Community

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I am late in posting today because I went out for breakfast with two men who are my closest friends in the world.  Our time together on life’s journey began 30 years ago this fall when we all lived together when we were starting college.  We are all married, we all are Fathers and we all love the Lord.  We have grown and developed a deep love and respect for each other and we meet together to share stories, ask questions or just laugh about the things that have happened when we have been together.  The three of us are community for each other.  We all believe firmly that God brought us together to share this thing called life and we are all very thankful for our brotherhood.  It is so important to find your community whether it is big or small, to me it is a group of people where you give what you can and you receive what you need and it restores your soul to be apart of that group of people.  Thank you God for all the people that are community in my life.  May God’s peace and joy be with you.

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“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.  Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

Hebrews 10:24-25

(This photo was taken in March of 2013 at the Botanical Garden in the Bellagio in Las Vegas, Neveda)

Music, Worship And Praise

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Music has had a significant impact on my faith journey.  I began listening to Christian radio stations around Christmas time in 1998.  I think we all know the impact music can have on a person…when our favorite song of any genre is played it seems to be so powerful to us, it stirs us up in ways very few things can.  Music is a wonderful way to worship and to praise the Lord.  There are classic hymns and stirring contemporary music that can reach deep down in us and touch our lives.  The ability to create this type of music is a gift and I am thankful for people who have this gift and that they use it to honor our Lord.  Here are a few songs of praise…

God Of Wonders by Third Day

What A Beautiful Name – Hillsong Worship

Chris Tomlin – Forever

This is just a very small sample; what is your favorite song of worship and praise?

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“All the earth bows down to you; they sing praise to you, they sing praise to your name.”

Psalm 66:4

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

God’s Peace

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There will be times in life when we will be faced with our broken humanness.  It is unavoidable in this world.  We will be very conscious and aware of our inability to bring about change or peace.  These are the natural limits of our existence.  What we are not made to be able to accomplish can easily be handled by God.  The only way to achieve the peace our soul desires is to put our trust, our hope and our faith in the Lord.  Only God can provide true peace.  When we cannot see our way through or know what may or may not happen…true faith pushes on, not recklessly but faithfully in this darkness knowing that God will be there to lift us up.  Pray for God’s peace to be in your heart and continue to push on in faith.  May God’s peace and joy be with you.

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“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

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

The Good Shepherd

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The Shepherd, of all the roles on earth, we can read in several places in the bible that Jesus is the Good Shepherd (Psalm 23, Isaiah 40:11, John 10:11-18).  In today’s world a shepherd seems like a character in a story of a very different world, not an actual role in a society.  To understand more about why is Jesus the Good Shepherd we look more closely at Psalm 23.  Some of David’s words and descriptions of the Shepherd are as follows:  He leads me; He restores my soul; He guides me; I will fear no evil; they comfort me; my cup overflows.  A shepherd provides everything the sheep will ever need.  Leadership, a restoration hope, guidance, protection, comfort and blessings…love.  Most importantly for the sheep a shepherd will lay down his life for the sheep to keep them safe from evil.  Jesus Christ has done all things possible for you to have life, turn or return to Him as He is our Good Shepherd.  May God’s love and mercy be with you.

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“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me – just as the Father knows me and I know the Father – and I lay down my life for the sheep.”

John 10:14-15

(This photo was taken in June of 2016 near the Minnesota and South Dakota border)

Walking In The Light

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Getting out of the cycle of pray-commit sin-repent-repeat means changing our behavior and our attitude.  It says in many places in the bible the path to peace is to humble your self before God (James 4:10, 1 Peter 5:6) and admit you are a sinner who is unable to improve yourself alone.  This is true humility.  It is very far cry from what the self-serving world is telling us we should be doing.  We must learn to walk in the light of Christ…to me this means not judging others, not holding on to anger, offering to help those in need and spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ and His redeeming grace.  To walk in the light is to trust and know that no matter what you encounter, God is good, He loves you and He will guide you if you are willing to follow Him.  May the grace and peace of God be with you.

