“For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.”
Romans 10:10 NIV
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
John 3:16 NIV
(This photo was taken at a lake near Plymouth, Minnesota)
“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.”
Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV
We can’t earn it
We don’t deserve it and yet God offers it to us anyway
God is Holy and God is love
Because He is Holy our sin separates us from Him
He demonstrated His love when He sent His one and only Son to take the punishment we deserve so that we can be reconciled with Him
Choose to believe…confess your sins
Give thanks to God for His amazing grace
“Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”
Hebrews 4:16 NIV
(This photo was taken at sunrise by a lake in northwestern Wisconsin)
“You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh[a]; rather, serve one another humbly in love. 14 For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”[b] 15 If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.”
Galatians 5:13-15 NIV
“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”
2 Corinthians 3:17 NIV
There Is Freedom by Josh Baldwin
“Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants[a] of God.”
1 Peter 2:16 NIV
(This photo was taken while traveling through southern New Mexico)
“God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.”
Psalm 46:1 NIV
Father God, nothing is impossible for You
You love us even when we are unlovable
You are good to us even though we don’t deserve it
You are kind and compassionate towards us even when we mess up and get ourselves into trouble
You are our faithful refuge
Thank You for never leaving us or forsaking us!
Remind us of how You have shown up in our lives so that we can intentionally give You praise
In Jesus name, Amen
“My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.”
Psalm 62:1-2 NIV
(This photo was taken in Arches National Park in Utah)
“By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.”
1 Corinthians 3:10-11 NIV
The best things are built by starting out with the development of a strong foundation
A solid foundation helps to support missteps, mistakes and accidents along the way
If we try to build something without developing the foundation the endeavor will eventually fail and end up as a pile of rubble
The foundation of our faith is our relationship and daily interaction with Jesus Christ and the Word of God
These are the elements that will help us build and grow our spiritual life and sustain us through the most difficult things the world will throw at us
May the peace of the Lord be with you
“I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.”
John 15:11-12 NIV
(This photo was taken in Glacier National Park in Montana)
“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.”
Ephesians 4:2-3 NIV
God has given us the gift of peace through the blood of Jesus shed on the Cross
He gives us free will to decide whether or not we want to receive this gift and then share it with others in the world
Many have chosen to ignore or reject God and His gift of peace
For anyone who seeks Him and choses to accept Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, God instructs us to share the gift on peace with one another, by how we live and treat each other
Every day…all the time
“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
Ephesians 4:29-32 NIV
(This photo was taken in a neighborhood near Plymouth, Minnesota)
Love God
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. Love him with all your strength.”
Deuteronomy 6:5 NIRV
Love God and 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
Share The Good News
“So you must go and make disciples of all nations. Baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach them to obey everything I have commanded you. And you can be sure that I am always with you, to the very end.”
Matthew 28:19-20 NIRV
Love God…Love Other People…Share the Gospel
(This photo was taken on the shore of Lake Superior near Ashland, Wisconsin)
“For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.”
2 Corinthians 10:3-4 NIV
We need to be careful not to underestimate the power of evil and darkness in this world
Read the Word of God daily and pray to help keep God in the center of your life
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.”
Ephesians 6:10-15 NIV
(This photo was taken at Tetteguchi State Park in northern Minnesota)
“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
Galatians 6:9 NIV
“Do all the good you can,
By all the means you can,
In all the ways you can,
In all the places you can,
At all the times you can,
To all the people you can,
As long as ever you can.”
– John Wesley
“Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”
2 Corinthians 9:6-7 NIV
(This photo was taken while traveling through North Dakota)
“As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”
Ephesians 4:1-6 NIV
Character and attitude…how we treat each other in our daily lives
These are the things that show that we believe
Love is action
Learn from the example that Jesus provided in His life, death and resurrection
Live out your faith with your attitude and how you treat others in daily life
“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”
Colossians 3:12-14 NIV
(This photo was taken while traveling in northern Colorado)
Take Your Faith With You 