Father God, my mind is open to Your Thoughts, and closed today to every thought but Yours. I rule my mind, and offer it to You. Accept my precious gift, for it is Yours to me. Amen and Amen.
07/13/2017 OCM-83656272 {Member of ULC 9/23/22
7545620-0414Susan Ruth Robertson202004377}
At dawn’s first light, the heart must choose, to walk the path where none may lose. Before the world can claim its part, God’s Word must anchor every heart.
Seek first His kingdom, pure and true, let righteousness be what we pursue. The day may press with weight and care, but strength is found in whispered prayer.
Obedience upfront, the soul’s refrain, a steady song through joy and pain. For when His will is placed above, the day is framed in endless love.
The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment. Deceit is in the heart of them that imagine evil: but to the counsellors of peace is joy. – Proverbs 12:19-20
This reminds me of how morning verses often set the tone for the day, calling us to align our steps with God’s will before anything else distracts us. Here’s a verse that beautifully captures that spirit of obedience first thing in the morning: “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” — Matthew 6:33
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. – Romans 6:23
“The wages of sin is death”
By trusting in Him, we receive what we could never earn ourselves.
Wages are what we earn or deserve for our actions.
Sin refers to disobedience against God, whether through actions, thoughts, or attitudes.
Death here means both physical death and spiritual separation from God. In other words, sin earns us separation from the source of life.
“But the gift of God is eternal life”
In contrast to wages (something earned), a gift is freely given, not deserved.
Eternal life means not only living forever, but living in perfect fellowship with God, beginning now and continuing beyond death.
“Through Jesus Christ our Lord”
This gift is only possible because of Jesus, His death on the cross paid the penalty of sin, and His resurrection opened the way to eternal life.
The Gift Box Represents God’s grace, a gift we cannot earn, wrapped in mercy and offered through Jesus. It’s the centerpiece of the verse: eternal life, freely given. The Turtle Symbolizes human frailty and slow progress. It carries the weight of life, moving cautiously, often burdened by sin or sorrow. Yet it rests atop the gift, not by merit, but by mercy. The turtle doesn’t climb or earn; it simply receives. The White Ibis with Wings Raised A symbol of praise, purity, and resurrection. The ibis lifts its wings in worship, rising above the wages of sin. Its posture declares: the gift has been received, and the soul rejoices. White, in biblical imagery, often reflects holiness and redemption.
The turtle shows our need. The gift box shows God’s provision. The ibis shows our response, worship and gratitude.
🙂 A Morning Blessing🙂 May your day be bright and right, Let your light so shine, pure, not just polite. Be care-full, not just careful, Holding grace in every step, & kindness in every breath. Go forth as a gift unwrapped, A turtle resting on mercy, An ibis rising in praise.
But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light. Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. – Ephesians 5:13-14
This is such a powerful passage. It’s a reminder that truth and healing come when things are brought into the light, whether it’s grief, struggle, or joy. The call to “Awake thou that sleepest” feels like an invitation to renewal, to rise into clarity and hope, and to let Christ’s light guide every step.
Awake, O soul, from shadows deep,
Arise from slumber, leave the sleep.
For Light has come, the dark undone,
Christ shines within—new life begun.
I hope your day is filled with that same brightness and encouragement 🙂.
And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. – Ephesians 5:11-12
This is a powerful verse to share. Ephesians 5:11–12 is a reminder about living with integrity and light, choosing not to participate in harmful or hidden actions, but instead exposing them with truth. It’s really about courage, standing firm in righteousness even when secrecy or compromise might seem easier. Father God, guide my steps today. Keep me away from darkness and lead me into Your light. Give me strength to do what is right, & courage to stand for truth. Thank You in Jesus Precious Name Amen.
I hope your day is filled with clarity, strength, and peace.
Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. – Matthew 7:7-8
This is one of the most beautiful and encouraging passages from the Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount. Invitation to trust: It emphasizes God’s openness to those who approach Him with faith. Asking, seeking, and knocking are progressive steps of prayer and persistence. Promise of response: The verse assures that sincere requests will be answered, not always in the way we expect, but in ways aligned with divine wisdom. Active faith: It’s not passive; it calls for action. To ask is to pray, to seek is to pursue truth, and to knock is to persist until the door opens. Catholic tradition, this verse is often tied to the idea of God’s providence and the importance of perseverance in prayer.
Protestant thought, it’s emphasized as a personal relationship with God, direct access through prayer without intermediaries.
Orthodox Christianity, the passage is seen as part of the ascetic journey: persistence in prayer and spiritual struggle leads to union with God.
