John 15:4 Christian Standard Bible 4 Remain in me, and I in you. Just as a branch is unable to produce fruit by itself unless it remains on the vine, neither can you unless you remain in me. donut peaches grow on a peach tree branch

Remain in Me

ByMary

John 15:4 CSB Remain in me, and I in you. Just as a branch is unable to produce fruit by itself unless it remains on the vine, neither can you unless you remain in me. When it’s time to prune the peach tree, I don’t keep the branch. I keep the tree! Away from the…

a bed of yellow coneflowers All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, 25 but the word of the Lord endures forever 1 peter 1:24-25

Enduring Word

ByMary

1 Peter 1:24-25 NIV All people are like grass,    and all their glory is like the flowers of the field;the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord endures forever. I love my wildflower garden. The pops of color are a welcome sight to my eyes in the otherwise muted desert. But…

dark orange and yellow giant sunflower John 3:17 Christian Standard Bible 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

Saved By the Son

ByMary

John 3:17 CSB For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. The Word of God, The Bible, is often referred to as the Good News. Maybe we should call it the BEST News, just because of this verse. So many people associate God…

golden sunrise lights up the snow covered South Sister mountain Lamentations 3:22-23 Good News Translation 22 The Lord's unfailing love and mercy still continue, 23 Fresh as the morning, as sure as the sunrise.

Fresh Mornings

ByMary

South Sister, Three Sisters Wilderness, OR Lamentations 3:22-23 GNT The Lord’s unfailing love and mercy still continue, Fresh as the morning, as sure as the sunrise. Today, I wasn’t the best version of myself. I said things I shouldn’t have and didn’t say what I should have said. I left things unfinished and messy. I wished…

Isaiah 55:10-11 New International Version 10 As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, 11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. Red raspberries hang from their green branches

God’s Will Be Done

ByMary

Isaiah 55:10-11 NIV 10 As the rain and the snow    come down from heaven,and do not return to it    without watering the earthand making it bud and flourish,    so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth:    It will not return to me empty,but will accomplish what I desire    and achieve…

country gravel road is flanked by a very crooked split rail fence with pine trees and a dark blue and puffy white cloud sky Proverbs 10:9 New International Version 9 Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out.

A Crooked Path

ByMary

Camp Polk Nature Preserve, Sisters, OR Proverbs 10:9 NIV Whoever walks in integrity walks securely,    but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out. “You are not your sister’s keeper.” My mom knew I was coming to tell her a tale about my sister. What I didn’t know was that she had been witness to the entire…

Colossians 3:23 Good News Translation Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as though you were working for the Lord and not for people. two dark blue birds made out of sea glass rest on a branch made out of coral

Work for the Lord

ByMary

Colossians 3:23 GNT Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as though you were working for the Lord and not for people. Musician Marc Anthony says, “If you do what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life.” Easy to say, but what about changing diapers, washing a revolving door…

vibrant deep orange sunset with rolling clouds Exodus 3:14 I AM

I Am

ByMary

Exodus 3:14 GNT God said, “I am who I am. You must tell them: ‘The one who is called I Am has sent me to you.’” God is God. No one greater, no one more mighty, no one more loving, no one more – period. God asked Moses to tell his people. Are you ready to…

Psalm 103:2-5 Good News Translation 2 Praise the Lord, my soul, and do not forget how kind he is. 3 He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. 4 He keeps me from the grave and blesses me with love and mercy. 5 He fills my life[a] with good things, so that I stay young and strong like an eagle. a bald eagle is perched in the dead top of a tall pine tree against a blue sky surrounded by the green of other trees

Young Like an Eagle

ByMary

Wizard Falls Fish Hatchery, Camp Sherman, OR Psalm 103:2-5 GNT 2 Praise the Lord, my soul,    and do not forget how kind he is.3 He forgives all my sins    and heals all my diseases.4 He keeps me from the grave    and blesses me with love and mercy.5 He fills my life with good things,    so that I stay young and strong like an eagle….

Psalm 121:8 New International Version 8 the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forever jet plane and contrail are seen against a deep dark blue sky above the tip of a snowy mountain and tall pine trees

Safe Travels

ByMary

Psalm 121:8 NIV The Lord will watch over your coming and going    both now and forever When embarking on a journey, short or long, we may wish our friends and family Safe Travels. Expanding that to mean, I hope your flight isn’t delayed or I hope you don’t have a flat tire or a multitude of various wishes…