“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly[a] with your God.”
Micah 6:8
“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
Ephesians 2:10
(This photo was taken in July of 2012 while on a walk in northwestern Wisconsin)
All that is good is from God…all that is suffering, troubling and leads to struggle is from darkness and evil…these are not from God. Jesus Christ was sent by God to save us becasue the darkness has come from our sins. Amen.
“I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.”
John 12:46
Goodness Of God – Jenn Johnson
“The Lord is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger and rich in love.
9 The Lord is good to all;
he has compassion on all he has made.”
Psalm 145:8-9
(This photo was taken in July of 2018 on Lake Superior near the Apostle Islands)
“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. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:[a] The old has gone, the new is here! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin[b] for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”
2 Corinthians 5:16-21
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”
Galatians 5:22-23
(This photo was taken in August of 2016 while visiting Mount Rainier National Park in Washington)
“You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh[a]; rather, serve one another humbly in love. 14 For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”[b] 15 If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.”
Galatians 5:13-15
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”
Galatians 5:22-23
(This photo was taken in March of 2018 while traveling in southern New Mexico)
Originally posted in May of 2018…
When we believe and we trust in God we will be required to develop patience in this world. Circumstances will often look hopeless and many people will despair and be engulfed in sadness and fear, that is the way of evil. We must never give up hope, we must trust in God to continue working for the good for us and for everyone. God does not make bad things happen, He is not tempting you with things that are not good…that is sin in the world and we humans invited that sin into this world. God is at work in all the bad we have created to bring out goodness, kindness and love. Believe in Him who created us, believe in His one and only Son, Jesus Christ and see the good things that can happen in your life in this world. May God’s peace and joy be with you.
“I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.”
Psalm 27:13-14
(This photo was taken in July of 2016 in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming)
“Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. 9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. 10 For,
“Whoever would love life
and see good days
must keep their tongue from evil
and their lips from deceitful speech.
11 They must turn from evil and do good;
they must seek peace and pursue it.
12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous
and his ears are attentive to their prayer,
but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”[a]
1 Peter 3:8-12
“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.”
1 Peter 5:7-9
(This photo was taken in May of 2020 at Beaver River Falls in northern Minnesota)
We are all the same…we are all human. We all were born and we all will die. Yet we are all different. We are individuals…we are not groups. We all are created by God. We are all responsible for our actions and behaviors and we will be held accountable for our individual actions when we die and leave this world. The answer to all our worries, our fears and our burdens is Jesus Christ. If you believe in Him…turn towards Him in faith…pray with conviction…trust in Him and treat all other people with kindness, goodness, gentleness, patience and with love…the same love He has shown you we He died to save you. Amen.
“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
Ephesians 4:29-32
“Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
11 Do not cast me from your presence
or take your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation
and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.”
Psalm 51:10.12
(This photo was taken in May of 2020 at Palisade Head on the North Shore of Lake Superior)
In the book of Genesis, the story of Joseph aligns closely with how God interacts with humans today. He suffers many hardships at the hands of others and yet keeps his faith in God. He trusts God and lives his life with a God trusting attitude and perspective. This attitude focuses more on what God is up to for our good and less on what others are doing to us. We have a much better chance of learning about what God is up to if we are looking for the good. Amen.
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who[a] have been called according to his purpose.”
Romans 8:28
(This photo was taken in June of 2016 at a lake near Plymouth, Minnesota)
Treat other people the way you want them to treat you. When you stop and think about it…often times yelling and anger gets you more yelling and anger right back at you…and kindness and a smile often get a kind response back. We are in charge of our attitudes and how we treat others and Jesus tells us the simple Golden Rule of life in the bible. Read about what Jesus teaches us and follow the example He has set for us. Amen.
“Do to others as you would have them do to you.”
Luke 6:31
“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”
Matthew 7:12
(This photo was taken in July of 2012 in a neighborhood near Plymouth, Minnesota)
I pray we all seek the wisdom of God. His message in the bible…the example His Son Jesus Christ set for us…the guidance His Holy Spirit provides us as that small voice in our minds. The current times show how hurtful it is when we are selfish. Because we are human, we all are convicted of selfish behavior at one time or another and when unity is what the world needs the selfishness of human behavior is magnified. There are many people who are doing good things in the world right now to help others and I pray we hear more about those stories and we seek to live that way. Lord, forgive us when we are selfish and teach us how to care for others just as you have cared for us. Amen.
“But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18 Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.”
James 3:17-18
(This photo was taken in August of 2016 while traveling through the state of Washington)
Take Your Faith With You 