Our Source Of Hope And Joy

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“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who[i] have been called according to his purpose.”

Romans 8:28 NIV

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

Romans 15:13 NIV

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“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we[a] have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we[b] boast in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we[c] also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.”

Romans 5:1-5 NIV

(This photo was taken along the North Shore of Lake Superior)

Peace

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 “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

John 14:27 NIV

Peace

Peace that surpasses all understanding

Peace

Peace when the unexpected happens

Peace when life is going off the rails and we don’t know what to do

Peace when we start to compare ourselves and our lives to others

Peace when we get hurt by others words or actions

Peace when money is tight

Peace

Peace when we are enjoying the moment

Peace when the outcome goes our way

Peace when we focus on gratitude

Peace…His peace

“…being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 1:6 NIV

(This photo was taken at a lake in northwestern Wisconsin)

When Doubts Arise…Faith Can Overcome

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“Come,” he said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”

Matthew 14:29-31 NIV

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“20 He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” [21] [a]“

Matthew 17:20-21 NIV

(This photo was taken on Lake Superior near the Apostle Islands)

God’s Faithfulness

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“Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments.”

Deuteronomy 7:9 NIV

No matter what circumstances we encounter in life…

God is with us and God is for us

Even when we don’t see Him or the work He is doing in our lives…He is near

Every promise God made has been kept…

He is faithful and His only promise yet to be fulfilled is when Christ returns

Trust in the Lord and His Word…

He is trustworthy and faithful in everything

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“The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

Deuteronomy 31:8 NIV

(This photo was taken at a field near Kimball, Minnesota)

God’s Presence

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“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
    I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
2 When you pass through the waters,
    I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
    they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
    you will not be burned;
    the flames will not set you ablaze.
3 For I am the Lord your God,
    the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;”

Isaiah 43:1-3 NIV

Father God, we know that You are near

We know that You are faithful and good

You are with us on our best days, and You carry us through the worst

You are our protector and our guide

Please continue to show us how You are working in our lives and in the lives of those around us

Help us keep our focus on You and to be a witness to Your work in the world

In Jesus name, Amen

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“So do not fear, for I am with you;
    do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
    I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Isaiah 41:10 NIV

(This photo was taken at a lake in central Minnesota)

Growing In Faith

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“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord,
    whose confidence is in him.
8 They will be like a tree planted by the water
    that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes;
    its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought
    and never fails to bear fruit.”

Jeremiah 17:7-8 NIV

Father God, I want to submit to You

Please fill my mind with thoughts that honor You and other people

Guide me to speak in a way so that my words can bring life and encouragement to others

Transform me into a new person by helping me grow from the inside out

In Jesus name, Amen

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“Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.  But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.

He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither.  Whatever he does prospers.”

Psalm 1:1-3 NIV

(This photo was taken while driving on Beartooth Pass in Montana)

God Is Greater Than __________

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“The temple I am going to build will be great, because our God is greater than all other gods.”

2 Chronicles 2:5 NIV

Feel free to finish that title with anything you want…God is greater

No matter what you can think of, our God is greater

This means whatever is on your mind, whatever is pulling on you or keeping you distracted, whatever burden you are carrying…

God is greater than that issue, that problem, that worry, that concern, that guilt or shame

It doesn’t matter if we are are talking about the past, the present or the future…

God is greater than all things and He is with you right now

What is it that you need to remind yourself that God is greater than?

Turn towards Him, talk with Him and trust in Him

“If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.”

1 John 3:20 NIV

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“You will keep in perfect peace
    all who trust in you,
    all whose thoughts are fixed on you!”

Isaiah 26:3 NIV

(This photo was taken at a lake in central Minnesota)

God Is Love

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“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.”

1 John 4:8 NIV

“Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.”

1 John 4:11 NIV

GOD is Love

God IS Love

God is LOVE

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“God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. 17 This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. 18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

19 We love because he first loved us. 20 Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. 21 And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.”

1 John 4:16-21 NIV

(This photo was taken in Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado)

Freedom Isn’t Free

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“You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh[a]; rather, serve one another humbly in love. 14 For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”[b] 15 If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.”

Galatians 5:13-15 NIV

Freedom requires humility, sacrifice and a willingness to put the needs of many before one

Freedom is the result of human beings working together for a common cause…not by shouting and trying to tear others down

  Freedom is earned through courage and a belief in something greater than self

Jesus Christ is the one who provided the example of sacrifice and the willingness to forgive…

We all would do well to read about Him and His example of love

Jesus paid the price for our sin so we could be free to love one another

Time to put down the flaming arrows of hate and to serve one another in love

Thank you God, for Jesus sacrifice and for all the people who serve and have served in the military services of this country…

Thank you for their willingness to put themselves in the line of fire so others can prosper

I give thanks for them and their families that have sacrificed so much in the name of freedom for all of us

In Jesus name, Amen

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“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.  Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.”

Philippians 2:3-4 NIV

(This photo was taken at Mount Rushmore National Memorial)

Faith Over Fear

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“So do not fear, for I am with you;
    do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
    I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Isaiah 41:10 NIV

“For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.”

2 Timothy 1:7 NIV

We all have a choice in how to respond to events and circumstances in our lives

We can choose to let the world and our flesh lead us down the path of fear and anxiety

Or we can trust in God and His promises

He is the Creator of all things and He is greater than anything we encounter in life

Choose Faith over fear

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“Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. 14 Do everything in love.”

1 Corinthians 16:13-14 NIV

(This photo was taken in Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming)