Month: July 2020

Do What It Says

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It is one thing to read or listen to the Word of God…it is the next step in your faith journey to do what it says.  We can go our whole lives reading the bible and listening to God’s word in church and if we never put it into practice in our lives…what have we accomplished?  The bible is filled with Action words and many of them came directly out of the mouth of Jesus Christ.  We are to go and do what He commands us to do.  May His peace go with you.  Amen.

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

John 13:34-35

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“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.”

James 1:22-25

(This photo was taken in July of 2016 on Beartooth Pass in Montana)

God Knows

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No matter where you have been…no matter what you have done or left undone…God knows.  We may feel alone or trapped in our lives due to circumstances around us…don’t believe the lies that Satan is telling you…God knows about you…God loves you…He knows about everything and He knew it when He sent His Son to die for you.  You are not alone…God is with you and God loves you.  Turn towards God in faith and pray.  Amen.

God Only Knows by for King and Country

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

Psalm 103:8

(This photo was taken in October of 2018 on a bridge near Winterset, Iowa)

Recharge

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Spend time alone with God in prayer.  Focus on your relationship with Him and your relationships with others.  When you pray don’t worry about using the right words, be open and honest with the Lord and speak from your heart…then sit quietly alone and listen…focusing your mind on Christ alone.  Do this every day and you will feel the nourishment of your soul, the unexplainable sensation of peace will wash over you and your spirit will be renewed.  Recharge your spirit each day and God’s peace be with you.  Amen.

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“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 4:4-7

(This photo was taken in April of 2020 at a lake near Plymouth, Minnesota)

The Cross

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Our Savior…He was flogged…He was beaten…He dragged that Cross as the crowds cursed Him and spit on Him.  He was crucified on it and took the punishment for our sins.  He died…for you and for me.  Why?  Because He loves us that much.  The best part is three days later God raised Him from the dead and Christ is alive.  We are loved, we are forgiven and it is up to us to spread the Good News…the message of The Cross.  Amen.

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“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”

1 Corinthians 1:18

(This photo was taken in August of 2016 in Mount Rainier National Park in Washington)

His Angels

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They are nearer than you think.  They are fighting for us against the forces of darkness.  They keep us safe and help guide us.  They aren’t looking for us to honor them, they do their work so that we will honor God.  When our time is up, they will usher us up to heaven.  Give thanks to God for the angels in your life.  Amen.

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“For he will command his angels concerning you
    to guard you in all your ways;
12 they will lift you up in their hands,
    so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.”

Psalm 91:11-12

(This photo was taken in July of 2018 while on a walk in a park in central Minnesota)

Gratitude

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What are you thankful for today?  Instead of stewing on what’s wrong, what you don’t have or what you can’t do…think about what’s good, what you do have and what you can do and give thanks to God for the good things and good people in your life.  Don’t be too quick to overlook the gifts and blessings God has given you because He has promised to care for you and provide for your needs (Philippians 4:19; Jeremiah 29:11; Isaiah 41:10; John14:27).  Thanks be to God for all He has done for us and continues to do in our daily lives.  Amen.

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“Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.
2     Worship the Lord with gladness;
    come before him with joyful songs.
3 Know that the Lord is God.
    It is he who made us, and we are his[a];
    we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving
    and his courts with praise;
    give thanks to him and praise his name.
5 For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;
    his faithfulness continues through all generations.”

Psalm 100

(This photo was taken in May of 2020 at Palisade Head along the north shore of Lake Superior)

Trust

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A core element of Faith.  It is usually based on the words and actions that are demonstrated to us in relationship.  It is interesting to think about how easily we trust ourselves or other people sometimes and yet we are resistant to trust God and His plan.  If anyone has made promises and delivered on them every time it is God not us.  Turn towards God for everything, trust in Him and His will and you will see the goodness of the Lord.  Amen.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
    and do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge him,
    and he will make straight your paths.”

Proverbs 3:5-6

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“Better is one day in your courts
    than a thousand elsewhere;
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
    than dwell in the tents of the wicked.
11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield;
    the Lord bestows favor and honor;
no good thing does he withhold
    from those whose walk is blameless.

12 Lord Almighty,
    blessed is the one who trusts in you.”

Psalm 84:10-12

(This photo was taken in June of 2020 at sunset on a lake in northwestern Wisconsin)

The Lord Is Good To All

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We live in a fallen world (Genesis 3) and we are surrounded by the sinful nature and our own sins.  We have been told in this world we will have trouble (John 16:33) …so we should expect it.  However, we still have hope because of Jesus Christ and His sacrifice on the Cross for us.  He has taken on all the sin of the world and has given us a Way to the Father.  Trust in the Lord, do good things because the Lord is good to all He has made.  Amen.

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

9 The Lord is good to all;
    he has compassion on all he has made.”

Psalm 145:8-9

(This photo was taken in May of 2020 on the north shore on Lake Superior)

Peace And Hope

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Our source of peace, our source of hope…only God can provide peace and hope that can endure all troubles and suffering.  The peace of Christ in your heart will hold you up through the most painful moments in your life and the hope from God will guide you on your path as events and circumstances, that you do not control, change in your everyday life.  When we are willing to be humble, to confess that we have done wrong and we turn towards God and seek Him…we will find peace we never knew existed and we will have hope we have never seen before.  May God’s peace be with you.  Amen.

“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.”

Colossians 3:15

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“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead…”

1 Peter 1:3

(This photo was taken in May of 2020 at the High Falls in Tettegouche State Park in noerthern Minnesota)

A Return To New Posts

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I hope you have enjoyed last 2 weeks as I have been going through a review of posts from the past.  I have learned how my faith has grown and my writing has changed over the years.  I will begin again today with new posts, new pictures and new perspectives…the one thing that will not change is the core message that Jesus Christ is our Savior and our Lord and the mission to know Him and to make Him known.  The journey continues…with this reminder from one of my favorite Books in the Bible:

“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”

Romans 12:12

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(This photo was taken in June of 2020 on a lake in northwestern Wisconsin)