Jesus is the Evergreen Cypress Tree

Hosea 14:8

"O Ephraim, what have I to do with idols?
It is I who answer and look after you.
I am like an evergreen cypress;
from me comes your fruit."

"I will be like dew for Israel: he shall blossom like the lily."  (Hosea) - Blossom/Restoration comes from Jesus.

Do not be afraid of them or of anything

Matthew 10:29-31

"Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father.  But even the hairs of your head are all numbered.  Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows."

No fear, No worry, No doubt.

Seekfirst.blogspot.com

Seek always the face of the Lord

Hosea 10:12

"I said, ‘Plant the good seeds of righteousness, and you will harvest a crop of love. Plow up the hard ground of your hearts, for now is the time to seek the LORD, that he may come and shower righteousness upon you.’
(Hos 10:12 NLT)

Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.  (Matthew 6 :33)

The House of Israel trusts in the Lord

"Our God is in heaven
and does whatever he wills.
Their idols are silver and gold,
the work of human hands."  (Psalm 115: 3 - 4)

Everyone who trusts in silver and gold shall be like them.  (Psalm 115)

Behold the Woman

Matthew 9:20-22

"And behold, a woman who had suffered from a discharge of blood for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment,  for she said to herself, “If I only touch his garment, I will be made well.”  Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, “Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And instantly the woman was made well."

"With God, all things are POSSIBLE. " (Mark 10: 27)

Yoke tailor made to fit exactly

Matthew 11:28-30

"Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Your yoke, your burden is yours.

For everything there is a season

Amos 9:14

"I will restore the fortunes of my people Israel, and they shall rebuild the ruined cities and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and drink their wine,and they shall make gardens and eat their fruit."

"A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance." (Ecclesiastes 3:4)

Mercy and Not Sacrifice

Matthew 9:12-13

"But when Jesus heard it, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.  Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Lord Jesus, show us your mercy today.

My Lord and my God

"So the other disciples said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nail marks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”  (John 20: 25)

Doubt no longer, but believe.

Don't be tired of doing good

Amos 5:14

"Seek good, and not evil,
that you may live;
and so the Lord, the God of hosts, will be with you,
as you have said."

“Today, if you hear his voice,
do not harden your hearts."  (Hebrews 3: 15)

Storms of Life and Trust in Jesus

Matthew 8:25-26

"And they went and woke Jesus, saying, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing.”  And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm."

«Fear is useless; what is needed is trust» (Luke 8:50, Mark 5:36)

No fear, no worry, no doubt!

The Cost of Following Jesus

Matthew 8:20

"And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.”

Jesus became poor for us.  No home, no donkey, no servant.

The Lord delivered me from all fears

2 Timothy 4:17-18

"But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me.... So I was rescued from the lion's mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen."

"Taste and see that the Lord is good."

Immaculate Heart of Mary

Luke 2:19

"But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart."

"All generations shall call me blessed."  (Luke 1:48)

The Sacred Heart of Jesus

"“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for your selves.  For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.”

"Forget not all His benefits."  (Psalm 103: 2)

Build your life on the Rock

"“Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock.
The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house.s But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock."  (Matthew 7: 24 -25)

Jesus is the Rock.  If you build your life on Jesus, come what may, you will stand.

By their fruits you will know them.

"“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but underneath are ravenous wolves."  (Matthew 7: 15)

Fruits of the Spirit:  "Charity, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generosity, gentleness, faithfulness, modesty, self-control, chastity."

They believed not in the Lord their God

"The LORD warned Israel and Judah by every prophet and seer: Give up your evil ways and keep my commandments and statutes, in accordance with the entire law which I enjoined on your ancestors and which I sent you by my servants the prophets."  (2 Kings 17:  13)

Save us Lord from the hardness of heart.

God fed you with manna

"He therefore let you be afflicted with hunger, and then fed you with manna,c a food unknown to you and your ancestors, so you might know that it is not by bread alone* that people live, but by all that comes forth from the mouth of the LORD."  (Deuteronomy 8:3)

What is manna?  Pure Grace / Divine Providence

Prayer is the key

"God is very ready to give us His help, but we must ask for it in prayer.  It is the lantern which lights our way to eternity." (St Alphonsus Ligouri)