Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.
John 14:27
Fear leads to paralysis, telling us that we are nothing before the powers that bring us brokenness and pain. But Christ became nothing so that the powers that seek to overwhelm us would be subject to the calculus of God, in whom weakness becomes strength, the last, become first, and nothing becomes everything.
This is an Anhinga from Everglades National Park circa 2013
Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
Philippians 4:8
For Christians, the end never justifies the means in anything, for the end rests in God and God's promise in and through Christ Jesus. We are called not to focus on the "good we could do if" but rather that God has called us to embody God's love and to be God's ambassador here and now.
Fairchild Tropical Gardens, Spring 2012
When you search for me, you will find me; if you seek me with all your heart
Jeremiah 29:13
Snowy Egret, shark Valley Visitor's Area, Everglades National Park, January 2014
Turn again, O God of hosts;
look down from heaven, and see;
Restore us, O LORD God of hosts;
let your face shine, that we may be saved
Psalm 80:14a,19
Hawk, Shark Valley Visitor's Area, Everglade National Park, October 2014
Yet even now, says the LORD,
return to me with all your heart,
with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning;
rend your hearts and not your clothing.
Return to the LORD, your God,
for he is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love
Joel 2:12-13a
Golden Orb Spider, Shark Valley Visitor's Area, Everglades National Park, October 2014
With what shall I come before the LORD,
and bow myself before God on high?
Shall I come before him with burnt offerings,
with calves a year old?
Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams,
with ten thousands of rivers of oil?
Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression,
the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?"
He has told you, O mortal, what is good;
and what does the LORD require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,
and to walk humbly with your God?
Micah 6:6-8
Blue Heron, Shark Valley Visitor's Area, Everglades National Park, October 2014
Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony
Colossians 3:14
Along the canal at Shark Valley Visitor's Area, Everglades National Park, October 2014
But even if you do suffer for doing what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear, and do not be intimidated, but in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord. Always be ready to make your defense to anyone who demands from you an accounting for the hope that is in you.
1 Peter 3:14-15
American Alligator, Shark Valley Visitor's Area, Everglades National Park October 2014
Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet;
righteousness and peace will kiss each other.
Faithfulness will spring up from the ground,
and righteousness will look down from the sky.
Psalm 85:10-11
Goldenrod, Shark Valley Visitor's Area, Everglades National Park, October 2014
Let my prayer be counted as incense before you,
and the lifting up of my hands as an evening sacrifice.
Psalm 141:2
Colorado, October 2014
They will hunger no more, and thirst no more;
the sun will not strike them,
nor any scorching heat;
for the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd,
and he will guide them to springs of the water of life,
and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes
Revelation 7:16-17
Zebra Longwing on Spanish Needle, Shark Valley Visitor's Area, Everglades National Park, September 2014
Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?"
Matthew 14:31
Dragonfly, Shark Valley Visitor's Area, Everglades National Park, September 2014
From the rising of the sun to its setting
the name of the LORD is to be praised!
Psalm 113:3
Water lily, Shark Valley Visitor's Area, Everglades National Park, SEPT 2014
If I take the wings of the morning
and settle at the farthest limits of the sea,
even there your hand shall lead me,
and your right hand shall hold me fast
Psalm 139:9-10
Bee on Spanish Needle, Shark Valley Visitor's Area, Everglades National Park, September 2014
You search out my path and my lying down,
and are acquainted with all my ways.
Even before a word is on my tongue,
O LORD, you know it completely.
Psalm 139:3-4
Skipper feeding on Spanish Needle, Shark Valley Visitor's Area, Everglades National Park, September 2014
even to your old age I am he,
even when you turn gray I will carry you.
I have made, and I will bear;
I will carry and will save.
Isaiah 46:4
Lubber grasshoppers, Shark Valley Visitor's Area, Everglades National Park, September 2014
I will lead the blind
by a road they do not know,
by paths they have not known
I will guide them.
I will turn the darkness before them into light,
the rough places into level ground.
These are the things I will do,
and I will not forsake them.
Isaiah 42:16
Phaon Crescent Butterfly, Shark Valley Visitor's Area, Everglades National Park, September 2014
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Matthew 5:6
Skipper Butterfly, Parsonage Garden, September 2014
May I never boast of anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.
Galatians 6:14
Dragonfly, Shark Valley Visitor's Area, Everglades National Park, September 2014
So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth, for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
Colossians 3:1-3
Along the canal, Shark Valley Visitor's Area, Everglades National Park, September 2014
Return, O my soul, to your rest,
for the LORD has dealt bountifully with you.
For you have delivered my soul from death,
my eyes from tears,
my feet from stumbling.
