“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit – just as you were called to one hope when you were called – one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”
Ephesians 4:2-6
(This photo was taken in October of 2014 while driving on the north shore of Maui)
As we live our day to day lives and experience each and every detail of life we are easily distracted from recognizing God is with us. He is in everything…He is the Creator and the Author of our faith…“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” Hebrews 13:8
Just like the two individuals in Luke 24, they were ‘On the Road to Emmaus’. They were busy discussing what had happened over the previous three days…Jesus of Nazareth who they believed was a prophet was handed over and crucified but he was supposed to be the one to redeem Israel. Them and all the disciples thought…’ok now we have a king who is powerful and will be sure to set things right for us in this world’…just like many of us today who latch on to something or someone and think ‘ok this is the thing or the person who is going to make everything right in my life’.
Then the two ‘On the Road’ encountered another while walking. He asked them questions and they explained their dismay at what had occurred, even though Jesus himself had told them several times before he died that it was going to happen…even though it was stated by many of the early prophets that He will come, be sacrificed and will be raised from the dead.
They couldn’t understand, they were so distracted by the events of their everyday life to even notice that Jesus was right there with them the whole time. He was walking right beside them listening, teaching them and when they had spent enough time with Him, while they were sharing a meal with Him…Finally! They could see He was right there with them the whole time.
Friends, God is with us…right here, right now. Jesus said in the Gospel according to John…
“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 14:27
(This photo was taken in June of 2013 at Falls Park in Sioux Falls, South Dakota)
Jesus said while speaking to his disciples…
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.”
John 14:1-4
(This photo was taken last month at a lake place in central Minnesota)
“Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”
Ephesians 5:1-2
(This photo was taken in April of 2016 at a lake place in central Minnesota)
“Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men, for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.”
Psalm 107:8-9
(This photo was taken in April of 2016 on a lake in central Minnesota)
“With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.”
James 3:9-12
(This photo was taken in April of 2016 at a lake place in central Minnesota)
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such an opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”
Hebrews 12:1-3
(This photo was taken in June of 2013 while driving through northern Colorado)
“Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked. For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.”
Psalm 84:10-11
(This photo was taken in June of 2013 while on a walk in northwestern Wisconsin)
“How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure.”
1 John 3:1-3
(This photo was taken in June of 2013 while driving through northern Colorado)
“The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.”
Psalm 103: 8-12
(This photo was taken in June of 2013 while driving through Colorado)
