Faith

Consistent

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Steady…stable…unchanging…unswerving…unwavering…dependable…reliable…unfailing.  Always available, always with us.  How many things or people can you name in your life that meet this standard?  We all have faced and will continue to face trials and troubles, we will all suffer loss and feel like nothing is going right and think where is God in all of this?  He is right there with you…the most consistent and reliable thing in life is God’s Word and the one person you can always count on is Jesus Christ His Son our Savior and Lord.  Nothing in this world can compare to what is available to us through faith.  Read the Word of God daily and spend time in communication with Jesus and you will find peace.  Amen.

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“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”

Hebrews 13:8

(This photo was taken in July of 2012 in a neighborhood near Plymouth, Minnesota)

Persevere

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Purposeful…dedicated…courageous…committed…determined…resolute.  It takes strength to run the race of faith.  The evil in this world will serve us many forms of darkness and struggle, it will work hard, very hard to keep us away from God.  We have to be willing to fight just as hard to stay close to God and trust in the hope that faith gives us…even when…especially when we can’t see it.  Don’t stop believing…(and now the song by Journey is playing in my mind)…keep the faith, when you get knocked back or pushed down trust in God and keep running the race of faith.  Amen.

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“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”

Hebrews 12:1

(This photo was taken in July of 2016 on Beartooth Pass in Montana)

He Knows

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No matter how you are feeling or what thoughts are racing through your mind, remember that God knows what is going on in your life and in your mind and He is waiting for you to turn to Him and trust Him to be your guide and to care for you.  All that is good comes from God, all that is sin and suffering was brought into this world by us.  Believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God and come to Him for whatever you need.  The music of the world has been impacting more than usual over the last few weeks…I can’t help but think it is God speaking through others as some of the songs I have heard many times over and yet they seem to sound different lately or more like message.  Today I share a song by Jeremy Camp that He released 4 years ago.  May the God of mercy a grace be with you.  Amen.

“He Knows” by Jeremy Camp

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“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”

Matthew 11:28-29

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

 

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)

 

Facing Trials

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We are not made to do this on our own…so many people try to go it alone.  We need faith and a belief in Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord.  We need a community of believers to pray with us and for us.  Every trial can provide growth in our relationship with Jesus.  The trials will keep coming, that is just part of what we are facing in this fallen world.  There is hope, there is joy and there can be peace if you believe in God and trust Him with your life.  He has shown His love for us through the sacrifice of His One and Only Son.  Whatever are you are facing today…take it to the Lord in prayer.  Amen.

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“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, becasue you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.”

James 1:2-3

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

God’s Purpose For You

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What is it?  When was the last time you asked Him, directly?  What would it look like to get a direct answer?  Or has this question been answered, several times, several ways and we just are not sure or we don’t like what is being said?  We were all made for a purpose and it is not always the purpose we think it should be…it actually is something better then what we come up with on our own.  To help us understand more about our purpose we should reflect and think about the things that come easy to us that we can do that another person may not be able to do for themselves.  Look around your life right where you are…if you are willing, God can use you there too.  Seek the will of the Lord for your life because He is with you every step of the way.  Amen.

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“Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.”

1 Peter 4:10

(This photo was taken in August of 2016 in Mount Rainier National Park in Washington)

Troubles Can Be Overwhelming

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Our thoughts are often the driver of our hearts and our actions.  The more we think about and focus on something, the more likely it will lead us to doing something.  The problem is the amount of inputs and sensory overload we are getting from darkness and evil tend to keep us dwelling on our sins and the sinful nature within us.  It truly is a struggle and can be all consuming.  The only source of Light is Jesus Christ.  The only way to get help in removing the blinders to goodness and good things is God’s Word.  Faith will not make the evil and darkness disappear, rather it provides the tools and the resources we need to promote the Fruit of the Spirit.  Faith helps us shine the Light of Christ for us and others to see in this dark world.  Thanks be to God for Jesus Christ our Light of the World.  Amen.

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

Romans 12:21

(This photo was taken in July of 2018 on Lake Superior near the Apostle Islands)

Nothing Can Separate Us

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No matter what we do or where we go, we are still loved by God.  We tend to think, not me, God deosn’t really love me…look at the things I have done and left undone.  Look at what I said, look at my life and the things that have happened because of me.  To this I say look at the examples of people in the Bible.  Peter, rejected being associated with Jesus three times after Jesus was arrested.  Rahab in the Book of Joshua, she was a prostitute who acted with faith and courage to help God’s people capture the Promised Land.  Saul who became Paul…he hunted down and killed many of the followers of Jesus and yet the Lord still loved him and made him one of the greatest teachers of the faith in the New Testament.  There are many more like these.  We are not perfect nor will we ever be, we will make mistakes and do the wrong things…inspite of it all God still loves us and wants to help us grow and mature in our faith.  Trust in the Lord.  Amen.

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“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 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 8:38-39

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

The Facts Of Faith

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Jesus Christ was born and lived life as a human being for 30+ years. He performed miracles that thousands of people witnessed and recorded. He was arrested, beaten, presented to the people as a criminal. He was innoccent and yet He was sentenced to death. He was flogged and finally He was crucified and died. His body was placed in a tomb and it was sealed…this is not the end of the story. Three days later Jesus Christ rose from the the dead, many came to the tomb but He was not there, His body was never found, after His resurrection He was seen several more times, the fact is Jesus Christ is alive and living with God our Father in heaven. “Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” – John 14:6

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“But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

1 Corinthians 15:57

(This photo was taken in June of 2013 near Colorado Springs, Colorado)

Shine The Light

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When we believe, when we believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God who lived and died and was resurrected to save us…we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  When we can come to the Cross and confess our sins, we are forgiven and we are restored.  As we move along the journey of faith, the Light of Christ is put into the empty space inside us.  It is a space made by Him and made for Him.  Many try to fill that space with other things.  When we receive this Light, it is up to us to shine this Light in the world for others to see.  If we are unsure how God wants us to do that, all we have to do is ask.  May we all learn how God wants us to shine the Light of Christ in our lives.  Amen.

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“For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.”

2 Corinthians 4:6

(This photo was taken in July of 2018 on Lake Superior near the Apostle Islands)