Bible

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)

Identity Crisis

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Who are we trying to be?  What are our worries?  What are our concerns?  Are we pursuing to be who God created us to be?  How do we know?  Why am I doing this?  Where is God?  Why is this happening?  This is so hard…I don’t know how I got here…I don’t know what to do…

STOP…Pick up a bible

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you;  I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Isaiah 41:10

“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”

1 Peter 5:7

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”

Proverbs 3:5-6

“You were taught, with regard to  your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”

Ephesians 4:22-24

“I can do everything through him who gives me strength.”

Philippians 4:13

How do we know that this is the way…that this is the truth…and this is the life?

“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.”

John 3:16

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Amen.

(This photo was taken in May of 2014 at a lake place in central Minnesota)

Wisdom From Above

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What is wisdom?  The dictionary definition is…’the quality of having experience, knowledge and good judgement; the quality of being wise.’  So in order to have wisdom we must have time invested in having experiences, time spent learning to get knowledge and have made decisions regarding an area of life in order to grow our experiences and knowledge.  Now if we reflect on our own lives and how we spend our time, what are our experiences, where do we get our knowledge from…what things do we make decisions about that help foster our growth?  How do our experiences, knowledge and good judgement align with faith and our spiritual life?  If we truly want to learn about where God is in our lives and what He is asking us to do…we need to spend more time gaining wisdom about heavenly things and spend less time on earthly wisdom.  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 June of 2013 while traveling through Colorado)

Consistent

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Steady…stable…unchanging…unswerving…unwavering…dependable…reliable…unfailing.  Always available, always with us.  How many things or people can you name in your life that meet this standard?  We all have faced and will continue to face trials and troubles, we will all suffer loss and feel like nothing is going right and think where is God in all of this?  He is right there with you…the most consistent and reliable thing in life is God’s Word and the one person you can always count on is Jesus Christ His Son our Savior and Lord.  Nothing in this world can compare to what is available to us through faith.  Read the Word of God daily and spend time in communication with Jesus and you will find peace.  Amen.

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“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”

Hebrews 13:8

(This photo was taken in July of 2012 in a neighborhood near Plymouth, Minnesota)

Savior…Sacrifice…Salvation

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The world tells us to pursue money, comfort and the easy life.  To look out for ourselves and satisfy ourselves first and most often, this is the sinful nature and it has taken hold in many people.  There is a way to be different and to live with purpose and it is based on your personal relationship with Jesus Christ.  He loves you, He gave His life to save you and His way is the only way to God the Father.  Spend time reading God’s Word and learn about the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.  May the peace of the Lord be with you.  Amen.

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“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.”

John 14:6

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

Our Hearts And Minds

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What are the thoughts and things that stir up your heart and your mind?  Sometimes, we make it too easy for evil to ensnare us.  We get so easily distracted and consumed by the things of this world and forget what we have learned from God.  Daily time with God’s Word and in prayer is the only resource I know of, for helping us to reset and refocus our hearts and our minds.  The self and the sinful nature will not give up on tearing you down and breaking you apart.  Find wisdom, strength and courage in Jesus Christ.  He knows more than anyone the battles we are facing as He too lived on earth and was tempted by the devil.  Seek Him and God’s Word and your heart and mind will be restored.  Amen.

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“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.  Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”

Colossians 3:1-2

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

Faith

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Belief…trust…comfort…patience…persistence…love…joy…strength…encouragment…Hope!

May our faith help us to see and to know the presence of God’s love in our daily lives and relationships.  Amen.

What Faith Can Do – Kutless 

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“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”

Hebrews 11:1

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

Rest In Him

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When and where do you get quiet time in your life?  We all  have commitments and responsibilities and if we run ourselves into the ground just trying to keep up, we eventually become weary and ineffective at many things.  The key is to find some balance, to prioritize, we can’t be all things to all people.  This is why the story or analogy of the big rocks, the pebbles and the sand in a bucket hits home with so many people.  We know that if we spend all our time on the sand and pebbles we will never get to the big rocks in life.  For me this analogy is all about balance.  Sometimes we can say yes and sometimes we need to say no or not right now…Jesus set the example for us, while He spent time teaching and speaking to the people He also would go off alone to pray and spend time with God our Father for hours…balance.  Take time and rest in Him.  Amen.

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“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

Matthew 11:28

(This photo was taken in May of 2014 at a lake place in central Minnesota)

How Deep Is Our Faith?

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I have heard the faith journey described as a process of working from the inside, out.  The first part of the journey is transforming and changing the inside of ourselves…our thoughts, our beliefs, our attitude and our behaviors…removing the focus on sinful desires and self-centeredness as we learn and grow in our personal relationship with Christ.  As the inside changes we become better equipped to share what we have learned and to provide encouragement to others on the journey, just as we have been and will be given assistance on our own journey.  The question today is regarding that inside part of the process…the learning and growing and the depth of our inside transformation is not to reach a destination.  The more we learn and grow and spend time in our reltionship with the Lord the deeper and stronger that relationship becomes.  As discussed yesterday the battles will come at us in this life and a deep, strong relationship with Christ is the most powerful weapon we have when it comes to fighting evil in this world.  Continue to strengthen and grow your relationship with Jesus Christ.  Amen.

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“But blessed in the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him.  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

(This photo was taken in July of 2012 while walking on a trail in the North Shore of Lake Superior)