“But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”
John 14:26 NIV
Holy Spirit by Francesca Battistelli
Our Guide…our Advocate…our Counselor…the very presence of God. Amen.
“For God did not give us a spirit of timidity but one of power, love, and self-discipline.[a]”
2 Timothy 1:7 NIV
(This photo was taken in April of 2016 at a lake in central Minnesota)
“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
Matthew 7:24-27 NIV
God created us and gives us free will to chose how to live. Our lives and how we live will either show that we love God and trust in Him or that we reject God and His will for us. Each of us gets to decide how we will live and how we will treat others. God, guide us and help us make decisions that honor you and show love for each other. Amen.
“For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. 8 Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit.”
1 Thessalonians 4:7-8 NIV
(This photo was taken in July of 2016 along Beartooth Pass near the border between Montana and Wyoming)
“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
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:[a] The old has gone, the new is here!“
2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV
Every day brings new possibilities…don’t let the worlds values and the pursuits of ungodly things keep you distracted and lost. Trust the promises of God…we will not find hope and fulfillment in other people because we are all broken and in need of Jesus.
The world is telling us we should value ‘me’ first and live a self-centered life…not true. A Christ centered life…meeting with Him every day and trusting His Way is the New Way to live…every day. May the peace of God be with you and flow through you. Amen.
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.“
Philippians 4:8-9 NIV
(This photo was taken in April of 2016 at sunrise at a lake in central Minnesota)
“For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,[a] 10 so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, 12 and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you[b] to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light.”
Colossians 1:9-12 NIV
There are two important aspects of faith…To Know Him and To Make Him Known. God is the Creator of all and He wants a personal relationship with each and every one of us…so much so that He sent His Son to die for us so that we can be reconciled to Him. Make time for your realtionship with Jesus and get to know Him.
“ For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”
Colossians 1:13-14 NIV
(This photo was taken in May of 2014 at a lake in central Minnesota)
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.“
Proverbs 9:10 NIV
“How much better to get wisdom than gold,
to get insight rather than silver!“
Proverbs 16:16 NIV
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
all who follow his precepts have good understanding.
To him belongs eternal praise.“
Psalm 111:10 NIV
(This photo was taken in July of 2018 on the shore on Lake Superior near Ashland, Wisconsin)
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
Joshua 1:9 NIV
Courage is not the absence of fear…Courage is the willingness to move forward without knowing the outcome…to admit we don’t know the answers…to be patient…to share and be vulnerable with another person.
Having courage is placing your trust in God ahead of fear…it is about not allowing fear to stop you or defeat you. It takes courage to seek the Light…to surrender your plans for God’s plan…it takes courage to live the life that God has intended for you…and where can you find strength for courage?
In a relationship with Jesus Christ. There you will find joy, peace, patience, and strength for courage. Seek Him and His will and live with hope from God.
“Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. 14 Do everything in love.”
1 Corinthians 16:13-14 NIV
(This photo was taken in July of 2018 on Lake Superior near the Apostle Islands)
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life[e]?
28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
Matthew 6:25-34 NIV
The first time I highlighted some verses in my bible many years ago it was Matthew 6:25-34…they stood out to me. They told me something nobody else has ever told me about worries, fears and anxiety…those verses told me why I don’t need to worry all the time about everything.
God is in control, He knows what we need and He knows what is best for us…now when we get off track and try to live our lives separate from God we end up getting ourselves in some pretty dicey situations…that is not God doing that to us, that it is us and our free will choosing to seperate from God.
So, if we want to see change in our lives and our situations it is up to us to put God first in our lives and to seek His will. Life will still have trouble but we know with God all things are possible. Amen.
“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”
1 Peter 5:7 NIV
(This photo was taken in July of 2019 at a lake near Plymouth, Minnesota)
“There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; 10 for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works,[e] just as God did from his. 11 Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience.”
Hebrews 4:9-11 NIV
What can we do…where can we go…to get a moment of rest? True rest and refreshment of your mind, body and spirit is found when we take time to rest with God. It can be in prayer, reading God’s Word or even just sitting quietly in a peaceful environment.
There are these and many more ways to spend time in your relationship with God…how you do this is between you and Him…if you do this, well that is all up to you. Take time to rest with Him. Amen.
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30 NIV
(This photo was taken in June of 2013 while visiting Rocky Mountain National Park)
“For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,[a] 10 so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, 12 and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you[b] to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light.”
Colossians 1:9-12 NIV
From the very beginning God created us out of his love. As we try to find satisfaction and happiness in worldly things we will come to find that only by God’s grace will we find true joy and peace in life. Wisdom is found in spending more time with God and less time on social media and watching the news.
The more we know Him rather then just know about Him…the more our eyes are opened and the better we begin to understand that we are broken, sinful people in need of a Savior and that Jesus Christ is our Savior, our Redeemer. Seek Him and learn to Know Him.
“ For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”
Colossians 1:13-14 NIV
(This photo was taken in May of 2014 at a lake in central Minnesota)
“But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.”
John 16:13 NIV
The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth. Put your trust in the Lord and His will for your life…it may not be what you have always thought about your life yet God is the Creator and knows what is best for you. Stay close to the Lord and spend time with Him, be in His Word and the Spirit of Truth will guide you. Amen.
“If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever – the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.”
John 14:15-17 NIV
(This photo was taken in August of 2016 at Old Faithful in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming)
Take Your Faith With You 