challenges

Living By The Spirit

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We receive messages all day long about “how we are to live”…”what we are to want”…as if we are missing out on something from this world if we don’t do or want the same things everyone else desires.  The Christian life is not better than others but rather different.  Dare to be different and trust God to guide your way.

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“Do not conform any longer 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 12:2

(This photo was taken in April of 2016 at a lake place in central Minnesota)

Happy New Year…Ask, Seek, Knock

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It is a new day, a new time and a new year.  As you look around your life…think about when in your daily routine can you commit to spending a few minutes with God every day.  What is a comfortable place for you to sit or kneel?  What time of day is it?  Do you have a devotional book to guide you?

Make a plan to start a new daily habit.  For me it started as coffee with God each morning, because if I could spend that much effort to have coffee for myself I sure as heck better be able to spend a few minutes in the quiet of the morning with my Creator…and it has grown into a time in the morning I look forward to every day.

The best part is you can start without the plan…just find a quiet moment and ask God to help you find a way to meet with Him each day and then pay attention for the opportunities…May the peace of God be with you!

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“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.”

Matthew 7:7-8

(This photo was taken in April of 2016 at a lake place in central Minnesota)

New Year’s Eve; Reflect…Forgive…Love

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As the sun sets on another year today take time to reflect on your life and interactions with other people.  For the times you feel that you were wronged find a way to forgive others…not for them but for yourself…think also about how you will be a light of the love Jesus Christ gave to all us when he came down from heaven to save us.

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“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another.  Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”

Colossians 3:12-14

As I close this year of devotions I leave you with the words of the Apostle Paul in his second letter to the Corinthians…

“May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.”

2 Corinthians 13:14

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

 

The Journey Of Faith Takes Perseverance

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“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”

Hebrews 12:1-3

(This photo was taken in July of 2016 in Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota)

A New Way To Look At Our Sufferings

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“…And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.  Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.

And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.”

Romans 5:2-5

(This photo was taken in August of 2016 at Sapphire Point near Dillon, Colorado)

Christmas Eve…A Silent Night

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“In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.  (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.)   And everyone went to his own town to register.

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.  He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 

While they were there the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son.  She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.”

Luke 2:1-7

(This photo was taken in December of 2017 in a neighborhood near Plymouth, Minnesota)

Sow The Seeds Of Faith

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“Remember this:  Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.  Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.“

2 Corinthians 9:6-7

(This photo was taken in March in 2013 at the Botanical Gardens at the Bellagio in Las Vegas, Nevada)