“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
God Is With Us by Casting Crowns
“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
(This photo was taken in September of 2022 in Big Sky, Montana )
“You make known to me the path of life;
you will fill me with joy in your presence,
with eternal pleasures at your right hand.”
Psalm 16:11 NIV
Father God, You are the foundation upon which I build my life. You are my source of protection and strength. I know that you fight for me, You protect me, and You are leading me through difficult times. Because of Your presence, I am never alone or abandoned. Thank you Lord! Thank you for watching over me and for being my source of strength. Thank you for guiding me closer to You and never leaving me. Amen.
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”
Jeremiah 29:11-13 NIV
(This photo was taken in May of 2020 along the North Shore of Lake Superior in Minnesota)
“So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
Isaiah 41:10 NIV
God’s Presence restores and renews us, it comforts us. It provides for us even when we are not paying attention to Him. God meets all our basic needs…our role is to believe in Him and obey His Word. His Word is not a burden or only a bunch of rules…His Word and His Presence give life, comfort, peace and hope.
Think about circumstances and events in your life that have occurred in the last few days, weeks, months and in the past year…God was with you…so where did you see Him? Give thanks and trust in the Lord… remember He provides for you with His Presence all the time. Happy Thanksgiving!
“Praise the Lord.[a]
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
his love endures forever.”
Psalm 106:1 NIV
(This photo was taken in April of 2016 at a lake in central Minnesota)
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God[a] may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
2 Timothy 3:16-17 NIV
Keep God’s Word close to your heart…read it, memorize it, use it to pray and let it lead and guide you in your daily life.
God’s Word is the sword of the Spirit and can be used the same way Jesus showed us when tempted by Satan. God is the God of everything, every aspect of life…trust in the Lord no matter what and keep the Word of God in your heart and mind.
“Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”
Ephesians 6:17 NIV
“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”
Hebrews 4:12 NIV
(This photo was taken in May of 2022 along the North Shore of Lake Superior)
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30 NIV
We are not in control of what happens in the world…the daily news and events make that abundantly clear. The only thing we can control is how we choose to respond to things that do happen.
The best thing we can do is turn towards Jesus…believe in Him, confess our sins and do our best to live according to God’s Word. Give thanks to the Lord. We don’t know and can’t control what will happen tomorrow yet we can trust in Him who sits on the throne of heaven. It is by drawing near to Him we can find rest and be renewed.
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
Romans 12:1-2 NIV
(This photo was taken in September of 2022 in Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming)
“The temple I am going to build will be great, because our God is greater than all other gods.”
2 Chronicles 2:5 NIV
“If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.”
1 John 3:20 NIV
What is it in your life that you think is overwhelming or impossible to overcome…God is greater. No matter what your circumstances, our God is greater. This means whatever is on your mind, whatever is pulling on you or keeping you distracted, whatever burden you are carrying…God is greater than that issue, that problem, that worry, that concern, that guilt or shame.
It doesn’t matter if we are are talking about things in the past, the present or the future…God is greater than all things and He is with you right now. Turn towards Him, talk to Him and trust in Him.
“You will keep in perfect peace
those whose minds are steadfast,
because they trust in you.“
Isaiah 26:3 NIV
(This photo was taken in April of 2016 at a lake in central Minnesota)
“But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”
John 14:26 NIV
Holy Spirit by Francesca Battistelli
Our Guide…our Advocate…our Counselor…the very presence of God. Amen.
“For God did not give us a spirit of timidity but one of power, love, and self-discipline.[a]”
2 Timothy 1:7 NIV
(This photo was taken in April of 2016 at a lake in central Minnesota)
“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…don’t let the worlds values and the pursuits of ungodly things keep you distracted and lost. Trust the promises of God…we will not find hope and fulfillment in other people because we are all broken and in need of Jesus.
The world is telling us we should value ‘me’ first and live a self-centered life…not true. A Christ centered life…meeting with Him every day and trusting His Way is the New Way to live…every day. May the peace of God be with you and flow through you. Amen.
“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 in April of 2016 at sunrise at a lake in central Minnesota)
“Come and see what the Lord has done,
the desolations he has brought on the earth.
9 He makes wars cease
to the ends of the earth.
He breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
he burns the shields[a] with fire.
10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.”
11 The Lord Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.”
Psalm 46:8-11 NIV
Be Still And Know by Amy Grant
“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord,
whose confidence is in him.
8 They will be like a tree planted by the water
that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes;
its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought
and never fails to bear fruit.”
Jeremiah 17:7-8 NIV
(This photo was taken in April of 2016 at a lake in central Minnesota)
“Above all else, guard your heart,
for everything you do flows from it.
24 Keep your mouth free of perversity;
keep corrupt talk far from your lips.
25 Let your eyes look straight ahead;
fix your gaze directly before you.
26 Give careful thought to the[a] paths for your feet
and be steadfast in all your ways.
27 Do not turn to the right or the left;
keep your foot from evil.”
Proverbs 4:23-27 NIV
“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 NIV
“Your word is a lamp for my feet,
a light on my path.”
Psalm 119:105 NIV
(This photo was taken in July of 2016 in Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota)
Take Your Faith With You 