Faith

Persistence…Perseverance

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“Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. 14 Do everything in love.”

1 Corinthians 16:13-14 NIV

“…being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 1:6 NIV

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“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”

Colossians 3:12-14 NIV

(This photo was taken while traveling in northwestern Wisconsin)

Open The Eyes Of My Heart

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“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.”

Ezekiel 36:26-27 NIV

Open The Eyes Of My Heart by Michael W. Smith

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“Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
    and do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge him,
    and he will make straight your paths.”

Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV

(This photo was taken at a lake near Plymouth, Minnesota)

God’s Faithfulness

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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

Good and Gracious God, thank You for Your never-ending faithfulness

No matter what we face You continue to guide, protect and strengthen us

Thank You for sending us Your Son and for our salvation

When unexpected things occur help us turn towards You first and put our hope and trust in You

In Jesus name, Amen

Nobody Loves Me Like You by Chris Tomlin

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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. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”

John 3:16-17 NIV

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

Humility…Patience

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“As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.“

Ephesians 4:1-2 NIV

Character and attitude shown by how we treat each other in our daily lives

Our attitude and character are the things that show what we believe

Love is demostrated by actions

Learn from the example that Jesus provided in His life, death and resurrection

Live out your faith through your attitude and by how you treat others in daily life

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“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”

Colossians 3:12-14 NIV

(This photo was taken while traveling in northern Colorado)

Sin Divides Us And Christ Unites Us

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“…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”

Romans 3:23-24 NIV

“So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever[c] you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.”

Galatians 5:16-26 NIV

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“If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.”

1 John 1:8-10 NIV

(This photo was taken along the North Shore of Lake Superior in Minnesota)

Forgiveness

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“Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”

Luke 23:34 NIV

Jesus Christ was treated as poorly as any human ever has been treated by others in history to the point of death…

Yet as He hung on the Cross in which He was crucified on for our sins, He spoke the words above…He prayed for forgiveness for others

If we do not find the way to forgive others it is us who will be destroyed…not those who have wronged us…no matter what they did

Forgiveness by Matthew West

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“Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

Luke 6:37-38 NIV

(This photo was taken while traveling in South Dakota)

All Things Are Possible With God

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“Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah: 27 “I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?”

Jeremiah 32:27 NIV

Nothing we face in this life is too big for God…Nothing

No matter what, no matter who, no matter where…all things are possible with God

Put your hope and your trust in the Lord and see the good that He will do.

“For nothing will be impossible with God.”

Luke 1:37 ESV

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 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Matthew 19:26 NIV

(This photo was taken near Pike’s Peak in Colorado)

Amazing Grace

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“Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.  21 But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify.  22 This righteousness is given through faith in[h] Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”

Romans 3:20-24 NIV

Amazing Grace by Chris Tomlin

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“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.”

Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV

(This photo was taken near the border of Minnesota and South Dakota)

A Generous Spirit

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“Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”

2 Corinthians 9:6-8 NIV

Remember that giving is about so much more than money

Too much time spent focused on self only leads to sorrow and trouble

What has God blessed you with that you can give?

Time…Talent…Wisdom…Ministry…Call to Serve?

Who does God want you to give to?

Think about these things and act in faith

May a spirit of generosity flow through each of us to others who are in need

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“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.”

Galatians 6:9-10 NIV

(This photo was taken in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming)

Allow Christ to Change You

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“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 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 12:1-2 NIV

Don’t ask God to change the circumstances around you…ask Him to change you and your perspective so that you can handle the things you are walking through in life

Father God, take back my life.  Take my burdens and fears.  Replace my insecurities and my anxieties with Your peace.  Teach me to trust in Your promises and Your faithfulness.  Restore my joy and give me strength for today and hope for tomorrow.  Lord, I want to be different.  In Jesus name, Amen.

Different by Micah Tyler

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“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.”

Ezekiel 36:26-27 NIV

(This photo was take in Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming)