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Be Humble

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This is Holy Week…a time to reflect clearly on what Jesus truly did for you, to save you.  He entered the city of Jerusalem to cheers and the waving of palms…and days later He left the city, beaten, bloody and dragging the very cross He would die upon…in order to reconcile us with God.  It is all written down for us in God’s Word.  I am a sinner, thankful for the Lord Jesus Christ…for His sacrifice, for His mercy and for His love.  Thanks be to God.  Amen.

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“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’

13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’

14 “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.””

Luke 9:10-14

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

Surrender Your Way

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Seek the way of the Lord.  Spend time with God.  Read God’s word.  Pray.  Seek to understand rather than judge.  Cast all your worries and fears on Him who sacrificed Himself to save you.  God loves you and He wants a personal relationship with you…turn towards Him in faith and trust His way.  Amen.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
    neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord.
9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth,
    so are my ways higher than your ways
    and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

Isaiah 55:8-9

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“Trust in the Lord with all your heart
    and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways submit to him,
    and he will make your paths straight.[a] “

Proverbs 3:5-6

(This photo was taken last night at a lake near Plymouth, Minnesota)

Gratitude

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It is needed now more than ever…the world focuses all it’s time on what is lost or has been taken away.  Gratitude is an attitude, a choice.  When you look at life you choose how you are going to view circumstances and that view depends on your beliefs.  If your beliefs are based on the false truths the world teaches you are sure to be disappointed and have a negative view of life…if you build your beliefs on the foundation of a relationship with Jesus Christ you can seek the wisdom that comes from God and that can provide a peace that surpasses all understanding.  Amen.

“Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

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“Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Ephesians 5:18-20

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

Shine A Light

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Our purpose is to learn about Him who loves us and sacrificed Himself for us… and then to shine a light on God’s love, God’s mercy and God’s grace for others to see not for ourselves but for God.  We can show God to others by who we are in how we treat others and by our actions and behaviors.  Shine a light in this dark world and trust in the Lord.  Amen.

“For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,”[a] made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.”

2 Corinthians 4:5-6

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“Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. 14 As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”[a]“

1 Peter 1:13-16

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

It’s Simple…

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Treat other people the way you want them to treat you.  When you stop and think about it…often times yelling and anger gets you more yelling and anger right back at you…and kindness and a smile often get a kind response back.  We are in charge of our attitudes and how we treat others and Jesus tells us the simple Golden Rule of life in the bible.  Read about what Jesus teaches us and follow the example He has set for us.  Amen.

“Do to others as you would have them do to you.”

Luke 6:31

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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 July of 2012 in a neighborhood near Plymouth, Minnesota)

Transformation

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Change…conversion…revision…reshaping…remolding…rebuilding…reworking…renewing.  God is our Creator and He made each and every one of us.  He made us with a purpose and as we live our lives we get influenced and distracted by the world, by worldly desires and worldly expectations and we lose sight of what God made us to be.  This is not about what you do as a job or career, that should not define you, rather it is about who you are as a person in your everyday life and interactions.  Turn towards Jesus Christ and your faith, revisit the person God made you to be according to His plan.  Amen.

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“You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”

Ephesians 4:22-24

(This photo was taken in July of 2019 at a lake place in northwestern Wisconsin)

Walk In The Light

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Our faith is about more than what we believe…it is also about how we put what we believe into actions.  A faith journey is best lived inside-out…start with you…what do you believe…what is your relationship with Jesus Christ…your sin…your confession…this isn’t a check the box in the process type of thing, it is a daily surrender of self-centered desires.  As we build our faith on the foundation of coming to the Cross, we can take the things we learn and put them into practice in our daily lives and interactions…this is a journey that requires commitment, it requires a willingness to sacrifice and it provides peace and joy that is beyond our imagination.  May peace be with you.  Amen.

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“If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all[a] sin.”

1 John 1:6-7

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

Wisdom From Heaven

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I pray we all seek the wisdom of God.  His message in the bible…the example His Son Jesus Christ set for us…the guidance His Holy Spirit provides us as that small voice in our minds.  The current times show how hurtful it is when we are selfish.  Because we are human, we all are convicted of selfish behavior at one time or another and when unity is what the world needs the selfishness of human behavior is magnified.  There are many people who are doing good things in the world right now to help others and I pray we hear more about those stories and we seek to live that way.  Lord, forgive us when we are selfish and teach us how to care for others just as you have cared for us.  Amen.

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“But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18 Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.”

James 3:17-18

(This photo was taken in August of 2016 while traveling through the state of Washington)

He Is With You

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No matter what, no…matter…what!  No matter where you have been, no matter what you have done, no matter how long you have strayed or how long it takes you to learn…God is with you and waiting to hear from you.  Profess your faith, confess you sins and trust in the one who stays with you through all things.  Amen.

The God Who Stays by Matthew West

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“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Deuteronomy 31:6

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