Anxiety

The Answers Are Found At The Cross

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History is filled with events and stories of struggle, despair, war, judgement and injustice.  People of all generations have pressed for money, power and self-centered convenience.  This continues in the present day for all of us…I like everyone else am a sinner and have succumbed to temptations and poor decisions.  These behaviors are the result of human beings inviting sin into the world.  It seems like defeat is all around us and that is just how the prince of darkness wants you feel.  Yet even today there is hope…there is hope of goodness, faithfulness, kindness, peace, patience, love and joy.  And it begins at the Cross of Christ.  May God’s peace be with you.

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“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:  Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.  And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death – even death on a cross!”

Philippians 2:5-8

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

Give Thanks

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It is easy to get caught up in the minutia of life everyday and forget that God is with you.  In fact that is exactly what the forces of evil want you to do, evil wants you to believe you are all alone and you should only look out for yourself.  God knows the struggle…Jesus faced the devil in the desert and He has overcome death and evil through His death and resurrection.  Connect with the Lord today and be thankful for Jesus who has fought the battle and won.  May God’s peace be with you.

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“But thanks be to God!  He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

1 Corinthians 15:57

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

Give Thanks To The Lord

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I grew up in house where Sunday was all about going to worship, then food which was usually a full spread brunch at home or out to eat and then football.  These Sundays are some of my best memories from childhood.  There is something about following sports that is hard to explain in words and it doesn’t matter what sport you follow…football, basketball, baseball, hockey, Nascar or even Olympic sports.  For everybody it can be a different sport but when this thing about it gets into you…your juices really seem to get flowing you are either excited because things are going well or you disappointed and disgusted because things do not go well.

Either way, win or lose, the one thing that I have thought about lately is sports and sporting events seem to bring people together in community in a way that few things in this world can and that may be the best part they play in our lives.  May God’s peace be with you.

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“For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.”

Psalm 100:5

(This photo was taken by my friend Matt in July of 2014 at a lake place in central Minnesota)

He Renews Our Strength

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One important aspect of a relationship with God the Father, Jesus His Son and the Holy Spirit is the power to renew us and restore us when we get off course or off track.  When you spend time growing your relationship with the Lord you learn to become aware of His presence…there are few words that can describe the peace that comes from knowing that God is with you every moment of every minute of every hour of every day of your life.  Ask Jesus to come into your heart and restore you…trust in Him…he is the one person that gave up everything he had to save you.  May God’s peace be with you.

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“Do you not know?  Have you not heard?  The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.  He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.

He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.  Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.

They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

Isaiah 40:28-31

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

Always With You

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One of greatest mindset shifts that needs to occur on the faith journey is knowing no matter where you go or what you do God will always be with you.  It is up to you to recognize Him and to be aware of his presence through the Holy Spirit.  We all get off course and make mistakes or poor decisions as we live in a broken and fallen world.  God knows this and wants to have a relationship with you to help you through life.  Whatever is on your heart today…give it to Him…leave it at the foot of the cross and see what happens.  May God’s peace be with you.

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

Joshua 1:9

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

Commitment

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Do what you say you would do…stay true to your word…demonstrate a willingness to be responsible…show integrity.   When you read these phrases and think about them none of them say this is going to be all about ‘fun’ or ‘personally convenient’ or ‘this is all about being happy all the time.’  Commitment is hard and it takes dedication, it takes time and it doesn’t always serve personal desires.

That is the point about commitment…it is not about you!  That is exactly why we need to build our personal relationship with Jesus, he knows what it means to be committed to something that is hard, not fun and not about him…yet he spoke openly with his father to help him keep moving forward and complete the task given to him…and he did it for you and me.  May God’s peace be with you.

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

Proverbs 16:3

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

Choose Holy Living

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With each day the gift of free will means we can choose our attitude toward everything…we can choose our attitude towards what other people think, say or do.  We can choose to be kind and compassionate or we can respond with vicious words and wrath…nobody can make you do this, it is up to you how you respond even if you don’t take the time to think about your response you are still accountable for your behavior every day.  Choose patience…choose kindness and compassion…be forgiving and most of all no matter what choose to respond with love…after all that is what Jesus did for us.  May God’s peace be with you.

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“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.  Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another.  Forgive as the Lord forgave you.  And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”

Colossians 3:12-14

(This photo was taken in June of 2016 at a lake near Minneapolis, Minnesota)

Perspective

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When you focus a portion of time each day communing with the Lord and reading the Scriptures you will begin to feed and develop your faith foundation.  This foundation can become what you stand on whenever you are faced with difficulties and challenges in everyday life.  We learn from the teachings in the bible that God is love and he loves us and he wants to have a personal relationship with us.

Seek to get to know God…just you and Him and that relationship will give you a new and refreshed perspective on your everyday existence.  May God’s peace be with you!

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“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

Romans 8:28

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

Living By The Spirit

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We receive messages all day long about “how we are to live”…”what we are to want”…as if we are missing out on something from this world if we don’t do or want the same things everyone else desires.  The Christian life is not better than others but rather different.  Dare to be different and trust God to guide your way.

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“Do not conform any longer 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 April of 2016 at a lake place in central Minnesota)