joy

Prayer

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Growing up prayer was about being able to memorize the lines of the Lord’s prayer, however, there wasn’t much talk about or at least I don’t remember hearing about the meaning of what we were saying and I don’t believe I was told that you can say other things or that you should take time to listen to God as well.  I was taught more about a one way street, me speaking to God, and most television shows or movies at that time would indicate that a relationship with God meant keeping Him in a box with a glass door that read “In Case of an Emergency Break Glass.”  Only in my adult life have I learned about a deeper prayer relationship and sitting in nature or in the quiet and listening.  The ability to communicate daily and to grow in your time with God is a blessing…in means slowing down and not taking your cues from the frenetic rush of society or social media.  It is about being present and aware of your surroundings and living each day.  Prayer is the place to start connecting or re-connecting with God.  May God’s peace be with you.

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“The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.”

Psalm 103:8

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

Strength Of Character

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When one describes the character of a person they talk about a list of elements that are a combination of a person’s behaviors and attitude.  I have often heard statements like ‘well this is just who I am’ or ‘that is just the way he is’ as if at some point in life our behaviors and attitudes have stopped forming, changing or growing and have now solidified and are permanent.  I have been guilty of this way of thinking myself at times.  However, in the study of faith and in God’s Word the message of hope and transformation are central to the spiritual life.  If anything our attitude and how we behave are two things we do have the ability to choose every day and these are influenced and can grow if we are open to it.  Don’t give up on hope and transformation for yourself or somebody else…things may not change in the way or at the time you would prefer but our life is not about everything being perfect according to our timing, rather it is about God’s plan and His time.  Trust Him and believe in Hope and Transformation…when you read about what He has done in the past you know He is working for the good of all people.  May God’s peace be with you.

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“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  Against such things there is no law.”

Galatians 5:22-23

(This photo was taken in August of 2016 in Mount Rainier National Park in Washington)

True Joy

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When people are asked to define what joy is or what joy looks like it is often described in terms of being happy or upbeat or feeling good.  I am learning that definition sounds more like feelings and a definition of happy then a definition of joy.  To me joy is more consistent then our feelings…feelings come and go, up or down quickly.  One only has to be a fan of any sport to understand how quickly feelings come and go and change.  When the outcome of victory or defeat changes so do the feelings of the fans.  Joy is more then a feeling…it is more of a sense of confidence and belief that even when things are really not going well we can still be assured that things will improve or we will find a way to go forward.  This true joy can’t be achieved on our own it is only grasped as a part of faith in God, relationship with Jesus and an understanding that no matter where you are or what is going on, God is with you every step of the way.  Ask the Lord to help you find this Joy.  May God’s peace be with you.

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“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you.  Now remain in my love.  If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love.  I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.”

John 15:9-11

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

Hope

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One of the strongest feelings or drivers of action in our human lives is hope.  Hope is about ambition, desire, goal setting and most importantly hope is about trust.  Hope comes from belief and belief is driven by trust and trust operates very much like a bank account.  There are events that occur between you and another that are trust deposits and there are events that are trust withdrawals.  The tricky part is one withdrawal is typically much larger than just one deposit.  So similar to when you are trying to build up savings in an account if there are too many withdrawals when you are first getting started your relationship gets stuck near zero.  Trust continues to function like currency in what we give, if people make several withdrawals on us we have very little trust to give.  We should reflect on our relationships and our trust accounts with others and know that no matter what the current balance is there is always hope to make it better because of Jesus.  May God’s peace be with you.

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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

(This photo was taken in June of 2013 while on a walk in northwestern Wisconsin)

Living For God – A Prayer by St. Francis of Assisi

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Make me a channel of Your peace.
Where there is hatred let me bring Your love,
Where there is injury Your pardon Lord,
And where there’s doubt, true faith in You.

Make me a channel of Your peace.
Where there’s despair in life let me bring hope,
Where there is darkness, only light,
And where there’s sadness, ever joy.

Oh, Master, grant that I may never seek,
So much to be consoled, as to console.
To be understood, as to understand,
To be loved, as to love with all my soul.

Make me a channel of Your peace.
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
In giving to all men that we receive,
And in dying that we’re born to eternal life.

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“Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.  If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God.  If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.  To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever.  Amen.”

1 Peter 4:10-11

(This photo was taken in June of 2016 on a lake in northwestern Wisconsin)

Commitment

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Do what you say you would do…stay true to your word…demonstrate a willingness to be responsible…show integrity.   When you read these phrases and think about them none of them say this is going to be all about ‘fun’ or ‘personally convenient’ or ‘this is all about being happy all the time.’  Commitment is hard and it takes dedication, it takes time and it doesn’t always serve personal desires.

That is the point about commitment…it is not about you!  That is exactly why we need to build our personal relationship with Jesus, he knows what it means to be committed to something that is hard, not fun and not about him…yet he spoke openly with his father to help him keep moving forward and complete the task given to him…and he did it for you and me.  May God’s peace be with you.

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“Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.”

Proverbs 16:3

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

Christmas Day

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“Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.  This will be a sign to you:  You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”

Luke 2:11-14

(This photo was taken in July of 2012 in central Minnesota)