Peace

Repentence

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We live in a world filled with pessimism and darkness and we all have committed sins and made mistakes…also we have all seen the presence of or been associated with light and goodness and kindness.  We have a choice everyday of every year, do we want to move towards the light or towards the darkness?  Our decisions and our everyday interactions play a part in which way we are moving.  One of the best gifts God has given every single person is free will…we get to choose…light of life or darkness?

When we choose to move towards the light of life one of the first steps and most difficult steps is to admit to our sins, to confess we have made mistakes and have done wrong…we need to be humble before God.

As stated, we have all committed sins and made mistakes, all the prominent names in the Bible committed sins, but how we respond to God regarding our mistakes is important. David committed the sin of adultery even after God had made him a King!  We are all human and will all make mistakes…here are some of the words David used to repent in Psalm 51…

“Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions.  Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.”

Psalm 51:1-2

Do be too hard on yourself when you make mistakes or have done wrong we have all done that…choose to respond by turning to God, acknowledge your sins and ask for his forgiveness…

“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.  Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.  Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.”

Psalm 51:10-12

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

Reflect and Give Thanks

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“Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.  Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.  Know that the Lord is God.  It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.  For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.”

Psalm 100

(This photo was taken in June of 2016 on a lake near Minneapolis, Minnesota)

A New Day, Live A New Way

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“So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view.  Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer.  Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”

2 Corinthians 5:16-17

(This photo was taken in April of 2016 during the sunrise on a lake in central Minnesota)

Open The Eyes Of Our Hearts

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Paul writes in his letter to the Ephesians…

“I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe…”

Ephesians 1:18-19

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

The Good News

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“But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid.  I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people.  Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.  This will be a sign to you:  You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger’.

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to all on whom his favor rests’.”

Luke 2:10-14

(This photo was taken in October of 2014 at sunrise on the island of Maui)

Seek First His Kingdom

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“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.  Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.  Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

Matthew 6:33-34

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

Be Courageous

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Paul writes in one of his letters to the Corinthians…

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

1 Corinthians 16:13-14

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

Finding The Way

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“If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

1 John 1:8-9

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