Courage

Do Not Be Afraid

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One of the favorite weapons of evil is fear.  It can be paralyzing and stop us from doing good things.  It takes our focus off of God which is exactly where the prince of darkness wants us to be.  Do not listen to fear, listen for God.  What are you not doing because of fear?  What are you not taking part in or what are you not saying?  Take it to God and listen for Him to guide you.  Trust in the Lord and let you faith be greater than your fear.  Amen.

Here is an amazing and powerful song by Zach Williams regarding Fear…

“Fear Is A Liar” by Zach Williams

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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

(This photo was taken in June of 2013 in Badlands National Park in South Dakota)

 

Faith Makes You Stronger

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We will have troubles in this world and the troubles will feel relentless.  Hold on to your faith and pray.  I am sharing lyrics and musical talents of Mandisa this morning, as she is an artist who has had battles just like everyone else and it has led to her sharing her musical talent with the world to remind us that God has us and with Him nothing is impossible.  May strength and courage flow through our hearts and minds today.  Amen.

Stronger by Mandisa

Overcomer by Mandisa

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

1 Corinthians 16:13-14

(This photo was taken in June of 2015 while traveling through South Dakota)

Be Courageous

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One of God’s great gifts is free will.  He created us out of His love and His desire for relationship with us is one He wants us to seek, willingly.  He did not create us to be robots or puppets, which means we have a responsiblity to make choices.  We will find we are often presented with opportunities to make decisions and if we are paying attention to our faith journey over time it becomes more and more clear which choice is step towards God and which choice is a step toward our sinful nature.  It will take courage to make decisions grounded in faith, it will be different than what the world thinks you should do.  Don’t give in to fear, the journey will be very difficult at times and as it states in the Book of Ephesians chapter 6, put on the full armor of God and stand in faith.  The choices will often be between courage and fear, be courageous in your faith.  Amen.

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

1 Corinthians 16:13-14

(This photo was taken in July of 2015 at Red Rocks Amphitheatre near Morrison, Colorado)

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)

Courage

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To persevere…daring…to do something that makes us uncomfortable…strength in the struggle.  There are many things that can make us uneasy, cautious and fearful in our world.  We all need a source of encouragement, a source and a foundation from which we can draw strength…there is only one who has lived that can provide us the example of courage in the most devastating circumstances…Jesus Christ.  Not only did He show what true devotion and fortitude looks like He did all for someone else, He did it for you.  Take your fears and your worries to the Lord and let your Faith be stronger than your fear.  May we be surrounded in the comfort and courage of God’s love.

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

1 Corinthians 16:13-14

(This photo was taken in June of 2013 in Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado)

Courage

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It takes courage to be a devoted follower of Jesus Christ.  It not always the easy way or even the logical way to live according to the world.  It means living with different priorities than many people.  It means there will be times when you must step out in faith and it means you must be willing to admit your mistakes.  One of the toughest parts can be gaining self-control and getting a handle on your emotions.  There are many examples in the bible of people who have made this journey and they did really well at times and they also stumbled and failed at times.  The lessons we can learn from their experiences are to be courageous, stand firm in your faith and trust in God.  Don’t look for things to always go the way you want or have planned, but seek His plan.  There is a phrase I think fits with faith pretty well…Faith – it’s simple but it’s not always easy.  May God’s peace be with you.

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“Have I not commanded you?  Be strong and courageous.  Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Joshua 1:9

(This photo was taken in July of 2018 on a hike near Bayfield, Wisconsin)

The Holy Spirit – Counselor

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There are many times when we are praying to God and we just want Him to tell us in an easy to understand way, what should I do?!  One of the greatest freedoms God provides is free will.  He provides us the ability to decide our attitude and our behavior.  Better still He has given us the instruction manual for life, the Bible and the guide to walk along with us, the Holy Spirit.  The key to unlocking these resources?…Time.  In order to understand the instructions and to sense the direction of the Holy Spirit, we need to spend time studying the Word and time in prayer.  Jesus our Savior came and has saved us all from the defeat of sin and before He ascended into heaven He told of the Holy Spirit coming.  Tune in to the Counselor and seek direction and guidance from the Word of God.  May God’s love and joy be with you.

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“All this I have spoken while still with you.  But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”

John 14:25-26

(This photo was taken yesterday while walking the dog in a neighborhood near Plymouth, Minnesota)

Angels

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“For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.”

Psalm 91:11-12

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