Through Him…

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All things are possible.  When we can’t find the way forward or we don’t know what to do…we will find our way through Him.  There is absolutely nothing in this world greater or more powerful than God’s love.  Believe it…trust it.  Our hope is not found in what we can see…life in this world can be dark and seem hopeless…our hope is found in Christ and through Him we are saved.  Amen.

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“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.”

Romans 8:37

(This photo was taken in August of 2016 in Arches National Park in Utah)

 

The Promise Fulfilled

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The birth of Jesus Christ fulfills the promises made in the Old Testament.  In Genesis 3 and Isaiah 7 as well as Isaiah 53 and in other verses the Lord makes known the coming of the Savoir…a new covenant…One who will be a Light for Israel as well as the Gentiles.  Jesus came down from heaven to reconcile us with God…He sacrificed everything He had and His life as a man for you and me.  God fulfills His promises…trust in Him for every area of your life.  Amen.

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“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

John 1:14

(This photo was taken in July of 2016 in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming)

God Is Love

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Love is about more than words.  Love is about how we treat each other with our actions and our behaviors.  We all will make mistakes and need to be able to forgive as well as be forgiven.  In what relationship or situation in your life is there a lack of love?  Pray about it and ask God to guide you in love.  Amen.

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“Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.  This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.  This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.”

1 John 4:8-10

(This photo was taken in June of 2018 near the border between South Dakota and Minnesota)

In Christ Alone

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The answer to all our worries, all our fears and all our burdens is found only in Christ alone.  There is no love greater than Christ’s love…there is no sacrifice that anyone can do for us that surpasses His sacrifice.  All of our hope and strength can be found in Christ alone.  Amen.

In Christ Alone by Brian Littrell

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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

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

Life Verse

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Which one do you prefer most often?  I am finding at different times a different verse speaks most clearly to my heart and mind.  This is the wonder of God and God’s word…it is new every day.  God speaks to us through His word.  When negative thoughts come to mind or selfish and sinful ways pop up, we can cast them out by remembering and repeating a verse in our minds.  Spend time reading God’s word and finding some verses that resonate with you.  This is one of the best ways to put on the armor of God.  Amen.

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

Romans 12:12

(This photo was taken in July of 2018 on the shore of Madeline Island in Lake Superior)

One Year Ago Today…

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I received one of those calls…something has happened with Dad…it is not good…Mom is riding in an ambulance on the way to the hospital…roughly 30 minutes later…a follow-up call…Dad’s gone…

Life can change forever in 30 minutes…I am here to tell you, the only way to walk through the pain and struggles of life is with a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.  He truly carries us in the most difficult moments…if we are willing to surrender our ways and our plans for His ways and His plan…we can find peace and comfort that we never knew was possible.  Truly I tell you, our God is an awesome God…Amen.

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“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Joshua 1:9

(This photo was taken in October of 2018 at a lake near Plymouth, Minnesota)

A Light In The Darkness

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The world is filled with darkness…we all are searching for a light and a way to see more clearly…many of us have been told about The Light and some have even spent time looking towards The Light…yet often we look away and believe we don’t need it or believe that The Light isn’t really there.  Believe in Jesus Christ, He is The Light of the world.  Only He can shine as Light in this dark world…seek Him and you will see.  Amen.

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“For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.”

2 Corinthians 4:6

(This photo was taken in April of 2016 at a lake place in central Minnesota)

Get Back To God

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When we wander off in the world and go our own way, as opposed to staying connected to God, we eventually will get weary or bored and frustrated.  When what we are pursuing in life is not tied to God’s plan or God’s will for us it will become drudgery.  A personal relationship with Jesus Christ helps our spiritual awareness, we can learn to know when something is not right for us and we will have the courage to speak honestly about it.  Today’s verse below does not say ‘I can do anything I want…’, it is speaking about doing the things that God wants us to do even when we are unsure that we can do them.  Get back to God’s plan and His will and you will have peace.  Amen.

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“I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”

Philippians 4:13

(This photo was taken in March of 2018 in White Sands National Monument in New Mexico)

The Pace Of Life

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We are made to be able to meet the challenge of stress and tension when it is necessary and then to step away to rest and recovery.  The problem is we choose to stay in the stress and tension continuously and leave little time for the rest and recovery.  Rest is about more than physical rest, it is about clearing our mind of the clutter, the plans, the worries and the should haves and could haves…focus on the Lord, wait for Him, trust in Him…this will help to put burdens in perspective and give us strength each day.  May the peace of the Lord be with you.  Amen.

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“This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says:  “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it.”

Isaiah 30:15

(This photo was taken in July of 2018 on the shore of Lake Superior near Ashland, Wisconsin)

The Solid Rock

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When trouble comes and we feel run down, overwhelmed, overextended, scattered and the pace of life seems to be spinning too fast…we can find peace and be restored by leaning on Christ our solid rock.  Jesus Christ, His birth, His life and teachings, His death and His resurrection are the foundation of our faith.  Nothing that we will face in this world can compare to what we have when we believe in Him and we trust in God’s Word.  No matter what difficulties and struggles are before you today, stand firm in faith and bring your burdens to Christ.  Amen.

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

Psalm 18:2

(This photo was taken in July of 2015 at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, Colorado)