Peace

Take Heart!

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In the bible we are told over and over that in this world we will have trouble…there will be suffering.  The prince of darkness and evil does not stop working to keep us away from God…and in some cases we make it very easy for him.  And yet we are surprised that things go wrong or don’t work that way we want them to.  The Word of God is clear and the words of Jesus are written in red ink for us in the bible…who is blessed, how to live, how to pray, ways to share and serve others…and it is all repeated for us from 4 different writers to be sure we get the message…pick up a bible and read what Jesus Christ had to say.  God loves you; He is with you and He forgives you.  Seek a relationship with His Son Jesus Christ and you will have peace.  Amen.

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“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.  In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart!  I have overcome the world.”

John 16:33

(This photo was taken in March of 2018 while traveling through southern New Mexico)

Peace

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Peace comes from hope, trust and love.  Peace is available to all of us.  It is a quiet confidence in God and His Son.  It comes to us when we are willing to bring our worries, our fears and our burdens and lay them down at the foot of the Cross.  If we constantly assess our lives based on the world’s view or what others think, say and do…we will not find peace.  Peace is about gratitude and sharing the gifts and blessings God has given us with one another.  May the peace of the Lord be with you!  Amen.

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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

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

Rest With Him

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As the summer is winding down and the schedule of activities and places to be cranks up, it is important to be consistent in taking time to rest in between the coming and going.  Making time and having a place to rest…truly rest…time to pray, read scripture and recharge your mind and spirit is so important.  We can’t be all things for all people all the time…been there, failed at that.  Even Jesus would make time to rest His mind and body…why do we think we could do more than Him?  Seek Him and ask Him to help you find rest in your daily activities.  Amen.

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“Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”

Mark 6:31

(This photo was taken in August of 2012 while on the North Shore of Lake Superior)

The Peacemakers

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Our faith journey is a process without a ending point.  As we learn about Jesus and we read God’s Word the process begins by helping us transform on the inside…we open our hearts and minds to Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit becomes our guide.  This is not the end of the process…as we continue to learn and grow the intention is for us to have this Spirit of peace and goodness flow through us to our neighbors and others.  We are not saved just to be saved alone…we are to become a channel of God’s peace every day.  The Light of Christ should shine through us so that others can see God in who we are and what we do.  Think about it…in what other person in your life have you seen God shining through?  May we be comforted by God’s peace.  Amen.

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“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”

Matthew 5:9

(This photo was taken in June of 2016 at a lake place in northwestern Wisconsin)

Self-less

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One of the most tragic afflictions of our time is selfishness.  The me first with a lack of consideration for others attitude, constantly assessing my place in the world compared to others and then determining my own value based on what others think about me.  This perspective pushes God to the side and puts me first as the top priority.  This has always been an affliction on human society and it seems to have grown exponentially since the explosion of social media.  One of the world’s greatest needs right now is more humility.  Imagine the impact on human relationships when people are looking to lift others up instead of tearing them down.  I am not suggesting we ignore self-care rather we put God first to guide us in the way we live.  I pray that we all take time to be humble and serve others more than we look to be served.  May God’s peace be with you.  Amen.

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“Do nothing out of selfish ambition of vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.  Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.”

Philippians 2:3-4

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

Put Your Trust In God

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What do you put your trust in?  Who do you believe is trustworthy?  Take a moment and think about it.  The dictionary states trust is – firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of someone or something.  So, who or what in your life do you trust?  The world is filled with deception, selfishness, lying, cheating, etc… these things were brought into the world by the human race.  There is still hope…there is One who is worthy of trust.  There is One who is reliable, who is the truth, who has the ability and the strength and He is the One who sacrificed himself to save us…Jesus Christ.  He is a Light in the darkness, turn to Jesus and put your trust in God.  Amen.

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“Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you.  Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life.”

Psalm 143:8

(This photo was taken in July of 2016 while traveling through North Dakota)

Strength For The Weary

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One of the amazing things about faith is its power to give us the courage, the endurance, the patience and the perseverance to keep trying, to keep learning and to keep believing in hope.  Out of the most tragic circumstances that happen because of sin…God can bring about the greatest good.  Do you believe it?  No matter where you are, no matter what the struggle is in your life, right now…turn towards Jesus in prayer, seek Him and believe in the Him.  Do it every day and you will find courage, you will find patience, you will persevere and you will find peace.  May we all be strengthened by our relationship with Jesus Christ.  Amen.

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“Do you not know?  Have you not heard?  The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.  He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.  He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.”

Isaiah 40:28-29

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

The Fruit Of The Spirit

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When we come to Christ and seek Him, we are renewed.  The Holy Spirit within us encourages us to live by the Fruit of the Spirit more and more and to leave the evil, anger, hatred and darkness behind.  The more we use the Fruit of the Spirit when thinking about ourselves and while helping others the better our life will be.  Most of us are too hard on ourselves and too hard on others…things can be different.  Pick up God’s Word and read about it, pray and ask for forgiveness of your sins and to have the Fruit of the Spirit stirred up in you.  May God’s love, joy and peace be with you.  Amen.

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

Galatians 5:22-23

(This photo was taken in June of 2013 while traveling through northern Colorado)

The War Between Guilt And Grace

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We are forgiven…Jesus Christ has paid the price for our sins…we can let go of our guilt and live in God’s grace…because in the battle that rages on within us and within others…Grace wins everytime.  Amen.

Grace Wins by Matthew West

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“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—”

Ephesians 2:8

(This photo was taken in June of 2016 at a lake place in northwestern Wisconsin)

He Is With You

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Trustworthy…reliable…constant…unwavering…unfailing…steady…faithful.  God is with you at all times no matter where you go.  All that is required is for us to come to the Cross and believe in Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord.  There is nothing, no place or no one on earth that compares to what you can have in a personal relationship with our Lord.  We often spend our lives looking for something or someone and we believe that if that place or person could be a part of our everyday life then we would be satisfied…Jesus Christ is all that we need.  Turn toward Him and give thanks for all that He has done for you.  Amen.

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“Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

Hebrews 13:5

(This photo was taken in June of 2013 while traveling through Nebraska)