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“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.”

1 John 1:7

(This photo was taken in June of 2012 at sunset in northwestern Wisconsin)

The Conclusion

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In the Book of Ecclesiastes, the Teacher explores several aspects of life on earth searching for meaning.  The word ‘meaningless’ is used repeatedly in this book.  The Teacher reviews wisdom, pleasures, time, toil, advancement, riches and often states similar phrases like‘…it is good and proper for a man to eat and drink, and to find satisfaction in his toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given him – for this is his lot.” (Ecclesiastes 5:18)  Finally after thorough discussion is complete in Ecclesiastes 12 a conclusion is reached…this is a lesson that every person can learn from, this is a lesson that keeps the values of eternity in view for all of us.  To summarize what the verses below state: Life without God is meaningless.  May you find peace and joy in the glory of God this day.

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“Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter:  Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.  For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.”

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14

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

Give Good Fruit

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Our lives are filled with choices and decisions.  We are the ones responsible for the attitudes and behaviors we present to the world.  We are blessed with the redeeming blood of Christ.  We have been forgiven for our sins.  Let’s go out and give good fruit.  No matter what your circumstances or your place in life today you can give the good fruit we receive from the Holy Spirit.  It doesn’t take money and it doesn’t take a certain level of influence in society.  The Fruit of the Spirit is all about making the choice to behave as we have been instructed to.  We should not expect the world to always be kind and generous to us as it is broken, however, we know that no matter what, God is with us and He is holding us.  May we share the blessings the Lord has given to us with others.

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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

(This photo was taken in March of 2018 while traveling through southern New Mexico)

His Love Endures Forever

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Look around the world and the things happening today, when you stop and think about all the darkness and evil present in this world and then think about that even though He knew we are broken God still sent His Son to save us.  Jesus took on all the sin for all the people in the world, He himself was innocent, yet Jesus took our punishment so that we could be reconciled with God and why did He do it?  Because of love.  When you are feeling the pain and suffering of life, when you don’t know where to turn or what to do, turn to Jesus Christ and invite Him into your heart and life.  He knows you and He loves you and He will always be there for you.  May you sense the goodness of the Lord today.

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

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

Psalm 100

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

Anything

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God can help us with anything…everything!  If we are worried about money, He can help with that.  If we are worried about physical health, He can help with that.  If we are concerned about our emotions or how we are feeling about issues He can help with that.  If we are struggling with family and friends or social relationships, He can help with that.  The important things to remember about God is He will and does help with everything on His terms not ours, not on our timeline and not with our outcome as His top priority.  He has a far greater plan and outcome in store for us if we will just trust in Him.  Here is what I have learned from my relationship with God.  Be patient and persistent and pay attention for resolutions to situations that you never even considered.  Be humble, willing to speak honestly and learn how to listen.  Spend time with Him everyday and grow your relationship.  Forgive others, do not be quick judge and do not stay angry.  God is with you, He is holding you in the palm of His hand, be thankful and be willing to tell others of His great love for us.  Anything is possible when we learn to trust in Him.  May God’s peace, joy and love be with you.

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“Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Matthew 19:26

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

Creator

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It is good to take a walk and soak in God’s creation.  To look around and see the intricate details that exist.  The flowers, the trees, the water, from tiny bugs to mature wildlife our God is truly creative and imaginative.  It is so easy to lose focus in life, to think that whatever is happening or not happening in our little piece of the world is the beginning or end of everything…we are neither.  It was God who created the world and everything in it and humans cannot improve what God has created, we are here to assist to help maintain what God is sustaining.  In order to do our part well, we need to have a relationship with the Creator and an appreciation for His creation.  As the poem by Cecil Frances Alexander states; “All things bright and beautiful, All creatures great and small,
All things wise and wonderful, The Lord God made them all.”

May the awe and wonder of God’s creation be present in your life.

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“The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for he founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters.”

Psalm 24:1-2

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