“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
1 John 1:9 NIV
“For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”
Matthew 6:14-15 NIV
(This photo was taken in Mount Rainier National Park in Washington)
“He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.”
1 Peter 2:24 NIV
“Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind.”
1 Peter 2:1 NIV
“For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every family[a] in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”
Ephesians 3:14-19 NIV
(This photo was taken at a lake near Plymouth, Minnesota)
“Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
Ephesians 4:31-32 NIV
All actions and behaviors of violence and destruction against others are wrong
Nobody can rightfully condone violence at one event because it aligns with their opinion and condemn it at another…all actions and behaviors of violence against others are wrong
We need more listening that is seeking to understand even when we don’t agree
We need more kindness, more compassion
If we choose to condone violence at any time, against anyone…we are just going to get more violence in the world
Turn towards God, seek Him, seek understanding
Forgive as Christ forgave you
“Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. 14 Do everything in love.”
1 Corinthians 16:13-14 NIV
(This photo was taken at a lake near Plymouth, Minnesota)
“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
Matthew 6:33 NIV
Jesus Christ…He sacrificed Himself to save you
No matter what has happened in your life, no matter what you have done or left undone
He is waiting for you with open arms…to forgive you and restore you
He is ready to do that for you and for others in your life because He loves you and He loves them too
Jesus Christ is the way…He is the only way to fellowship with God
“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
John 14:6 NIV
(This photo was taken near Glacier National Park in Montana)
For everything…His character…His goodness…His compassion…His response to questions…His attitude…His selflessness…His love
No matter what our struggle is, no matter where we are in life…Jesus has an example of how we should try to respond, react, proceed
For example, while hanging on the Cross, blood draining out of His body…taking the punishment we and those who put Him there deserve, He spoke these words:
“Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”[a] And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.”
Luke 23:34 NIV
No matter what is happening in your life turn towards Jesus Christ
He has set the example for us to follow in this life
“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.”
Romans 12:9-13 NIV
(This photo was taken by a lake in Plymouth, Minnesota)
“Blessed is the one
whose transgressions are forgiven,
whose sins are covered.
2 Blessed is the one
whose sin the Lord does not count against them
and in whose spirit is no deceit.
3 When I kept silent,
my bones wasted away
through my groaning all day long.
4 For day and night
your hand was heavy on me;
my strength was sapped
as in the heat of summer.[b]
5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you
and did not cover up my iniquity.
I said, “I will confess
my transgressions to the Lord.”
And you forgave
the guilt of my sin.”
Psalm 32:1-5 NIV
“For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”
John 3:17 NIV
(This photo was taken at a park on the island of the Bahamas)
“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 NIV
“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.“
John 15:12-13 NIV
You will get what you give in this life
God’s Word gives clear instructions and Jesus lived the example we can follow
Love and serve one another
“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
Ephesians 4:29-32 NIV
(This photo was taken at St. Croix State Park in northern Minnesota)
“Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
Ephesians 4:31-32 NIV
“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.”
1 John 1:8-9 NIV
(This photo was taken at a lake in northwestern Wisconsin)
“The Lord is near to all who call on him,
to all who call on him in truth.”
Psalm 145:18 NIV
God changed everything by sending His one and only Son into the world
Jesus Christ is our Savior, our Redeemer, He has paid the price for our sins and reconciled us back to God, forever
Come near to God and stay close to Him…no matter what comes your way
God Is With Us by Casting Crowns
“Come near to God and he will come near to you.”
James 4:8 NIV
(This photo was taken at Temperance State Park on the shore of Lake Superior)
“…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
“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)
Take Your Faith With You 