Love and mercy from God, not because we have earned it, rather because He wants us to have it. Amen.
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.”
Ephesians 2:8-9
(This photo was taken in August of 2016 at Sapphire Point near Dillon, Colorado)
He calls us…He is speaking to us in a variety of ways…He knows the mistakes we have made…He forgives us…He lifts us up…He loves us. In all that comes at us on a daily basis in today’s world we are bound to mess up. Whether we are trying to do too many things for too long or trying to control the outcome of events, we were not made to do things this way. We have been given the gift of God’s grace…we don’t deserve it, we can’t earn it. He gives it to us freely, it is up to us to turn to Him, to praise Him, to seek His guidance and know that He will carry us through anything in this life. “Not to us, O Lord not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness.” (Psalm 115:1) God is our Creator and He loves us unconditionally, He wants us to have good things, take your burdens to Him. May you know God’s grace and mercy in your life.
“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”
1 Peter 5:7
(This photo was taken in July of 2018 at a park in New Hope, Minnesota)
Have you ever been in a situation where someone you love has done something that offends you? I believe we all have this experience. We know what they did was wrong, they know what they did was wrong and yet we love them so much we forgive them. We go forward not holding the past against them…well as humans we are not quite that good at forgiveness…there seems to remain that little voice that says ‘remember what they did? they might hurt you again.’ It is hard to forgive because we are not sure we can trust again. Think about how hard this is for us…God has done this and will continue to do this for you everyday. We are sinners, we are broken and yet He forgives us our sins. We have never deserved it or earned it, yet Jesus Christ gave up His life to give it to us. May you find peace knowing you are forgiven in God’s grace.
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.”
Ephesians 2:8-9
(This photo was taken in September of 2016 at a lake place in central Minnesota)
The growth that leads to spiritual maturity is the growth of your inner being. The inner self is the driver of our attitude and our behaviors. We all are equipped with a space in our inner being that only God can fill. As humans we will try to fill this gap with many other things…a professional career, wealth, adventure and adrenalin, alcohol, gambling and many others. This unique inner self only has one companion that fills us and makes us complete as God intended us to be and that is God Himself. When we are filled with the Holy Spirit we do not grow tired and weary chasing after other things…we know that we are secure in God’s love, God’s mercy, God’s grace and God’s forgiveness. Invite the Lord into your life and into your daily routine and activities…after all He designed us in His own image and He knows us better than anyone else ever could. Seek spiritual growth and see how your life and the world changes from your perspective. May God’s peace and love and joy be with you.
“I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.
And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ…”
Ephesians 3:16-18
(This photo was taken in August of 2016 in Glacier National Park in Montana)
“But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions – it is by grace you have been saved.”
Ephesians 2:4-5
(This photo was taken in August of 2016 in Glacier National Park in Montana)
“The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.”
Psalm 103:8
(This photo was taken in July of 2017 at a lake in northwestern Wisconsin)
“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 8:37-39
(This photo was taken in June of 2013 while driving through northern Colorado)
“Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.”
Proverbs 3:3
(This photo was taken in June of 2013 by Garden Of The Gods Park near Colorado Springs, Colorado)
“If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 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
(This photo was taken in August of 2016 in Mount Rainier National Park in Washington)
“God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”
2 Corinthians 5:21
(This photo was taken in August of 2016 at Arches National Park in Utah)
Take Your Faith With You 