challenges

Overcome Trouble And Sorrow

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“Our days may come to seventy years,
    or eighty, if our strength endures;
yet the best of them are but trouble and sorrow,
    for they quickly pass, and we fly away.”

Psalm 90:10 NIV

The Bible tells us in this life we will have trouble and sorrow…

It states very clearly that life is hard

Yet we still have hope and can be encouraged because Jesus Christ came into this world and sacrificed Himself to assure that we can have a relationship with God

Do not be overcome by trouble and sorrow…

Overcome these things with faith and trust in the Lord

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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 NIV

(This photo was taken at a lake in central Minnesota)

Faith Over Fear

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“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 NIV

“For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.”

2 Timothy 1:7 NIV

We all have a choice in how to respond to events and circumstances in our lives

We can choose to let the world and our flesh lead us down the path of fear and anxiety

Or we can trust in God and His promises

He is the Creator of all things and He is greater than anything we encounter in life

Choose Faith over fear

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“Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. 14 Do everything in love.”

1 Corinthians 16:13-14 NIV

(This photo was taken in Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming)

Life With Purpose

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“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

Ephesians 2:10 NIV

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“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

(This photo was taken at the North Entrance of Yellowstone National Park in Montana)

Stand Firm In The Faith

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“Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. 14 Do everything in love.”

1 Corinthians 16:13-14 NIV

There many elements of life working against those desiring to follow Jesus

The world, the flesh and Satan all are like a rushing river of water trying to keep us away from God and His Word

We must learn to stand firm in the faith

To speak the truth with respect, kindness and compassion

Remember God is with you, no matter what

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“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.”

1 Peter 5:8-9 NIV

(This photo was taken in Tettegouche State Park in northern Minnesota)

The Lord Of My Everything?

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“In their hearts humans plan their course,
    but the Lord establishes their steps.”

Proverbs 16:9 NIV

Sometimes I struggle with my faith when it comes to opening up to the Lord for all things

Not only the parts of my life and my heart I think He wants to be involved in…that would be God on my terms

I have come to learn…it does not work like that

God is the God of everything and Jesus Christ is Lord of all

All of creation, all people in all nations since the beginning of time and His love is for everything and everyone

His grace and His mercy will endure forever

It can be so difficult for my finite mind to comprehend the totality of God and His love

He is more than the God of Sunday morning or Wednesday evening…

He is more than the God of when I really need help or a crisis is happening…

He is more than a beautiful sunrise or sunset when we do feel more of His presence

He is also the Lord of housework, the Lord of daily errands, the Lord of trips to Grandma and Grandpa’s house, He is the Lord of where you work and He is the Lord what you do…He is the Lord of everything

The best part of all?

This means He is right there waiting to hear from you about everything

If He is your Lord and Savior that doesn’t mean everything will be easy and good…yet He is with you through all of it

May we know God’s presence, His love, His joy and His forgiveness

In everything

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“Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of the life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

Psalm 23:6 NIV

(This photo was taken at Sapphire Point near Dillon, Colorado)

Greater Is The One Who Is In You

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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 NIV

We are constantly under attack from Satan, the world and the flesh

The Good News includes this one critical point

Greater is the God within you than the one who is in the world

He is with you, He is within you

Greater by MercyMe

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“What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?“

Romans 8:31 NIV

(This photo was taken in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming)

A Full Life

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“I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.[a] They will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

John 10:9-10 NIV

A full life…according to what definition?

The world defines a full life very differently than what Jesus is speaking about

The worldly way is about money, possessions, popularity and finding the easy, most self-centered convenient way

The worldly way asks what can I get others to do for me?

God’s way is a very different perspective…

It is about the Fruit of the Spirit…love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control

God’s definition of a full life is about loving God, loving others and sharing the Good News

His way asks what can I do today to show the love of God?

What can I do today to love others?

How will you choose to define a full life?

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“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

(This photo was taken near the Black Hills in western South Dakota)

But God…

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“You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.”

Genesis 50:20 NIV

“David stayed in the wilderness strongholds and in the hills of the Desert of Ziph. Day after day Saul searched for him, but God did not give David into his hands.”

1 Samuel 23:14 NIV

“My flesh and my heart may fail,
    but God is the strength of my heart
    and my portion forever.”

Psalm 73:26 NIV

“Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Matthew 19:26 NIV

These are just a few of the verses that remind us no matter what we are facing

No matter what we think is not possible or unchangeable

God can do anything

The world will tear us down…Satan will lie to us…

Even our own flesh wants to do the things we do not want to do

Just remember, we are powerless on our own

But God can do anything…

And it is possible that the next moment of our life might be a “But God” moment

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“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 5:7-8 NIV

(This photo was taken at Jenny Lake in Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming)

Be Courageous In The Faith

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“Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. 14 Do everything in love.”

1 Corinthians 16:13-14 NIV

There are many elements of life working against those desiring to follow Jesus

The world, the flesh and Satan all are like a rushing river of water trying to keep us away from God and His Word

We must learn to stand firm in the faith…to be courageous

To speak the truth with respect, kindness and compassion

Remembering God is with you, no matter what

DSC_0332 publish

“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.”

1 Peter 5:8-9 NIV

(This photo was taken in Tettegouche State Park in northern Minnesota)