“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
1 John 1:9 NIV
“For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”
Matthew 6:14-15 NIV
(This photo was taken in Mount Rainier National Park in Washington)
“The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.”
Matthew 28:5-6 NIV
The truth about all of life…only God can bring us peace
And Jesus is the One who has proved it
Reflect today on how much God loves you
And rejoice in what the risen Savior Jesus has done, is doing and will do to show you this love
Happy Easter!
“But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.
“Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him.”
Mark 16:4-6 NIV
(This photo was taken on a lake in central Minnesota)
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God[a] may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
2 Timothy 3:16-17 NIV
“Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”
Ephesians 6:17 NIV
“You are my refuge and my shield;
I have put my hope in your word.”
Psalm 119:114 NIV
Keep God’s Word close to your heart
Read it, memorize it, use it to pray
Let it be in your heart
Let it be on your mind
It will lead and guide you in your daily life
“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”
Hebrews 4:12 NIV
(This photo was taken along the North Shore of Lake Superior)
“For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us.”
Ephesians 2:14 NLT
“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
Peace comes from God and God alone…not from ourselves or the world
“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.”
Philippians 4:6-7 NIV
(This photo was taken at a lake in central Minnesota)
“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
Father God, I want to seek You with all my heart
You are my everything…so let my thoughts and actions match my words
Help me draw closer to You
Guide my decisions and inspire me with new dreams
I want to honor You with all that I am and all that I do
In Jesus name, Amen
“You will keep in perfect peace
those whose minds are steadfast,
because they trust in you.”
Isaiah 26:3 NIV
(This photo was taken at a lake near Plymouth, Minnesota)
“Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?”
And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”
Isaiah 6:8 NIV
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Matthew 28:18-20 NIV
(This photo was taken at Big Sky Resort in Montana)
“In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”
1 Peter 1:6-9 NIV
“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 1:15 NIV
“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 at a lake near Plymouth, Minnesota)
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 5:8 NIV
The Creator of the universe knows all about you and He loves you and wants a relationship with you
Look what He has done to ensure that you have the opportunity to believe in Him and spend time with Him
The Old Testament is a back and forth of God and His people growing close together and people wandering off and then coming back together…so in order to put an end to the cyclical back and forth God put His plan together to reconcile us to Him once and for all
He put His plan into action at just the right time and now because of the sacrifice and the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the penalty for our sin has been paid and we can be with God for eternity
He did it for you…He did it because He loves you that much
“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[k] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 8:37-39 NIV
(This photo was taken at sunset at a lake in northwestern Wisconsin)
“Not only so, but we[c] also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.”
Romans 5:3-5 NIV
Father God, I am Your child
Thank You for adopting me into Your eternal family
Please shape my heart
Teach me how to act in a way that honors You in my daily life and circumstances
Help me correct my thoughts and perspective along with any patterns of behavior in my life that displease You
Replace these things with characteristics that show how much I love You
In Jesus name, Amen
“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. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”
Philippians 4:8-9 NIV
(This photo was taken at sunrise at a lake in northwestern Wisconsin)
“My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.”
James 1:19-20 NIV
Seeking help…it is hard to do for many of us
First step, admit we need help
Second step, seek assistance…first from God and then from others that God puts in our lives
Last step, listen…the first two are hard enough for many of us, if we get to the last step we often lose focus…we need to listen
We often spend our listening time preparing our response instead of truly listening
We can miss God’s will for us if we fail to listen
May we all be better listeners in our daily walk with God
“Listen to advice and accept discipline, and at the end you will be counted among the wise. Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.”
Proverbs 19:20-21 NIV
(This photo was taken at Sapphire Point near Dillon, Colorado)
Take Your Faith With You 