Lessons Learned

The Cross

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I offer to you today some praise and worship through music.  Think about the things that keep you distracted, struggling and full of worry…bring those things to the only place where you can find healing and peace.  The Cross.

The Cross Has The Final Word by The Newsboys

The Cross Has the Final Word
Newsboys
The cross has the final word
The cross has the final word
Sorrow may come in the darkest night
But the cross has the final word
There’s nothing stronger, nothing higher
There’s nothing greater than the name of Jesus
All the honor, all the power
All the glory to the name of Jesus
The cross has the final word
The cross has the final word
Evil may put up its strongest fight
But the cross has the final word
There’s nothing stronger, nothing higher
Nothing greater than the name of Jesus
All the honor, all the power
All the glory to the name of Jesus
The cross has the final word
The cross has the final word
The Savior has come with the morning light
The cross has the final word
O-o-oh! Woah-o-o-oah!
All glory and honor is Yours
O-o-oh! Woah-o-o-oah!
All glory and honor is Yours
Is Yours!
The cross has the final word
The cross has the final word
He traded death for eternal life
The cross has the final word (oh nothing higher)
Oh, the cross has the final word (nothing better)
The cross has the final word (all the power)
The Savior has come with the morning light
The cross has the final word
Songwriters: Cody Carnes

The Cross Has the Final Word lyrics © Capitol Christian Music Group

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“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.”

Romans 8:37

(This photo was taken in June of 2016 at a lake near Plymouth, Minnesota)

 

Stay On Track

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There can be so many demands on us in our daily lives.  It is easy to sink in to chaos and to feel overstretched, mentally thin and struggling.  This is the way of evil and darkness, the more it can distract you, the less time you will spend with God, reading God’s Word and in prayer.  Don’t lose sight of your faith journey in your every day life.  God is present and working in your life everyday.  He is not a God who just stops by and checks in at Christmas, Easter and on Sunday’s or Wednesday nights.  Just because we may not be paying attention to Him doesn’t mean He is not right there with us.  The whole reason I started this blog in the summer of 2013 and it’s title are based on a foundation that faith and our faith journey continues everyday, all the time.  Distractions will continue to fight to keep you away from God, don’t let them deter you and your relationship with Jesus Christ.  Amen.

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“Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.  Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”

Romans 12:11-12

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

How We Treat Each Other

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The changing of the year signifies a milestone, a break point, a natural point in time to reflect and to begin again or renew or start over…we say things like ‘this year is going to be a good year’ or ‘I hope the next year is better than last year.’  We never truly know what the next year or even the next day will be like or if we even will be given the gift of life to live tomorrow, or next year.  We so easily slip into taking the days and life in general for granted…until something happens and you lose someone.  When 2018 started I had no idea we would lose 3 relatives this year…I did not know that the last time I said good-bye to my Dad on a Sunday in early August that he would not live to September.  In fact on August 30th, 2018 none of us knew, including my Dad, that Sunday August 31st was the day he was going home to the Lord.  Life is a gift…people and relationships are far more valuable than anything else this world offers you.  We are created out of God’s love to bear good fruit to others in the world and to be loved.  Life is a gift, let’s do our best not to take it for granted…every day we are allowed to wake up we should be thankful to God and treat others the way we would like to be treated.  Amen.

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“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 August of 2016 in Glacier National Park in Montana)

Measuring Success

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The measure of success we have in our life depends on which race we have chosen to run.  Have we decided to pursue the race of the world, chasing money and possessions, constantly consuming and comparing our standing or our place in the world with others on social media?  Or have we been working on pursuing the race marked out for us by God’s will?  Making faith more important than things, focusing on our relationships, how we treat others and seeking to grow in our spiritual life.  God has given us the gift of free will and so we have the ability and the responsibility to choose which race we will run.  No matter where we are today, God is with us and we can trust in Him by turning to Christ in prayer and listening to the Holy Spirit to guide our path.  Best of luck to you and to everyone in your race today.  Amen.

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“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”

Hebrews 12:1

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

God’s Presence Is All Around Us

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One of the most difficult things for us to accomplish is change.  A change that will last, is sustainable and makes a difference in us and how we interact with others.  One of the greatest changes in human history occurred when Jesus Christ changed Saul into Paul, His disciple.  We read about this is the Book of Acts, chapter 9.  What Jesus did to create and sustain this change was to illuminate His Presence to Saul.  To show His Presence and then to give instructions to Saul as to what he must do.  God is present in creation and in each of our lives everyday…we just need to do a better job of looking for Him.  His Presence exists in nature, the change of the seasons and in the Fruits of the Spirit that we give and receive in our interactions with others.  God is with you, He loves you and His Presence is what gives you strength.  Thanks be to God.  Amen.

