Faith

What Path Are You On?

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“Give careful thought to the[c] paths for your feet
    and be steadfast in all your ways.
27 Do not turn to the right or the left;
    keep your foot from evil.“

Proverbs 4:26-27 NIV

The original navigtion tool in this world is God’s Word.  Which way should I go? What should I do next?  How should I handle this situation?  How do I respond to that person?  And so many more questions can be answered by spending time in God’s Word.

Pick it up and read it, listen to Him and put into action the things He teaches us.  God’s Word is the ultimate guide for your path.  Take time to reflect of where you have been and where you are going in life…what path are you on?

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“Your word is a lamp for my feet,
    a light on my path.”

Psalm 119:105 NIV

(This photo was taken in July of 2016 in Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota)

Believe And Overcome

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“If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 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 10:9-10 NIV

“Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. 2 This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. 3 In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, 4 for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.”

1 John 5:1-4 NIV

Believe…God is for you…God is with you.  He is the Creator of all and He knows you personally.  He knows what you are facing and He will be right by your side or, if necessary, He will carry you through to the otherside.  God loves you…trust Him to lead and guide you.

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“Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.”

1 John 5:5 NIV

(This photo was taken in October of 2018 near Winterset, Iowa)

Good To All

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“The Lord is gracious and compassionate,
    slow to anger and rich in love.

9 The Lord is good to all;
    he has compassion on all he has made.”

Psalm 145:8-9 NIV

God is patient and persevering with everyone…yes even with that person that came to mind for you and me when we see those words.  The depth of His love is incomprehensible for our minds.  Jesus suffered and died and was resurrected so that everyone has the opportunity to choose to follow Him.

No matter what happens in our lives…look at the people written about in the Bible?  They showed their humanity and made sinful choices just like any of us do.  This does not stop God from pursuing us and calling to us to come near to Him.  God is relentless…He loves us and wants us to choose to believe in Him, love Him and trust Him with our lives.  This is why I have chosen to love Him so much!

Reckless Love by Cory Asbury

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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 NIV

(This photo was taken in June of 2013 while traveling in northern Colorado)

Nothing Can Separate Us

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“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.”

1 John 4:7-12 NIV

There is nothing on earth in your life that is more powerful than the love of God…nothing.  There is no situation or life circumstances that can separate us from God’s love.

Trust in Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior…He came down from heaven and sacrificed His life to reconcile us with God…this is the greatest gift you will ever receive.  Nothing can separate us from Him, trust Him with every area of your life and you will know peace.

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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,[b] 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 NIV

(This photo was taken in October of 2018 at a lake near Plymouth, Minnesota)

Trust In The Lord…Praise Him

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“Trust in the Lord and do good;
    dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
4 Take delight in the Lord,
    and he will give you the desires of your heart.”

Psalm 37:3-4 NIV

Only God can do the things we wish we could control…only He can transform the way people think and change their hearts.  Faith is about trusting His way and His timing…be still and wait patiently for Him.  Keep doing good things according to God’s Word.

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“I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart;
    I will glorify your name forever.”

Psalm 86:12 NIV

(This photo was taken in April 2020 at a lake near Plymouth, Minnesota)

Guard Your Heart

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“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”

Jeremiah 29:13 NIV

We all face trials and struggles.  The one thing we can control during these times and situations is how we choose to respond.  Many of us quickly try to gain control and take charge, determined not to let the situation get the best of us…others do an about face and get away from the situation as quickly as they can.

All of us can do better if we start with bringing the situation, the difficult time or difficult relationship to God first.  We need to stop waiting and trying to do things our own way…going into battle against darkness and evil without God is like a soldier heading into a battle without any weapon.  If we turn towards God first, the more likely we will find peace and be able to overcome the troubles of life.

“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

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“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 4:6-7 NIV

(This photo was taken in October of 2013 in a neighborhood near Plymouth, Minnesota)

Give Thanks

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“Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV

What are you thankful for today?  How often are we able to see something to be thankful for during difficult times?  It is not easy…yet it is a choice.  An attitude of gratitude may not come naturally to us but we should strive for it…gratitude can make such a big difference in our lives and the lives of others.  So as you reflect on your life what are you thankful for?

Give thanks for little things and big things…start by thanking God for Jesus Christ and what He did for you on the Cross and see where God leads you.  Amen.

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“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

Colossians 3:15-17 NIV

(This photo was taken in July of 2016 while traveling through North Dakota)

Learn, Share, Give Thanks

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“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

Colossians 3:15-17 NIV

Faith is a journey.  Not an event, not something we do to check the box…it is a life learning and life-giving experience.  We learn by reading God’s Word, spending time in prayer and through our own experiences…we share with others the things we have learned and we learn from others experiences.  We can help others by sharing the things we learn and we give thanks to God for all that He has done for us.

God is with you, right now, today and He wants a relationship with you…turn towards Him every day…learn from Him…share with others what you have learned and give Him thanks and praise.  Amen.

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“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Matthew 28:19-20 NIV

(This photo was taken in June of 2013 while traveling in southern Colorado)

Wait For The Lord

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“The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him,
    to the one who seeks him;
26 it is good to wait quietly
    for the salvation of the Lord.”

Lamentations 3:25-26 NIV

Hurry and impatience are causing more bad things to happen to us than we are willing to admit.  Why are we rushing around?  This is not how God created us to be.  Look at how Jesus lived on earth.  He took time sit quietly alone with God and to pray.  Filling our life with busyness is a sickness and will cause damage to our bodies and our relationships with others over time.  If you are often tired and weary take a moment to slow down…pick up God’s Word and pray to the Lord.  Remember God’s promises and wait for Him to guide you and lead you.

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“Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you;
    therefore he will rise up to show you compassion.
For the Lord is a God of justice.
    Blessed are all who wait for him!”

Isaiah 30:18 NIV

(This photo was taken in May of 2023 alomg the North Shore of Lake Superior)

The Truth Will Set You Free

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“To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

John 8:31-32 NIV

Faith in God means believing the truth.  The truth that God sent His only Son to save us from our sins.  If we allow temptation and sin to rule our lives…it will keep us away from God and we will be inviting trouble into everything we do.

If we follow the truth and put Jesus in the center of our lives, we will know peace.  Peace that surpasses all understanding.

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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 in September of 2022 at Big Sky Resort in Big Sky, Montana)