Gratitude

All Things New

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The world can get us down if we let it.  We see and hear the heart wrenching stories all too often.  People seeking vengeance and hatred and trying to create their own version of “Justice”…it is not for us to avenge.  We can choose to put our hope and trust in something way better than anything the world has to offer.  Only the Lord can restore that which is lost to evil and darkness.  Patience and persistence are the keys to faith, believe and we will see the goodness of the Lord.  He will make all things new (See Isaiah 65:17).  Here is a great song that speaks this message by Steven Curtis Chapman entitled All Things New

If you want to see a change in the world and a change in your life turn towards God and the you will begin to see the New things.  May God’s love and joy be with you.

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“Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.  See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

Psalms 139:23-24

(This photo was taken in August of 2016 in Arches National Park in Utah)

On Believing And Seeing

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You may have heard someone say or you may have said it yourself, a phrase such as ‘I’ll believe it when I see it.’  This originated in biblical times after the resurrection of Jesus.  Jesus appeared to the disciples at a time when Thomas was not with them.  Even as one of the apostles who had been with Jesus he could not comprehend the resurrection and told his brothers…“unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it.” (John 20:25)  Thomas was so sure this could not be true, that Jesus had risen, that he made this statement basically saying to the others…prove it!  Oh boy, I have been there before.  The problem with this approach to our faith is it is not faith at all…if we have to see it to believe it, what do we truly believe in?  A simple example is the wind…the air can move at very high speeds at different elevations and we know this not because we can see it move, what we can see is what it can do.  Don’t get caught being a doubting Thomas, rather learn from him and have faith in the One who knows us and can see what He has planned for our lives.  May God’s love and joy be with you.

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“We live by faith, not by sight.”

2 Corinthians 5:7

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

Highs And Lows

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Our journey is filled with these…moments where things are good, we are strong, confident, faithful and filled with hope and joy – Highs.  We also have moments of fear, concern, sadness that are filled with despair – Lows.  Every life has both whether you see it in others or not, they both exist for everyone.  The key to living with all of this is how are you reacting to your highs and your lows?  Reading and learning from God’s Word with the Holy Spirit as your guide is a great place to start.  After that, the way to give and receive celebration for highs and support for lows is with Friends.  Personal relationships, that is the key to living, learning and growing through out your life journey.  Reflect on your personal relationships, with God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit as well as with your friends.  Pray about them and find ways you can enrich those relationships.  Faith is not a destination, it is a way of living through the Highs and Lows that come to all of us no matter who we are or what we are doing.  May God’s peace and joy be with you.

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“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction and faithful in prayer.  Share with God’s people who are in need.  Practice hospitality.”

Romans 12:12-13

(These photo’s were taken in July of 2016 at Old Faithful in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming)

Do Not Worry

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We will have what we need, we will not always get what we want (I am now hearing a Rolling Stones song in my mind), yet we struggle with worry and anxiety daily and that constant strain causes physical damage to our bodies over a period of time.  God is our Creator and He knows exactly what we need.  If we are saying it is not enough then we are too focused on our plans and not His.  Before I started daily devotions just over 8 years ago I wasted a large amount of my time on worry and the worst part is, it was about things I can’t even control.  As I have grown spiritually my perspective has changed for the better…I still pray a serenity prayer to help as old habits die hard.  It is a test of faith to let go of the worries and to trust God with the answers and the outcome.  May God’s grace and peace be with you.

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“So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’  For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.  But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

Matthew 6:31-33

(This photo was taken in June 2018, last weekend, while driving to South Dakota)

Be Still

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So many are searching for something.  Searching for answers to questions like why, what if, when…we want and seek to know and when we arrive at a conclusion what do we find?  The human race is broken, all of us, we are caught up in a cycle of work in-rinse-repeat.  If we continue to trudge along this way we are unable to see the good things, unable to have the perspective that can change behaviors.  In order to see and hear the Lord we need to take time, to be still and listen.  Listen for the direction and guidance of the Holy Spirit instead of our feelings and uncontrolled emotions.  Be still before the Lord and you will see His goodness.  May God’s joy and peace be with you.

