Jesus

Relationships

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Successful relationships are two way relationships.  Both people bring unique abilities and attributes to a relationship.  When it comes to parents and children a long term successful relationship is about honor and respect going both ways.  In the beginning of life the parents bring the most to the relationship, they should be sacrificing the most in the beginning to aid the growth and development of the child…over time this needs to shift to the child to be giving and sacrificing as the parents grow older and may need more assistance.  All along the way the best relationships are when all involved bring love, honor and respect to others.  No matter where this stands for you and your parents bring your relationship before the Lord, be thankful and seek His guidance.  Happy Mother’s Day to all you Mom’s out there, may the peace of God be with you.  Amen.

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“Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land the Lord your God is giving you.”

Deuteronomy 5:16

(This photo was taken in March of 2013 in the Botanical Gardens at the Bellagio in Las Vegas, Nevada)

When Trouble Comes…

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We all face trials and struggles.  The one thing we can control during these times and situatons is how we choose to respond.  Many of us quickly try to gain control and take charge, determined not to let the situation get the best of us…others do an about face and get away from the situation as quickly as we can.  All of us can do better if we start with bringing the situation, the difficult time or difficult relationship, start with bringing our anxieties and worries to God…First!  Not waiting until after it gets worse or something unexpected occurs…going into battle against darkness and evil without God is like a soldier heading into a battle without any weapon.  The more we turn towards God first the more likely we will find peace and be able to overcome the troubles of life.  Amen.

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“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 4:6-7

(This photo was taken in March of 2013 at the Botanical Gardens in the Bellagio in Las Vegas, Nevada)

Believe

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You most likely know the information and the stories written about in the bible.  You know the names of most of the books of the bible and many of the names of the people.  There is one name that is above every other name, there is one who did the unthinkable for the undeserving.  Jesus.  You know about Him…the question is do you believe it?  Believe in the power of God…believe in Jesus Christ His only Son our Lord, who died and was rasied to life and lives in you today…when you believe you can achieve anything.  Amen.

Give Me Jesus by Jeremy Camp

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“He replied, “Because you have so little faith.  I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move.  Nothing will be impossible for you.”

Matthew 17:20-21

(This photo was taken in April of 2016 on a lake in central Minnesota)

 

Peace From God

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I saw a story about Mother’s Day and that the most popular request from Mom’s is to get a day away from their families.  This is not true for all Mom’s, there was even an interview with one woman who was planning the whole day with her family and she spoke with a tone of…I know I am odd, but I just want to be with them.  Wow, the human race is really messed up.  We all, myself included, are so naive to look at life with ourselves in the center…we have allowed Satan to influence our perspectives so much that we have created a society in which “me time” is more important than anything else.  We treat each other so poorly, that makes it hard to trust others.  The only refuge, the one source of truth and peace is Jesus Christ.  Seek Him and you will find true peace.  Amen.

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“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.  I do not give as the world gives.  Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

John 14:27

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

Our Refuge

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Worries and burdens will pile up.  We set ourselves up for disappointment and regret when we try to go it alone.  God is our refuge, He is the stronghold of our lives.  There is more to our relationship with the Lord than Sunday mornings or Wednesday evenings…there is more than quickly speaking memorized words before a meal or at bedtime.  Turn towards the Lord and seek Him.  Pray for His presence to be something you can see in your life and listen for His guidance in everything.  Amen.

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“My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him.  He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.”

Psalm 62:1-2

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

Prayer

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When we want learn more about someone or grow our relationship with them…what do we do?  We spend time with them, we talk with them often, we listen and we focus our energy on them.  This has always been how friends become best friends, this is how people who have just met grow into a relationship of love and this is what God wants to have with you and me…more than anything else.  A close personal relationship.  Spend time with Jesus and invest in your relationship with the Lord.  Amen.

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“pray without ceasing”

1 Thessalonians 5:17

(This photo was taken in August of 2012 while hiking along the north shore of Lake Superior)

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)

Our Redeemer

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To redeem is to recover…reclaim…retrieve…return to…to get back…rescue.  A price has been paid to return us to God.  The way to find true peace is by inviting Jesus Christ into your heart.  We all will encounter hardships in this world and in our lives, they may be different hardships for different reasons, yet we all have to endure something…even if it doesn’t look that way on social media.  Through it all there is one who has suffered and endured the worst things in this world and He did it for you and for me…Jesus Christ is our Redeemer.  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 October of 2018 at a lake near Plymouth, Minnesota)

Gratitude

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Gratefulness…appreciation…recognition…acknowledgment…thankfulness.  Expressing gratitude is one sure way of changing your perspective.  It focuses your attention on that which has been given to you rather than what you think you are missing.  If you are looking for a way to make a change in your life, start with gratitude and give thanks to God and His Son Jesus Christ for all that has been done for you.  Amen.

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“Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.  Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.  Know that the Lord is God.  It is he who made us and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.  

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.  For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.”

Psalm 100

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

By Faith…Persevere

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How do we grow in faith?  How can our faith become the cornerstone of who we are?  It depends on your perspective…if your faith is more about religion and performing for the approval and acceptance of others, you will find it a poor foundation that will easily crumble.  Faith is a living part of who we are, we must feed our faith as often as we feed our physical body…faith is fed by reading the Word of God everyday, praying and seeking the will of God for our lives…we build and grow our faith by establishing and building our personal relationship with Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.  That is the foundation that has stood the test of time and that is the foundation that God promises will sustain us.  Turn towards Jesus and begin building a foundation of faith that will last.  Amen.

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“For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.  For God did not give you a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.”

2 Timothy 1:6-7

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