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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)

Contentment

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Satisfaction…fulfillment…comfort…well-being…peace…serenity…tranquility.  This is not a popular word when it comes to many areas of society.  The messages are usually about more, more and more.  The perspective of faith encourages us to find contentment with worldly things and use our zeal in life to serve the Lord.  To be content does not mean to retract from engaging in or to stop pursuing something rather it is about priorities.  God can and does meet our needs, our job is knowing when we have enough and when we receive beyond that it is for us to share with others.  May the grace and peace of God be with you.  Amen.

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“But godliness with contentment is great gain.”

1 Timothy 6:6

(This photo was taken in September of 2016 on a lake in central Minnesota)

Serve One Another

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We are comforted by the presence of the Lord in our lives.  A life of faith can lead to peace and joy that transcends worldly understanding.  As we are fulfilled, we are equipped to help others who are in need.  Our growth in our spiritual lives will shape us as a new creation, with new values, a new attitude and a new perspective.  God does provide all that we need and it is up to us to use the blessings we receive to care for ourselves, our families and others.  We are blessed to be a blessing.  Amen.

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“You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free.  But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.  The entire law is summed up in a single command:  “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

Galatians 5:13-14

(This photo was taken in June of 2013 near Pike’s Peak in Colorado)

Father God

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We are encouraged by the grace and mercy God our Father gives to us.  We stumble and fall and yet He loves us the same.  He walks with us daily and still there are days we yell ‘God, where are you?’  His love for us is greater than any we will find in human relationships but yet we put our time with Him off to the side or as a low priority that easily can be removed for our busy lives.  We seek His forgiveness and He delivers everytime…the Word of God never changes…He created us; He loves us; He calls us by name…at that point it is up to us to respond.  The greatest Dad there is, is God our Father.  We are His children.  We are comforted and encouraged by His love.  Amen.

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

Psalm 103:8

(This photo was taken in July of 2014 at a lake place in central Minnesota)

Give Thanks

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Lord, I thank you for the people you have put in my life.  My family, my friends including all of those who help me to see things differently, the encouragement they provide and the joy and laughter we experience together.  They help guide me through the rocky moments and events in life.  Because of them I know you are near and I give thanks for your faithfulness and your love.  Thank you, Lord…I love you…Amen.

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“For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.”

Psalms 100:5

(This photo was taken in June of 2013 in Badlands National Park in South Dakota)

How We Treat Each Other

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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.

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“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)

Mary, Did You Know?

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When we read in God’s word about the miracles of God and Jesus there is always some involvement of people on earth contributing to the miracle in some way.  The little boy who had the original fish and bread, the people who are sick and need healing and many more.  Mary, the Mother of God, may be the second greatest contributor to saving the world, after Jesus.  This song of the season helps us think about the questions many of us would have for her…as she was willing to surrender her life to God’s will.  Thanks be to God for Mary the Mother of Jesus.  Amen.

Mary, Did You Know? – Pentatonix

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“But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God.  You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus.”

Luke 1:30-31

(This photo was taken in June of 2013 at the Corn Palace in Mitchell, South Dakota)

Find Rest For Your Soul

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The pace of life in society tends to be frenetic and hurried.  Rushing to get here and there taking little time to stop…and live in the present moment.  There is time to rest, to be more balanced and to set down our technology devices and have an in person conversation with a friend or family member.  To talk and to listen…all we have to do is make the decision to do it.  The world and other people are not going to do it for you…there is one person I know who actually invites us to come to Him and find rest.  He is even willing to take on our burdens and to give us peace and comfort.  Take your worries, your fears and all those things weighing down on you and bring them to the Cross of Christ and you will find rest for your soul.  Amen.

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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 September of 2016 on a lake in central Minnesota)

Relationships

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Communication…kindness…compassion…courage…commitment…time spent together…love.  There are so many things that can get in the way of this list of characteristics that support a strong relationship.  The world feeds us self-focused ways of living and that is exactly the opposite behavior needed for a strong relationship, yet people wonder why relationships are so hard?  The key to perseverance is building a relationship on a solid foundation.  That foundation is love.  More than a feeling, love is about behaviors and attitude…Jesus Christ has provided the example of love for us to follow and if we are willing to surrender self and live in this love we will begin to see our relationships get repaired, renewed and restored.  I pray we all seek the guidance of the Lord for our relationships.  Amen.

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“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 March of 2013 at the Botanical Garden at the Bellagio in Las Vegas, Nevada)

Thanksgiving

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What are you thankful for?  Think about the last week of your life, the last month, the last 12 months.  Where were you or what was going on last Thanksgiving?  Are you able to be with or spend the day with the same people you have for many years or have some gone home to the Lord?  Thinking about the events and people in your life…who or what are you most thankful for?  How you view this day and your life in general is driven by your attitude.  If you want to be more thankful or have a more positive outlook on a daily basis, start each day with time for gratitude for what is good and what you are grateful and thankful for in your life.  We can all start with prayer and thanking God for the sacrifice of His Son to save us.  Happy Thanksgiving Day to you.  May we all experience the peace, love and joy of being thankful.  Amen.

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“Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.  Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.  Know that the Lord is God.  It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.  For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.”

Psalm 100

(This photo was taken in August of 2016 by our daughter while on a family road trip near Dillon, Colorado)