Bible

Battles Along The Way

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We read in the Bible about what this life will be like, it even has it in red letters for us to indicate that these are the words of Jesus…“In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart!  I have overcome the world.” – John 16:33  Yet all of us attempt to get through things alone, at least the first time or several times for us slow learners.  We are not alone on this journey…no matter who or what or how much trouble we are facing in this world nothing is to too big for God our Father, His Son Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.  Maybe in order for more humans to take note, life should come with a warning label…WARNING: Life will be difficult do not try this alone.  Take time to seek Jesus, read about His life on earth, His teachings, His sacrifice, His victory.  It is all available for you to read in God’s Word and God made sure you would have the opportunity to see it and to know Him.  Peace to you on your journey.  Amen.

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

1 Peter 5:7

(This photo was taken in June of 2013 near Colorado Springs, Colorado)

Perseverance

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Don’t quit…don’t give up…get up…keep going…keep seeking…keep trying…believe.  Here we are back to talking about attitude and perspective.  Attitude is formed over a period of time by experience and observation.  The things we chose to take in with our senses have significant impact on the formation of our attitudes.  Things we chose to read, what we chose to listen to, etc.  What is interesting here are the words…we chose, what we decide to spend our time on plays into our attitude.  We can develop the courage to persevere in difficulties and tough times or we can be stagnant and let those times defeat us.  To be clear none of this occurs in 140 characters or less…it takes time!  My personal definition of perseverance is be patient and be persistent and believe good things will come.  If you are unsure what to do about this, may I suggest a book?  Start with the bible and a sincere prayer to God and as the song says, let Jesus take the wheel.  Amen.

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“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.”

James 1:2

(This photo was taken in August of 2016 near Arches National Park in Utah)

God Came Down

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The coming of Jesus Christ, to be born as a baby here on earth was miraculous for many reasons.  The most difficult part to comprehend is that God, the Creator of the world, the beginning and the end of all things, loves us so much that He took the form of one of us, to save us from our sinful ways.  When we read in the bible about the people of God in the Old Testament, it seems like the people and God go back and forth.  The people are suffering, God does something to help them, win a battle, defeat an enemy, free them from slavery and the people are thankful and grow closer to God…and then time goes by and they wander off again.  The cycle repeats itself several times…much like many of us in our faith journey.  In the New Testament, God changes the cycle and does something that has changed the relationship we have with Him forever.  God came down from heaven and became like us in order to reconcile us to Him…think about that for awhile…the Almighty God, Creator of all things came down from heaven to become one of us because He loves us.  As we think about the past year and the year to come, I pray we reflect on God’s love and the amazing things He has done for us.  Amen.

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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 in October of 2018 at a lake near Plymouth, Minnesota)

God Renews Our Strength

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When I read God’s Word different verses and phrases will seem to stick out more than others from time to time.  This is our time to listen…God is speaking to us through the same words His Son spoke so long ago.  In the devotional bible I have been reading I have either highlighted or marked with little stars some of these verses…I have also taken time to make a list in the front of the book of the verses that speak to me the most or the most often.  This morning, on this day of worship, after completing my daily devotional I have read many of those on the list and in doing this I have literally felt peace and comfort washing over me.  If you are looking for something that seems to be missing in your life or in your heart, go look for it in the place God has provided…His Word of life.  I pray we seek the wisdom of God in His Word to renew our strength.  Amen.

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“…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 40:31

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

Prayer

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Honest…thoughtful…sincere…heartfelt…engaging…communication in relationship that involves talking and listening.  Prayer like this is the kind that nurtures and supports spiritual growth and actual change because its foundation is belief in Jesus Christ as the Son of God.  It is important to make time each day and offer up heartfelt, sincere prayers and spend part of that time listening…to clear your mind of the day to day items and see where your thoughts go.  A relationship can only grow and get stronger if we are willing to commit and invest time in it.  May we all be moved to prayer by our faith in Jesus Christ who gave all He had to reconcile us with God.  Amen.

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“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 4:6-7

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

He Gives Us Strength

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When we feel weak and tired…when frustrations seem overwhelming…when the way forward is difficult or unknown.  God the Father, Jesus Christ His one and only Son and the Holy Spirit lift us up and renew us.  Everything and anything in life is going to better when God is at the center of our lives.  Spending time in devotions and prayer, reading God’s Word these are ways to build your relationship with Jesus.  The more our relationship grows the more we begin to sense His presence in our lives which can lead us to courage and strength at times when we need it most.  We were never promised a life of faith would be easy…the promise is “…he will never leave you nor forsake you.” –Deuteronomy 31:6  The Lord is good and He is the provider of all we need.  I pray we seek the will of the Lord and trust in Him.  Amen.

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

Philippians 4:13

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

Be Still

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Take time to build your relationship with the Lord…find a still and quiet place to seek Him…the greatest joy can come from experiencing God’s presence when the Holy Spirit is allowed to flow freely in your heart and soul.  God is with you, He hears you and He knows you…make time to be with Him.  I pray for all to take time to turn towards the Lord and away from the sinful nature.  Amen.

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“Be still, and know that I am God…”

Psalm 46:10

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

Trust

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Something that is earned…easily eroded by poor behavior…to be a person of your word…to keep your promises.  Trust is an essential element in good relationships, in relationships that have a chance to grow.  It makes us vulnerable and when we get burned it takes that much longer for us to trust again.  God is the only one who has never broken a promise, He is the only one who is by our side every single day, He is the one who sent His only Son to die in order to save us…yet so many of us want to keep Him in a box with a glass door that says “In case of an emergency break glass.”  In order to trust God we need to be willing to be more open to Him, to be more vulnerable in our relationship with Him and to believe that He is working for good things in our life.  I pray we all can take steps toward trusting God more in our life everyday.  Amen.

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“I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”

Psalm 91:2

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

Humility

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Where is the focus of our life?  What is the center of our existence?  When others say kind things about us or something we have done, while this is encouraging, do we remember the One who made it possible for us?  We all are so easily distracted and this can be how we are led away from God and His plan for us.  The Book of Proverbs is filled with great reminders and statements about holy living.  These were spoken by Solomon who had been blessed with incredible wisdom from God…even He succumbed to distractions in his life on earth.  Nobody is immune and that is why daily interaction and communication with Jesus Christ is essential to finding humility and staying humble.  May God’s mercy and grace wash over us each day.  Amen

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“When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.”

Proverbs 11:2

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

The Word Of Life

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The more I spend time reading the Word of God and in prayer the more I am learning about how God is present in my everyday life.  I like many of us stumble very often in life with my words or my actions or my thoughts and as I sit down each morning and read from a Billy Graham devotional book and from the Bible I am learning about the things Jesus was teaching when He was here and what He is still teaching us today.  When I think about other things I could pick up and read first thing in the morning, the Bible and time with God are clearly the only things that will renew my spirit, restore my mind and comfort my thoughts.  I can physically feel my shoulders loosen up and relax more as I read and pray.  The Word of God also sets up my perspective for the day and helps to refresh my attitude to help and serve others wherever I can.  The Bible is truly the Word of life and the living water that only comes from Jesus Christ.  May we all see and sense the presence of God’s Word in our daily life.

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“But blessed in the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him.  He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out it 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 August of 2012 while hiking near the north shore of Lake Superior)