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“The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.  Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

Deuteronomy 31:8

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

Why Did Jesus Come?

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He came down from heaven and into this world.  God had a plan and Jesus knew exactly what He was getting into…so why do it?  He did because He loves you, He cares for you and He wants only the best for you.  The answer to this question and so many others have been given to us in God’s Word.  It’s not complicated, it is simple and yet the human race seems bent on making things much more difficult and complicated then they need to be.  Jesus came to save us because He loves us and even though we don’t deserve it, He loves us anyways.  Let us be thankful for Jesus Christ and His saving grace.  Amen.

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“…I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

John 10:10

(This photo was taken in April of 2016 on a lake in central Minnesota)

Patience

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During this Advent time of year, the Fruits of the Spirit keep coming into my mind.  We wait for the celebration of the birth of our Savior.  Nothing about His coming was designed by us, the human race.  This is a clear example of God at work for the good of all people.  We must be patient on our faith journey and not give up hope…no matter how bad things may get, in any situation.  Prayer…thoughtful, sincere, true and honest prayer, that is based in trust and belief in Jesus Christ is very powerful.  The answers to our prayers are not based on our plans or our desires and that is a good thing.  When you are discouraged or frustrated regarding a person or situation…take it to the Lord in prayer and remember when God was at work with His plan over 2,000 years ago, the results both then and now have been better than any human plan ever conceived.  I pray we all trust in the Lord and seek patience with His plan for our lives.  Amen.

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“And we know that in all things God works for the good of  those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

Romans 8:28

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

Judging Others

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We are all broken…we are all fighting a battle of some kind…we all need the saving grace of Jesus Christ.  None of us is in position to be in judgement of another.  Jesus spoke very clearly about this in the Gospels.  A summary statement would be, you will get whatever you give.  How we choose to act is what we will get back from others.  I struggle with snap judgments and emotion filled responses at times as much as anyone and I am reminded of humility, goodness and kindness when I spend time reading God’s Word and in prayer.  May we continually seek growth in our spiritual life and our relationship with Jesus Christ to guide us to living life with the Fruits of the Spirit.  Amen.

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“Do not judge, and you will not be judged.  Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned.  Forgive, and you will be forgiven.”

Luke 6:37

(This photo was taken in July of 2016 at Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota)

 

Love Never Fails

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Love is found in our actions…love is found in our behaviors…love exists in our attitude…love is shown by a willingness to put the needs of others before our own.  Life is filled with thoughts and emotions, questions and decisions.  We can become overwhelmed when we get sucked into the swirl of news, headlines and information, etc.  When the busyness becomes too much and we need to step off the carousel of craziness…we can ask ourselves, what can I do to show love to another person?  When we decide we want to be different than what the world is telling us we “should” be and we want to live with Christ at the center of our lives…then the actions and behaviors that will show our internal change are actions and behaviors of love.  Let’s be thankful for the love Christ showed us, by saving us and let’s take that love into our daily life.  I pray we all have the wisdom and courage to live a life filled with actions of love.  Amen.

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“Love is patient, love is kind.  It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.  Love never fails…”

1 Corinthians 13: 4-8

(This photo was taken in June of 2016 in a neighborhood near Plymouth, Minnesota)

Distractions

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It is so easy to get caught up in the things of this world.  So easy to lose focus from our purpose and why we are here.  The world is full of distractions and it is when we take our eyes off of Jesus and our faith that we begin to feel things becoming overwhelming.  We need to continually find ways to feed our faith and seek spiritual growth.  To build our relationship with our Savior and keep our focus on living a life centered on faith.  Jesus Christ is with you, even when you aren’t paying attention to Him…turn towards Christ and trust in Him to lead and guide you.  May the peace and love of Christ wash over us in our daily life.  Amen.

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“Lord if it is you,”  Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”  ” Come,” he said.  Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came towards Jesus.  But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried our “Lord, save me!” 

Immediately Jesus reached our his hand and caught him.  “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”

Matthew 14:28-31

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