God’s faithfulness

God Is Love

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I am reminded this morning of this statement.  When we fix our eyes on Jesus and not on the pain, struggle and our self-serving desires, we are able to rise above those things carried by the love of God.  If we allow the hurt and pain of the past to rule our present day then we are missing out on so many opportunities to know joy and peace, to be thankful for what is good.  If we desire forgiveness for our sins, we need to be just as willing to forgive others.  The sacrifice has already been made for us, the race is already been won, death is defeated and Christ lives.  Let us turn towards God in prayer and thanksgiving for His everlasting love.  Amen.

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“If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God.  And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.  God is love.  Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.”

1 John 4:15-16

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

God’s Presence Is All Around Us

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One of the most difficult things for us to accomplish is change.  A change that will last, is sustainable and makes a difference in us and how we interact with others.  One of the greatest changes in human history occurred when Jesus Christ changed Saul into Paul, His disciple.  We read about this is the Book of Acts, chapter 9.  What Jesus did to create and sustain this change was to illuminate His Presence to Saul.  To show His Presence and then to give instructions to Saul as to what he must do.  God is present in creation and in each of our lives everyday…we just need to do a better job of looking for Him.  His Presence exists in nature, the change of the seasons and in the Fruits of the Spirit that we give and receive in our interactions with others.  God is with you, He loves you and His Presence is what gives you strength.  Thanks be to God.  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 October of 2018 at a lake near Plymouth, Minnesota)

Faithfulness

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Devoted…loyal…dependable…reliable…committed.  Faithfulness is another one of the Fruits of the Spirit.  To be faithful means there is a willingness to set aside ourselves as top priority, and put our focus on something greater.  Faithfulness may not be filled with excitement and adventure rather it is about being consistent and supportive in our values and beliefs.  Being faithful may not always fulfill all of our wants and desires, however, when faithfulness is given and received it does fulfill some of our greatest needs.  May we all take time to reflect on our relationships and give thanks to those who have been faithful to us and seek where we can serve others faithfully.  Amen.

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“…The Lord is faithful to all his promises and loving toward all he has made.”

Psalm 145:13

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

Grace

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This has been defined as the unmerited favor and love of God.  It is because of the grace of God we can be saved.  Along our faith journey we will trip, we will stumble and we will get knocked down by sin and the sinful nature.  It is not a matter of if this will happen, rather it is about when it happens how do we choose to respond?  God’ grace provides us a way to get back up, to keep trying to do better.  The bible is filled with examples of people who stumbled significantly in their lives, we are not alone in our mistakes.  Jesus Christ came to save them and to save you and me.  No matter what the struggle is, no matter what level of darkness you feel like you are surrounded by…God’s grace is for you too.  He loves you and He sent His Son to give you the way back to Him and His love for you.  I pray we trust in God’s grace and love to guide us in overcoming all obstacles and for His way to lead us in our lives.  Amen.

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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 in White Sands National Monument in New Mexico)

The Love Of Christ

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We can search our entire life for something to comfort us, to depend on and to know that it is always watching over us…and yet there is only one thing that can be all of this and more for everyone…that is the love of Jesus Christ.  Nothing in this world is as powerful as the love of Christ.  No event or circumstances can compare with the death and resurrection of Jesus and the fact that He endured it all for you and for me because of  love.  It is the greatest gift we will ever receive and the most important thing we can share with others.  I pray we all seek ways to shine a light on the love of Christ in our lives.  Amen.

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“…And I pray that you, may have power together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ…”

Ephesians 3:17-18

(This photo was taken in July of 2018 at Devils Island in the Apostle Islands in Lake Superior)

Perseverance

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Steadfastness…persistence…determination…purposefulness.  The story of our lives is not about when or how often we will get knocked down.  It will happen and sometimes it will happen with increased frequency.  It is in how we choose to respond to these events that will shape and define our character and our relationships.  We only need to look to the Cross and the Resurrection for the example of what sticking with God and His plan can be.  From what was one of the greatest tragedies in history to an even greater story of new life, hope and joy.  As it says in Romans 8:31 “What, then, shall we say in response to this?  If God is for us, who can be against us?”  We are His creation, He loves us and no matter what may trip us up along the way He will be with us.  May we all go out into the world today with the confidence that God is for us.

