“Many are the plans in a person’s heart,
but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.”
Proverbs 19:21 NIV
“Commit to the Lord whatever you do,
and he will establish your plans.”
Proverbs 16:3 NIV
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Jeremiah 29:11 NIV
(This photo was taken along the North Shore of Lake Superior)
“All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because,
“God opposes the proud
but shows favor to the humble.”[a]
6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.”
1 Peter 5:5-6 NIV
“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.“
Romans 12:9-13 NIV
(This photo was taken at sunrise by a lake in northwestern Wisconsin)
“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 because He loves you
He has risen
He is alive and wants to help you in this life and prepare you to spend eternity with Him
Give thanks to Jesus, not only with words but with how you choose to live your life every day
“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)
“As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.“
Ephesians 4:1-3 NIV
“There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”
Ephesians 4:4-6 NIV
(This photo was taken while traveling in southern New Mexico)
“As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”
Ephesians 4:1-6 NIV
Character and attitude…how we treat each other in our daily lives
These are the things that show that we believe
Love is action
Learn from the example that Jesus provided in His life, death and resurrection
Live out your faith with your attitude and how you treat others in daily life
“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”
Colossians 3:12-14 NIV
(This photo was taken while traveling in northern Colorado)
“As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”
Ephesians 4:1-6 NIV
Even when we feel surrounded by darkness and evil
We can find hope when we turn towards God, His Word and His Son
We can find hope when we remember that after the brutal and tragic death of Jesus
God raised Him to life
We can have hope because of what God has done and is doing in our lives
It is up to us to seek Him
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Romans 15:13 NIV
(This photo was taken while traveling in southern New Mexico)
“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 1:14-16 NIV
How do we know what God is calling us to do?
For life decisions and direction?
If we use the world’s measuring stick of ‘what we should do’ we risk missing God’s will entirely
To follow our call is to surrender self-serving desires, to be humble and patient and to have a foundation of a faith that is built on our personal relationship with Jesus Christ
That is what I have learned so far…nobody ever said it was going to be easy
We will face trouble and struggles of every kind in life and if we are willing to stand firm on the foundation of faith, we will persevere
“For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life.”
1 Thessalonians 4:7
(This photo was taken at a lake place in northwestern Wisconsin)
“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.
7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.”
2 Corinthians 4:6-9 NIV
Father God, You call us to always be faithful and obedient, especially during difficult times
Thank You for providing Your Word as a guide for us
Remind us that no matter what our struggle is, You are near and will renew our strength and provide us endurance to persevere
In Jesus name, Amen
“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 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.”
Colossians 3:1-4 NIV
(This photo was taken on the shore of Lake Superior near Ashland, Wisconsin)
“And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.”
1 Peter 5:10 NIV
We need time with God every day
When He is the source of life
We will find peace
We will be able to rest
He will renew us and restore us
If we try to go alone we will be consumed by sin
Trust in the Lord
He will restore your soul and give you all that you need
“He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.[a]
3 He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness[b]
for his name’s sake.“
Psalm 23:2-3 NIV
(This photo was taken while driving through North Dakota)
10 “He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.”
11 The Lord Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.”
Psalm 46:10-11 NIV
Be Still And Know by Amy Grant
“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord,
whose confidence is in him.
8 They will be like a tree planted by the water
that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes;
its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought
and never fails to bear fruit.”
Jeremiah 17:7-8 NIV
(This photo was taken at a lake in central Minnesota)
Take Your Faith With You 