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
