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John 14:15-21 "If you love me, keep my commands. " John 14:15. Jesus said, "if you love me, keep my commands ". He also said, "I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and will be with you forever--the Spirit of truth ". It is by the work of the Spirit, who is with us and in us that we can learn to obey Jesus and keep His commands.

1 Thessalonians 2:1-4 "We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts. " 1 Thessalonians 2:4. What does it mean to seek God's approval? It involves two things - turning from the desire for the praise of others, and allowing His Spirit to make us more like Christ, the One who loved us and gave Himself for us.

Matthew 6:6 "When you pray,go into your room close the door and pray to your father, who is unseen." Then our Father sees what is done in secret. For he knows what we need before we ask Him. God assures us He hears and cares about every single spoken and unspoken prayers.

1 Chronicles 29:6-16 "The earth is the Lord's , and everything in it." Psalm 24-1 When King David received offering from the people of Israel for building the temple in Jerusalem, he prayed, "But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand. " "...all of it belongs to you ". In Deuteronomy 8:18 - even "the ability to produce wealth " and earn a living come from Him. Understanding that all we have is borrowed, encourages us to loosen our grip on the stuff of this world and live with open hands and hearts - sharing freely because we are thankful for the kindness we receive daily. Our God is a generous giver, so loving that He even gave up His Son "for us all " . Because, we have been given so much, may we give Him our heartfelt thanks for blessings small and large.

Psalm 91:15 "He will call on me and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honour him." God is our assurance that we are always in His presence.

Luke2:19 "But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart." When we struggle to understand the meaning of what's happening in our lives, we have Mary's wonderful example. God chose Mary for a special assignment and Mary humbly accepted it. She knew her assignment was based on God's guidance and not on merit. We are blessed when we, like Mary, surrender to His will and obey His call. Our obedience to God will guide us through the unknown and draw us closer to Him.

John 3:9-21 "For God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. " John 3:17 Jesus' invitation to believe in Him in verse 16 is followed by these, "For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. " Instead of being agents of condemnation, we should be ambassadors of God's love and mercy.