Learning

Our Refuge In The Storm

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When danger is approaching, where should we go to seek cover?  Where can we be safe?  Who can help us in our time of need?  God is our rock and our refuge…He shields us and delivers us from the things that try to take hold of us.  Our emotional reactions can quickly escalate and get out of control…God can help us with self-control.  A relationship with Jesus Christ is a strong foundation that can withstand anything in this world.  Seek the Lord in prayer and pick up a bible…read God’s word and take refuge from the storm.  Amen.

Praise You In This Storm by Casting Crowns

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“The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.”

Psalm 18:2

(This photo was taken in June of 2018 at a lake near Plymouth, Minnesota)

Rich In Love

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No matter how far we wander off…God will invite us to come back to Him.  His grace…His mercy…His compassion is all encompassing.  Whatever your circumstances are…turn towards Jesus Christ…He died to save you and He is ready to walk with you.  Amen.

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“The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love.  The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.”

Psalms 145:8-9

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

Doing Good

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It makes a difference…even when you don’t get to see it or know how it made a difference.  Do your best to offer what you can, to whoever you can, wherever you are.  Don’t start with trying to change the whole world…make it your goal to do good for at least one other person every day and let God take it from there.  Our job is to Love the Lord and Love our neighbor as ourselves.  Do good things, offer your best and let God take care of the rest.  Amen.

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“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.  Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.”

Galatians 6:9-10

(This photo was taken in July of 2018 on the shore of Lake Superior near Ashland, Wisconsin)

Our Source Of Strength And Hope

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We face difficulties and struggles each day and in so many different situations.  We look for help within the world…yet everyone else is struggling as well.  What are we to do?  Who can we turn to?  There is one who we should turn to and put our trust in, only one, it is Jesus Christ, Our Savior and Our Lord.  He is the source of comfort, courage, strength and hope…find your hope and find new strength in Christ Alone.  Amen.

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“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Isaiah 41:10

(This photo was taken in March of 2018 while traveling in southern New Mexico)

 

Trust In The Lord

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When you are facing trouble in this world…when it seems like everything you try or do is failing…when you don’t know what to do next…pray and trust in the Lord. Do something good and wait patiently for God and His will. Trust is hard, especially when we have put our trust in things that have let us down in the past…you can trust in the Lord, He keeps His promises and He is always with you. Amen.

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“Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”

Psalm 37:3-4

(This photo was taken in July of 2016 while traveling through North Dakota)

Take Heart!

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In the bible we are told over and over that in this world we will have trouble…there will be suffering.  The prince of darkness and evil does not stop working to keep us away from God…and in some cases we make it very easy for him.  And yet we are surprised that things go wrong or don’t work that way we want them to.  The Word of God is clear and the words of Jesus are written in red ink for us in the bible…who is blessed, how to live, how to pray, ways to share and serve others…and it is all repeated for us from 4 different writers to be sure we get the message…pick up a bible and read what Jesus Christ had to say.  God loves you; He is with you and He forgives you.  Seek a relationship with His Son Jesus Christ and you will have peace.  Amen.

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“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.  In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart!  I have overcome the world.”

John 16:33

(This photo was taken in March of 2018 while traveling through southern New Mexico)

Compassion

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Understanding…care…concern…warmth…kindness…gentleness…mercy…love.  God’s loves you…He knows everything about you and your life, everything.  Even still He loves you and wants to have a relationship with you, so much that He sent His Son as a sacrifice to pay for your sins.  Think of it this way…you have committed a crime and you are in a courtroom before the judge, you know what you have done, you know it was wrong…everyone else knows it was you…yet out nowhere a completely innocent man steps forward and says ‘I will take the punishment this person deserves’ and you are set free…that is exactly what God in the form of Jesus Christ has done for you…why?  Because that is how much He loves you.  Amen.

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

Psalm 103:8

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

Strength

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All that we need is provided by God.  It is easy to give up and believe that something is never going to change or get better and frankly the majority of people do exactly that…the strength to keep working for good comes from God.  Reading God’s Word and spending time with Him in prayer renews your spirit and your mind.  When we believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and we see what He has done, we know that God is working for our good in all things…do not give up…whatever it is, whoever it is…don’t give up…bring it to the Cross of Christ.  Amen.

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“I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”

Philippians 4:13

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

Living Hope

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Hope in this world mostly gets aligned with wishful thinking in general conversations.  This hope is not sure, not firm and is not based on belief.  The hope talked about in the Bible is hope that believes and knows God’s promises for good things.  This hope is supported by our actions and behaviors.  The hope we receive from Christ is a hope that knows that God is for us and working for our good, even when, especially when the visible evidence is against it. The hope from God’s Word tells us to not give up or surrender to sin and doubt, rather know that God is with you and you can trust in Him…not for the things you believe you should have but for the things God knows that you need.  May the God of all hope be present in your daily walk. Amen.

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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 September of 2016 on a lake in central Minnesota)

Living In God’s Love

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No matter where we are or what we are doing, God’s love is with us.  In the Old Testament God’s people lived in exile for seventy years before they could return to the land He promised to them…in all that time God asked them to live their best with what they had.  That is what He asks of us today…live your best, right where you are because He is with you.  Amen.

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“What, then, shall we say in response to these things?  If God is for us, who can be against us?  He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?  Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen?  It is God who justifies.  Who then is the one who condemns?  No one.  Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?  Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?  As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”  No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.  For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Romans 8:31-39

(This photo was taken in August of 2016 in Glacier National Park in Montana)