Learning

Receive The Holy Spirit

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“And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.”

Romans 5:5

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“But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

John 14:26-27

(This photo was taken in April of 2020 at a lake near Plymouth, Minnesota)

Walk In The Light

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“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[a] sin.”

1 John 1:5-7

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“If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

1 John 1:8-9

(This photo was taken in May of 2020 at sunrise along the North Shore of Lake Superior)

Start With These…

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Love God.  Love People.  Too often we seek power or control over situations and people. That’s what gets us into trouble.  For some of us we are protecting ourselves because we have been hurt in our past…the longer we proceed carrying around the hurts of the past the longer they will damage our future.  Life is not about what others do to us…it is about how do we choose to respond?  Choose God, choose love…Love God.  Love People.  Amen.

Love God Love People by Danny Gokey

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“One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”

29 “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.[a] 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’[b] 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[c] There is no commandment greater than these.”

Mark 12:28-31

(This photo was taken in April of 2020 at a lake near Plymouth, Minnesota)

 

All People

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Are created by God.  He has a plan and He values all people.  If we choose to judge others by the standards of the world, we are forgetting about what God teaches us.  Often times we know very little about others we encounter in our daily life…yet we are quick to assume things about them.  Pick up God’s word and strive to see people through the eyes of Jesus.  Like many aspects of our faith journey it is simple, but it’s not easy.  Peace be with you.  Amen.

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“Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, 13 because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.”

James 2:12-13

(This photo was taken in October of 2018 at a park in Winterset, Iowa)

The Experience Of Following

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Jesus was very clear about what it takes to follow Him. It does not mean life will be easy and you will not have to face any trouble or suffering…it means we will have trouble because we live in a world that pursues the exact opposite of what Jesus teaches us. It also does not mean your life will be miserable…again it is the opposite, you can have joy and peace and contentment. It all comes down to what do you believe? Your beliefs will drive your values, your perspective and even your attitude. And so, Jesus said…“Follow me” – Matthew 9:9

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“And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 35 For whoever would save his life[a] will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it. 36 For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?”

Mark 8:34-36

(This photo was taken in April of 2020 at a lake near Plymouth, Minnesota)

Living In God’s Love

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Who we are in our daily lives says a great deal about our relationship with God.  What we value and how we treat each other says more about us than our job title or the company we work for ever could.  Cherish each day and the people in your life that mean the most to you.  Live in God’s love.  Amen.

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“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

(This photo was taken in March of 2013 at the Botanical Gardens at the Bellagio in Las Vegas, Nevada)

By His Wounds We Are Healed

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Our sins leave a mark on us.  Some mark our hearts or our minds, some leave a mark on our bodies and some sins leave long lasting wounds.  These wounds occur because we chase after sinful desires that hurt us and may hurt others.  He took the punishment for our sins…He sacrificed Himself for us because He loves us and we are not capable of saving ourselves.  Jesus Christ suffered, was crucified and died for us and it is by His wounds we are healed.  Amen.

“He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.”

1 Peter 2:24

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“But he was pierced for our transgressions,
    he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
    and by his wounds we are healed.”

Isaiah 53:5

(This photo was taken in July of 2015 at a lake in central Minnesota)

 

Work In Progress

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Each day we live means God is still working on us.  He knows the number of our days and He is with us for each and every one of them.  It is up to us to seek Him…to acknowledge Him and His Presence…we have the task of learning, growing and sharing as we go…it doesn’t have to be perfect and it never will be.  God tells us we are His work in progress and if we live our lives trusting and believing and spending time with Him good things will come.  Amen.

God’s Not Done With You by Tauren Wells

“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

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“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

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

 

Take Time To Be Still

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“Be still before the Lord
    and wait patiently for him;
do not fret when people succeed in their ways,
    when they carry out their wicked schemes.”

Psalm 37:7

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“Be still, and know that I am God.
    I will be exalted among the nations,
    I will be exalted in the earth!”

Psalm 46:10

(This photo was taken in July of 2019 at a lake in northwestern Wisconsin)

Be Present

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Stay alert of your thoughts, words and actions.  It is so easy to slide down a dark path and to be led astray by temptations.  Keep the Word of God in your heart and verses will come to mind when you need them most.  When an opportunity presents itself, share your faith and what you believe respectfully.  Trust in the Lord, He is with you.  Amen.

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“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 5:8-9

(This photo was taken in July of 2012 while on a walk in northwestern Wisconsin)