Patience

Distractions? Resolve Them ASAP…

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“Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your[a] life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.[b] 7 You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 8 But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.”

Colossians 3:2-10 NIV

Ever had one of those days?

When you know you have things to do and you just can’t focus…you feel scattered?

Your mind keeps jumping from thought to thought and you have moments when you are telling yourself, “c’mon stop it…focus on what you need to do!”

This is an example of how we can’t overcome things on our own…we need help…we need God

There is a sign in our home with the letters ASAP on it…yet it doesn’t stand for what you are thinking it does

This ASAP stands for “Always Stop And Pray”

When you notice things going the wrong direction, always stop and pray…

When you just don’t know what to do, always stop and pray…

When life gets overwhelming, always stop and pray

Distractions and taking our attention away from God will be constant in life…

We can overcome our problems by remembering to Always Stop And Pray

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“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.“

Philippians 4:6-8 NIV

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

He Knows My Heart

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“Search me, God, and know my heart;
    test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24 See if there is any offensive way in me,
    and lead me in the way everlasting.”

Psalm 139:23-24 NIV

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“You have searched me, Lord,
    and you know me.”

Psalm 139:1 NIV

(This photo was taken at the Nakalele Blowhole on the island of Maui, Hawaii)

Remember What God Can Do

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“The Lord is righteous in all his ways
    and faithful in all he does.
18 The Lord is near to all who call on him,
    to all who call on him in truth.
19 He fulfills the desires of those who fear him;
    he hears their cry and saves them.”

Psalm 145:17-19 NIV

Don’t give up…keep going.  God is with you.

Keep praying and be courageous even when you are unsure of the outcome

He is with you, He is within you, every day, all the time!

Remind yourself all that He has done and is still doing

Just keep praying…

Haven’t Seen It Yet by Danny Gokey

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“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”

Romans 12:12 NIV

(This photo was taken while traveling along Beartooth Pass)

Persevere

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“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

James 1:2-4 NIV

Father God, please give us strength to run the race of faith

Often times darkness in this world will bring us many forms of struggle and we are easily distracted and drift away from You

Fill us with courage to stay close to You and trust in Your promises…even when…especially when we can’t see clearly

You are the source of our endurance to keep going, when we get knocked back or pushed down we know we can trust in You and keep running the race of faith

Thank You for all You do for us

In Jesus name, 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 NIV

(This photo was taken along Beartooth Pass in Montana)

Patience And Persistence

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“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

“Let your eyes look straight ahead;
    fix your gaze directly before you.
26 Give careful thought to the[c] 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

Father God, we know You have a plan for our lives, and that You want to bless us

Help us lean into that promise!

Sometimes it is hard to see past our present struggles

Thank You for loving us even when we have doubts and fears

Fill each of us with Your hope and give us courage to carry on

In Jesus name, Amen

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“The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love.  The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.”

Psalm 145:8-9 NIV

(This photo was taken in Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota)

Rest And Renew

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“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Matthew 11:28-30 NIV

We are not in control of what happens in the world

The daily news and events make that abundantly clear

The only thing we can control is how we choose to respond to things that do happen

The best thing we can do is turn towards Jesus first

Give thanks to the Lord for the good things

Ask for help and guidance for the difficult things

We don’t know and can’t control what will happen tomorrow

Yet we can trust in Him who sits on the throne of heaven

It is by drawing near to Him that we can find rest and be renewed

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“ If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”

John 15:7 NIV

(This photo was taken in Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming)

Be Still…

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“He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
    I will be exalted among the nations,
    I will be exalted in the earth.”“

Psalm 46:10 NIV

Take time to be still with God’s Word

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“Be still before the Lord
    and wait patiently for him…”

Psalm 37:7 NIV

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

Be Still…Wait For The Lord

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“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

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“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)

Pursue Peace…Stand Firm In The Faith

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“Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. 9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. 10 For,

“Whoever would love life
    and see good days
must keep their tongue from evil
    and their lips from deceitful speech.
11 They must turn from evil and do good;
    they must seek peace and pursue it.
12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous
    and his ears are attentive to their prayer,
but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”[a]

1 Peter 3:8-12 NIV

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“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.”

1 Peter 5:7-9 NIV

(This photo was taken at Beaver River Falls in northern Minnesota)

Be Thankful…Be Content

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  “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

Colossians 3:15-17 NIV

Jesus Christ suffered and died for you and me because He loves us

He has risen

He is alive and wants to help us in this life and prepare us to spend eternity with Him

Give thanks to Jesus

Not only with words but also with how you choose to live your life every day

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“But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.”

1 Timothy 6:6-8 NIV

(This photo was taken on the shore of Lake Superior near Ashland, Wisconsin)