God’s Promises

God Is Love

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Where have you seen God show up in your life?  When you reflect on yesterday, last week, last month or even last year where or when did you see God in your relationships with others?  He is at work in every part of your life, can you see it?  God is love, He is at work not from the perspective of what the world is telling you…rather He is working from the perspective of the fruit of the Spirit.  Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control.  Wherever you have seen these things in yourself and others that is where God shows up.  He is with you, He will never leave you or abandon you.  God created you and He loves you.  May God’s love and peace be with you.

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“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God.  Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.  Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.”

1 John 4:7-8

(This photo was taken in July of 2016 in Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota)

Anything Is Possible

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Why do we doubt so much?  Why is it so hard for us to believe what may be possible with God?  When we are willing to surrender to His plan and His way in His time, there’s no telling what can happen.  Look at the stories in the bible…Abraham and Sarah had a child they had so longed for when Sarah was 90…the 5000 were fed when all that was available to eat was a few fish and some bread…Lazarus is raised from the dead after being gone for a few days…and there are so many more examples.  When God is involved in a situation anything is possible.  We must turn to Him first with whatever we are facing and remember He is not a genie in a bottle who sometimes grants wishes…He is our creator, our savior and our guide who always has good things in store for us.  Trust in the Lord and watch to see what He has in store for you.  May the joy of the Lord be with you.

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“For nothing is impossible with God.”

Luke 1:37

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

Put Aside Your Fears

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The journey of faith becomes more difficult if we let our fears have the power to stop us.  If we allow our fears to be sustained in our thoughts and in our actions we are feeding them.  We can be strengthened against our fears by the Word of God and by connecting in a community of faith.  Fear is a weapon of evil and darkness and it can be very powerful if we allow it rule in our lives.  We must remember that God is good, He already knows much more about us than we realize, He loves us and He has forgiven us.  Be renewed by developing your personal relationship with Jesus Christ…after all He gave all He could in order to save us.  May God’s peace be with you.

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“For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”

John 3:17

(This photo was taken in March of 2018 at the natural entrance to Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico)

Renew Strength

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In order for the journey of faith to be strengthen we need to visit the rest stops in life and spend time reading the Word of God.  Devotional time gives us an opportunity to learn more about ourselves and God.  No matter what is going on He is still on the throne, His presence is still with us, even at times when He feels distant.  The Word of God is truly a light in the darkness of this world and it is a guide for strengthening us for life.  Spend time at a rest stop with God.  May God’s peace be with you.

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“But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him.  He 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

(This photo was taken in August of 2012 while hiking on the North Shore of Lake Superior)

God Is Love

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Everything comes back to this…God is love.  Why did God create the world, the animals and us…God is love.  How did people in the Bible who had committed hurtful sins, like David, Rahab, Saul and others get used by God for the good of others…God is love.  Why did Jesus come down from heaven to be born a man, to suffer, be tempted, get crucified for who He is and rise from the dead…God is love.  In all that we are and all that we encounter everyday, it is most important to remember that we humans brought sin into this world and we are broken, but we are forgiven and we are saved because…God is love.  May God’s love and peace be with you.

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“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 4:16

(This photo was taken in March of 2018 while driving in southern New Mexico)

When We Are Wrong

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Another characteristic that seems to be very difficult to cultivate in today’s world is humbleness.  Admitting that we are in trouble, that we made mistakes and we need help.  The communication style of the world seems to be believe your own truth and punish those who disagree with you.  It is already difficult to be humble and admit when we are wrong…and the path the world is on makes this even more difficult.  As I am reading 1 John 1 today it talks about confessing our sins and forgiveness.  We all are going to find trouble in this life, it will be best for us and for others in our life if we work on being humble when we are in trouble and helping and supporting others when they are in trouble.  May God’s love and peace be with you and flow out of you.

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“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness”

1 John 1:9

(This photo was taken in March of 2018 while driving through New Mexico)

Confidence

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The bible is filled with promises by God and He fulfills those promises, not according to our standard rather, according to His.  We are always trying to fit God into our view of how things should be instead of surrendering ourselves to His view.  Every promise God has made has been completed, except for one.  He promises that Jesus will come back again to take us home and based on the history of promises kept a believer should have every confidence that Jesus will return.  It is written, He will come down from heaven, check…He will heal the sick and help the poor, check…He will be crucified and die, check…He will be risen and ascend to the Father, check…He will come again, still pending…this promise will be fulfilled according to God’s standard not ours.  May God’s peace be with you.

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“I am still confident of this:  I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of living.  Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.”

Psalms 27:13-14

(This photo was taken in June of 2012 while traveling through northwestern Wisconsin)

Persistence

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In a world that focuses on self-serving convenience, fast, time-saving rushing around and immediate gratification it takes persistence and patience to stay on your faith journey and to grow your spirit.  You have to be willing to be different from the crowd at times and have the courage and confidence that God is with you always.  We will all make mistakes and wonder off, I certainly have, and God is always able to guide me back when I take the time to be with Him.  You won’t have all the answers and may not know all the reasons why…it won’t be easy, however, in the end when our time on earth is up it will all be worth it.  If you don’t believe it…just ask God.  May God’s peace be with you.

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“The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.  Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.  Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.”

Galatians 6:8-10

(This photo was taken in July of 2016 near Salem, North Dakota)