Peace

Wisdom From Above

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“But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.”

James 3:17 NIV

I don’t know…I’m not sure…I don’t understand…Can you help me…I need help

Statements like these make us vulnerable, they open us up, they make us humble

To the world these phrases can be seen as weak and needy

What we need is wisdom from God

We need a change in the attitudes and behaviors we choose

Wisdom from the world is self-focused, get more, hurry up, me first mentality

The most significant thing about choosing the wisdom of the world

We will lose the opportunity to pursue relationships with others

God our Creator, His Son Jesus Christ our Savior and the Holy Spirit have the wisdom that is so desperately needed in this world

Seek wisdom from God, not the world

And you will know peace and joy

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“For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.”

1 Corinthians 1:25 NIV

(This photo was taken in Mount Rainier National Park in Washington)

Overcome Trouble And Sorrow

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“Our days may come to seventy years,
    or eighty, if our strength endures;
yet the best of them are but trouble and sorrow,
    for they quickly pass, and we fly away.”

Psalm 90:10 NIV

The Bible tells us in this life we will have trouble and sorrow…

It states very clearly that life is hard

Yet we still have hope and can be encouraged because Jesus Christ came into this world and sacrificed Himself to assure that we can have a relationship with God

Do not be overcome by trouble and sorrow…

Overcome these things with faith and trust in the Lord

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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 NIV

(This photo was taken at a lake in central Minnesota)

Praise Him

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“Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord;
    let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.
2 Let us come before him with thanksgiving
    and extol him with music and song.

3 For the Lord is the great God,
    the great King above all gods.
4 In his hand are the depths of the earth,
    and the mountain peaks belong to him.
5 The sea is his, for he made it,
    and his hands formed the dry land.

6 Come, let us bow down in worship,
    let us kneel before the Lord our Maker;
7 for he is our God
    and we are the people of his pasture,
    the flock under his care.”

Psalm 95:1-7 NIV

King Of Kings by Hillsong Worship

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“Praise the Lord.[a]

Praise God in his sanctuary;
    praise him in his mighty heavens.
2 Praise him for his acts of power;
    praise him for his surpassing greatness.
3 Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet,
    praise him with the harp and lyre,
4 praise him with timbrel and dancing,
    praise him with the strings and pipe,
5 praise him with the clash of cymbals,
    praise him with resounding cymbals.

6 Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.

Praise the Lord.”

Psalm 150 NIV

(This photo was taken in Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota)

Encourage One Another

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“Let love and faithfulness never leave you;
    bind them around your neck,
    write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 Then you will win favor and a good name
    in the sight of God and man.”

Proverbs 3:3-4 NIV

Receive encouragement from the Holy Spirit and be renewed by spending time with God and reading God’s Word

God’s love is for all of us and we are created to love God and to love others

Let His love flow through you and be encouraging for others with your words and your actions

Encourage one another

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“Trust in the Lord with all your heart
    and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways submit to him,
    and he will make your paths straight.”[a]

Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV

(This photo was taken in Bighorn National Forest in Wyoming)

God’s Faithfulness

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“Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments.”

Deuteronomy 7:9 NIV

Father God, You make all things beautiful in their proper timing

Nothing is too hard for You to accomplish

You are faithful to keep Your promises

So often, we forget this and grow discouraged when our situations don’t seem to change

In those moments, it’s easy to forget that You are not done working

Through Your Holy Spirit, please change the way we think and behave

When we start to grow weary, help us remember that You are near and You are faithful

In Jesus name, Amen

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“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,
    for his compassions never fail.
23 They are new every morning;
    great is your faithfulness.”

Lamentations 3:22-23 NIV

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

Rest And Renew

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“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Matthew 11:28-30 NIV

We are not in control of what happens in the world

The daily news and events make that abundantly clear

The only thing we can control is how we choose to respond to things that do happen

The best thing we can do is turn towards Jesus first

Give thanks to the Lord for the good things

Ask for help and guidance for the difficult things

We don’t know and can’t control what will happen tomorrow

Yet we can trust in Him who sits on the throne of heaven

It is by drawing near to Him that we can find rest and be renewed

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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 in Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming)

Wisdom And Understanding

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“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
    and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.“

Proverbs 9:10 NIV

“How much better to get wisdom than gold,
    to get insight rather than silver!“

Proverbs 16:16 NIV

Often times the writings in the Bible can be misunderstood because the true intent of the word has lost its meaning in society

  Take the word ‘fear’ as an example…in today’s world this strictly means to be afraid, danger or a bad feeling

In the Bible to fear the Lord is to regard God with reverence and awe, to be respectful

When we learn we gain wisdom and when we understand the writing becomes clearer

We would be wise to seek wisdom and to get understanding from God, not the world

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“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
    all who follow his precepts have good understanding.
    To him belongs eternal praise.“

Psalm 111:10 NIV

(This photo was taken on the shore on Lake Superior near Ashland, Wisconsin)

Compassion

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“For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;
    his faithfulness continues through all generations.”

Psalm 100:5 NIV

To be helpful…thoughtful…aware of the suffering of others…a desire to provide help and support…understanding the needs of another

One of the strongest elements of humility is compassion

Being aware that others are suffering and need assistance and then going and doing something that provides help and support

We all have different roles in our relationships with others

Which means there are many different ways for us to provide help and support depending on who needs us and what has happened to them

When you know or get a sense inside you that you should do something for someone else but you are unsure what it is you should do, do not ignore that feeling

Turn to the Lord and ask Him to help guide you to what the other person needs…then listen and pay attention

Be careful not to do something you believe or think they need from your perspective…rather be sensitive and aware of what they say they need

Compassion does not have to be something difficult and complex in order to be helpful

Often times it is the simple and thoughtful things that make the biggest difference for others

May God’s grace and mercy flow through us and into our relationships

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“The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love.  The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.”

Psalm 145:8-9 NIV

(This photo was taken near the border between Minnesota and South Dakota)

The Truth

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“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

John 14:6 NIV

“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.”

2 Timothy 2:15 NIV

You Say by Lauren Daigle

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“To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

John 8:31-32 NIV

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

God Is Walking With You

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“The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
2     He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
3     he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
    for his name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk
    through the darkest valley,[a]
I will fear no evil,
    for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
    they comfort me.“

Psalm 23:1-4 NIV

“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

The peace and comfort we seek from worldly values and other people will only be found in our relationship with God

Remember that God has said that in this world we will have trouble

Also remember He is walking with us through every moment of every day

He doesn’t take away the suffering

He gives us the strength and courage we need to go through it

Put your trust in Him and give Him the worries and burdens of each day

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“So do not fear, for I am with you;
    do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
    I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.“

Isaiah 41:10 NIV

(This photo was taken at Sapphire Point near Dillon, Colorado)