“There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”
Ephesians 4:4-6 NIV
“…I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
John 10:10 NIV
“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”
Romans 12:12 NIV
(This photo was taken along the shore of the island of Maui, Hawaii)
“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 NIV
Jesus Christ suffered and died for you because He loves you
He has risen…He is alive and wants to help you in this life
He wants to spend eternity with you as well
Give thanks to Jesus, with your words, actions and your behavior
Choose to live your life every day with a thankful heart
“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.“
Colossians 3:17 NIV
(This photo was taken on the shore of Lake Superior near Ashland, Wisconsin)
“Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. 14 Do everything in love.”
1 Corinthians 16:13-14 NIV
“…being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 1:6 NIV
“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”
Colossians 3:12-14 NIV
(This photo was taken while traveling in northwestern Wisconsin)
“Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah: 27 “I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?”
Jeremiah 32:27 NIV
Nothing we face in this life is too big for God…Nothing
No matter what, no matter who, no matter where…all things are possible with God
Put your hope and your trust in the Lord and see the good that He will do.
“For nothing will be impossible with God.”
Luke 1:37 ESV
Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
Matthew 19:26 NIV
(This photo was taken near Pike’s Peak in Colorado)
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 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 12:1-2 NIV
Don’t ask God to change the circumstances around you…ask Him to change you and your perspective so that you can handle the things you are walking through in life
Father God, take back my life. Take my burdens and fears. Replace my insecurities and my anxieties with Your peace. Teach me to trust in Your promises and Your faithfulness. Restore my joy and give me strength for today and hope for tomorrow. Lord, I want to be different. In Jesus name, Amen.
“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.”
Ezekiel 36:26-27 NIV
(This photo was take in Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming)
“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”
Colossians 3:12-14 NIV
Living life by faith is about who we are more than what we do
Our behaviors, how we treat others and our interactions with others say more about us than our job or career path
The world honors worldly things like wealth, awards, job titles and other self-oriented pursuits…these things are not considered to be wrong or bad…the problem is these things have become more important than God
When self-satisfaction is more important than our relationship with God, we are going off course…to be clear we are all guilty of this sin, it is human nature in a fallen world
The first step in repentance is awareness of the behavior and the next step is confessing to God and seeking to turn away from our sins, with God’s help
As humans we all suffer from trouble…how we choose to respond is up to us
May the peace of the Lord be with you
“Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.”
Romans 5:3-5 NIV
(This photo was taken at a lake near Plymouth, Minnesota)
“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.”
Romans 12:9-13 NIV
Every person you encounter everyday is fighting a battle you know nothing about
We all have burdens of some kind…yes even the person who shows their best life on social media
We are not here to judge whether one persons burden is greater than another
Rather we are to strive to help others carry their burdens as much as we need someone to help us carry our own
We should strive to ask the question…”how can I help?” more often than “why isn’t someone helping me?”
Jesus set the example for us and we would do well to follow Him
“Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”
Philippians 2:1-4 NIV
(This photo was taken at White Sands National Park in New Mexico)
“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
Matthew 7:24-27 NIV
“For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. 8 Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit.”
1 Thessalonians 4:7-8 NIV
(This photo was taken along Beartooth Pass near the border between Montana and Wyoming)
“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.“
Colossians 3:1-2 NIV
Outlook…viewpoint…position…approach…frame of mind…attitude
What feeds your perspective? What are you consuming with your eyes, your ears and your mind?
What experience or experiences are framing your view? All of these are inputs into your perspective and they shape your attitude
If we choose to allow our point of view to be shaped by what goes on around us in a world filled with me first, self-centered, get more attitudes we will become like the world
The best defense is to build a foundation within your heart and mind that is based on a personal relationship with Jesus Christ
We can’t stop the world from trying to influence us, yet we can choose to turn away from the sin and run towards our Savior and Lord. Jesus said;
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
John 16:33 NIV
Perspective is about viewing things from a different point of view…trust in the Lord and seek His perspective on your life
“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 NIV
(This photo was taken at a lake in northwestern Wisconsin)
“When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
John 8:12 NIV
“The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
3 he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
for his name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk
through the darkest valley,[a]
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.“
Psalm 23:1-4 NIV
(This photo was taken in Glacier National Park in Montana)
Take Your Faith With You 