faith and life

Pray

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Communicate…petition…give thanks…ask..seek…listen, do all of it with an open heart and an open mind.  Prayer is not about the words you use rather it is about sincerity, belief and a willingness to trust.  Prayer is about our relationship with Jesus.  Because of Jesus we have the gift and ability to develop a deep and strong bond with God.  As with any relationship in our lives the best ones take a significant investment of time.  May we all take our greatest worries and biggest triumphs and share them with God in prayer.  Amen.

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“pray continually”

1 Thessalonians 5:17

(This photo was taken in July of 2018 on the shore of Lake Superior near Ashland, Wisconsin)

To Make Him Known

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The second part of our purpose in life.  As we learn and grow, we will be given opportunities to share faith.  How, when or where we share is different for everyone.  This is about living in the present moments of your life.  If we are constantly stewing about the past or what might happen in the future we will miss that which is right in front of us.  This is a journey, we will get distracted and sidetracked, it happens to everyone.  In our efforts to get to know Him and make Him known, we will read stories of conversion and sharing by others and it seems like, wow they changed who they are on Monday and by Friday they were sharing the Good News with others…ah no, at least not for me.  Case and point, I didn’t start daily devotions in my life until around 2010…I started posting on this blog in 2013…I started posting something everyday late in 2015…and began actually writing thoughts inspired by the Holy Spirit on this blog everyday in the beginning of 2018…and here we are today.  What you don’t know is all the other things that go on in a person’s life that impact this process.  We all are part of God’s plan, on my journey God is helping me narrow the focus on this…He created me to Know Him and to make Him Known, everything else should lead into that and I am still learning how that works.  Thank you for reading and stopping by.  May the peace and joy of the Lord be with you on your journey.  Amen.

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“I can do everything through him who gives me strength.”

Philippians 4:13

(This photo was taken in August of 2016 in Glacier National Park in Montana)

Stay On Track

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There can be so many demands on us in our daily lives.  It is easy to sink in to chaos and to feel overstretched, mentally thin and struggling.  This is the way of evil and darkness, the more it can distract you, the less time you will spend with God, reading God’s Word and in prayer.  Don’t lose sight of your faith journey in your every day life.  God is present and working in your life everyday.  He is not a God who just stops by and checks in at Christmas, Easter and on Sunday’s or Wednesday nights.  Just because we may not be paying attention to Him doesn’t mean He is not right there with us.  The whole reason I started this blog in the summer of 2013 and it’s title are based on a foundation that faith and our faith journey continues everyday, all the time.  Distractions will continue to fight to keep you away from God, don’t let them deter you and your relationship with Jesus Christ.  Amen.

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“Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.  Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”

Romans 12:11-12

(This photo was taken in August of 2016 in Arches National Park in Utah)

Faith

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Commitment…belief…trust…relationship…communication…courage…strength…mercy…grace…worship…praise…thankfulness…love.  It is a powerful thing.  Give thanks to God for all He has done for you and trust in Him to carry you through, wherever you are, no matter what struggle you are facing.  Believe in Jesus Christ and the power of Faith.  Amen.

Here is some music about Faith…

What Faith Can Do – by Kutless

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“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”

Hebrews 11:1

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

Cast All Your Cares On Him

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We are all searching for something or someone in life.  A way to know the answers to some of the most difficult questions.  We look to archaeologists and historians to tell us about the past, we look to leaders in business, technology and politics to inform us about the present and we look to scientists and other predictors to provide information about the possibilities in the future.  Through it all we take on worries, anxiety and frustration about all of these things…the past, the present and the future.  Yet here sits God the Father, Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord with the Holy Spirit and they have a handle on all of it.  God has forgiven us our sins of the past, Jesus Christ has reconciled us with God for our present day and the Holy Spirit will guide us to live with eternal values for life in the future.  Take your worries, your fears, your burdens and all your frustrations to Christ, He will gladly carry the load if you are willing to trust in Him.  May you sense comfort and peace trusting in our Lord.

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“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”

1 Peter 5:7

(This photo was taken in August of 2016 in Glacier National Park in Montana)

Community

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I am late in posting today because I went out for breakfast with two men who are my closest friends in the world.  Our time together on life’s journey began 30 years ago this fall when we all lived together when we were starting college.  We are all married, we all are Fathers and we all love the Lord.  We have grown and developed a deep love and respect for each other and we meet together to share stories, ask questions or just laugh about the things that have happened when we have been together.  The three of us are community for each other.  We all believe firmly that God brought us together to share this thing called life and we are all very thankful for our brotherhood.  It is so important to find your community whether it is big or small, to me it is a group of people where you give what you can and you receive what you need and it restores your soul to be apart of that group of people.  Thank you God for all the people that are community in my life.  May God’s peace and joy be with you.

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“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.  Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

Hebrews 10:24-25

(This photo was taken in March of 2013 at the Botanical Garden in the Bellagio in Las Vegas, Neveda)

Believe In Your Heart

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“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.”

Romans 10:9-10

(This photo was taken in August of 2016 near Arches National Park in Utah)

Strength

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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 August of 2016 while driving through Washington)