joy

God’s Love And Faithfulness

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No matter where we go or what we do God’s love and faithfulness are always more powerful than anything in this world.  We spend our days searching for something…happiness, justice, peace of mind and we believe we will find it somewhere on earth.  Yet the whole time God offers a path to find these pursuits.  It begins with a belief in God and His goodness.  Every promise He made He has kept and the last promise has yet to come, and Jesus Christ will come again.  I pray we have the courage to stop putting our faith in things created by mankind and put our trust and faith right where it belongs…In God We Trust.  May you see God’s love and faithfulness at work in your life.

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“Not to us, O Lord, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness.”

Psalm 115:1

(This photo was taken in June of 2015 on the side of the road while driving through South Dakota)

Father’s Day – Relationships

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We all need need our Father’s, just as much as we all need our Mother’s.  Unfortunately, Father’s and Fatherhood has been under attack for a long time.  Many television shows and movies portray the Father as the doofus who just messes everything up or the stupid and incompetent one who is hardly necessary.  When most of society sees this as the role of the Father, it is no wonder that the family structure is disintegrating in this broken world.  If God is the God of everything then He needs to be the God of our families.  No matter what the current status is of our relationships, we need to invite Jesus into them with our Father’s and with everyone else in our family.  Honor your Father and Mother.  God designed the family structure for a purpose and it is for our good to honor the relationships we do have.  Love like God our Father loves us.  May God’s love, peace and joy be with you.

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“If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord.  So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.”

Romans 14:8

(This photo was taken in June of 2016 at a lake near Plymouth, Minnesota)

The Lord Of My Everything?

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One of my struggles in faith is opening up to the Lord for everything.  Not only the parts of my life and my heart I think He wants to be involved in…that would be God on my terms.  It does not work like that.  God is the God of everything and Jesus Christ is Lord of all.  All of creation, all people in all nations since the beginning of time and His love for everything, His grace and His mercy will endure forever.  It is so difficult for my finite mind to comprehend the totality of God and His love.  He is more than the God of Sunday morning or Wednesday evening…He is more than the God of when I really need help or a crisis is happening…He is more than a beautiful sunrise or sunset when we feel more of His presence.  He is the Lord of housework, the Lord of daily errands, the Lord of trips to Grandma and Grandpa’s house, He is the Lord of where you work and what you do…He is the Lord of everything.  Period.  The best part of all of this means He is right there waiting to hear from you about all of it.  He is your Lord and Savior and even though that doesn’t mean everything will be easy and good He is with you through it all everyday.  May God’s presence, His love, His joy and His forgiveness be present in your life everyday.

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“Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of the life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

Psalm 23:6

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

Be A Positive Example

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The news and social media focuses so much time and effort on the anger, sadness, deception and evil that exists in the world.  There are just as many good and positive things happening in the world each day…we just don’t get to see it or talk about it as much.  Don’t let what others like to focus on be your only perspective.  Feed your mind and spirit by reading God’s Word and spend time in prayer.  Look for the good and be the good that exists in the world.  It does not have to be on the national news or go ‘viral’ to make a difference to at least one other person.  Your life is a gift and you were made to be who you are by a loving God.  Seek His plan for your life and look to be the good in your daily walk.  May God’s grace and mercy be with you.

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“Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another, be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble.  Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.”

1 Peter 3:8-9

(This photo was taken in July of 2016 in Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota)

Angels All Around Us

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As we go about our journey of life God knows we will need His ever-present help along the way.  Creation has so much to offer us but we still live in a fallen world.  God is constantly sending in His angels to guide and protect us throughout our life.  Angels come in and protect us, and the help they provide is typically essential in our daily lives.  When you reflect on moments in your life where something incredible was avoided or times when a decision you made quickly ended up keeping you and others safe…do you believe angels played a part in the process?  I do.  God does not do His work alone…it is written about in the bible and I believe He has an army of angels working for the good of those who love Him.  May God’s peace and joy be with you.

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“For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.”

