God’s Word

His Word

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When we read His Word, we learn…when we read His Word, we are renewed…when we read His Word, we are encouraged…when we read His Word, we feel His love.  I recently came upon another way to enjoy God’s Word.  It is an app called the “Bible Lens”…when you download this app onto your phone it will look through your pictures and try to align a bible verse to your photos and create a new image with God’s Word on it.  As you can expect some have been “just ok” and others have been amazing.  Here is a photo from my phone regarding God’s Word…

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Make time and find ways to enjoy the Word of God in your daily life.  Peace be with you.  Amen.

“Your word is a lamp for my feet,
    a light on my path.”

Psalm 119:105

(This photo was taken in August of 2018 on a golf course in northwestern Wisconsin.  The bible verse creation is courtesy of the Bible Lens App)

His Sacrifice

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Jesus Christ was in heaven with God the Father and He came down to live as one of us.  He was born as a baby just like you and me.  He lived a life on earth before He was crucified…three days later He rose and He lives today…and He did it all so that we could have a relationship with God…He did it because He loves you.  Turn towards Jesus, our Savior, give thanks and invite Him into your heart, every day.  Amen.

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“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome[a] it.

6 There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. 8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.

9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

14 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 1:1-14

(This photo was taken in July of 2019 at a lake place in northwestern Wisconsin)

Saved By Grace

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When we read in the Gospel of Matthew 26 and the Gospel of Luke 22 there is a section that describes Jesus taking 3 disciples with Him and going off to pray in the Garden of Gethsemane…in these moments of prayer we get to see both the human side and the Godly side of Jesus…He prays “…My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”  – Matthew 26:39  In these moments right before He is to be arrested, which He knows is coming, Jesus pleads with God the Father to find a different way to save us…and in the same breath He shows us humility and God’s grace by surrendering to God’s will.  We have been saved from God’s wrath by God’s grace.  May the peace of the Lord be with you.  Amen.

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“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

Ephesians 2:8-10

(This photo was taken in July of 2018 at a park near Bayfield, Wisconsin)

Perspective

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Outlook…viewpoint…position…approach…frame of mind…attitude.  What feeds your perspective?  What are you consuming with your eyes, your ears and your mind?  What experience or experiences are framing your view?  All of these are inputs into your perspective and they shape your attitude.  If we choose to allow our point of view to be shaped by what goes on around us in a world filled with me first, self-centered, get more attitudes we will become like the world.  The best defense is to build a foundation within your heart and mind that is based on a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.  We can’t stop the world from trying to influence us, yet we can choose to turn away from the sin and run towards our Savior and Lord.  Jesus said;

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” – John 16:33

Begin or continue to build a strong foundation for your everyday life…trust in the Lord and you will find peace.  Amen.

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“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

Romans 8:28

(This photo was taken in July of 2019 at a lake place in northwestern Wisconson)

Repentance

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Acknowledge…admit…regret…sorrow…to turn away from wrong doing…to change.  The prayer I have prayed the most in 2019 is Psalm 51…it was written by David after he had committed terrible sins…we are all broken, every person since the beginning of time, the sooner we can acknowledge where we are wrong the more we can grow in faith…come near to God and He will come near to you.  May God’s forgiveness and love flow through you in the new year.  Amen.

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“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”

2 Peter 3:9

(This photo was taken in April of 2016 at a lake in central Minnesota)

Questions

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If you want to know the answers, you must be willing to ask the questions.  If you have questions for God, Jesus encourages us to ask…seek Him and then pay attention for the response.  Keep in mind He doesn’t answer questions the way we want, much like a parent doesn’t answer every child’s question the way the child wants.  God loves you; He is with you and He wants good things for you…He has proven that by sending His only Son into the world to die on a cross for you.  As we reflect and look ahead at this time of the year…look for where you have seen God in your life, give thanks and ask Him the questions you truly want to know the answers too.  Amen.

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“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.”

Matthew 7:7-8

(This photo was taken in March of 2018 in White Sands National Park in New Mexico)

Living A New Life

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The Holy Spirit will guide us and lead us to living a new life.  A life of faith with Jesus Christ in our hearts.  A life that strives to turn away from sin and sinful behavior…don’t think for a minute that evil and darkness will stop trying to deceive you and lead you astray.  Put your hope in God and feed your faith so that it can grow.  Pray to the Lord and seek His peace for every aspect of your life.  Amen.

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“Do you not know?
    Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
    the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
    and his understanding no one can fathom.
29 He gives strength to the weary
    and increases the power of the weak.
30 Even youths grow tired and weary,
    and young men stumble and fall;
31 but those who hope in the Lord
    will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
    they will run and not grow weary,
    they will walk and not be faint.”

Isaiah 40:28-31

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

Wisdom

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We have so much to learn…it is easy to think that we have lived our lives long enough to know what is right for us.  We have experiences to draw on and we rely on feelings and emotions.  Yet God knew all of these things before we were even born.  He is our Creator and He loves us so much that He sacrificed His Son to save us…He knows what is best for us.  For example, how many people would believe that Saul could become Paul…the greatest enemy of Christians would become one of the greatest disciples?  You can read about it in Acts 9…this is the wisdom of God and it is far greater than any human wisdom.  Trust in the Lord and seek His will for you and your life.  Amen.

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“For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.”

1 Corinthians 1:25

(This photo was taken in March of 2018 in what is now officially White Sands National Park in New Mexico)

Thanks Be To God

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There is hope…even at times when it feels like there is no hope…God is still on the throne in heaven and even though things don’t go the way we want them to, or how we want them to, or things don’t happen when we want…we still have hope for the future because of Jesus Christ.  No matter where you are or what is happening or not happening in your life, look around your life for what is good, look for what you can be grateful for and give thanks to God.  Amen.

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“But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

1 Corinthians 15:57

(This photo was taken in July of 2018 on Lake Superior near the Apostle Islands)

Savior Of The World

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He came to save you and me…He took the punishment we all deserve…How many others have done that for us?  Sharing one of my favorite songs this time of year.  May the peace of the Savior be with you.  Amen.

How Many Kings by Downhere

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“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”

Acts 4:12

(This photo was taken in July of 2016 while traveling through North Dakota)