bible verses

Prayer Makes A Difference

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Do we always get what we want, when we want it?  No.  Does a child always get what they ask for?  Do they understand why?  No, they don’t…what we do know is that God wants us to pray.  It is another topic in the bible that is repeated often…Matthew 6:6, Luke 18:1, Philippians 4:6 and many more places.  This is something God encourages us to do and knowing that, means that even though we may not understand how it works, prayer does make a difference.  Amen.

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“ Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

1 Thessolanians 5:16-18

(This photo was taken in july of 2018 on shore of Lake Superior near Ashland, Wisconsin)

God’s Presence

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Courage…comfort…strength…persevering…secure…enduring.  In the bible we are told we will have trouble in this world.  All of us will be in a battle of some kind…we are also told that God will be with us every step of the way.  There have never been any promises that life will be easy and even if you think someone has an easy life, they may be fighting a battle you know nothing about.  Thanks be to God for His presence in our lives, in your prayers give Him thanks…if it is hard to see where He is working or what He is up to in your life, pray that you can look at things with new eyes and a new perspective.  No matter what the situation…God is with you and He knows what you are going through, today and every day.  May His peace wash over you.  Amen.

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“The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

Deuteronomy 31:8

(This photo was taken in October of 2018 at a lake near Plymouth, Minnesota)

Listen

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Prayer doesn’t always have to be about you talking…listening is just as important to your relationship with God.  If we are always the one speaking how can we be open to hearing what God is trying to tell us?  This is an especially hard thing to do if we lack patience.  The world keeps giving us the messages of faster, now, immediate gratification and savings!  Yet God does not exist on our time table.  Whatever is weighing you down, whatever is troubling you or has you worried Today…surrender it to Jesus Christ, ask Him to guide you with it, don’t pick it up again, leave it at the foot of the Cross then wait and listen for God.  Amen.

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“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.”

Revelation 3:20

(This photo was taken in July of 2016 while traveling on Beartooth Pass in Montana)

Take Heart!

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In the bible we are told over and over that in this world we will have trouble…there will be suffering.  The prince of darkness and evil does not stop working to keep us away from God…and in some cases we make it very easy for him.  And yet we are surprised that things go wrong or don’t work that way we want them to.  The Word of God is clear and the words of Jesus are written in red ink for us in the bible…who is blessed, how to live, how to pray, ways to share and serve others…and it is all repeated for us from 4 different writers to be sure we get the message…pick up a bible and read what Jesus Christ had to say.  God loves you; He is with you and He forgives you.  Seek a relationship with His Son Jesus Christ and you will have peace.  Amen.

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“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

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

Wisdom That Comes From Heaven

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Spend time in worship…pray and give thanks to God for His mercy and grace.  Pick some bible verses that speak to you and put them in your heart…use them to fight off evil and darkness.  Seek the Lord and the wisdom that comes from heaven…and you will find peace.  Amen.

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“But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.”

James 3:17

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

Life Verse

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Which one do you prefer most often?  I am finding at different times a different verse speaks most clearly to my heart and mind.  This is the wonder of God and God’s word…it is new every day.  God speaks to us through His word.  When negative thoughts come to mind or selfish and sinful ways pop up, we can cast them out by remembering and repeating a verse in our minds.  Spend time reading God’s word and finding some verses that resonate with you.  This is one of the best ways to put on the armor of God.  Amen.

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“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”

Romans 12:12

(This photo was taken in July of 2018 on the shore of Madeline Island in Lake Superior)

What Do We Learn?

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To be patient…to be courageous and to seek wisdom.  To trust in the Lord and to keep doing good things whenever you can.  We learn that all that is good comes from God and we are blessed to be a blessing to others.  We learn that God the Father is our Creator and Jesus Christ is His one and only Son who sacrificed Himself to save us and that when we believe we will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  Spend time reading God’s word and praying…learn about the amazing relationship available for each of us with God because of Jesus.  Amen.

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“I am still confident of this:  I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.  Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.”

Psalm 27:13-14

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

The One Who Is In You

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Don’t forget the power of the Cross.  The world is filled with violence, evil and darkness.  The attempts to distract us and pull us into the things of this world are relentless.  Read the Word of God and memorize some verses that speak to you…the verse you choose may change over time and different verses will come to mind as you plant the Word within you.  The prince of darkness despises the Scriptures and it will defeat him.  This is one of the foundational reasons I started to write this blog six years ago…so that we could learn how to take our faith with us…everywhere we go.  The Word of God planted inside us is greater than anything in the world.  May the peace found with Christ be with you.  Amen.

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“You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.”

1 John 4:4

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

A Strong Foundation

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The best things are built by starting out with the development of a strong foundation.  A solid foundation helps to support missteps, mistakes and accidents along the way.  If we try to build something without developing the foundation the endeavor will eventually fail and end up as a pile of rubble.  The foundation of our faith is our relationship and daily interaction with Jesus Christ and the Word of God.  These are the elements that will help us build and grow our spiritual life and sustain us through the most difficult things the world will throw at us.  May the peace of the Lord be with you.  Amen.

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“I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.  My command is this:  Love each other as I have loved you.”

John 15:11-12

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

The Word Of God

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The Holy Bible…The Good Book…The Scriptures…The Word of Life…The Living Word…the Truth.  It is more than a compilation of stories about people who lived thousands of years ago…it is God speaking to us, teaching us principles of life and the story is not over at the end of the Book.  It lives on in all of us today because of Jesus Christ…He has risen and He lives!  Take time to read and hear the Word of God in your life, you will find the stories about struggles and comfort are very similar to our lives today…the principles are still the same.  The reason it is stood the test of time is because it is the Truth.  Amen.

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“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be throughly equipped for every good work.”

2 Timothy 3:16-17

(This photo was taken in October of 2014 on the island of Maui, Hawaii)