Love In Action

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“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

8 Love never fails.”

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 NIV

Love is more than a feeling

It is expressed in the things we think, say and do

Jesus Christ showed His love for you and me by sacrificing Himself

How can we show our love for Him and others?

Love and honor God

Love and serve one another

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“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”

1 Corinthians 13:13 NIV

(This photo was taken at a lake near Plymouth, Minnesota)

Holy Living

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“As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”[a]

1 Peter 1:14-16 NIV

How do we know what God is calling us to do?

For life decisions and direction?

If we use the world’s measuring stick of ‘what we should do’ we risk missing God’s will entirely

To follow our call is to surrender self-serving desires

To be humble and patient and to have a foundation of a faith that is built on our personal relationship with Jesus Christ

Nobody ever said it is going to be easy

We will face trouble and struggles of every kind in life

Yet if we are willing to stand firm on the foundation of faith, we will persevere

Because God is always with us, guiding and protecting us

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“For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. 8 Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit.“

1 Thessalonians 4:7-8 NIV

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

Be Transformed

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“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.“

Romans 12:1-2 NIV

Father God, make us more and more like You

We want You to know what is in our hearts, and we want You to change the way we think

Help us draw near to You and Your Word every day

We want every aspect of our lives to reflect Your glory, so please teach us how to pursue choices that lead to life

In Jesus name, Amen

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“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate[a] the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.“

2 Corinthians 3:17-18 NIV

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

Put Your Hope In God

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“Why, my soul, are you downcast?
    Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
    for I will yet praise him,
    my Savior and my God.”

Psalm 42:11 NIV

God is greater than anything we will face in this world

He is the Creator and Savior

Seek Him and His Word

Find rest for your soul

Put your hope in God

Find Rest by Francesca Battistelli

“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

John 14:6 NIV

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

His Ways…

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“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
    neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord.
9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth,
    so are my ways higher than your ways
    and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

Isaiah 55:8-9 NIV

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart
    and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways submit to him,
    and he will make your paths straight.”[a]

Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV

It’s not about you

The message in the Bible is clear you should not be at the center of your life

This is not to say that you don’t need to properly care for your mind, body and spirit that is clearly outlined in the Bible as well

However, everything that happens should not be viewed only from the perspective of self

We all have a purpose and a role in God’s story…

If you want to understand what that is, seek Him

Consider a different perspective…an eternal perspective

Trust in the Lord…His ways are higher than our ways

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“Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”

Colossians 3:2 NIV

(This photo was taken near Dillon, Colorado)

What A Beautiful Name

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“Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
    and gave him the name that is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
    to the glory of God the Father.”

Philippians 2:9-11 NIV

We are all guilty of sin, of doing things we should not do

Jesus is the one who took our punishment…

He was without sin and yet He came down from heaven to sacrifice Himself for us

We didn’t earn it and we don’t deserve it…So why did He do it?

For love…

That is how much He loves you and me and He wants a relationship with each and every one of us

He is the Savior of the world

His name is Jesus

No matter where you are of what you have done, call out to Jesus

He is waiting to hear from you

What A Beautiful Name by Hillsong Worship

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“For to us a child is born,
    to us a son is given,
    and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
    Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

Isaiah 9:6 NIV

(This photo was taken in Bighorn National Forest in Wyoming)

Humility…Perspective

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“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”

Philippians 2:3-4 NIV

“…All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because,

“God opposes the proud
    but shows favor to the humble.”[a]

6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”

1 Peter 5:5-7 NIV

When something needs to change…start with your perspective

Different by Micah Tyler

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“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.”

Romans 12:9-13 NIV

(This photo was taken along Beartooth Pass near the Montana and Wyoming border)

Draw Near To God

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“The Lord is righteous in all his ways
    and faithful in all he does.
18 The Lord is near to all who call on him,
    to all who call on him in truth.”

Psalm 145:17-18 NIV

Father God, thank You for allowing us to call on Your name!

Thank You for sending Your Son, Jesus, to rescue us from a life separated from You

Today and every day, please give us the courage to draw close to You, and to seek You with all our hearts

In Jesus name, Amen

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“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

(This photo was taken near the border between Minnesota and South Dakota)

Compassion and Grace

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“The Lord is compassionate and gracious,
    slow to anger, abounding in love.”

Psalm 103:8 NIV

“He prayed to the Lord, “Isn’t this what I said, Lord, when I was still at home? That is what I tried to forestall by fleeing to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity.”

Jonah 4:2 NIV

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“But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.”

Ephesians 2:4-5 NIV

(This photo was taken near Winterset, Iowa)