Rejoicing Anyway

Grass of Parnassas

Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.--Matthew 5:11-12

Kingdom Heirs

Trailing Arbutus

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. --Matthew 5:10

Child of God

Cardinal Flower

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God.--Matthew 5:9

To See God

Yellow Fringed Orchid

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.--Matthew 5:8

Mercy

Pink Turtlehead

Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.--Matthew 5:7

Hunger to Satisfaction

Squirrel Corn

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.--Matthew 5:6

Humble to Heir

Stiff Gentian

Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.--Matthew 5:5

Mourning to Comfort

Crimson Bee Balm

Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.--Matthew 5:4

Lowly to Exalted

Purple flowering raspberry

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the the kingdom of heaven.--Matthew 5:3

Shine Like Stars

Black Cohosh; Bugbane

Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.--Daniel 12:3

Awesome Creation

Indian Pink

By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.--Hebrews 11:3

Enriched

Mountain Laurel

He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion.--2 Corinthians 9:10-11a

Fountain of Life

Sweet Canada Violet

For with you [O LORD] is the fountain of life; in your light we we light.--Psalm 36:9

Eternal Kingdom

Trillium grandiflora

For He is the living God and He endures forever; His kingdom will not be destroyed, His dominion will never end.--Daniel 6:26b

Sweet Blessings

Green-headed Coneflower

The LORD your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.--Zephaniah 3:17

No Bounds

Dwarf Crested Iris

Your love, O LORD, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies. Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your justice like the great deep.--Psalm 36:5-6

Level Path

Mountain Gentian

This is what the LORD says: I will lead them beside streams of water on a level path where they will not stumble.--Jeremiah 31:9b

Steadfast

Obedient Plant

You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD is the Rock eternal.--Isaiah 24:3-4

Healing

Turk's-Cap Lily

I will heal their waywardness and love them freely, for my anger has turned away from them. I will be like the dew to Israel; he will blossom like a lily.--Hosea 14:4-5

Amazed

Sweet Betsy Trillium

LORD, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, O LORD. Renew them in our day, in our time make them known; in wrath remember mercy.--Habakkuk 3:2

Dead to Sin and Death

Dead Wild Hydrangea

We know that our old self was crucified with Him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.--Romans 6:6

Plea

Bloodroot

Continue your love to those who know you, your righteousness to the upright in heart.—Psalm 36:10

God's Glory

Long-spurred Violet

For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.--2 Corinthians 4:6

Bound by His Word

Clingman's Hedgenettle

The LORD declares, "I will betroth you to me forever; I will betroth you in righteousness and justice, in love and compassion. I will betroth you in faithfulness, and you will acknowledge the LORD."--Hosea 2:19-20

The LORD does good

Dwarf Crested Iris

...But this is what the LORD, God of Israel, says:..."I will make an everlasting covenant with them: I will never stop doing good to them, and I will inspire them to fear me, so that they will never turn away from me. I will rejoice in doing them good...."--Jeremiah 32:42

Rewards of Obedience

Showy Orchis

...But this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says:..."I will give them singleness of heart and action, so that they will always fear me for their own good and the good of their children after them."--Jeremiah 32:39

God's People

Mountain Myrtle

...But this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says:... "They will be my people, and I will be their God."--Jeremiah 32:38

Strength

Bloodroot

Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, for he has no one to help him up. Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.--Ecclesiastes 4:9-10,12

Peace with God

Wild Blue Phlox

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.--Romans 5:1-2 (NAS)

A Gracious God

Pink Dogwood

Therefore the LORD longs to be gracious to you. And therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you. For the LORD is a God of justice; how blessed are all those hwo long for Him.--Isaiah 31:18

Perfect Gift

Curtiss' Milkwort

Every good thing bestowed and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation, or shifting shadow.--James 1:17 (NASV)

Precious

Hepatica

...[Y]ou were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ. --1 Peter 1:18-19 (NASV)

Humility

Then the LORD said to Job, "Will the faultfinder contend with the Almighty? Let him who reproves God answer it." Then Job answered the LORD and said, "Behold, I am insignificant; what can I reply to Thee?"--Job 40:1-4

Spring Beauty

Virginia Spring Beauty

The Mighty One, God, the LORD, has spoken, And summoned the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting. Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God has shone forth.--Psalm 50:1-2

Eternal Life

White Trillium or Nodding Wakerobin

Jesus said, "I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me shall live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?"--John 11:25-26

Contentment

Square-stemmed Monkey Flower

But godliness actually is a means of great gain, when accompanied by contentment. For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. And if we have food and covering, with these we shall be content.--I Timothy 6:6-8 (NASV)

Pure Thoughts

Yellow Lady Slipper

Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things. --Philippians 4:8 (NASV)

Be Strengthened and Encouraged

Purple Phacelia

May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word. --2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

Faithfulness

For great is your love, higher than the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies. Be exalted above the heavens, and let your glory be over all the earth.--Psalm 108:4-5

Resting in His Love

Bull Thistle

The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.--Zephaniah 3:4

Mighty Works

Red Wasp on Golden Rod

"Look at the nations and watch--and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told."--Habakkuk 1:5

My Stonghold

Lookout Tower on Mount Cammerer

O my strength, I will sing praises to Thee; For God is my stronghold, the God who shows me lovingkindness.--Psalm 59:17 (NAS)

Glory and Praise to Him

Shooting Star

All the earth bows down to You; they sing praise to Your name.--Psalm 66:5

Majestic Wonders

Yellow Swallowtail Butterfly on Ironweed

Great are the works of the LORD. They are studied by all who delight in them. Splendid and majestic is His work; and His righteousness endures forever. He has made His wonders to be remembered. The LORD is gracious and compassionate.--Psalm 111:2-4

Spring of Living Water

Lotus Blossoms in Hangzho, China

He who has compassion on them will lead them to springs of water. --Isaiah 49:10 NAS

Jesus said, "Whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life."
--John 4:14 NAS

Morning Glory

Morning Glory

Let me hear Thy lovingkindness in the morning; For I trust in Thee; Teach me the way in which I should walk; For to Thee I lift up my soul.--Psalm 143:8 NAS

Shouts of Joy

Crimson Bee Balm at Clingman's Dome

"For you shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace. The mountains and the hills will break forth into shouts of joy before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands."--Isaiah 55:12

Sweet Fragrance

But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him.--2 Corinthians 2:14

Deeply Rooted

Passion Flower

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.--Colossians 2:6

God's Work

Columbine

For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.--Philippians 2:13