Resonates across traditions because it speaks to the universal human longing for connection, guidance, and hope. through Jesus Christ our Lord to all believers. This is why the heart of Matthew 7:7-8 is so enduring. I hope your day is filled with encouragement, peace, and joy as well. May you continue to find strength in the words of Scripture and feel uplifted in every step you take.
Father God, You, invite us to ask, seek, and knock, and You promise to hear our prayers. Grant us faith to trust Your wisdom, courage to pursue Your truth, and persistence to walk in hope. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, may every door we knock upon lead us closer to You. Amen.
Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. – 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
This is a beautiful passage. This is a reminder that the comfort we receive from God isn’t meant to stop with us, but to flow outward to others who are hurting. It’s a cycle of mercy and encouragement that builds community and strengthens faith. Such an uplifting verse! May your day be filled with peace and encouragement, and may you find opportunities to pass that comfort along to others 🙂
And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. – Revelation 21:3-4
This is such a powerful passage. Revelation 21:3–4 is one of those scriptures that feels like a promise carved into eternity, God dwelling with His people, wiping away every tear, and making all things new. It’s a vision of restoration, comfort, and hope that speaks directly to the heart of our grief and healing.
The voice from heaven breaks through the silence, declaring a home where sorrow cannot stay. God Himself walks among His people, and every tear is gathered into His hand. The tabernacle is not distant, it is here, woven into love, into promise, into forever.
May your day carry that same assurance, that God is with you, dwelling in every act of kindness, every prayer, and every creative tribute you shape.
Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. – 1 Corinthians 13:6-8
Love (charity) is the eternal force that sustains us, even in the pauses and breaks we need. “May your day be filled with courage for each step, peace in each pause, and joy in each moment.”
“Everyone Needs a Break”
Everyone needs a break, it’s true, A quiet pause, a moment new. The world keeps turning, fast and loud, But peace is found away from the crowd.
The weary hands, the burdened heart, Deserve a chance to step apart. To breathe, to heal, to simply be, To rest in love’s simplicity.
For strength is not in endless strain, But in the pause that soothes the pain. One day at a time, the journey flows, In each break, new courage grows.
So, take the stillness, claim the space, Let gentle mercy fill its place. Everyone needs a break, my friend, A sacred pause where spirits mend.
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. – 2 Timothy 1:7
This is such a beautiful verse. It’s one of those reminders that courage, love, and clarity are gifts we’re meant to carry into every moment. I can see why it resonates with ministry and creative work; it’s almost like a mission statement for how we live: turning grief into testimony, fear into faith, and everyday acts into legacy.
Spirit of fear, You are not mine, For God has given a gift divine. Power to stand, love to embrace, A sound mind steady, filled with grace.
Grief becomes story, sorrow a song, Faith is the strength that carries along. Everyday acts, a legacy true, Christ’s gift of courage, made new in you.
May your day be filled with that same power, love, and soundness of mind this verse today is God’s gift to all who believe in Jesus Christ.
For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? – 1 John 5:4-5
This is such a powerful verse. It’s a reminder that faith isn’t just belief, it’s the very victory that allows us to rise above the weight of the world. To “overcome” here isn’t about escaping challenges but about standing firm in the truth that Jesus is the Son of God.
Born of God, we rise above, not by might, but through His love. Faith the banner, lifted high, Jesus reigns, our victory nigh. Reminder: So, victory in Jesus, my Savior, forever, He sought me and bought me with love that won’t sever. Through trials and sorrow, through joy and through pain, His blood is my banner, His grace is my gain. No power can shake me, no darkness dismay, For Jesus, my Savior, has shown me the way. The world may roar, but I stand and I sing, In Jesus, forever, I’ve victory’s wing. The line “Victory in Jesus, my Savior forever” comes from the beloved hymn “Victory in Jesus”, written by Eugene Monroe Bartlett Sr. in 1939. Bartlett was a Southern gospel songwriter and publisher who deeply influenced Christian music in the early 20th century. This hymn was one of his final compositions, written after he suffered a stroke that left him partially paralyzed. Despite his physical limitations, he penned this powerful testimony of faith and triumph in Christ—a legacy that continues to inspire generations.
I love how John ties victory directly to faith, it’s not our strength, our works, or our striving, but our trust in Jesus Christ that conquers. It’s a verse that turns the whole idea of “winning” upside down: victory isn’t about domination, but about surrender to God’s love. Have a nice day! 🙂
"Only Life Changes" 