“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
1 John 1:9 NIV
“For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”
Matthew 6:14-15 NIV
(This photo was taken in Mount Rainier National Park in Washington)
“For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,[a] 10 so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, 12 and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you[b] to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light.”
Colossians 1:9-12 NIV
Father God, Your Word is filled with wisdom and promises that offer guidance for our lives. Sometimes it is difficult for us to understand, please give us courage to trust Your faithfulness. Light our path, help us learn about You and Your way and give us clarity about how You want us to live. In Jesus name, Amen.
“ For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”
Colossians 1:13-14 NIV
(This photo was taken while traveling in Wyoming)
“The name of the Lord is a fortified tower;
the righteous run to it and are safe.“
Proverbs 18:10 NIV
“Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.“
Philippians 2:9-11 NIV
Heart Of Worship by Michael W. Smith
“The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge,
my shield[a] and the horn[b] of my salvation, my stronghold.”
Psalm 18:2 NIV
(This photo was taken while driving in Mount Rainier National Park in Washington)
“In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 1:4-6 NIV
God’s Not Done With You by Tauren Wells
“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
Ephesians 2:10 NIV
(This photo was taken at Sapphire Point near Dillon, Colorado)
“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.“
Romans 12:9-13 NIV
The process of spiritual growth.
Not everyone will encounter a burning shrub in the desert like Moses or directly encounter Christ on the road to Damsacus like Saul who became Paul. Our journey will be different, yet our God who is with all of us is the same God.
Be aware of how you are interacting with others, and the people in your life. What can you offer someone in need right where you are? Pray for wisdom and courage, pay attention to what God is up to in your daily life. That alone will be a change in perspective than the way we were before.
“For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit.”
1 Thessalonians 4:7-8 NIV
(This photo was taken along Beartooth Pass in Montana)
“We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your[a] faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead,[b] do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.”
Romans 12:6-8 NIV
Father God, remind me what humility and serving others looks like. Thank You for the gifts and blessings You have provided me. Change the way I think and act, and teach me to put others first in a healthy way that honors You. In Jesus name, Amen.
“Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in is various forms.”
1 Peter 4:9-10 NIV
(This photo was taken while traveling near the South Dakota and Minnesota border)
“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”
Colossians 3:12-14 NIV
“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
Colossians 3:15-17 NIV
(This photo was taken at a lake near Plymouth, Minnesota)
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
1 John 1:9 NIV
Father God, thank You for being the God who restores and brings peace. I need Your peace. Forgive me when I live in bitterness and refuse to give grace and mercy to others. Empower me to help others experience the gift of healing and hope that I have received through You. In Jesus name, Amen.
“For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”
Matthew 6:14-15 NIV
(This photo was taken in Mount Rainier National Park in Washington)
“This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all[b] sin.”
1 John 1:5-7 NIV
Lord Jesus, thank You for being the Light of the world, and for giving us hope for an eternal relationship and life with You. Thank You for the Holy Spirit to help us live as a light that honors You. Thank You for giving us the opprotunity to represent You on earth. Every day help us be a light in the darkness and draw others closer to You. In Your name, Amen.
“For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.”
2 Corinthians 4:6 NIV
(This photo was taken while standing on one of the Covered Bridges near Winterset, Iowa)
“My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. 21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.
22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”
James 1:19-22 NIV
Listening is a skill we all need to use more often and a way of communicating that could get us much closer to peace in our life. If we were better at listening there would be less divorce and broken families…if we were better at listening there would be less violence and crime as hate and anger would not be stirred up so quickly.
Listening involves taking time to understand what the other person is saying, it involves empathy. It means not being so quick to respond with your own will and desires as first priority…it takes humility to really listen…it takes a willingness to admit we don’t have all the answers.
Think about recent interactions in your life…when are you hearing and when are you listening? I know I can do better. Lastly, communicating with God takes more than just talking, if we are doing all the talking in prayer when do we take the time to listen to Him? May we all be blessed with courage and humility to listen better.
“Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.”
Psalm 25:4-5 NIV
(This photo was taken in July of 2016 along Beartooth Pass in Montana)
Take Your Faith With You 