Peace

Be Patient…Be Present

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“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”

Galatians 5:22-23 ESV

Why all the rushing around?

The hurry up, the plow through the checklist, the I have to finish this so I can rush off to that…and on and on it goes

  No wonder we are lost…we don’t even take time to acknowledge where we are or what is going on around us

As we live out this holiday season, let’s not get caught up in the hustle and bustle of all the things we are ‘supposed’ to do

Let’s strive to acknowledge what Jesus has done for us in this season

Make time to be present with whoever God has us spending time with this year

May the peace of the Lord be with you and flow through you

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“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.”

Ephesians 4:2 NIV

(This photo was taken in northwestern Wisconsin)

Let The Holy Spirit Be Your Guide

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“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

When we put our trust in God and believe in Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, we will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit to guide us and help us grow spiritually

It can be difficult to tune in to the Holy Spirit during the hustle and bustle of daily life but that does not mean God is not present with you

Evil and darkness will go to great lengths to keep us from our connection to God…make time to connect to God’s presence in your life and tune into the Holy Spirit

Holy Spirit by Francesca Battistelli

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“But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”

John 14:26 NIV

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

This Is Love

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“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”

John 15:12-13 NIV

Sacrifice…Savior…Salvation

The actions of God through Jesus Christ were done to save us

We don’t deserve it, we can’t earn it by doing good things, it is given to us as a gift

We can choose to accept it

We can stay close to Him by meeting with Him daily

We can do good things to help others

The mission is to help as many people as we can learn about Him and know Him

May the love of God be in us and work through us

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“This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.”

1 John 4:10 NIV

(This photo was taken at the Botanical Gardens in the Bellagio in Las Vegas, Nevada)

Courageous

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“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Joshua 1:9 NIV

God has promised to be with you wherever you go

Every day, all the time

When we look around at the world or at our worries, fears and frustrations…it’s easier to shrink back than to be bold and courageous, to play it safe rather than to go forward trusting in God

This is how living by faith is different than living the way the world tells you to live

Faith is simple yet not easy

We are inundated with messages of self-center living and behaviors

It takes courage to strive to be true to God’s Word

Put your hope and your trust in God and His promises

Follow the example of Jesus Christ

Be courageous

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“Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. 14 Do everything in love.”

1 Corinthians 16:13-14 NIV

(This photo was taken along Beartooth Pass near the Montana-Wyoming border)

Seek Him…Have Peace

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“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

John 14:27 NIV

Father God, it is easy for us to worry about circumstances in our lives

Every day, help us to remember that You are always in control

We trust in Your guidance, protection and plans for us

Because we know You care about every aspect of our lives we can have peace

In Jesus name, Amen

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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 at a lake in northwestern Wisconsin)

Follow Him

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“Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. 25 What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self?“

Luke 9:23-25 NIV

This is it…this is what we are told by Jesus in God’s Word

“Follow me” He says to the tax collector and Levi promptly gets up and begins to follow

We do have a choice in our lives…free will is very important to God

He wants us to choose to follow Him

In Matthew 19, a rich man is invited by Jesus to ‘follow me’ and rich man is sad because he has great financial wealth and does not want to give that up

There is nothing in this world worth more than a personal relationship with Jesus Christ

Look for yourself…read God’s Word…choose one of the Gospels

My persoanl recommendation is the Gospel according to John

Learn about Jesus and then choose whether or not you will follow Him

  May peace be with you

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Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. 25 Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.”

John 12:23-26 NIV

(This photo was taken at a lake in northwestern Wisconsin)

Love Conquers All

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“Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.”

1 Peter 4:8 NIV

Love is more than a feeling

Love is defined by our actions

Love can and will conquer all things in life

How do we know this is true?

Because God told us so…

“…because, God is love.”

1 John 4:8 NIV

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“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

8 Love never fails.“

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 NIV

(This photo was taken while traveling in South Dakota)

Forgive

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“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

Forgive others as you have been forgiven

We are redeemed by Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord

No matter how far off we have wandered or how long it has been we can always return to Christ through faith and that is true for all people

  So, whether or not you are concerned about the path you are on or the path another is on you should pray and seek wisdom from the Holy Spirit to guide you and guide your support for one another

  May the grace and peace of the Lord wash over us all

Redeemed by Big Daddy Weave

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“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”

Ephesians 4:32 NIV

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

The Greatest Love For All People

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“I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”

Ephesians 3:16-19 NIV

There is no issue or circumstances too big for God

No matter what, God’s love is greater than anything or anyone

He offers this love to everyone, everywhere

He did this by sending His one and only Son

We celebrate Jesus, our Savior and Lord

He shows us the greatest love and it is for all people!

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“But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.”

Luke 2:10-11 NIV

(This photo was taken in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming)

Give Your Best

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“Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”

2 Corinthians 9:6-8 NIV

Trusting in God means trusting in Him for the outcome of circumstances and events

If we can offer the best of what we can give, whether it is our time, our ideas, our attention or our money and we trust in God, He can take what we offer and do so much more than we can do on our own

In Matthew 14:13-21, the disciples gave Him all they had, five loaves of bread and two fish and with that over five thousand people were fed with plenty of leftovers

When we give our best and trust God for the outcome, amazing things can happen

May the peace of the Lord be in you and work through you

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“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?  When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?  When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’  “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’”

Matthew 25:37-40 NIV

(This photo was taken at Garden of the Gods park near Colorado Springs, Colorado)