Belief…trust…comfort…patience…persistence…love…joy…strength…encouragment…Hope!
May our faith help us to see and to know the presence of God’s love in our daily lives and relationships. Amen.
“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 2016 in a neighborhood near Plymouth, Minnesota)
To be generous is to be a giver, not just in terms of money. There are far more valuable things in life than money to give. A generous person has a certain mindset, an attitude and perspective about life and things. A generous person focuses very little time on what they receive or if they will receive, as that often takes care of itself because they are givers. Givers carry many of the characteristics related to the Fruits of the Spirit…they often exude kindness, goodness, gentleness, love, joy and patience. They are generous with their time and focus very little attention on what’s in it for me. To learn more about what it means to be generous, learn more about the life and teachings of Jesus Christ…you will find all you need to know in God’s Word. We are blessed to be a blessing. Amen.
“Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
Ephesians 4:31-32
(This photo was taken in July of 2016 in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming)
To know the love of God means you are in tune with your relationship with Him and you know Him versus just knowing about Him. The love God has for us isn’t something to be measured or compared to others. It is an experience, it is about a relationship with Jesus Christ, His one and only Son. It is the reason we were created, it is why Jesus sacrificed Himself for us and it is the one thing we can always count on in life, no matter what. Seek to learn about God’s love for you and spend time getting to know Him. Amen.
“This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.”
1 John 4:10
(This photo was taken in June of 2018 at a lake near Plymouth, Minnesota)
We all have been blessed with certain gifts, talents and abilities. It is important for us to learn about our gifts in order for us to use them in the world. There are an overwhelming amount of books and tests and profile charts created by people to sort out what “tendencies” we each possess. Another way to understand more about our spiritual gifts is to pay attention to what comes naturallly to us and what things other people sometimes point out to us as a real gift. As with anything, a assessment of your spiritual gifts should be done in consultation with Jesus Christ. If we go into and through this process without being led by the Lord then all we are doing is finding out what the world thinks of us or what the world thinks we should do. We are all created for a purpose and only God can guide us to the truth about what that is. May peace and joy be with you on your faith journey. Amen.
“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
Ephesians 2:10
(This photo was taken in July of 2018 at a park on Madeline Island in Lake Superior)
Jesus Christ. His birth, His life, His words, His teachings, His love, His grace, His mercy, His willingness to forgive us, His ability to take our punishment, His death, His resurrection. If you are looking for answers, seek Him…If you are struggling with a situation, ask Him what you should do…If you are grateful and thankful for blessings in your life, thank Him. He is our Light in a dark world. Open yourself up to Him and you will find peace and joy. Prepare The Way of the Lord in your heart. Amen.
Prepare the Way – Holy Redeemer Church, Performer: Daniel Schmit
“The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.”
Proverbs 18:10
(This photo was taken in July of 2018 on the shore of Lake Superior near Ashland, Wisconsin)
How has your faith shown up in your daily life? When you reflect on your attitude, your perspective and your daily living and compare it to a previous point in time, what do you notice has changed? Some of our old ways have faded, some are taking longer to adjust…this is the process of spiritual growth. Not everyone will encounter a burning shrub in the desert like Moses or directly encounter Christ on the road like Saul who became Paul. Our journey will be different, yet our God who is with all of us is the same. Be aware of who you are, the people in your life and what you can offer someone in need right where you are and pray. Pray for wisdom and courage, pay attention to what God is up to in your daily life. That alone will be different than the way we were before. Amen.
“For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit.”
1 Thessalonians 4:7-8
(This photo was taken in July of 2016 along Beartooth Pass in Montana)
People are constantly seeking answers to difficult questions in life from a worldly point of view. Approaching situations with this perspective and mentality leads to phrases like…’I don’t know what else to do’…’It will never get better’…’I have tried everything’…’I give up.’ We were not made to do things alone. We are created out of love and that love is from God. He wants a relationship with us, all that is good in our lives is from God. Darkness and evil, the bad things in life, are rooted in sin which is the way of this world. Our hope, our peace comes from God and our time spent in our relationship with Jesus Christ, His Son, our Lord and Savior. Be renewed by the hope that we have in Jesus. Amen.
“But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down but not destroyed.”
2 Corinthians 4:7-8
(This photo was taken in July of 2018 on the shore of Madeline Island in Lake Superior)
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.
“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)
God is always working for our good. Even when life seems hopeless and we feel the darkness of evil surround us…God is with us. Reach out to Him in prayer…true, honest, sincere prayer that is delivered with belief that He is there listening to you. If your heart doesn’t truly believe in God and that Jesus Christ is the Son of God than your words are just sound. We get frustrated because God does not respond the way we want or the way we think He should…that is not trust in God. God does answer our prayers and He does provide us guidance. The only reason we miss it is because the self is powerful and stubborn and won’t get out of the way. God created you, He knows all about you and what you are going through in this world…He loves you, surrender your situation to Him and listen…He is caring for you in a far better way than you can do yourself. I pray we all do a better job of giving ourselves to God’s time in the New Year. Amen.
“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”
2 Peter 3:9
(This photo was taken in December of 2018 on Paradise Island, Bahamas)
The changing of the year signifies a milestone, a break point, a natural point in time to reflect and to begin again or renew or start over…we say things like ‘this year is going to be a good year’ or ‘I hope the next year is better than last year.’ We never truly know what the next year or even the next day will be like or if we even will be given the gift of life to live tomorrow, or next year. We so easily slip into taking the days and life in general for granted…until something happens and you lose someone. When 2018 started I had no idea we would lose 3 relatives this year…I did not know that the last time I said good-bye to my Dad on a Sunday in early August that he would not live to September. In fact on August 30th, 2018 none of us knew, including my Dad, that Sunday August 31st was the day he was going home to the Lord. Life is a gift…people and relationships are far more valuable than anything else this world offers you. We are created out of God’s love to bear good fruit to others in the world and to be loved. Life is a gift, let’s do our best not to take it for granted…every day we are allowed to wake up we should be thankful to God and treat others the way we would like to be treated. Amen.
“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”
Matthew 7:12
(This photo was taken in August of 2016 in Glacier National Park in Montana)
Take Your Faith With You 