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“Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.  And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.”

Romans 5:3-5

(This photo was taken in April of 2016 at sunrise on a lake in central Minnesota)

I Know You Are Near…

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Friends I don’t have many words for you today…my family and I are working through the process of my Dad passing away this past Friday.  When were discussing music for the service this hymn was mentioned, and it keeps coming back to me in my mind all morning long.  Please pray for us and know that God is near you too.  Below is a link to the hymn and the lyrics below that.  Peace be with you.

Yahweh, I Know You Are Near ~ Dan Schutte

Yahweh, I know you are near
Standing always at my side
You guard me from the foe
And you lead me in ways everlasting

[Verse 1]
Lord, you have searched my heart
And you know when I sit and when I stand
Your hand is upon me
Protecting me from death
Keeping me from harm

[Chorus]
Yahweh, I know you are near
Standing always at my side
You guard me from the foe
And you lead me in ways everlasting

[Verse 2]
Where can I run from your love?
If I climb to the heavens you are there
If I fly to the sunrise
Or sail beyond the sea
Still I’d find you there

Yahweh, I know you are near
Standing always at my side
You guard me from the foe
And you lead me in ways everlasting

[Verse 3]
Marvelous to me are your works
How profound are your thoughts, my Lord
Even if I could count them
They number as the stars
You would still be there

[Chorus]
Yahweh, I know you are near
Standing always at my side
You guard me from the foe
And you lead me in ways everlasting

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“Have I not commanded you?  Be strong and courageous.  Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Joshua 1:9

(This photo was taken in July of 2016 along Beartooth Pass in Montana)

God’s Workmanship

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We are His creation…we are created out of love…we are created to do good things.  When we are willing to come to The Cross and surrender, our plans, our ways, our timing for events in life and trust in Him to provide all we need, when we need it, then we will experience true joy.  It sounds so simple and yet it is extremely difficult to execute in everyday life.  We are made with free will, meaning we have a choice to pursue the sinful nature or to pursue a life following Jesus Christ.  God’s plan is so much greater than our own because He is the original Creator of all things.  Turn towards God and ask Him for wisdom about how He wants you to follow His plan for your life.  May the grace and peace of the Lord 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 June of 2016 by a lake near Plymouth, Minnesota)

God’s Presence

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It is true…He is with you…He gives to you…He holds you…He comforts you…He blesses you…He guides you…God is always with you.  There will often be times in this world when you will feel like you are alone, that God has somehow left you.  It is not true, when that happens take a moment to reflect on what you have been focusing on.  I have found in my own life that usually means I have turned away from God for some reason, not the other way around.  We can’t always expect the miracle event to prove that God is with us, let’s face it even people who lived to witness the miracles in person struggled to believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.  It is a matter of faith to know and believe that God is with us.  He did not bring sin into the world and the bad things that happen are from evil and darkness in the world and they want you to blame God for everything.  God made sure you know that He created you, He loves you and He is with you…it is all written down for you to read for yourself.  Trust in God and you will see the good things too.  May the presence of God surround you and what you see today.

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“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Isaiah 41:10

(This photo was taken in August of 2016 at Sapphire Point near Dillon, Colorado)

Trust God

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I am finding myself seeing examples of the brokenness of people in my daily life interactions and experiences.  Or at least I am more aware of these things than I used to be.  It is discouraging.  We are so willing to pull and push others down for a variety of reasons.  It is so important to seek out what is good and what we have gratitude for in our lives.  If we look around with the eyes the world wants us to, we will be very negative and feeling unworthy.  If we trust in God and His goodness for our perspective it changes things dramatically.  We are never going to know all the answers or understand them while we are here, however, if we trust in the Lord we know that He is working for the good in all things.  May God’s joy and love be with you.

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“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.”

Matthew 7:7-8

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