Long life is in wisdom's right hand;

In her left hand are riches and honor.

Her ways are pleasant ways

And all her paths are peace.

She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her,

And happy are all who hold her fast.

Proverbs 3:16-18

kit: Owl Kingdom by Dawn Inskip

But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day.  2 Peter 3:8

kits by Mandy King:  Beautiful One, Anticipation; brushes: Spring Bouquet by Kristmess

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Romans 12:9

In our nation, we seem to be swinging wildly between two extremes, neither of which is true:  1) God loves sin, and 2) God hates sinners.  The truth of the matter is in the middle: God loves people, but He hates sin.  We are to speak the truth in love.  There is no verse in the Bible that defines love as telling people what they want to hear instead of the truth, nor remaining quiet when there is an opportunity to share what God's word says on a subject. 

For You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness; No evil dwells with You.  Psalm 5:4

Let those who love the LORD hate evil, for he guards the lives of his faithful ones and delivers them from the hand of the wicked.  Psalm 97:10

For if you forgive others their sins, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.  Matthew 6:14

Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. ...With the Lord’s authority I say this: Live no longer as the Gentiles do, for they are hopelessly confused. Their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against him. They have no sense of shame. They live for lustful pleasure and eagerly practice every kind of impurity.  Ephesians 4:14-15, 17-19

background paper, carved wood frame: Assemblage by Marta van Eck; texture by me; clock: free stock photo