Psalm 116:7-8
Morning dew, Shark Valley Visitor's Area, Everglades National Park, September 2014
Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
Ephesians 5:1-2
American Alligator (Mother and baby), Shark Valley Visitor's Area, Everglades National Park, September 2014
But you, O LORD, be gracious to me,
and raise me up,
Psalm 41:10:a
White Peacock Butterfly, Shark Valley Visitor's Area, Everglades National Park, September 2014
Arise, shine; for your light has come,
and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you.
Isaiah 60:1
White Peacock Butterfly on Spanish Needle, Shark Valley Visitor's Area, Everglades National Park, August 2014
From your lofty abode you water the mountains;
the earth is satisfied with the fruit of your work.
You cause the grass to grow for the cattle,
and plants for people to use,
to bring forth food from the earth,
Psalm 104:13-14
White Peacock Butterfly, Shark Valley Visitor's Area, Everglades National Park, August 2014
If then your whole body is full of light, with no part of it in darkness, it will be as full of light as when a lamp gives you light with its rays.
Luke 11:36
Dragonfly, Shark Valley, Everglades National Park, August 2014
Seek the LORD and his strength;
seek his presence continually
Psalm 105:4
Swallowtail Caterpillar on Fennel, Parsonage Butterfly Garden, August 2014
So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God.
1 Corinthians 10:31
Bee on Purple Porterweed, Parsonage Garden, August 2014
You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might.
Deuteronomy 6:5
Parsonage Garden, August 2014
'
Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?' And the king will answer them, 'Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.'
Matthew 25:37b-40
Swallowtail on Firebush, Long Key Natural Area, August 2014
Sow for yourselves righteousness;
reap steadfast love;
break up your fallow ground;
for it is time to seek the LORD,
that he may come and rain righteousness upon you.
Hosea 10:12
White Peacock Butterfly, Long Key Natural Area, Davie, Florida, August 2014
With all wisdom and insight he has made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ, as a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth
Ephesians 1:8b-10
Butterfly on Mexican Sunflower, Mounts Botanical Garden, Palm Beach, FL, August 2014
You are the God who works wonders;
you have displayed your might among the peoples
Psalm 77:14
Bee, Mounts Botanical Garden, Palm Beach, Florida, August 2014
O LORD, you have searched me and known me.
You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
you discern my thoughts from far away.
You search out my path and my lying down,
and are acquainted with all my ways.
Psalm 139:1-3
Butterfly on Purple Porterweed, Mounts Botanical Garden, Palm Beach, FL
Blessed are you who are hungry now,
for you will be filled.
Blessed are you who weep now,
for you will laugh.
Luke 6:21
Butterfly World, July 2014
A soft answer turns away wrath,
but a harsh word stirs up anger.
Proverbs 15:1
Butterfly World, July 2014
O LORD, you will hear the desire of the meek;
you will strengthen their heart, you will incline your ear
Psalm 10:17
Hummingbird, July 2014
Those who live at earth's farthest bounds are awed by your signs;
you make the gateways of the morning and the evening shout for joy.
Psalm 65:8
Mexican Sunflower, Butterfly World, July 2014
If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
1 Corinthians 13:1
At Sunken Gardens, St. Petersburg, FL, July 2014
So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!
2 Corinthians 5:17
Sunken Gardens, St Petersburg, FL, July 2014
Agrippa said to Paul, "Are you so quickly persuading me to become a Christian?" Paul replied, "Whether quickly or not, I pray to God that not only you but also all who are listening to me today might become such as I am — except for these chains."
Act 26:28-29
So we do not lose heart. Even though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day.
2 Corinthians 4:16
Caladium, Sunken Gardens, St Petersburg, FL July 2014
As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus
Galatian 3:27-28
Blanket flower, Parsonage Butterfly Garden, July 2014
For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the LORD, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope.
Jeremiah 29:11
Bulbine, Parsonage Butterfly Garden, July 2014
For
"Those who desire life
and desire to see good days,
let them keep their tongues from evil
and their lips from speaking deceit;
let them turn away from evil and do good;
let them seek peace and pursue it.
1 Peter 3:10-11
Snowy Egret, Lover's Key State Park, July 2014
For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them
Matthew 18:20
Ft Myers Beach, July 2014
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead
1 Peter 1:3
Bulbine, Parsonage Butterfly Garden, July 2014
The sun shall no longer be
your light by day,
nor for brightness shall the moon
give light to you by night;
but the LORD will be your everlasting light,
and your God will be your glory.
Isaiah 60:19
The French Broad, Hot Springs, North Carolina, June 2014
Shower, O heavens, from above,
and let the skies rain down righteousness;
let the earth open, that salvation may spring up,
and let it cause righteousness to sprout up also;
I the LORD have created it.
Isaiah 45:8
At the Wild Goose Festival, June 2014
