Emmanuel.
“For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
Isaiah 9:6
“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
John 1:14
(This photo was taken in June of 2013 at the Corn Palace in Mitchell, South Dakota)
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.
“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 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.
“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)
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
“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)
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.
“…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)
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
“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)
He is with you…He knows everything about you and your life…He knows the struggles, the sorrows, the celebrations, the grief and mourning, the joyful gatherings, He knows the desires of your heart. To draw near to God is to seek Him daily, to turn away from sin and our sinful behaviors and to trust in Him…this is not a slick, quick, fast-food process…it is a journey, a journey filled with questions, doubts, sacrifice, repentance, surrender, peace, joy and love. And if you wonder why…the answer is found in His love. Amen.
“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you…”
James 4:7-8
(This photo was taken in June of 2013 at the Corn Palace in Mitchell, South Dakota)
There are many people written about in God’s word. They were people with lives on earth and time after time we read about the things they did in their life…they did some really bad things…lived sinful lives and hurt themselves and each other…scroll through your social media feed…turn on the a news channel…how are we any different today? We all have the same human sickness…sin and sinful behaviors. One person in the Old Testament, David, is described in Acts 13:22 as ‘a man after God’s heart’ this same man committed terrible sins when it came to a woman named Bathsheba. When confronted about his sin David wrote the words of Psalm 51 as a prayer for forgiveness of his sins. I find verses 10-12 of this Psalm powerful verses to memorize as a prayer when you are tempted by sin. May God’s grace and peace be with you. Amen.
“Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
11 Do not cast me from your presence
or take your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation
and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.”
Psalm 51:10-12
(This photo was taken in August of 2016 in Mount Rainier National Park in Washington)
Put first things first…when you don’t know what to do…when a decision is lingering and you are procrastinating…turn towards God’s word and pray. The more we put our relationship with Jesus first, the better we will be able to function in our daily lives. Too often, we want to keep God in a box off to the side with a sign that states ‘In Case of Emergency Break Glass.’ God wants more of a relationship with you every day, for every part of your life. Assess your relationship with the Lord and make spending time with Him top priority. May the peace and joy of the Lord be with you. Amen.
“So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
Matthew 6:31-34
(This photo was taken in June of 2016 on a lake in northwestern Wisconsin)
Jesus invites us to follow Him. God’s love gives us the opportunity to choose to follow Christ and to live eternally in heaven and God’s gift of free will means we have a responsibility to own our choices. God wants a relationship with each one of us and a relationship is a two-way connection. He wants to be in relationship so much that He sacrificed His one and only Son to provide The Way. Take a look at Luke 5:27-28, Mark 10:17-31 as examples of Jesus extending an invitation to follow Him. No matter where you are or what your life circumstances are, you are invited to follow Jesus Christ. How will you choose to respond to His invitation? Amen.
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”
Matthew 7:13-14
(This photo was taken in June of 2013 in Badlands National Park in South Dakota)
Take Your Faith With You 