freedom

The Joy Of The Lord

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We live and we work, we eat and we drink, we move from one activity to the next day by day.  We face decisions and choices day after day, big decisions, little choices and through it all God calls to us to live life to the fullest.  What does that mean for you?  What is living to the fullest?  It all depends on the perspective you choose to look from…if you choose to view life through the eyes of the world measuring success by possessions, material things and number of likes on social media then you will find much disappointment.  If you choose to look at life through the spiritual perspective, with a daily connection with God, praying for and helping others, serving those in need and living life filled with the fruits of the spirit…you will find joy.  True joy is found only in a relationship with Jesus Christ.  May God’s love and joy be with you.

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“I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.”

John 15:11

(This photo was taken in July of 2016 in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming)

Free Will

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One of the most sacred aspects regarding the creation of humans is free will.  We are given the gift of free will by God to decide and to choose our behavior and attitude each day.  How we choose to live is our responsibility and no one else’s.  We choose to do good or to do wrong or we choose to do nothing.  Everybody in the world is fighting a battle of some kind, real life is not what people are posting on social media, that is merely the book cover that people want to present to the world.  We should not take our free will for granted, use the power to choose how you will live to do good for others, just as Christ did to save you.  May God’s peace be with you.

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“You, my brothers, 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.”  If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.”

Galatians 5:13-15

(This photo was taken in March of 2018 while traveling through southern New Mexico)

Do Good Works

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Go out into the world of your daily life knowing that God is with you and do good things.  Do not measure your goodness by how people in this world do or do not react, do not measure your goodness by how many “likes”  or “shares” you have on social media.  Do good work that benefits, encourages and uplifts another person.  It can be just one other person or it can be more depending on where God is leading you.  Fulfill a need of another person without expectation of getting something in return.  Everything you do, every single day, God knows about it and our relationship with Him is most important one of our lives.  May God’s love and peace be with you.

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“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 March of 2018 while driving through southern New Mexico)

Rest For The Weary

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Each day brings us choices, decisions, questions and some answers.  On some occasions these can pile up on us pretty fast and become a burden to wade through.  When the way forward is blurry or getting difficult to understand we need to take sometime and be with Jesus.  He set the example…several times you can read in the bible that Jesus would go off on His own or with one or two of the disciples to pray.  To be with His Father in heaven in nature and stillness.  We are not made to “on” all the time 24-7, we need better balance.  Make your rest time with Jesus a priority at whatever point in a day makes sense for you.  Make God’s peace and joy be with you.

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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 March of 2018 while driving through New Mexico)

In God We Trust

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These are the words that help to form a new nation.  As we fight our internal struggles our hope is tied to our belief in God.  There is so much in life that can be good, if we have the courage to build a personal relationship with God.  We must be prepared to humble ourselves, to know we are not the center of the universe or our own lives.  When God is at the center we look to Him and His Word.  God created us out of love, He has forgiven us with His One and Only Son and He can guide us with the Holy Spirit.  Take the next step in trusting God whatever that is for you and see what He has in store for your life.  May God’s love and joy be with you.

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“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.”

Psalm 119:105

(This photo was taken in March of 2018 in White Sands National Monument in New Mexico)

What Can I Do?

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This is an excellent question.  One that we can ask of God anytime and in any situation.  Asking questions and seeking the answers from God first are an excellent way to start letting God be in control.  When we are willing to ask for help we are admitting we don’t have all the answers or finally admitting we tried to answer the questions of life several times on our own and we are ready to surrender to God’s answers.  This is very humbling and yet such a lift of burden all at the same time.  I am sure you have heard the phrase…God is good, all the time and all the time, God is good…while it can be used as a mantra or a call and response exercise the truth of what that states is accurate.  It is our perspective that needs the adjustment not God’s plan.  Be open to questions, ask them to God and be prepared to listen to His answers not only the answer you want.  May God’s peace and goodness be with you.

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“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.  Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.  Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.”

Psalm 51:10-12

(This photo was taken in March of 2018 in White Sands National Monument in New Mexico)

Share Goodness

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Whenever you can, share the goodness of life.  Make eye contact and smile at other people, hold a door open, help someone carry things, be patient with others, listen instead of talking and support those in need without expectation of something in return.  When we choose to live in community with one another we can see the goodness of the Lord in life.  It is striving to get back to the basics of interacting with each other in a simple and kind manner.  It is a choice, we are not victims of our environment or our surroundings unless we choose to be.  If you don’t know how or where to start, I would recommend getting out into nature and be present in God’s creation.  Nothing soothes my soul better than being outdoors in the amazing world God created.  May God’s peace and the wonder of creation be with you.

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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.”

Galatians 6:9

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

Holy Week

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This is the week that we remember the events at the core of our faith.  Jesus Christ doing what He came to earth to do, not for Himself but for us.  He gave Himself as a sacrifice to reconcile us with God.  That’s what we are remembering this week.  He died and He conquered death by rising.  His sacrifice is our salvation, Jesus did what is very hard for me and you, He looked first to interest of others knowing that God the Father would care for Him.  It wasn’t easy and He prayed so hard about being able to do it that He began to sweat blood.  In end He did it…He came, He lived, He died, He was risen and has ascended to the Father…and He will come back again.  He did it all for us because He loves us.  During this week take time to think about Him and how you can honor Him by serving the needs of others you are with each day.  God loves you and may God’s peace be with you.

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“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourself.  Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.”

Philippians 2:3-4

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

Everlasting Peace

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Throughout the days, weeks, months and years of life you may come across reflections of a time or times when you remember moments of life with peace.  Where were you?  What was going on in your life and in the world?  Who were you with?  Do you remember what it felt like?

For me these times involve my time with family and friends most often…usually these moments are times of simplicity, not in a rush or hurry, not worried about the plans or the meal.  They were definitely times of less technology in our daily life.  Whatever those moments are for you, say a prayer to ask God to help you make time to do those things and to be with those people whenever and however you can.  It is that peace that feeds us to get through the times when we are unsettled and stressed.  May God’s peace overwhelm you and be with you.

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“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.  I do not give to you as the world gives.  Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

John 14:27

(This photo was taken in August of 2016 in Glacier National Park in Montana)

Perseverance

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The definition of this word is: “continued effort to do or achieve something despite difficulties, failure, or opposition.”  To me it says don’t give up.  One truth about life that some find difficult to understand is there are going to be times when life is difficult and unfair.  We are human and none of us is going to be perfect.  Trouble will come our way despite our best efforts to avoid it.  So what are we going to do?  We keep going with “continued effort” in spite of difficulties, failures and opposition.  We move forward respectfully and give our best to achieve.  Another blogger who writes BeautyBeyondBones shared some advice she would get from her mother during extremely difficult times…what is the next right thing to do?  If we can figure that out in any situation we can persevere.  We also have the greatest teacher ever in Jesus, He showed us the ultimate perseverance and we will remember it during Holy Week next week.  May God’s peace be with you.

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“Blessed in the one who perseveres under trial, because when they have stood the test, they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.”

James 1:12

(This photo was taken in August of 2016 near Arches National Park in Utah)