God’s love

The Voice of Truth

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“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

John 14:6 NIV

While Jesus walked on earth he taught using the phrase “I tell you the truth…”  He spoke this phrase more than 75 times as recorded in the New Testament

With so much input coming at us from the world, the flesh, and the devil…it is important to seek the One voice of truth

Listening to and believing God’s Truth takes courage

Following God’s Truth means trusting that no matter what happens He has got you in the palm of his hand

He knows you…He knows what you are facing

He knows your fears and the temptations pressuring you

Open your heart, mind, and soul to Him

He has the truth and His Son delivered the message of truth personally to us

Voice Of Truth by Casting Crowns

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“To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, ‘If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.  Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free’.“

John 8:31-32 NIV

(This photo was taken at Falls Park on the Big Sioux River in South Dakota)

Trust…Commit…Be Still

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“Trust in the Lord and do good;
    dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
4 Take delight in the Lord,
    and he will give you the desires of your heart.”

Psalm 37:3-4 NIV

“Commit your way to the Lord;
    trust in him and he will do this:
6 He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn,
    your vindication like the noonday sun.”

Psalm 37:5-6 NIV

No matter what the situation or circumstances you are facing

Good, bad, unknown

Put your trust in the One who knows you, loves you and is walking with you through every moment

Commit it all to Him and He will guide you on your path

Be still and wait for Him

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“Be still before the Lord
    and wait patiently for him;
do not fret when people succeed in their ways,
    when they carry out their wicked schemes.“

Psalm 37:7 NIV

(This photo was taken at a lake near Plymouth, Minnesota)

I Surrender All

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“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

Father God, I surrender my life to You.  You can have it all.  All my doubts, all my fears, all my worries…every insecurity, every selfish desire and past mistake…I give it all to You.  Every area of my life that does not honor You…take it.  Take it all and use me, change me, transform me, love me and love others through me.  Take all that I am, and use it for Your glory.  In Jesus name, Amen.

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“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 at a lake near Plymouth, Minnesota)

Our Purpose

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Love God

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.”

Deuteronomy 6:5 NIV

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

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Share The Good News

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.””

Matthew 28:19-20 NIV

Love God…Love Other People…Share the Gospel

(This photo was taken on the shore of Lake Superior near Ashland, Wisconsin)

Where Is Your Treasure?

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““Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust[a] destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Matthew 6:19-21 NIV

Father God, You know everything about us.  You know all of our thoughts, desires and intentions.  Help us turn our focus to treasures in heaven.  Please remove any ideas or behaviors that will keep us from becoming the people You created us to be.  In Jesus name, Amen.

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“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”

Philippians 4:8-9 NIV

(This photo was taken at Sapphire Point near Dillon, Colorado)

A New Way

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“You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.“

Ephesians 4:22-24 NIV

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:[a] The old has gone, the new is here!“

2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV

Every day brings new possibilities

Trust the promises of God to find a New Way

Our hope is in God and His love

The Wonderful Cross by Michael W Smith

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“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.“

Philippians 4:8-9 NIV

(This photo was taken at sunrise at a lake in central Minnesota)

Come, Just As You Are

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“Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord;
    let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.
2 Let us come before him with thanksgiving
    and extol him with music and song.”

Psalm 95:1-2 NIV

No matter where you are

No matter what your circumstances

No matter what you have done or left undone

“Come” to the Lord Jesus Christ, just as you are

Come, now is the time to worship

Come Now Is The Time To Worship by Brain Doerksen Matt Maher Cobus Sneha Reddy

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“Come, let us bow down in worship,
    let us kneel before the Lord our Maker;
7 for he is our God
    and we are the people of his pasture,
    the flock under his care.“

Psalm 95:6-7 NIV

(This photo was taken on the island of Maui, Hawaii)

God Is With You

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“The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

Deuteronomy 31:8 NIV

You are never alone

Nothing in your life is too big for God to handle

He knows your circumstances and He knows the way through them

God will be with you and He will never leave you

Trust in the Lord and put your faith in Him

You are never alone

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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 NIV

(This photo was taken on the shore of Lake Superior at Temperance State Park in northern Minnesota)

God’s Faithfulness

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“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.
24 I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion;
    therefore I will wait for him.”

Lamentations 3:22-24 NIV

Father God, even in the midst of many troubles, You are faithful.  When we are tired, overwhelmed, burnt out or grieving, Your love still covers us.  Thank You for showing us kindness and mercy every day.  Your steadfast love endures forever.  Great is Your faithfulness!  In Jesus name, Amen.

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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 NIV

(This photo was taken in Bighorn National Forest in Wyoming)

He Makes All Things New

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“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:[a] The old has gone, the new is here!”

2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV

Anything is possible with God

God can make all things new

Not on our timeline or when we want it…rather according to His plan and His timing

His plan and His way is better

God is with you and God is for you

He has shown you how much He loves you by sending His Son to the Cross to die for you and through the resurrection He has made your relationship with Him new

Choose God’s way and His plan…He makes all things new!

All Things New by Steven Curtis Chapman

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“You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”

Ephesians 4:22-24 NIV

(This photo was taken at sunrise by a lake in northwestern Wisconsin)