“The Lord is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger and rich in love.
9 The Lord is good to all;
he has compassion on all he has made.”
Psalm 145:8-9 NIV
“You, Lord, are forgiving and good,
abounding in love to all who call to you.”
Psalm 86:5 NIV
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who[a] have been called according to his purpose.”
Romans 8:28 NIV
(This photo was taken in June of 2013 while traveling in northern Colorado)
“The Lord is righteous in all his ways
and faithful in all he does.
18 The Lord is near to all who call on him,
to all who call on him in truth.
19 He fulfills the desires of those who fear him;
he hears their cry and saves them.”
Psalm 145:17-19 NIV
Don’t give up…keep going. God is with you. We may not understand everything right now…yet we must continue on in faith. Remember in previous times and struggles from our pasts how God showed up even though we thought the situation was hopeless or impossible? Keep praying and be courageous even though you are unsure of the outcome. May God’s comfort and peace be with you.
Haven’t Seen It Yet by Danny Gokey
“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”
Romans 12:12 NIV
(This photo was taken in July of 2016 while traveling along Beartooth Pass)
“I remain confident of this:
I will see the goodness of the Lord
in the land of the living.
14 Wait for the Lord;
be strong and take heart
and wait for the Lord.”
Psalm 27:13-14 NIV
Oh, the waiting…our world is always sending out messages to hurry up…save time and literally “don’t wait” act now before…you get the point. Once again, the world pursues the exact opposite of what we hear from God’s Word. God wants us to walk with Him…not ahead of Him or on our own without Him. His timing is perfect because it is His plan. In Luke 2 we meet Simeon, who had been waiting his whole life to see God’s promise fulfilled in the Messiah…as he expected the promise was fulfilled just like every other promise God has made. The last promise to be fulfilled is when Christ returns…and so we are waiting for that day and while we wait let’s be like Simeon and be good, do-good things, be godly and be faithful to God’s Word. How are you doing while you wait?
While I’m Waiting by John Waller
“It has given me great joy to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father commanded us. 5 And now, dear lady, I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another. 6 And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.“
2 John 4-6
(This photo was taken in October of 2018 at a lake near Plymouth, Minnesota)
Love God
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. Love him with all your strength.”
Deuteronomy 6:5 NIRV
Love God and Love Others
“He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’[a]; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[b]””
Luke 10:27 NIV
What does loving God look like in your life? How can we live out what Jesus has said are the first and second greatest commandments in all of God’s Word? Who is our neighbor in the world and how can we show God’s love to them?
Share The Good News
“So you must go and make disciples of all nations. Baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach them to obey everything I have commanded you. And you can be sure that I am always with you, to the very end.”
Matthew 28:19-20 NIRV
Love God…Love Other People…Share the Gospel
(This photo was taken in July of 2018 on the shore of Lake Superior near Ashland, Wisconsin)
“Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it.”
Luke 9:23-24 NIV
God doesn’t need us to make the plans and try to control the outcomes…and frankly living this way often leads to disappointment and frustration. I read once in a devotional these words…’God does not need our help or cooperation in establishing purpose in our lives…only our surrender.’ This is true, we need to remember that God is with us and within us always and at all times…instead of thinking He is only near when we pay attention or recognize His presence. We need to ask ourselves…What have I been trying to plan and control that I need to surrender to God?
“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
Galatians 2:20 NIV
(This photo was taken in July of 2019 at a lake near Plymouth, Minnesota)
“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.”
Hebrews 10:23 NIV
“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
23 They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.”
Lamentations 3:22-23 NIV
God is with you…He cares for you…He is faithful in everything…nothing can separate you from His love.
“Your faithfulness continues through all generations;
you established the earth, and it endures.”
Psalm 119:90 NIV
(This photo was taken in September of 2020 at a lake in northwestern Wisconsin)
“The Lord is good to all;
he has compassion on all he has made.”
Psalm 145:9 NIV
“The Lord is good,
a refuge in times of trouble.
He cares for those who trust in him,”
Nahum 1:7 NIV
“Taste and see that the Lord is good;
blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.”
Psalm 34:8 NIV
Goodness Of God by Jenn Johnson
“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
his love endures forever.”
Psalm 107:1 NIV
(This photo was taken in May of 2020 at sunrise along the North Shore of Lake Superior)
“For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.”
2 Timothy 1:7 NIV
Draw near to God…stay close to Him. Do not allow the world with its values and temptations entice you to drift away from Jesus. Once you start a new habit of connecting with God every day, it is easy to let it slip away. Try to attach your new habit to something you are already doing every day. Start small and it will build naturally as you stick to it. If you are a ‘I need coffee in the morning’ person…make it a point to spend your first cup reading or listening to scripture. If you are a ‘I like to read at night person’ give a few minutes to a daily devotional book each night. Maybe mid-day would work best for you…no matter when or what or where, the important thing to remember is to do it and trust that God will use that time to transform you.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”
Galatians 5:22-23 ESV
(This photo was taken in September of 2020 at a lake in northwestern Wisconsin)
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.”
Matthew 7:7-8 NIV
Prayer and communication with God on a daily basis are key elements on our faith journey. Prayer includes confessing our sins, expressing gratitude, asking and listening. Keeping in mind that God is not a wishing well…rather He is your friend, your guide, your confidant. He knows about every aspect of your life and He still loves you…so much that He sacrificed His one and only Son in order to reconcile you with Him. God loves you…He is with you…He is wating to hear from you.
“Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.”
John 16:24 NIV
(This photo was taken in July of 2022 at a lake in northwestern Wisconsin)
“Commit to the Lord whatever you do,
and he will establish your plans.”
Proverbs 16:3 NIV
Success in life is most often tied to commitment…when you learn the details of a success story there is always a moment or moments along the way that a person had to make a choice to stay committed to a vision or mission in order to see it through. It is a willingness to commit that leads to success in relationships and our everyday life. When we reflect on our lives, we all are committed to something right now…what is it for you? Then ask the question how does that commitment tie into my faith and my relationship with God?
“Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be people of courage; be strong. Do everything in love.”
1 Corinthians 16:13-14 NIV
(This photo was taken in August of 2016 near Arches National Park in Utah)
Take Your Faith With You 