Psalms 91:11-12

(This photo was taken in September of 2014 on a walk in a neighborhood near Plymouth, Minnesota)

Believe

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How many times do you have to see something to believe it?  How many stories do you have to hear to accept the facts?  When something in life seems to be beyond comprehension what does it take for you to believe it?  In the Gospel of John we see both the human side and the Godly side of Jesus…in chapter 11 there is the story of Jesus coming to where Lazarus the brother of Martha and Mary has been laid in a tomb.  Lazarus has been dead for four days, starting at verse 35 and concluding at verse 44 Jesus shows all that He is…

“Jesus wept” – John 11:35

“When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!”  The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face.  Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.” – John 11:43-44

There are many more stories throughout the bible that show the truth about who Jesus is and that God sent Him out of love to save us from our sins.  Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the Son of Man, as He said…”I am the way and the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father except through me” – John 14:6…Do you believe it?

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“Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life.  He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever believes in me will never die.  Do you believe this?”

John 11:25-26

(This photo was taken in March of 2018 in White Sands National Monument in New Mexico)

Have Faith…Pass It On

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There is nothing greater in this world then a belief in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.  Your relationship with Him is the foundation of your Faith.  It does not mean life will be easy and it does not mean you will get everything you have ever wanted in life.  The world and evil continues to send us messages that if what we are pursuing doesn’t end with convenience or an easy life it is not worth pursuit.  Not true!  True joy, peace and contentment does not come from chasing after things to satisfy the self.  It comes from knowing that you are loved and you are saved from your sins no matter how much you mess up.  True faith is built by spending time on your relationship with God everyday and by sharing the Good News with others, especially those in the next generation.  May the peace and understanding of God in faith be with you.

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“How much better to get wisdom than gold, to choose understanding rather than silver!”

Proverbs 16:16

“For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.”

Psalms 100:5

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

Take Refuge In Him

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The world is an attacking place filled with darkness, deceitfulness and evil.  The only place to seek refuge from the storms of life is in God.  There are several examples in the Bible of people who were under attack by others or by circumstances surrounding them…Abraham, Elijah, Job, the disciples, Jesus etc.  They all took refuge in God, through prayer and listening.  We don’t have to have all the answers and we never will…we just need the courage to seek our relationship with God everyday and be able to listen and understand where He is leading us.  May you experience the peace and joy of God today.

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“As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the Lord is flawless.  He is a shield for all who take refuge in him.”

Psalm 18:30

(This photo was taken in October of 2014 at Kaanapali Beach on the island of Maui)

God’s Presence

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A relationship with God is like no other.  He can provide the greatest comfort in times of trouble, the greatest joy out of the worst of tragedy and He never will leave you or abandon you.  God wants you to engage in a covenant with Him.  An agreement that you will honor only Him as God and you will pursue to keep His commandments in your everyday life.  You will accept His Son, Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, believing that He died and has risen to save you from your sins.  If you strive to honor this covenant you will get a better sense of God’s presence in your life.  God does not play favorites like humans, His covenant is not a quid pro quo situation where you scratch His back and He will scratch yours.  God loves everyone and His forgiveness, His mercy and grace is available the same to anyone.  The only the difference is how we choose to engage in our relationship with Him.  May God’s peace and joy be with you.

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“All the ways of the Lord are loving and faithful for those who keep the demands of his covenant.”

Psalm 25:10

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

Choose Love

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Relationships can be hard if we strive to seek power or control.  If our self is driving during our interactions with others things will often end poorly.  There will be bitterness, anger, frustration and all the things we don’t want to be a part of our relationships.  There is a better way.  There is love.  Unconditional, never-ending love.  This does not mean just let the other person walk all over you and do whatever they want whenever they want.  This means both people do things to make life better for both of them.  It is important in any relationship to build your time together on a foundation of faith.  There will be times when each of you will need to lean on the Lord in prayer as each of you will have your moments when self will try to take over.  Be strong together and God will watch over your life.  Today my wife and I are celebrating 23 years in marriage, we were joined in marriage by God and nothing will keep us apart.  We have had to fight some battles and we continue to get stronger as we go because we both know that there is nobody who will love us like we do each other.  I am thankful for every day God gives us together.  May you find God’s love and joy in your relationships.

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“Love must be sincere.  Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.  Be devoted to one another in love.  Honor one another above yourselves.  Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.  Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.  Share with God’s people who are in need.  Practice hospitality.”

Romans 12:9-13

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