Learning

A Sacrifice…Our Salvation

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When you feel you are not sure where God is in your daily life…stop and take a moment to remember what God has done for you.  God is love.  He is our Creator and our Redeemer.  We are broken, all of us.  Me, you and everyone you know is broken in some way, even if it is unclear to you how someone else is broken or fighting a battle it is still going on.  God knows this, He knows our worries, our fears and He is doing good things.  It is all a matter of perspective.  If we reflect on what has been done already it will help restore our perspective and our knowledge that God is love and He loves us more than we can ever imagine…the proof?  The Cross.  May you know the love of God in your daily life.

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“This is love; not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.”

1 John 4:10

(This photo was taken in October of 2014 at sunrise on the island of Maui, Hawaii)

Compassion

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To be helpful…thoughtful…aware of the suffering of others…a desire to provide help and support…understanding the needs of another.  One of the strongest elements of humility is compassion.  Being aware that others are suffering and need assistance and then going and doing something that provides help and support.  We all have different roles in our relationships with others, which means there are many different ways for us to provide help and support depending on who needs us and what has happened to them.  When you know or get a sense inside you that you should do something for someone else but you are unsure what it is you should do, do not ignore that feeling, turn to the Lord and ask Him to help guide you to what the other person needs…then listen and watch for His reply.  Be careful not to do something you believe they need from your perspective, rather be sensitive and aware of what they say they need.  Compassion does not have to be something difficult and complex in order to be helpful…often times it is the simple and thoughtful things that make the biggest difference for others.  May God’s grace and mercy flow through us and into our relationships.

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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.”

Psalm 145:8-9

(This photo was taken in June of 2018 near the border between Minnesota and South Dakota)

He Knows Me

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The One who created us knows everything about us.  Even if we haven’t spent much time with God in our life.  Even if we have put Him aside in our daily, weekly routine and have been trying to go it alone or do things our own way.  He knows you, He loves you and He wants to have a relationship with you.  If you want to seek more about this read Psalm 139.  Then pray and invite Jesus into your everyday moments.  God has a plan for you and your life and we must be willing to surrender our belief that we are in control and seek His Word.  God knows you, He loves you because He created you.  May our days be filled with the comfort of God’s presence.

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“Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.  See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

Psalm 139:23-24

(This photo was taken in July of 2018 on Lake Superior near the Apostle Islands)

He Carries Us Through…

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Struggle…conflict…suffering…darkness…pain…difficulties…uncomfortable.  We all encounter these moments in our life.  There is no way to avoid them and if we spend our time trying to avoid them we are mostly likely hurting ourselves and others.  The one true source of peace, courage, strength and perseverance is Jesus Christ.  He is strength in the struggle, He is calm in the conflict, He is peace in the suffering, He is light in the darkness, He is healing for the pain, He is answers to the difficult times and He is our comfort when we are uncomfortable.  Nothing is impossible for our God.  Seek Him and His Word and you will find rest for your soul.  May you see and sense the presence of the Lord in your life.

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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 July of 2018 on Lake Superior near the Apostle Islands)

The Word

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The one true guide for all of life, the gift that provides wisdom and brings us back to the Lord is the The Word of God.  The bible is full of lessons and instructions.  We always seem to want to find answers to our questions in the world and the only thing the prince of this world wants to do is to take us further away from God.  The strongest foundation for us to build our life on is The Word of the Lord.  Seek Him and seek His Word and trust in Him to guide your life.  May we all find time to dwell in the Word of the Lord.

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“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.”

Psalm 119:105

(This photo was taken in August of 2016 in Arches National Park in Utah)

 

Peace Of God

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As I have been fully immersed in working through life after my Dad has passed away 7 days ago…there are moments of busyness, so much to take care of and do and there are moments of calm and reflection.  Life has slowed down and I am grateful for that pace change.  It will not be this way forever, and from the moment my brother called and told me ‘Dad is gone…they couldn’t bring him back,’ life has changed forever.  We can either fight it or we can embrace it…live it to the best of our ability…be present right where we are and trust in the Lord.  May you find peace with God in your life.

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“They will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty, and I will meditate on your wonderful works.”

Psalm 145:5

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

Taste And See…

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In our times of greatest need, the only thing that will uphold you or sustain you is the Lord.  When things go sideways in your life according to your plans and it will happen I can promise you that much, any shred of hope, courage or peace will come from God.  No matter what is going on in your life, in your mind or in your heart…take it to the Lord today.  Share with God your fears, what you are worried about and trust in Him to uphold you…He promised He would and God never breaks His promises.  The only way to find out if something is good is to taste and see for yourself.  May God’s love and comfort surround you as it is surrounding all aspects of my family during this time of significant change.

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“Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.”

Psalm 34:8

(This photo was taken in September of 2016 at a lake in central Minnesota)

 

A New Creation

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Ok, I accept that Jesus Christ died to save me from my sins.  I believe that he is my Lord and Savior…now what?  Faith is a journey, not a destination.  Coming to the point that has you turning towards God is just the first step on a new road.  If you go about your daily activities and schedule with no change of thought or actions then you aren’t really turning towards God and following…it is more like you stopped what you are doing took a longer than usual look at a new road and then kept going on the one you were on.  To be engaged in your faith journey means a new way of doing things, it means looking at the same things with a new perspective, it means commenting on situations with a new attitude…to be a new creation.  It will mean being different from the crowd, it most likely will mean meeting a new crowd, it will mean putting on a new self.  God is with you, He will guide you and keep you safe…He loves you and He is waiting to hear from you.  May the peace and joy of the Lord be with you.

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“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”

2 Corinthians 5:17

(This photo was taken in June of 2013 while traveling through Nebraska)

Strength

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God will renew our strength…He will provide our energy…the Lord is a strong tower.  Have you ever had it happen that when you turn towards God and sit with him, or truly spend time with Him you get this unknown source of energy?  Have you ever spent a great deal of time or effort on something and not felt exhausted?  And others say how did you spend so much time on that?  Have you ever heard it said or said yourself about someone…where do they get the energy to do that?  When we are aligned with God’s plan and doing things that He set out for us to do, He will supply the energy and strength we need.  We will not grow tired or weary, if we do, that is a message that we are spending our time on something that takes us away from God…this includes what we spend time thinking about in our minds.  Trust in the Lord, be faithful to His plan and you will not grow weary.  May you be blessed with wisdom and strength from the Lord.

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“He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.”

Isaiah 40:29

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

A Quiet Place

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Peaceful…Prayer…Meditation…Rest…Renew…Restore…Recharge.  Where and when are you spending time in a quiet place?  If you live a busy existence keeping schedules and deadlines for either the family calendar or a job you usually have to wait until late at night or early in the morning while others are sleeping.  I have had co-workers who prefer to get the office really early before others because it is quiet.  We need to have a balance of going and doing and being productive some of the time and being at peace and resting at other times.  If we don’t have both we will either become completely worn out from running around all the time with no rest or become isolated from community because we are always off on our own.  This isn’t a choice of which one should I be but more of a mindfulness of what does my mind and body need right now?  Go and do and then rest and recharge…(rinse repeat)  May you find peace and rest in the Lord.

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“Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, ‘Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest’.”

Mark 6:31

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