Even though the world knocks you down, your faith will see you through.
“Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.”
Psalms 37:3-4
(This photo was taken in June of 2016 in a neighborhood near Plymouth, Minnesota)
Let your faith be greater than your fear.
Fear Is A Liar by Zach Williams
“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
(This photo was taken in April of 2016 at a lake in central Minnesota)
It’s not about me…it’s not about how everything affects me or makes me feel…I am not the center of everything. Each of us is one person, created by God and how we choose to live and interact with others on a daily basis is what we can control more than anything. Our actions and how we choose to respond to the actions of others is up to us. Put God first, read His word and pray. Seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit and give thanks to Jesus Christ for His love, His mercy and His grace…if you are wondering how will I ever do this or get through this…know that strength can be found in weakness. Amen.
“…For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
2 Corinthians 12:10
(This photo was taken in March of 2018 in White Sands National Monument in New Mexico)
It takes humility, sacrifice and a willingness to put the needs of many before one. Freedom is earned by human beings working together for a common cause…not by shouting and trying to tear others down. Freedom is earned through courage and a belief in something greater than self. Jesus Christ is the one who provided the example of sacrifice and the willingness to forgive…we all would do well to read about Him and His example of love. Time to put down the flaming arrows of hate and to serve one another in love.
Thank you God, for all the people who serve and have served in the military services of this country…thank you for their willingness to put themselves in the line of fire so others can prosper. I give thanks for them and their families that sacrifice so much in the name of freedom for all of us. Amen.
“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.”
Philippians 2:3-4
(This photo was taken in June of 2013 at Mount Rushmore National Memorial)
There is nothing greater, nothing stonger, nothing that can separate us from the love of God. You were created by God the Father, you have been saved by Jesus Christ, His Son our Lord and you are guided by the Holy Spirit. No matter what the world throws at you today…stand firm in faith. Amen.
“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 2016 while traveling on Beartooth Pass in Montana)
Brave…bold…stouthearted…spirited…determined. When we come to a situation or scenario that is beyond our control we get a glimpse of the powers that exist beyond ourselves. It forces us to look at the world and our life with a different perspective. It takes courage to have heartfelt compassion…it takes courage to be truly humble…it takes courage to admit we are broken and we need help. It takes courage to move forward after a tragedy of any kind. Our inspiration for courage should come from the One who was more courageous than any other in His life, His death and His resurrection. Jesus Christ…turn to Him in prayer for your courage to face whatever is weighing on your heart today. Amen.
“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 April of 2016 on a lake in central Minnesota)
Mistakes and errors will happen, we all will make them, it is guaranteed because we are broken. We need strength and courage that only comes from Christ to admit to our mistakes, to acknowledge them and then strive to do better. If we spend our time always trying to conceal or hide things all we are doing is delaying the inevitable truth. The best that we can do when we make mistakes is to be open and honest about them and learn from them…the truth is failure is not an end it is just one step closer to success for those who won’t give up. Trust in the Lord and you will be amazed at what you can learn. Amen.
“If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, his is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
1 John 1:8-9
(This photo was taken in August of 2016 while traveling through Colorado)
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
“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)
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.
“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)
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.
“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)
Take Your Faith With You 