Goodness

Life According To The Spirit

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“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

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“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”

Galatians 5:22-23

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

The Lord Is Good To All

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We live in a fallen world (Genesis 3) and we are surrounded by the sinful nature and our own sins.  We have been told in this world we will have trouble (John 16:33) …so we should expect it.  However, we still have hope because of Jesus Christ and His sacrifice on the Cross for us.  He has taken on all the sin of the world and has given us a Way to the Father.  Trust in the Lord, do good things because the Lord is good to all He has made.  Amen.

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“The Lord is gracious and compassionate,
    slow to anger and rich in love.

9 The Lord is good to all;
    he has compassion on all he has made.”

Psalm 145:8-9

(This photo was taken in May of 2020 on the north shore on Lake Superior)

Set A Good Example

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“Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. 9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. 10 For,

“Whoever would love life
    and see good days
must keep their tongue from evil
    and their lips from deceitful speech.
11 They must turn from evil and do good;
    they must seek peace and pursue it.
12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous
    and his ears are attentive to their prayer,
but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”[a]

1 Peter 3:8-12

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“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.”

1 Peter 5:7-9

(This photo was taken in May of 2020 at Beaver River Falls in northern Minnesota)

The Goodness Of God

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God is good all the time…and all the time God is good.

“Taste and see that the Lord is good;
    blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.”

Psalm 34:8

Goodness Of God by Jenn Johnson

“And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”

2 Corinthians 9:8

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“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
    his love endures forever.”

Psalm 107:1

(This photo was taken in May of 2020 at Palisade Head on the north shore of Lake Superior)

Do Good Work

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Each of us can do good work that helps at least one other person in need.  We can’t be everything to everybody…yet we can be somebody who helps another.  Turn towards God in prayer and ask Him how you can help someone today…then pay attention to each part of your day and He will show you where you are needed.  God’s peace be with you.  Amen.

“And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”

2 Corinthians 9:8

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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 handiwork, 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 May of 2020 at the High Falls in Tettegouche State Park in northern Minnesota)

Look For The Good

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In the book of Genesis, the story of Joseph aligns closely with how God interacts with humans today.  He suffers many hardships at the hands of others and yet keeps his faith in God.  He trusts God and lives his life with a God trusting attitude and perspective.  This attitude focuses more on what God is up to for our good and less on what others are doing to us.  We have a much better chance of learning about what God is up to if we are looking for the good.  Amen.

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

Romans 8:28

(This photo was taken in June of 2016 at a lake near Plymouth, Minnesota)

Fruit Of The Spirit

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Even though we all know about the common thing that is impacting everyone in the world, there are still battles everyone is fighting that we don’t know about.  The impact of a pandemic goes far beyond are you sick or is someone in your house sick…there are people who were struggling with the basic needs in life before this ever started and it could be worse now…there are still people battling mental illness and this situation is adding another level struggle…the list could go on and on.  Life is hard and often unfair and if this pandemic has magnified anything it is this…how we treat each other in our daily life is so important…every person you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about, so be kind, live your life with the Fruit of the Spirit shining through your thoughts, your words and your actions.  May God’s peace be with you.  Amen.

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“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”

Galatians 5:22-23

(This photo was taken in March of 2013 at the Botanical Gardens in the Bellagio in Las Vegas, Nevada)

Forgiveness And For Goodness

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These are the presents we receive from God, not only at Christmas, we receive these every day of our lives.  It is up to us to accept these gifts and to trust in the Lord.  We are forgiven because of Jesus Christ and we receive goodness from God’s Holy Spirit within us.  All throughout the bible the miracles performed included Jesus involving someone else in completing the miracle.  An example would be the little boy who had the fish and bread, that was to be multiplied for all to eat.  God wants us to accept the gift of forgiveness from Jesus and to open our hearts and minds to the goodness of the Holy Spirit and God wants each of us to participate in the story.  God loves you; God forgives you and He is ready to lead you to good things.  Accept these gifts from God.  Amen.

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“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”

James 1:17

(This photo was taken in August of 2016 in Glacier National Park in Montana)

Righteousness

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Honesty…integrity…honor…purity…goodness.  Seek to do good and good will come back to you.  This is about who we are as a person in all aspects of life.  When you seek to do good, there is no telling how long it can last in the world, especially when you do good to others.  There is a quote from John Wesley who was an English evangelical clergyman, preacher, and writer in the 1700’s that still sums up what our goals for goodness should be:

“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

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“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.”

Matthew 5:6

(This photo was taken in July of 2018 on the shore of Lake Superior near Ashland, Wisconsin)