Music

Troubles Can Be Overwhelming

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Our thoughts are often the driver of our hearts and our actions.  The more we think about and focus on something, the more likely it will lead us to doing something.  The problem is the amount of inputs and sensory overload we are getting from darkness and evil tend to keep us dwelling on our sins and the sinful nature within us.  It truly is a struggle and can be all consuming.  The only source of Light is Jesus Christ.  The only way to get help in removing the blinders to goodness and good things is God’s Word.  Faith will not make the evil and darkness disappear, rather it provides the tools and the resources we need to promote the Fruit of the Spirit.  Faith helps us shine the Light of Christ for us and others to see in this dark world.  Thanks be to God for Jesus Christ our Light of the World.  Amen.

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“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

Romans 12:21

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

Nothing Can Separate Us

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No matter what we do or where we go, we are still loved by God.  We tend to think, not me, God deosn’t really love me…look at the things I have done and left undone.  Look at what I said, look at my life and the things that have happened because of me.  To this I say look at the examples of people in the Bible.  Peter, rejected being associated with Jesus three times after Jesus was arrested.  Rahab in the Book of Joshua, she was a prostitute who acted with faith and courage to help God’s people capture the Promised Land.  Saul who became Paul…he hunted down and killed many of the followers of Jesus and yet the Lord still loved him and made him one of the greatest teachers of the faith in the New Testament.  There are many more like these.  We are not perfect nor will we ever be, we will make mistakes and do the wrong things…inspite of it all God still loves us and wants to help us grow and mature in our faith.  Trust in the Lord.  Amen.

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“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Romans 8:38-39

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

The Facts Of Faith

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Jesus Christ was born and lived life as a human being for 30+ years. He performed miracles that thousands of people witnessed and recorded. He was arrested, beaten, presented to the people as a criminal. He was innoccent and yet He was sentenced to death. He was flogged and finally He was crucified and died. His body was placed in a tomb and it was sealed…this is not the end of the story. Three days later Jesus Christ rose from the the dead, many came to the tomb but He was not there, His body was never found, after His resurrection He was seen several more times, the fact is Jesus Christ is alive and living with God our Father in heaven. “Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” – John 14:6

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“But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

1 Corinthians 15:57

(This photo was taken in June of 2013 near Colorado Springs, Colorado)

Listen

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There is so much noise. So much useless information. So many false words and lack of integrity all around us. It becomes overwhelming and often the best thing to do is to turn…it…off. One of my favorite bible verses for bringing calm is Psalm 46:10 “Be still, and know that I am God…” The society of the world and its desires are not interested in giving you peace. We must claim our time for quiet, we must prioritze sitting and listening for God’s voice above all others. It is the only source of true peace and real joy. God is with us, seek Him and listen. Amen.

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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 them, and they with me.”

Revelation 3:20

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

The Power Of Prayer

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We are children of God.  He wants to hear from us.  We may think, well He is God if He knows everything and life is supposed to go according to His plan why do I need to talk to Him?  Think about your relationship with your parents or if you are a parent think about your relationship with your children.  In both circumstances the relationship is always enhanced or stronger when we have good cmmunication.  The same is true with Father God.  Believe in the power of prayer.  Amen.

“When We Pray” by Tauren Wells

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“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

Philippians 4:6

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

Hold On To Jesus

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It is said the tighter we try to grab on to the things of this world the more they slip through our fingers.  If I just do this or if we can just get to this point then everything will work out as we plan…as if it is all up to us and we are in control.  Then as we get older and begin to realize it is not up to us alone, there is the danger of going too far the opposite way…it doesn’t matter what I do, nobody cares anyways or I could just disappear and no one would notice.  Both directions of belief are extreme, as humans we tend to go too far one way or the other and we tend to get too high or too low…imagine a horizontal line of your beliefs intersecting with a vertical line of your emotions and you get…The Cross.  To find balance come to The Cross and hold on to Jesus.  Amen.

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“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.  The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

Galatians 2:20

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

Praise And Worship

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Tune your spirit to align with God.  When you find yourself in that moment you will know it.  There is nothing like it.  I have very few words to share with you this morning as my faith is best expressed through song.  May the love and joy of the Lord wash over you and bring you peace.  Amen.

“This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”

Psalm 118:24

How Great Is Our God – Chris Tomlin

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“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spriritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.”

Colossians 3:16

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

My Rock, My Fortress And My Deliverer

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The Book of Psalms is filled with songs and prayers of David that express a wide range of emotions.  As you may know I believe in the power of music and its ability to stir us up in the deepest places of our hearts.  I am thankful to those who have been blessed to create and produce music and do so out the love and passion they have to share their gifts.  Today the words to one of David’s songs strikes me as comforting.  I encourage you to read the entire Psalm 18…I will share the verse that grabbed my attention this morning below.  Peace be with you on your journey.  Amen.

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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 August of 2016 in Glacier National Park in Montana)

To Make Him Known

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The second part of our purpose in life.  As we learn and grow, we will be given opportunities to share faith.  How, when or where we share is different for everyone.  This is about living in the present moments of your life.  If we are constantly stewing about the past or what might happen in the future we will miss that which is right in front of us.  This is a journey, we will get distracted and sidetracked, it happens to everyone.  In our efforts to get to know Him and make Him known, we will read stories of conversion and sharing by others and it seems like, wow they changed who they are on Monday and by Friday they were sharing the Good News with others…ah no, at least not for me.  Case and point, I didn’t start daily devotions in my life until around 2010…I started posting on this blog in 2013…I started posting something everyday late in 2015…and began actually writing thoughts inspired by the Holy Spirit on this blog everyday in the beginning of 2018…and here we are today.  What you don’t know is all the other things that go on in a person’s life that impact this process.  We all are part of God’s plan, on my journey God is helping me narrow the focus on this…He created me to Know Him and to make Him Known, everything else should lead into that and I am still learning how that works.  Thank you for reading and stopping by.  May the peace and joy of the Lord be with you on your journey.  Amen.

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“I can do everything through him who gives me strength.”

Philippians 4:13

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

Savior

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His mercy…His grace…His forgiveness…His sacrifice…His death…His resurrection and His love. All of this and more means Jesus Christ has fought the battle and won. He has saved us and we can be reconciled with God. Seek Him and the message of Good News in God’s Word. He gave His all to save you because He loves you just the way you are. May the love of Christ comfort you and encourage you this day. Amen.

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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 July of 2016 on a lake in central Minnesota)