God’s faithfulness

It Will Come…

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What have you been praying for but have not yet seen?  Is it for you or someone else?  Peace?  Patience?  Joy?  A changed heart?  For me, the hardest part of faith is surrender, trying to do my part for God’s plan and not trying to do too much to attempt to control the timing or the outcome of circumstances.  Today’s verse below speaks directly to these times when we may feel frustrated and impatient.  Trust the Lord and do good things…He has only good things planned for you.  Amen.

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“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”

Romans 12:12

(This photo was taken in July of 2018 on the shore of Lake Superior near Ashland, Wisconsin)

God’s Promises

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God has made many promises and He keeps His word.  Too often we think God has failed because we expect Him to work on our timeline, when we want or we believe is the right time or way for something to happen.  That is our mistake not God’s.  We are not in control; humankind did not create the world and we do not determine its outcome.  What God has asked us to do is to trust Him and to care for one another.  Read God’s word and learn about His promises, they are the only promises you know will be kept.  Amen.

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“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Jeremiah 29:11

(This photo was taken in August of 2016 while traveling through Utah)

Trust

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God knows you…He knows what is happening in your life…He cares for you…He knows the pain, He knows the struggle, He knows about the battle you think nobody else knows about…He knows because Jesus Christ lived as a man on earth and experienced pain and suffering and temptation and He died…but then something wonderful happened…God raised Him from death to life and claimed victory over evil.  Trouble will come to all of us and we have a Savior who is Christ the Lord who can lead us and guide through the difficult times in our lives.  May the peace of the Lord be with you.  Amen.

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

Proverbs 3:5-6

(This photo was taken in June of 2018 near the border of Minnesota and South Dakota)

Holy Spirit

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Our guide…Our conscience…Comforter…Presence of God…Spirit of truth…Helper.  When we believe in our hearts that Jesus is the Son of God and we confess our sins, God gives us the gift of His Holy Spirit to lead and guide us in our daily lives.  Open your heart and mind to God’s Holy Spirit, seek His wisdom and you will find strength and peace.  Amen.

Holy Spirit by Francesca Battistelli

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“The one who keeps God’s commands lives in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.”

1 John 3:24

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

God’s Formula

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In the Gospel of John chapter 10 we are given an answer to a question.  Many of us haven’t even asked the question because we haven’t gotten very far in our faith journey, yet God knows there will be a time when we will want to know.  That’s the thing about the bible, it really does have all the answers, that doesn’t mean we are going to like all the answers or that the answers are going to always be what we want them to be…still they are in there and it is up to us to choose to learn them.  From my perspsective God’s formula is this (You + A relationship with Jesus = A full life) It’s simple but nobody ever said it was going to be easy.  Peace be with you.  Amen.

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“…I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

John 10:10

(This photo was taken in July of 2019 at a lake near Plymouth, Minnesota)

Put Your Hope In God

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No matter what has happened in the past, no matter what you are facing today and no matter what you are worried about for tomorrow…you can find rest for your soul when you put your hope in God.  He alone knows what you are going through and He will never leave you or abandon you.  Trust in God and trust in His Son Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord.  Amen.

Find Rest by Francesca Battistelli

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“Why, my soul, are you downcast?
    Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
    for I will yet praise him,
    my Savior and my God.”

Psalm 42:11

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

Wisdom

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The ability to think and act using a combination of knowledge, experience, understanding, insight and common sense.  Wisdom does not promote the self or self-intelligence…it is humble, compassionate, faithful and understanding of the needs of others.  To continually seek to learn and grow and share what you have learned is to be wise.  Seek wisdom from the Lord and you will find peace.  Amen.

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“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”

Proverbs 9:10

(This photo was taken in December of 2018 on a walk in northwestern Wisconsin)

Do Not Be Afraid

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God is with you…wherever you are…whatever your circumstances…no matter what you have done or left undone…God promised He would never leave you or abandon you.  If you can’t see Him…look at things differently than you have been.  Pick up God’s word and learn about Him so that you can see.  May the peace of the Lord be with you.  Amen.

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“The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.  Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

Deuteronomy 31:8

(This photo was taken in December of 2013 on a walk in northwestern Wisconsin)

This Is Love

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Sacrifice…Savior…Salvation.  The actions of God through Jesus Christ were done to save us.  We don’t deserve it, we can’t earn it by doing good things, it is given to us.  We can accept it; we can stay close to Him by meeting with Him daily and we can do good things to help others to learn and know about Him.  May the love of God comfort us today.  Amen.

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“This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.”

1 John 4:10

(This photo was taken in March of 2013 at the Botanical Gardens in the Bellagio in Las Vegas, Nevada)

Compassion

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As we read about the life of Jesus and His ministry, we are given many examples of the amazing love and compassion He has for all people, especially those in need of healing.  Not just those who need physical healing but also spiritual healing and that includes you and me.  We should seek to live as Jesus has taught us and if we do, we will begin to see with new eyes where Jesus wants us to serve.  Open the eyes of our hearts, Lord.  Amen.

Open The Eyes Of My Heart by Michael W. Smith

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“A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, “If you are willing, you can make me clean.”  Jesus was filled with compassion.  He reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!”  Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed.”

Mark 1:40-42

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