“The Lord is good to all;
he has compassion on all he has made.”
Psalm 145:9 NIV
“The Lord is good,
a refuge in times of trouble.
He cares for those who trust in him,”
Nahum 1:7 NIV
“Taste and see that the Lord is good;
blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.”
Psalm 34:8 NIV
Goodness Of God by Jenn Johnson
“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
his love endures forever.”
Psalm 107:1 NIV
(This photo was taken at sunrise along the North Shore of Lake Superior)
“Not only so, but we[c] also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 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.
6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 5:3-8 NIV
God Is In This Story by Katy Nichole & Big Daddy Weave
“Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.”
James 1:12 NIV
(This photo was taken at a lake in northwestern Wisconsin)
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.“
Matthew 7:7-8 NIV
The power of prayer does not come from what words you say or what order you say them in
The true power of prayer comes from the One who answers prayers and whether you believe in Him
A prayer offered without belief or out of routine is not the same as one offered from the heart with honesty, sincerity and belief in God
Pray, believe and you will receive
“Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. 23 “Truly[a] I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. 24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”
Mark 11:22-24 NIV
(This photo was taken at a lake near Plymouth, Minnesota)
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”
John 3:16-17 NIV
As we travel on the journey of faith, we will encounter questions and doubts along the way
That is natural and it is ok
We need to remember that the one simple truth of faith is that Jesus Christ sacrificed Himself to save us and reconcile us to God because He loves us
His love for us will conquer every battle in our lives
He is worthy of our thanks and praise
Thank you God, for your Son Jesus Christ!
“In a loud voice they were saying:
“Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength
and honor and glory and praise!”
Revelation 5:12 NIV
(This photo was taken in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming)
“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
Matthew 6:33 NIV
“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you.”
James 4:7-8 NIV
Father God, thank You for sending Jesus to the world. Give us courage and strength to follow Him. Regardless of our trials or temptations, help us to seek Him. Give us wisdom and endurance to pursue Him above all else. In Jesus name, Amen.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”
John 3:16-17 NIV
(This photo was taken at a lake near Plymouth, Minnesota)
“Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.”
Philippians 2:9-11 NIV
What A Beautiful Name by Hillsong
“Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. 2 This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. 3 In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, 4 for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.“
1 John 5:1-5 NIV
(This photo was taken at Temperance State Park along the North Shore of Lake Superior)
“If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.”
Romans 10:9-10 NIV
“Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. 2 This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. 3 In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, 4 for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.”
1 John 5:1-4 NIV
Believe…God is for you…God is with you
He is the Creator of all and He knows you personally
He knows what you are facing and He will be right by your side and He will carry you through to the otherside
God loves you…trust Him to lead and guide you
“Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.”
1 John 5:5 NIV
(This photo was taken near Winterset, Iowa)
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”
John 3:16-17 NIV
As we travel on the journey of faith, we will encounter questions and doubts along the way
That is natural and it is ok We need to remember that the one simple truth of faith is that Jesus Christ sacrificed Himself to save us and reconcile us to God because He loves us
His love for us will conquer every battle in our lives
He is worthy of our thanks and praise
Thank you God, for your Son Jesus Christ…Amen.
“In a loud voice they were saying:
“Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength
and honor and glory and praise!”
Revelation 5:12 NIV
(This photo was taken in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming)
“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.
29 He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
30 Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
31 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 NIV
If you find yourself weary and weak…struggling and feeling defeated
There is Hope
Review our relationship with God. When have you last spoken with Him?
Is He a part of everyday or just here and there as needed?
I know I have found myself guilty of living distracted by my circumstances more often than I like to admit…walking with God takes time and effort on our part
God offers us so much yet we still have to do our part to make a commitment to follow Him
He will give you strength when you are weary and weak. Trust in the Lord and you will find strength
“I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint.”
Jeremiah 31:25 NIV
(This photo was taken at The Chapel of Transfiguration in Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming)
“The Lord is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger and rich in love.
9 The Lord is good to all;
he has compassion on all he has made.”
Psalm 145:8-9 NIV
No matter what, anything is possible with God
If you are discouraged or defeated and thinking this is never going to change or get better…turn towards God, put your trust in Him
If you are frustrated and at your wits end with your circumstances or another person don’t give up…pray to God and draw near to Him
In the Bible look at the story of Saul who became Paul…Saul was filled with anger and hate and he was leading the charge to kill believers in Jesus and yet this was the person God chose to change so he could help lead the charge to spread the Good News about Jesus…you can read more about him in the book of Acts
If God can change Saul to Paul, He can change you or someone you are praying for as well
Anything is possible with God!
“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord,
whose confidence is in him.
8 They will be like a tree planted by the water
that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes;
its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought
and never fails to bear fruit.”
Jeremiah 17:7-8 NIV
(This photo was taken at a lake near Plymouth, Minnesota)
