God’s love

Generosity And Contentment

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Give of yourself and be content when your needs are fulfilled.  The brokenness of this world will tell you to want more and to get more.  God has provided more than enough for everyone.  Generosity and contentment are topics that are about much more than money in life.  They are about all aspects of life…our time, our talents, our emotions, our faith.  The more we are able to be content the more we can share when we have received an abundance.  Take time to assess where you stand…where do you have more than enough on your hands and how can you share to help those who are in need?  May the grace and peace of the Lord be with you.  Amen.

“For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, 4 they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people. 5 And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us.”

2 Corinthians 8:3-5

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“But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9 Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. “

1 Timothy 6:6-9

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

Worship Every Day

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Anything worth doing takes commitment.  The athlete does not become the best at their sport “overnight.”  It takes dedication and focus…hours and hours of practice, discipline.  The more time we spend on something the more we grow in it.  It also means we must sacrifice time doing other things.  This is true for all aspects of our lives.  It is the same with our faith and our relationship with Jesus Christ.  Where we choose to spend our time has a direct impact on who we are and who we can become.  Choose your faith journey, choose God’s Word, choose prayer and worship every day.  Amen.

You Are Holy (Prince Of Peace) by Michael W Smith

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“Better is one day in your courts
    than a thousand elsewhere;
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
    than dwell in the tents of the wicked.
11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield;
    the Lord bestows favor and honor;
no good thing does he withhold
    from those whose walk is blameless.

12 Lord Almighty,
    blessed is the one who trusts in you.”

Psalm 84:10-12

(This photo was taken in May of 2020 in Superior National Forest in northern Minnesota)

Start With These…

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Love God.  Love People.  Too often we seek power or control over situations and people. That’s what gets us into trouble.  For some of us we are protecting ourselves because we have been hurt in our past…the longer we proceed carrying around the hurts of the past the longer they will damage our future.  Life is not about what others do to us…it is about how do we choose to respond?  Choose God, choose love…Love God.  Love People.  Amen.

Love God Love People by Danny Gokey

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“One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”

29 “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.[a] 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’[b] 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[c] There is no commandment greater than these.”

Mark 12:28-31

(This photo was taken in April of 2020 at a lake near Plymouth, Minnesota)

 

Do Not Worry

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It can consume us if we allow it to…worry.  What does it do for us?  There is a famous quote that is attributed to many different individuals…I believe it is famous for what it says not because of who said it:

“Worry is like a rocking chair: it gives you something to do but never gets you anywhere”

We have a choice; we can sit and worry and stew about things or we can make use of the time we have by meeting with God about these things and trust in Him to guide us and lead us.  Do not worry, seek the Lord and you will find peace.  Amen.

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life[a]?”

Matthew 6:25-27

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“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

Matthew 6:33-34

(This photo was taken in April of 2020 in a neighborhood near Plymouth, Minnesota)

The Gift Of God

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The Spirit with in us.  It guides us and leads us…not with anger, bitterness and disrespectful behaviors, rather is provides the Fruit of the Spirit for all aspects of our lives.  Amen.

“For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.”

2 Timothy 1:6-7

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“Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. 14 Do everything in love.”

1 Corinthians 16:13-14

(This photo was taken in April of 2020 in a neighborhood near Plymouth, Minnesota)

Commit Your Way

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Stand firm in faith.  Trust God and His plan for you.  We will not always see the way or understand His plan, yet we know that all good things come from God.  Amen.

“Commit your way to the Lord;
    trust in him, and he will act.”

Psalm 37:5

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“…But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

Joshua 24:15

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

 

Courageous

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You were created out of God’s love…He is with you…do not be afraid, be courageous.  Amen.

“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
    And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
    and to walk humbly[a] with your God.”

Micah 6:8

Courageous by Casting Crowns

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“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; 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 at the North Entrance of Yellowstone National Park in Montana)

 

Our Counselor

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We all have been given the gift of free will…to decide, to make decisions every day about how we will choose to respond to circumstances and situations in our lives.  Yet we are often quick to allow the thoughts, words and actions of others to drive how we feel.  Maybe that is how we are made, to listen and to be guided…unfortunately we have not chosen to listen to the only one worthy to guide and counsel us…our Lord and Savior.  Seek Him…seek wisdom and listen to the Counselor who loves you.  Amen.

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“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
    I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.”

Psalm 32:8

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

Faithful God

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Our God is faithful to all His promises…forever.  Amen.

Forever by Chris Tomlin

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“Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments.”

Deuteronomy 7:9

(This photo was taken in June of 2013 near Garden of Gods in Colorado)

God Is Love

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As we live and learn and grow on our spiritual journey, we slowly gain a greater understanding of God’s love.  It is one thing to hear about it, read about it and know it in your head and it is something much greater to experience it and know it in your heart.  God is love, He loves you and His love will never let you down.  Amen.

“Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.”

1 John 4:8

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“This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.”

1 John 4:9-12

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