“Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
(This photo was taken in September of 2016 at a lake place in central Minnesota)
joy
Treasure
The words of Jesus in the Gospel according to Matthew…
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.
But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Matthew 6:19-21
(This photo was taken in June of 2016 on a lake in northwestern Wisconsin)
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Joy and Praise
“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly 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 July of 2016 while driving through North Dakota)
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God’s Presence
The words of Jesus according to the Gospel of John…
“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. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.”
John 15:9-12
(This photo was taken by my daughter in August of 2016 near Dillon, Colorado)
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Trust
The following is a wonderful verse for everyday life…
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”
Proverbs 3:5-6
We will often have questions and not understand the reason that things happen. We must remember that the world is being ravaged by sin and people choosing to pursue sin and ignore God. There are just as many events that show the light of God in the world everyday…unfortunately, people choose to ignore those stories and seem to enjoy spending all their time sharing and talking about events of darkness and evil.
We are to Trust…trust that God is still on the throne of glory and because of free will we can choose to seek him and events that reflect His will.
May we seek to see the work of God today!
(This photo was taken in April of 2016 at sunrise on a lake in central Minnesota)
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Listen And Learn
Solomon the son of David became king of Israel and when God came to him and told him to ask whatever he wishes and it will be given to you…Solomon made a choice very few people would…
“Give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead this people, for who is able to govern this great people of yours?”
2 Chronicles 1:10
God blessed him with significant wisdom and knowledge, more than any other person had ever been given. The Book of Proverbs is a collection of many nuggets of wisdom spoken by Solomon and therefore it has many great instructions for life…and again most of these items are simple statements of truth that are not always easy to live out.
If you have had difficulty wondering where to start in looking at or reading the Bible, try starting in Proverbs it has so many great lessons to remember for everyday life.
“Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise.”
Proverbs 19:20
(This photo was taken in August of 2016 near Arches National Park in Utah)
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You Are Loved
It is a new day and the beginning of a New Year and no matter where you are, no matter what stage of life you are in and no matter what your past is filled with you need to know that the same truth that existed thousands of years ago is still as true today as it ever was…God loves you!
He made the greatest sacrifice that can be made…
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
John 3:16
Not only did God send Jesus to earth to save us, which alone is amazing to think about…Jesus was already in the kingdom of heaven, he was already in the place of eternal life where there is joy and peace, but he sacrificed all of that to come down to save you. Then Jesus did something unfathomable…
“And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death – even death on a cross!”
Philippians 2:8
Although scared himself, as he prayed in the garden of Gethsemane to God the Father to find another way to help humankind, Jesus followed through with God’s plan because he loves you that much.
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 5:8
So please know that no matter what your circumstances are today, you are loved by God the Father, Jesus his Son and by the Holy Spirit.
May you live and experience all the fruits of the Spirit in 2017 Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self-Control.
Happy New Year!
(This is one of my favorite photos from 2016 it was taken in August in Mount Rainier National Park. Did you notice the cross the trees form on the right hand side?)
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Reflect and Give Thanks
“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 June of 2016 on a lake near Minneapolis, Minnesota)
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A New Day, Live A New Way
“So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”
2 Corinthians 5:16-17
(This photo was taken in April of 2016 during the sunrise on a lake in central Minnesota)
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The Good News
“But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people. 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 all on whom his favor rests’.”
Luke 2:10-14
(This photo was taken in October of 2014 at sunrise on the island of Maui)
Take Your Faith With You 