Holy

You shall be holy to me, for I the LORD am holy and have separated you from the peoples, that you should be mine.

 

 

So prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control. Put all your hope in the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world. So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then. But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.” And remember that the heavenly Father to whom you pray has no favorites. He will judge or reward you according to what you do. So you must live in reverent fear of him during your time here as “temporary residents.”

Leviticus 20:26 & 1 Peter 1:15-17

 

 

It is so hard to remember that this life is but a mere breath before the thousands of years of eternity and how dearly God wants to draw us to himself.

 

 

I often want people's approval far more than God's approval. However, It is deeply satisfying to live holy life, a life approved of by God with Jesus's grace. As Christians, we are supposed to be different, like this white American Sweetgum. We're supposed to stand out with joy in culture where joy is so rare to see.... And who doesn't want to be happy? We don't have to be perfectly holy to stand out. We just need to honestly pursue God with all our heart and the Holy Spirit will provide the right lighting for us to shine

 

Joyful are those who obey his laws and search for him with all their hearts (Psalm 119:2)

 

 

I’m pretty sure this a Sweetgum but not 100%, does anyone think it could be anything different?

Done