Plans

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
    neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord.
“As the heavens are higher than the earth,
    so are my ways higher than your ways
    and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

Isaiah 55:8-9 NIV

Whose plans are we working on?

What is the purpose of what we are doing?

When we have questions like this and others about our lives the best place to turn is towards Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord

He knows what is best for us and He loves us

His ways are good

Ask the Lord to guide and direct you

Then watch and listen for His reply

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Commit to the Lord whatever you do,
    and he will establish your plans.”

Proverbs 16:3 NIV

(This photo was taken at a lake in northwestern Wisconsin)

Different…Changed

Have mercy on me, O God,
    according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion
    blot out my transgressions.
Wash away all my iniquity
    and cleanse me from my sin.”

Psalm 51:1-2 NIV

Different by Micah Tyler

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Create in me a pure heart, O God,
    and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
11 Do not cast me from your presence
    or take your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation
    and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.”

Psalm 51:10-12 NIV

(This photo was taken in Mount Rainier National Park in Washington)

A New Way

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

Trust the promises of God to find a New Way

Our hope is in God and His love

The Wonderful Cross by Michael W Smith

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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. 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 at sunrise at a lake in central Minnesota)

God Is With You

“The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

Deuteronomy 31:8 NIV

You are never alone

Nothing in your life is too big for God to handle

He knows your circumstances and He knows the way through them

God will be with you and He will never leave you

Trust in the Lord and put your faith in Him

You are never alone

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“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

(This photo was taken on the shore of Lake Superior at Temperance State Park in northern Minnesota)

Wisdom And Understanding

For the Lord gives wisdom;
    from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.”

Proverbs 2:6 NIV

Blessed are those who find wisdom,
    those who gain understanding,
14 for she is more profitable than silver
    and yields better returns than gold.

Proverbs 3:13-14 NIV

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Get wisdom, get understanding;
    do not forget my words or turn away from them.”

Proverbs 4:7 NIV

(This photo was taken on the shore on Lake Superior near Ashland, Wisconsin)

He Knows

You have searched me, Lord,
    and you know me.
You know when I sit and when I rise;
    you perceive my thoughts from afar.
You discern my going out and my lying down;
    you are familiar with all my ways.
Before a word is on my tongue
    you, Lord, know it completely.”

Psalm 139:1-4 NIV

He Knows by Jeremy Camp

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For you created my inmost being;
    you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
    your works are wonderful,
    I know that full well.”

Psalm 139:13-14 NIV

(This photo was taken at a lake near Plymouth, Minnesota)

Draw Near To God

The Lord is righteous in all his ways
    and faithful in all he does.
18 The Lord is near to all who call on him,
    to all who call on him in truth.”

Psalm 145:17-18 NIV

Father God, thank You for allowing us to call on Your name!  Thank You for sending Your Son, Jesus, to rescue us from a life separated from You.  Today and every day, please give us the courage to draw close to You, and to seek You with all our hearts.  In Jesus name, Amen.

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“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

Romans 15:13 NIV

(This photo was taken near the border between Minnesota and South Dakota)

Life Through The Spirit

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you[a] free from the law of sin and death.”

Romans 8:1-2 NIV

There Is Freedom by Josh Baldwin

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Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.”

Romans 8:5-6 NIV

(This photo was taken at Mount Rushmore in South Dakota)

Worry And Anxiety

“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

Cornerstone ft. Zach Williams by TobyMac

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“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”

1 Peter 5:7 NIV

(This photo was taken at a lake near Plymouth, Minnesota)

Comfort

May your unfailing love be my comfort,
    according to your promise to your servant.”

Psalm 119:76 NIV

Our God is the God of all comfort

There is nothing and no one in the world that can comfort us the way God can

Turn towards God and you will find comfort and peace

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Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.”

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 NIV

(This photo was taken at a lake in central Minnesota)