God’s love

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)

Our Beautiful Savior

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When you think about it…when you look around your life and the world and see the things that the most attention is focused on…you may begin to see something of a trend or common theme.  We are all living in a lost and broken world, where anger, hate, suffering, hunger and homelessness are everywhere, the primary focus and attention of many people is on me, myself and I.  On the journey of faith I realize the only times I get worried or upset or feel like chaos is everywhere is when I have put my expectations or my plans or my wants and desires ahead of everything else.  The self is very powerful and very stubborn and will lead us to destructive thoughts and behaviors.  This is when we need to be renewed, to put our focus back on Jesus Christ and the Word of God.  Our beautiful Savior who came down from heaven to save us from self-destruction.  Come to the Cross and be renewed by Jesus Christ our one and only beautiful Savior.  Amen.

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“The Lord is my light and my salvation – whom shall I fear?  The Lord is the stronghold of my life – of whom shall I be afraid?”

Psalm 27:1

(This photo was taken in August of 2016 in Mount Rainier National Park in Washington)

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)

God’s Love

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Everlasting…forgiving…strengthens us…deeper than any love on earth…reconciled…compassionate…is the light of life.  God chose us, God chose you.  He chose you out of love and He poured out His love for you by sending His one and only Son into the world.  God’s love gave us our Savior, Jesus Christ and through His Sacrifice, we are Saved.  Turn towards God today and thank Him for His love and for Jesus, ask Him to guide you to how you can show His love to others.  Amen.

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“This is love; not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.”

1 John 4:10

(This photo was taken in July of 2016 in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming)

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)

The Greatest Commandment

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When you wonder what should I do?  Choose to love.  When things are spinning out of control…choose to act in love.  When others attack and express anger…choose a response based on love.  We must be careful not to get caught up in the ebb and flow of the world and the information overload we are constantly presented.  The best we can do for ourselves and for the Lord is follow the command of Jesus.  He is the way, the truth and the life and as our Savior, He will light our path.  I pray we are blessed with the courage and perseverance to follow Jesus.  Amen.

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“Jesus replied:  ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’  This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it:  ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Matthew 22:37-40

(This photo was taken in October of 2018 in Madison County near Winterset, Iowa)

A Sacrifice…Our Salvation

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When you feel you are not sure where God is in your daily life…stop and take a moment to remember what God has done for you.  God is love.  He is our Creator and our Redeemer.  We are broken, all of us.  Me, you and everyone you know is broken in some way, even if it is unclear to you how someone else is broken or fighting a battle it is still going on.  God knows this, He knows our worries, our fears and He is doing good things.  It is all a matter of perspective.  If we reflect on what has been done already it will help restore our perspective and our knowledge that God is love and He loves us more than we can ever imagine…the proof?  The Cross.  May you know the love of God in your daily life.

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“This is love; not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.”

1 John 4:10

(This photo was taken in October of 2014 at sunrise on the island of Maui, Hawaii)

Everlasting Love

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Friends the Lord is speaking again with hymns from my childhood and today on this day of worship this one is playing over and over in my mind telling me that no matter what you face the Lord loves you and you will find comfort in Him.  Here are the lyrics and a link to the song.

I Have Loved You

I have loved you with an everlasting love, I have called you and you are mine;

I have loved you with an everlasting love, I have called you and you are mine.
Seek the face of the Lord and long for him: He will bring you his light and his peace.
I have loved you with an everlasting love, I have called you and you are mine;

I have loved you with an everlasting love, I have called you and you are mine.
Seek the face of the Lord and long for him: He will bring you his joy and his hope.
I have loved you with an everlasting love, I have called you and you are mine;

I have loved you with an everlasting love, I have called you and you are mine.
Seek the face of the Lord and long for him: He will bring you his care and his love.
I have loved you with an everlasting love, I have called you and you are mine;

I have loved you with an everlasting love, I have called you and you are mine.
Jeremiah 31:3, Psalm 24:3
Michael Joncas
May we all know the love and peace of the Lord.
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“The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying:  “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness.”
Jeremiah 31:3
(This photo was taken in March of 2018 while traveling through southern New Mexico)

Nothing Can Separate Us…

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God is our Creator, He created us out of love.  Jesus Christ died to save us from our sins, He did it out of love.  The Holy Spirit is with us and guides us, we are guided by God’s love.  God has us covered in love, seek Him, trust in Him and know that all good things come from God.  When you are suffering, when you are troubled, when it feels like your world is crashing down around you God comes to you with His presence in a variety to ways, and through other people.  Be at peace and know that nothing in this life can separate you from the love of God.  May you find peace and contentment in God’s love.

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“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 8:38-39

(This photo was taken in July of 2016 while Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming)

God Is Love

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There is pain…we will have trouble…things will not go as we plan…what are we to do?  Everyone is facing something, something big or difficult.  Trying to overcome obstacles and find their way.  Some will fail and some will succeed…any failure and any success is better because of love.  Love powerful it is not weak, it can overcome pain, suffering and the troubles we face in life.  Love begins and ends with God.  We are created out of love, we are intended to live in God’s love while we are here and when we die Jesus Christ gave up His life to save us because He loves us.  I am convinced that love conquers all and if you need something, turn towards God and speak with Him, because He loves you and He is waiting to hear from you.  May the Lord bless you and keep you safe with love.

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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 June of 2016 in a neighborhood near Plymouth, Minnesota)