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“Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.”

Psalm 37:7

(This photo was taken in June of 2018 at a lake near Plymouth, Minnesota)

God Is With You

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In all the places you will go, with all the people you will meet and in all the things you will do…keep the Word of God close and God is with you.  Pick out a verse that speaks to you and memorize it, hold it with you throughout your day and speak it as a breath prayer and you will sense peace.  Continue this practice and pick more verses to work on memorizing.  The Bible is our instruction manual for life and as we remember verses and speak with God during all times by speaking verses He will be a part of everything.  This isn’t a quick fix, instant gratification thing…this is walking by faith and knowing that the Creator and Savior are with you every step of the way in life.  May the word of God flow in your daily life.

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“Have I not commanded you?  Be strong and courageous.  Do not be terrified, do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Joshua 1:9

(This photo was taken in July of 2016 on Beartooth Pass in Montana)

The Needs Of Others

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We all have been given gifts and talents to use in the world.  While we are all unique the gifts we have are to be used to not only support ourselves, they are also the way we can help others in need.  It is important to learn and accept the gifts and talents God has given us and to seek out ways to use them to honor God.  Selfishness is running rampant all over the world and therefore the needs of people are many.  Can we help everyone?  No.  Does that mean we should only worry about ourselves? No.  We should strive to do whatever we can, for whomever we can, whenever we can, wherever we are…even if it only helps one person in that moment in time, it is helping someone in need.  May God’s grace and peace be with you.

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“Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.”

Philippians 2:4

(This photo was taken in June of 2013 at a rest area in South Dakota)

God’s Grace

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Have you ever been in a situation where someone you love has done something that offends you?  I believe we all have this experience.  We know what they did was wrong, they know what they did was wrong and yet we love them so much we forgive them.  We go forward not holding the past against them…well as humans we are not quite that good at forgiveness…there seems to remain that little voice that says ‘remember what they did?  they might hurt you again.’  It is hard to forgive because we are not sure we can trust again.  Think about how hard this is for us…God has done this and will continue to do this for you everyday.  We are sinners, we are broken and yet He forgives us our sins.  We have never deserved it or earned it, yet Jesus Christ gave up His life to give it to us.  May you find peace knowing you are forgiven in God’s grace.

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“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.”

Ephesians 2:8-9

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

God’s Love And Faithfulness

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No matter where we go or what we do God’s love and faithfulness are always more powerful than anything in this world.  We spend our days searching for something…happiness, justice, peace of mind and we believe we will find it somewhere on earth.  Yet the whole time God offers a path to find these pursuits.  It begins with a belief in God and His goodness.  Every promise He made He has kept and the last promise has yet to come, and Jesus Christ will come again.  I pray we have the courage to stop putting our faith in things created by mankind and put our trust and faith right where it belongs…In God We Trust.  May you see God’s love and faithfulness at work in your life.

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“Not to us, O Lord, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness.”

Psalm 115:1

(This photo was taken in June of 2015 on the side of the road while driving through South Dakota)

The Foundation Of Faith

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We often hear that it states in the bible if you have faith as small as a mustard seed you can move mountains and nothing will be impossible for you (see Matthew 17:20).  Well that doesn’t sound too hard.  A mustard seed, that’s really small…oh but wait.  If it only takes such a small amount of faith to do such big things why isn’t everybody full of faith?  Take a look at your personal belief in Jesus Christ…when we face any issues, problems, concerns or difficult people are we able to approach all those situations with a belief and faith that Jesus Christ can do anything with that situation?  God is still working on me for this level of spiritual maturity.  This is a faith that points 100% to Jesus Christ and the belief in the saving grace that He provided at Calvary for every part of your life.  It is a belief that every person no matter how the world has judged them and cast them aside can be redeemed, if we are willing to believe Jesus can change that.  I am focusing my faith journey on more of this and less of me.  May God’s grace and peace be with you.

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“For by the grace given me I say to every one of you:  Do not think of yourself more highly that you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.”

Romans 12:3

(This photo was taken in October of 2014 on the island of Maui, Hawaii)