Generosity

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Give whatever you can, whenever you can, wherever you are.  Giving and being generous is about so much more than money.  We all have the ability to give…we can give of our time, we can give attention, we can give of ourselves physically to help out another, etc.  We all have been given talents and gifts.  Certain people are good at somethings while others are good at other things and when people are willing to give of their gifts good things occur for many people.  If you are unsure what you can offer, ask God: How can I help?  And pay attention for opportunities to give wherever you can.  Amen.

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“…remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ “

Acts 20:35

(This photo was taken in July of 2016 at the North Entrance of Yellowstone National Park)

 

Finding The Way

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We have choices…this way or that way…try this and say no thanks to that.  We will make mistakes, sometimes we will have the opportunity to go back and do it differently, more often we will need to do our best with where we are and what we have with us.  It can be overwhelming and deciding to not chose is also a path that many decide upon.  How do we know what is right?  How can we find out where we fit in best?  Put a relationship with Jesus Christ first in your life, every day.  Why?  Read Isaiah 55:8-9.  God knows best, He has a plan specifically for you and spending time with Him is the best way to learn about Him and His plan for life.  May the peace of the Lord be with you.  Amen.

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“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.  But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”

Matthew 7:13-14

(This photo was taken in June of 2013 near Garden of the Gods Park in southern Colorado)

The Peacemakers

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Our faith journey is a process without a ending point.  As we learn about Jesus and we read God’s Word the process begins by helping us transform on the inside…we open our hearts and minds to Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit becomes our guide.  This is not the end of the process…as we continue to learn and grow the intention is for us to have this Spirit of peace and goodness flow through us to our neighbors and others.  We are not saved just to be saved alone…we are to become a channel of God’s peace every day.  The Light of Christ should shine through us so that others can see God in who we are and what we do.  Think about it…in what other person in your life have you seen God shining through?  May we be comforted by God’s peace.  Amen.

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“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”

Matthew 5:9

(This photo was taken in June of 2016 at a lake place in northwestern Wisconsin)

Trust In The Lord

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What is an event or issue you sincerely brought to the Lord asked for Him to guide you and to take care of you and others?  What was the outcome?  It most likely wasn’t exactly the way you thought it was going to go or it wasn’t the way you wanted it to go…yet you may be thinking it all worked out in the end…it also could be that the issue worked out for the betterment of others, more than for you.  God is the God of all people.  Having a personal relationship with God doesn’t mean more things will go the way you want…it means you believe in Jesus Christ as your Savior and that you trust God even when you are unsure how things are going to turn out because you know He is working for the good in all things.  Put your trust and your hope in God.  Amen.

Find Rest by Francesca Battistelli

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“Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.  Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”

Psalm 37:3-4

(This photo was taken in July of 2019 at a lake place in northwestern Wisconsin)

Turbulence

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We are quick to conform to the world view of life and the world perspective.  Many of us believe it is bad when something unexpected happens and the world tells us this a bad thing.  This perspective has largely chosen to ignore God and His Word.  The foundation of our faith is Jesus Christ and His life, death and resurrection.  This is from God…the human race cannot conceive and complete what God’s plan is without God.  When we encounter turbulence in life and things are getting bumpy…that is the time to focus on God and pray.  Seek Him, seek wisdom and most importantly trust in Him to get you through all the moments of trouble you will encounter in your daily living.  Amen.

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“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 12:2

(This photo was taken in June of 2013 while traveling in southern Colorado)

Decisions…

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Don’t go it alone…don’t assume you have all the information…seek wisdom and knowledge…seek to understand.  So often we fail to speak with God about decisions.  We believe that God doesn’t care about this insignificant decision or event in my life…yet we know we can’t comprehend God’s infinite knowledge and the ways He is working in our life so who are we to say?  I continue to be amazed at where God shows up in life and I only realize it because I am trying to make a conscious effort to pay to attention and ask myself where did I see God today?  God is with you and He is working in your life…seek Him and His plan and ask God to help you see when you are making your decisions.  Amen.

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“Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.”

Proverbs 16:3

(This photo was taken in August of 2016 at Sapphire Point near Dillon, Colorado)

Listen

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Seeking help…it is hard to do for many of us.  First step, admit we need help.  Second step, seek assistance…first from God and from others that God puts in our lives.  If that isn’t hard enough many of us lose focus on the last step…we need to listen.  We often spend our listening time preparing our response instead of truly listening.  We can miss God’s will for us if we fail to listen.  May we all be better listeners in our daily walk.  Amen.

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“Listen to advice and accept discipline, and at the end you will be counted among the wise.  Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.”

Proverbs 19:20-21

(This photo was taken in August of 2016 at Sapphire Point near Dillon, Colorado)

Forever

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Give thanks to God for all that is good.  When we struggle or get frustrated, we can find hope in His love.  We tend to think we know what God’s plan is and we are surprised when things don’t go the way we were heading.  Spiritual growth comes from realizing we are not the leaders; we do not know better and if we are willing to listen and seek the will of the Lord, He will lead us to things we never thought possible.  Thanks be to God for His everlasting love.  Amen.

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“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever.”

Psalm 136:1

(This photo was taken in July of 2019 at a lake near Plymouth, Minnesota)

A Light

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When we become overwhelmed by sin due to anger, fear, frustrations, discouragement, loneliness, sadness or shame which are all tools of evil and darkness…the first place to look for a light is in God’s Word.  It is our light to find our way through anything life and this world throws at us.  It is knowledge, it is wisdom, it is comfort, it is strength…it encourages us and helps us to see better and most importantly it is the Truth.  We will not get all the answers and understanding until we pass on to be with the Lord…yet we will get all that we need while we are here.  May we all take time to read God’s Word and may the peace of the Lord be with you.  Amen.

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“Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.”

Psalm 119:105

(This photo was taken in July of 2018 on Lake Superior near the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore)

The Same Power

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If confess your sins and believe in Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord then the same power that rose Jesus from the grave lives in you.  Before Jesus died, He spoke about a Counselor that will come once He ascends and that this Spirit will be our guide.  Take a look at the Gospel of John 14:15-21…we are not left alone to fend for ourselves.  The Lord is with us and we must learn to trust Him and turn to Him regarding every aspect of our lives.  Believe in the power of God, surrender your plans to God and seek His plan and trust in Jesus Christ His only Son our Lord and you will find peace.  Amen.

Same Power by Jeremy Camp

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“And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.”

Romans 8:11

(This photo was taken in August of 2016 in Glacier National Park in Montana)