Month: January 2016

Don’t Give Up

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There are many paths in life to choose from…don’t give up on loving others and doing good as Christ has instructed us to do.

“Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked.  A man reaps what he sows.  The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.  Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.  Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.”

Galatians 6:7-10

(This photo was taken in Rocky Mountain National Park in the summer of 2013)

Family First

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“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.  Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.”

John 15:12-13

(This photo was taken in the summer of 2013 near Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado while on a Family road trip)

Fruitful Living

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“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  Against such things there is no law.”

Galatians 5:22-23

(We were able to take this photo in May of 2013 on a lake in NW Wisconsin after many years of attempts and practicing Fruits of the Spirit such as peace, patience, faithfulness and self-control)

The Cheerful Giver

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“Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.  Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

2 Corinthians 9:6-7

(This photo was taken in the summer of 2013 near Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado)

Our Foundation

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“The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge.  He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.”

Psalm 18:2

(This photo was taken while on a mission trip during the summer of 2015 near Red Rocks Amphitheater in Colorado.)

He Can Do All Things

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“Praise the Lord.  Praise the Lord, O my soul.  I will praise the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.

Do not put your trust in princes, in mortal men, who cannot save.  When the spirit departs, they return to the ground;  on that very day their plans come to nothing.

Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God, the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them- the Lord, who remains faithful forever.  He upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry.  The Lord sets prisoners free, the Lord gives sight to the blind, the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down, the Lord loves the righteous.  The Lord watches over the alien and sustains the fatherless and widow, but he frustrates the ways of the wicked.

The Lord reigns forever, your God, O Zion, for all generations.

Praise the Lord.”

Psalm 146

(This photo was taken during the summer of 2014 in central Minnesota)

How We Choose To Speak

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The tongue is a powerful muscle.  May our words work to lift others up…not knock them down.

“A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”

Proverbs 15:1

“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”

Ephesians 4:29

(This photo was taken during the winter of 2013 in northern Wisconsin)

Renew

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One of the hardest parts of faith is living in this world where the rat race or the climb of the corporate ladder are deemed most important by society.  Running around from here to there working longer and longer hours constantly putting pressure on ourselves to be more, to do more and to get more.  Comparing ourselves in every way to someone else…it is exhausting and the worst part of all is that takes us away from the One thing we need most…time with God.

For me the best part about a major snowstorm is it makes everyone affected slow down…live life more in the present moment of where you are, whoever you are with…nobody needs electricity to read the bible or to talk about faith with someone or better still to pray and accept our Lord and Savior into your heart and life.

Our spiritual life is just like our bodies it needs to be nourished and fed otherwise it will starve and die.  That nourishment comes from spending time in the Word, in peace and quiet and communicating with God.  I pray we all make time to feed our faith so it can grow.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”

2 Corinthians 5:17

(This photo was taken 2 years ago after a major storm in NW Wisconsin, that is a picnic table out on the deck.)

Have Peace Through Faith

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When Jesus was speaking to his disciples about the Holy Spirit…

“All this I have spoken while still with you.  But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.  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 14:25-27

(This photo was taken at Kanapaali beach while on the island of Maui)

Prayer

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It is not to be reserved for only for times in worship, before a meal or before going to sleep…as we work to mature on our faith journey, prayer is that communication with our Lord that we use to share our everyday moments with Him.  It gives any of us the opportunity to express our joys, moments of praise and thanksgiving as well as our sadness or struggle with people and events in this world.

This photo is a picture of the original chapel that was used when our church began in the late 1800’s.  Before this building the first families started out gathering in their homes to worship together.  Today we are across the street in a much larger brick facility with over 600 families as members and countless others who attend and volunteer…I am confident some of the prayers of those original families included that this church should grow and develop to be able to sustain the faith of many in our community.

Prayer is a gift…it is my belief that every prayer is answered…the answers may not always be what we want or what we hope for, nevertheless God still cherishes every moment we talk with Him.

“Be joyful always;  pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18