Faith

Patience

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Originally posted in May of 2018…

When we believe and we trust in God we will be required to develop patience in this world.  Circumstances will often look hopeless and many people will despair and be engulfed in sadness and fear, that is the way of evil.  We must never give up hope, we must trust in God to continue working for the good for us and for everyone.  God does not make bad things happen, He is not tempting you with things that are not good…that is sin in the world and we humans invited that sin into this world.  God is at work in all the bad we have created to bring out goodness, kindness and love.  Believe in Him who created us, believe in His one and only Son, Jesus Christ and see the good things that can happen in your life in this world.  May God’s peace and joy be with you.

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“I am still confident of this:  I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.  Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.”

Psalm 27:13-14

(This photo was taken in July of 2016 in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming)

Live By Faith…Trusting In Our Father

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Seek wisdom from God not the world.  Learn from mistakes.  Trust God’s way more than your own ideas of what “should be”…even when you don’t understand.  It takes courage, it takes patience and a willingness to not give up.  God is faithful and as so many stories in the bible tell us…we are to live by faith.  Read Hebrews 11 for a review of how people in the bible lived by faith.  Be thankful today for our Father in heaven who loves us more than anyone else ever could.  Amen.

“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”

Hebrews 11:1

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“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

John 3:16

(This photo was taken in June of 2020 at sunset in northwestern Wisconsin)

God’s Way

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“Many are the plans in a person’s heart,
    but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.”

Proverbs 19:21

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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

(This photo was taken in March of 2018 in White Sands National Park in New Mexico)

Be An Overcomer

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Do not give up…don’t quit…yes, you have been knocked down and it hurts…get back up…stand on the rock…look to Jesus as your guide…be one who overcomes.  Amen.

“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

Romans 12:21

Overcomer by Mandisa

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“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.

21 To the one who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne.”

Revelation 3:20-21

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

Living Out God’s Call For You

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“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

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“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.[a] The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”

2 Corinthians 5:17

(This photo was taken in May of 2020 at the High Falls in Tettegouche State Park in northern Minnesota)

Renew Your Mind

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Whatever has been on your mind…whatever thoughts keep swirling…whatever is in your heart share it with the Lord.  Seek Him and His Word.  The Lord will lead and guide you and renew your mind.  May God’s peace be with you.  Amen.

“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

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“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”

Philippians 4:8

(This photo was taken in July of 2018 at a park near Bayfield, Wisconsin)

We Believe

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“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

We Believe by Newsboys

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“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

John 3:16

(This photo was taken in July of 2019 at a lake near Plymouth, Minnesota)

The Path Of Peace

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“Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 35 For whoever wants to save their life[a] will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. 36 What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?“

Mark 8:34-36

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

John 14:27

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

Faith Over Fear

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“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who[a] have been called according to his purpose.”

Romans 8:28

Give Me Jesus by Danny Gokey

“What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?”

Romans 8:31-35

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“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[c] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Romans 8:37-39

(This photo was taken in May of 2020 on the North Shore of Lake Superior)

Accountability

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We are all the same…we are all human.  We all were born and we all will die.  Yet we are all different.  We are individuals…we are not groups.  We all are created by God.  We are all responsible for our actions and behaviors and we will be held accountable for our individual actions when we die and leave this world.  The answer to all our worries, our fears and our burdens is Jesus Christ.  If you believe in Him…turn towards Him in faith…pray with conviction…trust in Him and treat all other people with kindness, goodness, gentleness, patience and with love…the same love He has shown you we He died to save you.  Amen.

“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”

Ephesians 4:29-32

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“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

(This photo was taken in May of 2020 at Palisade Head on the North Shore of Lake Superior)