“If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
Romans 10:9 NIV
“For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.”
Romans 10:10 NIV
(This photo was taken in Bighorn National Forest in Wyoming)
“Not only so, but we[c] also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 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 5:3-8 NIV
The truth about life is we will see troubles. Jesus tells us directly in John 16:33, that trouble will come…not maybe or it might come…you will have troubles in this life. Take time to reflect on what God has already done for you. If we listen to the Lord and we know life can be hard, we should be more focused on how to get through our struggles and see what we can learn from them so we can share and help others.
God has provided the Way through difficult times…Jesus, His Son our Savior and God’s Word will guide us and see us through. Think about troubles in your past…looking back where do you see God in it? Remember all that God has already done for you through Jesus. Trust in the Lord and persevere through trials.
“Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.”
James 1:12 NIV
(This photo was taken in July of 2019 at a lake in northwestern Wisconsin)
“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly[a] with your God.”
Micah 6:8 NIV
We are all broken and in need of a Savior. Jesus Christ is that Savior. Let us have the courage to humble ourselves and admit who we are…to come to the Cross and give thanks to Jesus for His sacrifice for us. Then we can take the steps to walk in the Light with God. Amen.
“This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all[a] sin.
8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.”
1 John 1:5-10 NIV
(This photo was taken in July of 2018 at a park near Bayfield, Wisconsin)
“Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion
blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash away all my iniquity
and cleanse me from my sin.”
Psalm 51:1-2 NIV
“Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
11 Do not cast me from your presence
or take your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation
and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.”
Psalm 51:10-12 NIV
(This photo was taken in August of 2016 in Mount Rainier National Park in Washington)
“If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
Romans 10:9 NIV
Believe. Believe in God and His Son. Believe that Jesus came down from heaven, was crucified, died and was buried…believe that He has risen and that He did it all for you. It will change your life forever. Believe it!
“For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.”
Romans 10:10 NIV
(This photo was taken in September of 2022 in Bighorn National Forest in Wyoming)
“This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.”
1 John 1:5 NIV
Our faith is about more than what we believe…it is also about how we put what we believe into actions. A faith journey is best lived inside-out…start with you…what do you believe…what is your relationship with Jesus Christ…your sin…your confession…this isn’t a check the box type of thing, it is a daily surrender of self-centered desires. As we build our faith on the foundation of coming to the Cross, we can take the things we learn and put them into practice in our daily lives and interactions…this is a journey that requires commitment, it requires a willingness to sacrifice and it provides peace and joy that is beyond our imagination. May God’s peace be with you. Amen.
“If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all[a] sin.”
1 John 1:6-7 NIV
(This photo was taken in August of 2016 in Arches National Park in Utah)
“This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.”
1 John 1:5 NIV
Our faith is about more than what we believe…it is also about how we put what we believe into actions. A faith journey is best lived inside-out…start with you…what do you believe…what is your relationship with Jesus Christ…your sin…your confession…this isn’t a check the box type of thing, it is a daily surrender of self-centered desires. As we build our faith on the foundation of coming to the Cross, we can take the things we learn and put them into practice in our daily lives and interactions…this is a journey that requires commitment, it requires a willingness to sacrifice and it provides peace and joy that is beyond our imagination. May God’s peace be with you. Amen.
“If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all[a] sin.”
1 John 1:6-7 NIV
(This photo was taken in August of 2016 in Arches National Park in Utah)
“If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
Romans 10:9 NIV
Believe. Believe in God and His Son. Believe that Jesus came down from heaven, was crucified died and was buried…believe that He has risen and that He did it all for you. It will change your life forever. Believe it!
“For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.”
Romans 10:10 NIV
(This photo was taken in September of 2022 in Bighorn National Forest in Wyoming)
“So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
John 8:31-32 NIV
The word ‘truth’ appears over 200 times in the bible. Jesus often taught using the phrase ‘I tell you the truth’ or ‘Truly I say to you.’ On our faith journey we have to be willing to be honest with God, ourselves and with others regarding what we believe and what we say. When we are ready to be truthful about who we are and who God is we are ready to walk in the light to the best of our ability in a fallen world. It won’t be easy but we have been assured it will be worth it. Amen.
“If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
1 John 1:8-9 NIV
(This photo was taken in July of 2018 on Lake Superior near the Apostle Islands)
“The Lord is my light and my salvation—
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life—
of whom shall I be afraid?”
Psalm 27:1 NIV
When you don’t what to do next or how to respond to something…cry out to the Lord. When you feel content and you can sense His presence in your life…praise the Lord. No matter if things are good or difficult, for every season and for every reason turn towards the Lord.
Lord, I Need You by Matt Maher
“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
(This photo was taken in May of 2020 at the High Falls in Tettegouche State Park in northern Minnesota)
Take Your Faith With You 