Don’t hesitate…don’t come casually…decide to come to the Lord and then run to Him. He is waiting for you…He will comfort you, strengthen you and guide your way. Amen.
“The name of the Lord is a fortified tower;
the righteous run to it and are safe.”
Proverbs 18:10
(This photo was taken in July of 2018 at a park near Bayfield, Wisconsin)
Whose plans are you working on? What is the purpose of what you are doing? When you have questions like this and others about your life the best place to turn is to Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord. He knows what is best for you and He loves you. Ask the Lord to guide and direct you and then pay attention and listen for His reply. Amen.
“Commit to the Lord whatever you do,
and he will establish your plans.”
Proverbs 16:3
(This photo was taken in July of 2019 at a lake in northwestern Wisconsin)
God speaks to us many ways…most often it is through the words in the Scriptures. When we read the bible, we are reading the very words of God. Things He wants us to know…a guide for living with peace in our hearts. In our relationship with the Lord we should not be the one doing all the talking, otherwise we will miss out on hearing God’s will and God’s plan for our lives. Listen and you will learn and gain wisdom from God. Amen.
“Show me your ways, Lord,
teach me your paths.
5 Guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my Savior,
and my hope is in you all day long.”
Psalm 25:4-5
“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.”
Psalm 32:8
(This photo was taken October of 2018 at a lake near Plymouth, Minnesota)
The post below was originally posted in January of 2020…my how the world has changed since January…we need courage to do the right things now more than ever…we need to trust in the Lord. Amen.
“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
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. It takes courage to be humble…to surrender your plans for God’s plan…it takes courage to live the life that God has intended for you…and the best part is…a relationship with Jesus Christ will give you the courage to seek His will when you trust in Him. Amen.
“Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. 14 Do everything in love.”
1 Corinthians 16:13-14
(This photo was taken in July of 2018 on Lake Superior near the Apostle Islands)
It takes discipline and a willingness to sacrifice self-serving ways. It is not about fame and fortune or ‘likes’ and ‘followers’. There are many in our society that choose a vocation to serve and it shows the goodness that comes from God that can shine through us. It really is a choice for each of us, how we want to live…what attitude we are going to put on each day. If and when you are finding it difficult due to the sinful nature of this world…turn towards God in prayer and put some of God’s Word in your heart to renew and refresh your spirit. I have often used Psalm 51:10-12 to help my spirit. May God’s peace be with you. Amen.
“Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”
Philippians 2:1-4
(This photo was taken in July of 2018 on Lake Superior near the Apostle Islands)
When you pray leave room for God’s will and God’s plan to be the way you should go. We tend to think we have things all figured out and we just need to top it off with a quick FYI to God to get Him on board. Surrendering to God’s will and God’s plan means we are open to a new way for things to go…maybe in a way we haven’t considered or thought about yet…be open ended in your prayers…make room for God’s way in your life. Amen.
“Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love,
for I have put my trust in you.
Show me the way I should go,
for to you I entrust my life.”
Psalm 143:8
“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:4-7
(This photo was taken in March of 2018 while traveling in southern New Mexico)
Originally posted in October of 2019…
We have access to a guide, a comforter and one who will hold us up in our weakest moments…it is the Holy Spirit. This is a gift from God. If we believe in Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord and we confess our sins, we will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit in our hearts. This is a gift that is greater than anything we will encounter in life. Listen for the Holy Spirit in your life and seek the peace that comes from knowing God is with you. Amen.
“All this I have spoken while still with you. 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. 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 14:25-27
(This photo was taken in July of 2018 on the shore of Lake Superior near Ashland, Wisconsin)
“Submit to God and be at peace with him;
in this way prosperity will come to you.”
Job 22:21
“His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.
10 Therefore, my brothers and sisters,[a] make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, 11 and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”
2 Peter 1:3-11
(This photo was taken in June of 2015 while traveling through in South Dakota)
“And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.”
Romans 5:5
“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. 27 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 14:26-27
(This photo was taken in April of 2020 at a lake near Plymouth, Minnesota)
“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
“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)
Take Your Faith With You 