Holy Spirit

Our Loving Father

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We are blessed with everlasting love from God our Father.  He knows us and wants to spend time with us.  He gives us good gifts…not everything we want, yet everything we need.  God knows we will have trouble in this life and He is always right there with us no matter what…we just have to be willing to seek Him.  Amen.

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“The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love.  The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.”

Psalm 145:8-9

(This photo was taken in July of 2018 on Lake Superior near the Apostle Islands)

Comforted

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To restore a sense of well-being…to soothe…console…reassure…to ease the grief or burden.  To pursue your faith and a personal relationship with Jesus Christ is about finding your starting point or ending point to each day.  It is about coming back to the place that most feels like home in your heart.  If you are seeking this comfort, choose a time that works for your situation and every day spend time with God…it will change your life in ways you can’t imagine.  Amen.

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“What, then, shall we say in response to this?  If God is for us, who can be against us?”

Romans 8:31

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

Quiet Time

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Busyness is a distraction that keeps us away from spiritual growth.  Living life at a frenetic pace not only wears down the body physically it also wears down and dulls your inner spirit.  We were made to be more balanced in our daily lives.  The example has been shown to us by Jesus…He often went off to be alone and pray, even when many people were clamoring to be with Him or near Him.  If you reflect on your life over the past few days, weeks and months…how much time have you spent quietly, in solitude, just you and God?  Seek balance in your daily life and you will find peace.  Amen.

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“Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.”

Mark 1:35

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

The Presence Of The Lord

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When have you felt like you could sense the Presence of God?  When have you felt like God has come near to you?  Where were you?  What was going on in your life or around you?  How often do you ask or have you been asked where do you see God in this?  All that is good is from God…all that is dark and evil is from the prince of darkness and human nature.  Look to see the Presence of the Lord in your life and you will see that He has been with you every step of the way.  Amen.

Holy Spirit by Francesca Battistelli

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“The Lord replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

Exodus 33:14

(This photo was taken in July of 2016 in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming)

The Lord Is My Rock

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We have been saved…we have a fortress of salvation…we have been delivered by Jesus Christ to eternal life.  Trust in the Lord, there is no greater strength than the love of God.  When we fall down He will pick us up, He renews us and restores us.  His Word is a shelter from evil.  When it feels like the world is crashing down around you look to the Lord for He is our Rock.  Amen.

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“The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge.  He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.”

Psalm 18:2

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

The One Who Is In You

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Don’t forget the power of the Cross.  The world is filled with violence, evil and darkness.  The attempts to distract us and pull us into the things of this world are relentless.  Read the Word of God and memorize some verses that speak to you…the verse you choose may change over time and different verses will come to mind as you plant the Word within you.  The prince of darkness despises the Scriptures and it will defeat him.  This is one of the foundational reasons I started to write this blog six years ago…so that we could learn how to take our faith with us…everywhere we go.  The Word of God planted inside us is greater than anything in the world.  May the peace found with Christ be with you.  Amen.

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“You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.”

1 John 4:4

(This photo was taken in June of 2013 while traveling through northern Colorado)

Practice What Is Preached

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The faith journey has two main elements…the first is learning about and getting to know God the Father, Jesus Christ His Son and the Holy Spirit.  It is a transformation on the inside, a redemption.  The second element is about making Him known.  Taking what we have learned and have experienced and sharing it by helping others in need, whatever that looks in your life.  Both elements are vital to our spiritual life and to the Kingdom of God, as either one without the other has little lasting value or impact.  Take time to know Him and create space in your life to make Him known.  Amen.

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“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves.  Do what it says.”

James 1:22

(This photo was taken in July of 2018 on a hike near Bayfield, Wisconsin)

A Strong Foundation

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The best things are built by starting out with the development of a strong foundation.  A solid foundation helps to support missteps, mistakes and accidents along the way.  If we try to build something without developing the foundation the endeavor will eventually fail and end up as a pile of rubble.  The foundation of our faith is our relationship and daily interaction with Jesus Christ and the Word of God.  These are the elements that will help us build and grow our spiritual life and sustain us through the most difficult things the world will throw at us.  May the peace of the Lord be with you.  Amen.

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“I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.  My command is this:  Love each other as I have loved you.”

John 15:11-12

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

Guided By The Holy Spirit

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When we put our trust in God and believe in Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, we will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit to guide us and help us grow spiritually.  It can be difficult to tune in to the Holy Spirit during the hustle and bustle of daily life but that does not mean God is not present with you.  Evil and darkness will go to great lengths to keep us from our connection to God…make time to connect to God’s presence in your life and tune into the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

Holy Spirit by Francesca Battistelli

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“But the Counselor, 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

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

Return To Sender

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It is true…we will get exactly what we give in this life.  If we choose to stomp around with anger, deceit and selfish motivations, always screaming and yelling about our rights…there is no reason to expect others to treat us any differently.  Take a moment to reflect on any recent interaction you have had that didn’t go well from your perspective.  Who was first to start the interaction?  You or the other person and what was the tone and demeanor of the first person to act?  If things started from a place of anger and tension then I would guess it continued and escalated or even if it started out just fine something must have happened that turned it into something unpleasant.  We are wired to react and respond and if someone doesn’t stop the reaction response mentality things get to the point where people get hurt or killed.  There must be a better way…The Good News is just that…a better way.  We can choose to be different, we can be kind and compassionate with patience if we are willing to turn towards Jesus Christ and invite Him into our hearts and minds and we read the Word of God to learn about this Way every day.  Amen.

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“The one who sows to please the sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.”

Galatians 6:8

(This photo was taken in August of 2016 near Dillon, Colorado)