“The Lord is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger and rich in love.”
Psalm 145:8 NIV
“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever.”
Psalm 136:1 NIV
(This photo was taken at a lake place in central Minnesota)
Gratitude
We Are Forgiven
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 5:8 NIV
“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
Ephesians 4:32 NIV
Father God, You always give me grace when I mess up, and I want to extend that same grace to others. Help me to be quick to forgive others because You are quick to forgive me. In Jesus name, Amen.
“Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”[a] And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.”
Luke 23:34 NIV
(This photo was taken at sunrise on the island of Maui, Hawaii)
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Gratitude
“Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.
2 Worship the Lord with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs.
3 Know that the Lord is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his[a];
we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.”
Psalm 100:1-3 NIV
“Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.
5 For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations.”
Psalm 100:4-5 NIV
(This photo was taken at a lake near Plymouth, Minnesota)
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Joy…Prayer…Gratitude
“Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV
Father God, by Your grace, You have offered each of us a relationship with You. We can be known by You, and we can know You. Thank You for giving us peace that extends beyond our feelings and circumstances. Thank You for protecting us in this dark world. We give You thanks because we can experience joy and find peace with You. In Jesus name, Amen.
“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
Colossians 3:15-17 NIV
(This photo was taken at a State Park in northern Minnesota)
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Attitude…Holy Living
“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
Attitude
by Charles Swindoll
“The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness, or skill. It will make or break a company…a church…a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past…we cannot change that people will act a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude…I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me, and 90% how I react to it. And so it is with you…we are in charge of our Attitudes.”
“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.“
Colossians 3:15-17 NIV
(This photo was taken at a lake place in central Minnesota)
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Peace
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
John 14:27 NIV
“You will keep in perfect peace
those whose minds are steadfast,
because they trust in you.“
Isaiah 26:3 NIV
Father God, I often find myself consumed by my circumstances that are beyond my control and I am distracted by things that don’t matter. Forgive me for not consistently placing my trust in You. No matter what I face, I know You are still with me. You are the giver of peace, help me remember I can access Your peace whenever I draw near to You. Remind me to make space in my heart and mind to be able to experience Your peace. In Jesus name, Amen.
“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
Colossians 3:15-17 NIV
(This photo was taken at a lake near Plymouth, Minnesota)
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Choose Joy
10 “If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.”
John 15:10-11 NIV
Father God, thank You for our constant access to Your presence. Because You are near, we can experience joy in all things. Help us remember our joy is not based on our circumstances. Too often, instead of trusting You, we let our problems direct our behaviors. Fill us with Your Holy Spirit, so that we can strive to live with undefeatable Joy. In Jesus name, Amen.
“Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
Nehemiah 8:10 NIV
(This photo was taken near Lake Dillon in Colorado)
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Give To One Another
“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
Father God, You have shown us what matters most…and that is to love You and to love others. Please help us align our ways with Your will. Show us how to invest our time, resources, and money into things that have eternal value. We want to give from the gifts and blessings You have graciously given to us. In Jesus name, Amen.
“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 at the Botanical Garden in the Bellagio in Las Vegas, Nevada)
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He Makes All Things New
“So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:[a] The old has gone, the new is here!”
2 Corinthians 5:16-17 NIV
Father God, thank You that each day we have the opportunity to live a new way. Please help us approach life focusing on Your plan rather than making new worldly plans of our own. Fill us with the Fruit of the Spirit. Help us run the race You have put before us. Thank You for making all things new in ways we could never imagine. In Jesus name, Amen.
All Things New by Steven Curtis Chapman
“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
(This photo was taken along the North Shore of Lake Superior)
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Encouragement From God’s Word
16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.“
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV
Father God, I know You have a plan for my life, and that You want to bless me. Help me remember to lean into that promise. It is hard to see past my present struggles. Thank You for your faithfulness and for loving me even when I have doubts and fear. Fill me with encouragement from Your Word, let it seep in to my heart and mind and give me hope and peace. In Jesus name, Amen.
“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 NIV
(This photo was taken while traveling in southern New Mexico)
Take Your Faith With You 