you,

what reward do you have?"

                  Matthew 5. 43-44, 46

(What makes a believer any different?

Loving others well

       is the mark of Jesus,

loving even those who disagree with you,

even those who do not love you back,

even those you do not like.

Our intimacy with Christ

impacts our relationship,

our love,

even our attitude

           toward others.

Jesus empowers me

    to see others with a deeper love.)

And I will make of you a great nation,

and I will bless you

and make your name great,

so that

       you will be a blessing.

                  Genesis 12. 2

(God's favor is the means

of loving others well

and pointing others to Him.

A blessing is never selfish

    but the provision to be selfless,

to know Him more

             and make Him known.)

Bear fruit

  in keeping with repentance.

            Matthew 3. 8

(Your life should look very different

because you are forgiven

and free to love others,

      even the really difficult ones.

What does redeemed look like,

      what does redeemed do

   in this impossible situation?

Soli Deo Gloria.

   For the glory of God alone.)

The voice of one

     crying in the wilderness:

Prepare the way of the LORD;

make His paths straight.

            Matthew 3. 3

(Faithfulness to God

always prepares

the way of the LORD

   in the lives of others.

Even in a bleak place,

even among the rebellious,

people are always watching,

not to see if you are perfect

   but to see if God is real.)

He is like a tree
planted by streams of water
that yields its fruit
         in its season,
and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does,
        he prospers.

            Psalm 1. 3

(Plant yourself
         in God’s Word,
abide in Him,
and He will bear fruit
       in its season,
and ripen it
       in His timing,
not dependent
on favorable circumstances
   but on His unfailing love.
Faithfulness to God
impacts everyone around us
and generations yet unborn.)

May God bless you
in a million dimensions
    in this new year.
He is the God
    of new beginnings.