“Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.”
Isaiah 40:30-31 NIV
While I’m Waiting by John Waller
“I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits,
and in his word I put my hope.”
Psalm 130:5 NIV
(This photo was taken in Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado)
“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.“
Romans 5:6-8 NIV
God loves us unconditionally
We do not earn His love; we do not deserve it
There are not certain things you must do or be to receive God’s love
He offers it to us through His Son and by His mercy and grace
Our job is to receive His love by seeking Him, spending time with Him and being in relationship with Him
We are to know Him
And we are to make Him known to others
There is no greater gift you will ever receive in this life than God’s love
Turn away from sinful thoughts and ways and live in God’s unconditional love
“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.“
1 John 4:7-12 NIV
(This photo was taken along the North Shore of Lake Superior)
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who[i] have been called according to his purpose. 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. 31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?”
Romans 8:28-31 NIV
Nobody loves us as much as God loves us
Jesus gave up heaven with the Father to come down to earth as one of us
From the glory of the angels singing to a manger as a baby on earth, to save us
Yet there was no room for Him
Make room for Him in your heart, seek Him and accept His gift of salvation
He loves you and wants good things for you
“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
John 1:14 NIV
(This photo was taken at a lake near Plymouth, Minnesota)
“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 NIV
When you feel lost and alone
Frustrated and disappointed
Uncertain and afraid turn towards the Lord in prayer
Put your trust in Him, He is always with you
“Trust in the Lord and do good;
dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
4 Take delight in the Lord,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.”
Psalm 37:3-4 NIV
(This photo was taken at Temperance State Park in northern Minnesota)
“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
23 They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
24 I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion;
therefore I will wait for him.”
Lamentations 3:22-24 NIV
Father God, even in the midst of many troubles, You are faithful
When we are tired, overwhelmed, burnt out or grieving, Your love still covers us
Thank You for showing us kindness and mercy every day
Your steadfast love endures forever
Great is Your faithfulness!
In Jesus name, Amen.
“Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments.”
Deuteronomy 7:9 NIV
(This photo was taken in Bighorn National Forest in Wyoming)
“I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?”
Jeremiah 32:27 NIV
Hope…What drives it? Why do we have it?
It comes from belief…it comes from trusting God
Even when no one believes there is any hope…hope persists
Think about the day Jesus was crucified…nobody, not even the disciples had hope
Jesus, their teacher, the one who performed miracles had died…yet with God anything is possible
Jesus is risen! He is risen indeed, Alleluia!
The stories of hope with God in the Bible go on and on…Sarah who was barren has a son…Moses and the Red Sea…Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego survive the fiery furnace…Daniel in the lion’s den…Mary the virgin gives birth to Jesus and on and on it goes
Don’t give up hope…trust in God!
“For nothing will be impossible with God.”
Luke 1:37 NIV
(This photo was taken at a lake in central Minnesota)
“You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a single command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Galatians 5:13-14 NIV
God has given us the gift of free will
We are allowed to choose how we will respond to everything
Why did He do this?
Considering the risk and after all the things humans have chosen to do wrong starting with Adam and Eve, why allow us to choose?
I believe it is because real love, joy and goodness offered voluntarily is the only kind worth having…the risk of poor choices, of course, is why bad things happen in the world
Use your free will to offer goodness, kindness, love and joy to God and others
(Happy 30th Anniversary to my beloved wife…so thankful that God brought us together and continues to guide our marriage and family…I Love You!)
“So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever[c] you want.”
Galatians 5:16-17 NIV
(This photo was taken near Arches National Park in Utah)
“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.
8 Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;
do not fret—it leads only to evil.
9 For those who are evil will be destroyed,
but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land.”
Psalm 37:7-9 NIV
Be Still And Know by Amy Grant
“I remain confident of this:
I will see the goodness of the Lord
in the land of the living.
14 Wait for the Lord;
be strong and take heart
and wait for the Lord.”
Psalm 27:13-14 NIV
(This photo was taken at a lake in central Minnesota)
“Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.”
Romans 8:5 NIV
“Blessed is the one
who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
or sit in the company of mockers,
2 but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,
and who meditates on his law day and night.
3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
whatever they do prospers.”
Psalm 1:1-3 NIV
“Let your eyes look straight ahead;
fix your gaze directly before you.
26 Give careful thought to the[a] paths for your feet
and be steadfast in all your ways.
27 Do not turn to the right or the left;
keep your foot from evil.“
Proverbs 4:25-27 NIV
(This photo was taken at a lake in northwestern Wisconsin)
“The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge,
my shield[a] and the horn[b] of my salvation, my stronghold.”
Psalm 18:2 NIV
“May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart
be pleasing in your sight,
Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.”
Psalm 19:14 NIV
“There is no one holy like the Lord;
there is no one besides you;
there is no Rock like our God.”
1 Samuel 2:2 NIV
(This photo was taken at Red Rocks Park near Morrison, Colorado)
Take Your Faith With You 