Faith

Wisdom From Above

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“But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.”

James 3:17 NIV

I don’t know…I’m not sure…I don’t understand…Can you help me…I need help

Statements like these make us vulnerable, they open us up, they make us humble

To the world these phrases can be seen as weak and needy

What we need is wisdom from God

We need a change in the attitudes and behaviors we choose

Wisdom from the world is self-focused, get more, hurry up, me first mentality

The most significant thing about choosing the wisdom of the world

We will lose the opportunity to pursue relationships with others

God our Creator, His Son Jesus Christ our Savior and the Holy Spirit have the wisdom that is so desperately needed in this world

Seek wisdom from God, not the world

And you will know peace and joy

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“For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.”

1 Corinthians 1:25 NIV

(This photo was taken in Mount Rainier National Park in Washington)

Overcome Trouble And Sorrow

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“Our days may come to seventy years,
    or eighty, if our strength endures;
yet the best of them are but trouble and sorrow,
    for they quickly pass, and we fly away.”

Psalm 90:10 NIV

The Bible tells us in this life we will have trouble and sorrow…

It states very clearly that life is hard

Yet we still have hope and can be encouraged because Jesus Christ came into this world and sacrificed Himself to assure that we can have a relationship with God

Do not be overcome by trouble and sorrow…

Overcome these things with faith and trust in the Lord

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“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

John 16:33 NIV

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

Spiritual Gifts

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“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 11 If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.”

1 Peter 4:10-11 NIV

As God’s creation, each of us has been blessed and have God-given gifts and abilities

It is up to us to learn about and use the spiritual gifts God has given to us

We are blessed to be a blessing to others

What gifts has God given you?

What can you offer or provide to others in your family, your neighborhood or your faith community?

If you are unsure about your gifts, turn towards God in prayer and ask Him to help you to see

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“We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your[a] faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead,[b] do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.”

Romans 12:6-8 NIV

(This photo was taken on a lake in northwestern Wisconsin)

Our Help Comes From The Lord

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“God is our refuge and strength,
    an ever-present help in trouble.”

Psalm 46:1 NIV

When things go side-ways or take an unexpected turn…what do we typically do first?

Ask questions, try to figure out what happened, look for ways to get control of what is going on…

All of these are natural human reactions…however, the first thing we should do is turn to the Lord and pray for help, pray for wisdom, pray for guidance

This is where our help really comes from and we typically wait to call on God as a very last resort

As you go through this day or this week try turning to God first for anything and everything

He loves you, He knows you and He wants to give you good things

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“I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
    where does my help come from?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
    the Maker of heaven and earth.”

Psalm 121:1-2 NIV

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

Character

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“His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.”

2 Peter 1:3-4 NIV

Personality…nature…disposition…temperament…mentality…essence…identity…spirit

Our character is defined by who we are and how we relate while interacting with others

This is at the core of who we are as a person

For some, their true character is only revealed to a few other people as they have fear and a lack of trust in others due to previous wounds and painful past experiences

The other reason fear exists in revealing our true character is our concern regarding acceptance

With the proliferation of social media sites, judgement or what is know as ‘likes’ and ‘dislikes’ has inappropriately become the measuring stick of defining who someone is…talk about judging a book by its cover!

We can begin to get knowledge and a better understanding of our character by spending time with Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord and by accepting who we are according to God

Additionally, we can encourage and help build up others by taking time to listen and discuss the things that make us different

I pray we all examine who we are more than what we do and we lay our fears and worries at the foot of the cross

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“For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.”

2 Peter 1:5-7 NIV

(This photo was taken in Glacier National Park in Montana)

Contentment…Gratitude

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“Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said,

“Never will I leave you;
    never will I forsake you.”[a]

6 So we say with confidence,

“The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.
    What can mere mortals do to me?”[b]

Hebrews 13:5-6 NIV

God is always with us…

If God feels distant, it typically is because we have wandered off and away from Him

Believe in Jesus, confess your sin and invite Him into your life daily

He will be with you and He will lead and guide you forever

Thanks be to God

Forever by Michael W. Smith

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“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
His love endures forever.”

Psalm 136:1 NIV

(This photo was taken at a lake in northwestern Wisconsin)

Praise Him

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“Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord;
    let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.
2 Let us come before him with thanksgiving
    and extol him with music and song.

3 For the Lord is the great God,
    the great King above all gods.
4 In his hand are the depths of the earth,
    and the mountain peaks belong to him.
5 The sea is his, for he made it,
    and his hands formed the dry land.

6 Come, let us bow down in worship,
    let us kneel before the Lord our Maker;
7 for he is our God
    and we are the people of his pasture,
    the flock under his care.”

Psalm 95:1-7 NIV

King Of Kings by Hillsong Worship

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“Praise the Lord.[a]

Praise God in his sanctuary;
    praise him in his mighty heavens.
2 Praise him for his acts of power;
    praise him for his surpassing greatness.
3 Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet,
    praise him with the harp and lyre,
4 praise him with timbrel and dancing,
    praise him with the strings and pipe,
5 praise him with the clash of cymbals,
    praise him with resounding cymbals.

6 Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.

Praise the Lord.”

Psalm 150 NIV

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

Encourage One Another

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“Let love and faithfulness never leave you;
    bind them around your neck,
    write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 Then you will win favor and a good name
    in the sight of God and man.”

Proverbs 3:3-4 NIV

Receive encouragement from the Holy Spirit and be renewed by spending time with God and reading God’s Word

God’s love is for all of us and we are created to love God and to love others

Let His love flow through you and be encouraging for others with your words and your actions

Encourage one another

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“Trust in the Lord with all your heart
    and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways submit to him,
    and he will make your paths straight.”[a]

Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV

(This photo was taken in Bighorn National Forest in Wyoming)

Be Different

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“Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father[a] is not in them. 16 For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. 17 The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.”

1 John 2:15-17 NIV

Father God, forgive me for the ways I have turned away from You physically, spiritually and emotionally

If You are not the center of my life, nothing else matters

Please lead me to live differently

Show me how to live a life that draws near to You and is devoted to honoring You and loving others

In Jesus name, Amen

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“Do not conform 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 NIV

(This photo was taken at Falls Park near Sioux Falls, South Dakota)

God’s Faithfulness

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“Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments.”

Deuteronomy 7:9 NIV

Father God, You make all things beautiful in their proper timing

Nothing is too hard for You to accomplish

You are faithful to keep Your promises

So often, we forget this and grow discouraged when our situations don’t seem to change

In those moments, it’s easy to forget that You are not done working

Through Your Holy Spirit, please change the way we think and behave

When we start to grow weary, help us remember that You are near and You are faithful

In Jesus name, Amen

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“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,
    for his compassions never fail.
23 They are new every morning;
    great is your faithfulness.”

Lamentations 3:22-23 NIV

(This photo was taken at sunrise by a lake in northwestern Wisconsin)