“But the Advocate, 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
Holy Spirit by Francesca Battistelli
Our Guide…our Advocate…our Counselor…the very presence of God. Amen.
“For God did not give us a spirit of timidity but one of power, love, and self-discipline.[a]”
2 Timothy 1:7 NIV
(This photo was taken in April of 2016 at a lake in central Minnesota)
“The name of the Lord is a fortified tower;
the righteous run to it and are safe.”
Proverbs 18:10 NIV
There is only one place to find the answers we seek and that is with the Lord. He is good, His love endures forever. He wants a relationship with us. Nothing is impossible for Him.
He is greater than any issue or circumstances in our lives…no matter what it is you are facing come to the Lord.
Come, Now Is The Time To Worship by Phillips, Craig and Dean
“Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”
Hebrews 4:16 NIV
(This photo was taken in July of 2021 in Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado)
“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.”
1 John 4:7-12 NIV
Jesus came down from heaven and sacrificed Himself on the Cross…He did it for you…He did it because He loves you and wants a relationship with you! Give thanks to Him, chose to love God and love others…this is what God wants us to do.
“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
(This photo was taken in October of 2014 at the Nakalele Blowhole on the island of Maui, Hawaii)
“Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.”
Philippians 2:9-11 NIV
When life is difficult and frustrating, where do we get the ability to move forward? What could possibly renew us? What makes some people so resilient? It has been my experience that there is only one thing powerful enough to lift us up out of any tragedy or trial…and His name is Jesus.
A relationship with Jesus Christ in the way to strength in the battle and rest when we are weary. To experience His presence, we must do our part and be willing to spend time in devotions and prayer building our relationship with Him. God made a promise, He will never leave you nor forsake you and He always keeps His promises. Invite Jesus into your heart and into your life daily and you will be renewed each day. May God’s peace be with you. Amen.
There Is Power by Lincoln Brewster
“The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.”
Proverbs 18:10 NIV
(This photo was taken in September of 2022 at Jenny Lake in Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming)
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome[a] it.”
John 1:1-5 NIV
“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
John 1:14 NIV
From Genesis to Revelation the over-arching theme of the Bible is God’s love through Jesus…this love is not a guarantee that life will be easy and always pleasant…yet it is a love that is consistent, based on facts and comes to us directly in the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
You are part of this story and your part in the story is still being written. God chooses you…open your heart and mind to Jesus every day, do your part and help tell others about the greatest story ever told. Amen.
End Of The Beginning by David Phelps
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”
John 3:16-17 NIV
(This photo was taken in April of 2016 at a lake in central Minnesota)
“Your word is a lamp for my feet,
a light on my path.”
Psalm 119:105 NIV
A faith journey. It begins with belief, confession and prayer. It grows as we read the Scriptures, as we spend time in devotions, as we engage in our communities and serve others…it transforms us with a new attitude centered on God and His will for us.
Trust in God, spend time on your relationship with Jesus Christ and pray about everything, every day. He is with you, He is for you. It is up to you to seek Him. Amen.
“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly[a] with your God.”
Micah 6:8 NIV
(This photo was taken in July of 2016 in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming)
“You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.“
Ephesians 4:22-24 NIV
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:[a] The old has gone, the new is here!“
2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV
Every day brings new possibilities…don’t let the worlds values and the pursuits of ungodly things keep you distracted and lost. Trust the promises of God…we will not find hope and fulfillment in other people because we are all broken and in need of Jesus.
The world is telling us we should value ‘me’ first and live a self-centered life…not true. A Christ centered life…meeting with Him every day and trusting His Way is the New Way to live…every day. May the peace of God be with you and flow through you. 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 in April of 2016 at sunrise at a lake in central Minnesota)
“The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.”
John 1:9 NIV
When we are discouraged and defeated it may be because we are clinging to the things of this world and therefore, we are living in darkness. Comparing ourselves to others, believing our worth and our value comes from something or someone other than God.
If we are struggling to see, we need to remember the Light of the World…Jesus Christ…our Savior and Lord. Let Him lead you and guide you…read God’s Word about His birth, His life, His death and His resurrection and remember He did it all for you.
“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
John 1:14 NIV
“When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
John 8:12 NIV
(This photo was taken in May of 2023 along the North Shore of Lake Superior)
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”
John 3:16-17 NIV
As we travel on the journey of faith, we will encounter questions and doubts along the way…that is natural and it is ok. We need to remember that the one simple truth of faith is that Jesus Christ sacrificed Himself to save us and reconcile us to God because He loves us.
His love for us will conquer every battle in our lives. He is worthy of our thanks and praise. Thank you God, for your Son Jesus Christ…Amen.
“In a loud voice they were saying:
“Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength
and honor and glory and praise!”
Revelation 5:12 NIV
(This photo was taken in July of 2016 in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming)
“I love you, Lord, my strength.
2 The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge,
my shield[b] and the horn[c] of my salvation, my stronghold.”
Psalm 18:1-2 NIV
Life is hard…there seems to be difficulties, struggles, pain and suffering, hardships of every kind everywhere we look. Yet there is hope! How? Where? With the Lord who is our Rock and our refuge. The world rejects Jesus as Savior and His Way seems upside-down according to the world’s values.
But God, the Creator of all things, and following Jesus Way is the path to hope. God will have the final say about the world and He will make all things new again. Trust in the Lord and His will and His way…He is our Rock.
“The Lord is my light and my salvation—
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life—
of whom shall I be afraid?”
Psalm 27:1 NIV
(This photo was taken in August of 2016 in Glacier National Park in Montana)
Take Your Faith With You 