Life of Jesus

Solid Rock

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Firm foundation…strength…courage…determination…a shield…a place of refuge.  When we think about solid rock it gives us the impression of strength to stand on or the protection to shield us.  All of us has a rock in our lives, whether it is another person, a place or something else.  The rock we all need is a solid relationship with Jesus Christ.  He is our firm foundation, He gives us strength and courage, He gives us the fortitude to keep going and He is our shield and protector.  Anything we could ever need will come from Him.  Make time to build your relationship with Jesus Christ our Solid Rock!  May you seek the Lord in your everyday life.

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

Psalm 18:2

(This photo was taken in July of 2015 at Red Rocks Amphitheater near Morrison, Colorado)

Commitment

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Not giving up…to honor…responsibility…respect for…trust.  The way of truth means doing what you said you would do.  Our true character shows through to others when they see our commitment to something.  The greatest example of commitment to completing something that was more difficult than anything we will face in our lives was the example Jesus set when He honored a commitment to saving us from our sins.  He endured physical and mental suffering for something He didn’t do.  He is innocent, He has no sin…and yet He took on the sin of all of us and paid the price so that we could be reconciled to God.  He is our Savior and our Salvation will only come from a relationship with Him.  May God’s love and faithfulness be with you.

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“Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.”

Proverbs 16:3

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

Jesus

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To Him be the glory.

The world divided, broken and lost…how can there be hope?  Lives of struggle, hearts broken, sadness…who can make this better?  People hurting each other, selfishness in control, fear and anger rule the days…what can change our perspectives?

The answers to all of this; to every thought of despair, to every life looking for a new direction and for every individual wanting to make a change…Jesus is the answer.  Believe in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, invite Him into your life everyday, spend time reading God’s Word, build your personal relationship with Him and you will see transformation.  May the presence of God be in you and may the saving grace of Jesus Christ bless you each day.

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“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.  We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

John 1:14

(This photo was taken in June of 2013 in Badlands National Park in South Dakota)

Sacrifice

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He gave us His everything to restore a relationship with us.  God loves us, God loves you so much that He came down from heaven to be born as a baby among us.  From the moment of His birth different people in the world sought to kill Him.  Even still God has forgiven us.  The world is filled with darkness, anger and shouting about my rights…yet when Jesus was here He spent the majority of His time teaching and helping others.  When He was persecuted He didn’t shout out you have no right to attack me, I am God…instead just before His death He said Father forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.  Jesus has set us an example of how we should live, now it is up to us to choose our attitude and our behavior each day.  May God’s love, joy and peace be with you.

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“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this:  While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Romans 5:8

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

The Lord Is Knocking At The Door

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As we venture down the road of a life of faith and spiritual growth we will come to decisions and choices in life and as we learn to listen for God in our conscious, the trust part of faith will need to be addressed.  Similar to yesterday’s post about prayer…there is saying I believe in God and I believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God who came down from heaven, was crucified, died and was buried.  I believe He has risen and He lives in me…and then there is actually living your life with trust in what you believe.  Many of us get stuck at this point, myself included, we are searching to open the right door and to invite Jesus into every aspect of our life and yet we still end up going off the track and wonder what the heck happened here…one of the greatest gifts of God is that He loves us so much that He will never leave us nor forsake us.  He will continue to be with us every slow learning step of the way…Jesus will continue to knock at the door waiting for us to open it and invite Him in to eat with us.  Don’t stop opening new doors, listen closely to God and read the Word of God to know which knock is the Lord.  May God’s peace be with you.

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“Here I am!  I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.”

Revelation 3:20

(This photo was taken in March of 2018 of a Yucca plant near Carlsbad Caverns in southern New Mexico)

Follow Jesus

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Whenever we are learning to do something new or something we don’t do very often it seems easier to learn it when someone is guiding us and demonstrating for us what to do.  Once we have observed the example we can begin to assimilate into doing the task or behavior.  As we are learning to live a life centered on faith, we read the bible to learn about and understand the example that Jesus has set for us on how to live when He was here as a man on earth.  He taught…kindness, goodness, gentleness, love, joy, peace, patience, faithfulness and self-control…that last one seems most difficult.  He helped those in need and He taught about the relationship with God the Father to all.  If you are wondering how to go forward, look to the life of Jesus and follow His example.  May God’s peace be with you.

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“He has showed you, O man, what is good.  And what does the Lord require of you?  To act justly and love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”

Micah 6:8

(This photo was taken in March of 2018 outside of Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico)

Easter Sunday…He Is Risen!

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The tomb is empty…He is not there…Jesus Christ has risen…He lives!  Only God can help us in this world.  The Cross and the Resurrection are proof of God’s love and God’s power.  No matter where you are or what you are facing in life turn towards God, invite Jesus into your heart and mind and read the Word of God.  He can overcome anything if we turn to Him and trust Him.  He is risen…thank you God almighty…He Is Risen!

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“He is not here, he has risen!  Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee:  The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.”

Luke 24:6-7

(This photo was taken in July of 2012 in a neighborhood near Plymouth, Minnesota)

The Love Of Christ

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It is so overwhelming to me to think about all that Jesus suffered to save us.  He was different than everybody else and because of that people let fear drive them to the point of His death.  When any of us look at the current circumstances in our lives and we put on the perspective of what Jesus faced on earth, it is clear to me that nothing I face in this life will ever match the love that Jesus Christ has for me…nothing.  There are terrible pains, suffering and events of deep sadness that exist because of darkness and sin.  The love of Christ is more powerful than any of it…not when you are trying to see it without first inviting Jesus into your heart.  Invite Him into your life and read the Word of God and you will see His love every day.  May God’s love and peace be with you.

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“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?  Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?…No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.”

Romans 8:35,37

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

Consistent

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We all experience times and events that are good times and bad times.  Times when we can relax and be at peace and times when chaos reigns, it all occurs depending upon what is going on in our lives and who we are spending our time with.  The environment we choose to spend time in will always impact our highs and lows.  Who are we surrounding ourselves with, are we able to be ourselves or are we always performing for others consciously or subconsciously?  Throughout history there is only one thing that has created a firm foundation to stand on…the bible.  The Word of God and the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  The values and principles of a life following Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior are documented, solid and unchanging.  If you are looking for a place to build your life on start with the greatest foundation available.  May God’s peace be with you.

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“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”

Hebrews 13:8

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

The Answers Are Found At The Cross

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History is filled with events and stories of struggle, despair, war, judgement and injustice.  People of all generations have pressed for money, power and self-centered convenience.  This continues in the present day for all of us…I like everyone else am a sinner and have succumbed to temptations and poor decisions.  These behaviors are the result of human beings inviting sin into the world.  It seems like defeat is all around us and that is just how the prince of darkness wants you feel.  Yet even today there is hope…there is hope of goodness, faithfulness, kindness, peace, patience, love and joy.  And it begins at the Cross of Christ.  May God’s peace be with you.

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“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:  Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.  And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death – even death on a cross!”

Philippians 2:5-8

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