God Is Love

God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son. Anyone who believes in him will not die but will have eternal life. 17 God did not send his Son into the world to judge the world. He sent his Son to save the world through him.”

John 3:16-17 NIRV

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 “May you have power together with all the Lord’s holy people to understand Christ’s love. May you know how wide and long and high and deep it is. 19 And may you know his love, even though it can’t be known completely. Then you will be filled with everything God has for you.”

Ephesians 3:18-19 NIRV

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

Be Generous

Here is something to remember. The one who plants only a little will gather only a little. And the one who plants a lot will gather a lot. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give. You shouldn’t give if you don’t want to. You shouldn’t give because you are forced to. God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to shower all kinds of blessings on you. So in all things and at all times you will have everything you need. You will do more and more good works.”

2 Corinthians 9:6-8 NIRV

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“Then the King will speak to those on his right. He will say, ‘My Father has blessed you. Come and take what is yours. It is the kingdom prepared for you since the world was created. 35 I was hungry. And you gave me something to eat. I was thirsty. And you gave me something to drink. I was a stranger. And you invited me in. 36 I needed clothes. And you gave them to me. I was sick. And you took care of me. I was in prison. And you came to visit me.’

37 “Then the people who have done what is right will answer him. ‘Lord,’ they will ask, ‘when did we see you hungry and feed you? When did we see you thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you as a stranger and invite you in? When did we see you needing clothes and give them to you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

40 “The King will reply, ‘What I’m about to tell you is true. Anything you did for one of the least important of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

Matthew 25:34-40 NIRV

(This photo was taken in June of 2016 in a neighborhood near Plymouth, Minnesota)

Believe…Overcome

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands.”

1 John 5:1-2 NIV

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In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.”

1 John 5:3-5 NIV

(This photo was taken in July of 2021 at Bear Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado)

Encouragement

Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”

Philippians 2:1-4 NIV

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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 in April of 2020 at a lake near Plymouth, Minnesota)

Commit Your Way To The Lord

Commit to the Lord everything you do.
    Then he will make your plans succeed.”

Proverbs 16:3 NIRV

In their hearts human beings plan their lives.
    But the Lord decides where their steps will take them.”

Proverbs 16:9 NIRV

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“I know the plans I have for you,” announces the Lord. “I want you to enjoy success. I do not plan to harm you. I will give you hope for the years to come.”

Jeremiah 29:11 NIRV

(This photo was taken in July of 2016 in Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota)

Continue To Do Good

Those who plan evil go down the wrong path.
    But those who plan good find love and truth.”

Proverbs 14:22 NIRV

Let us not become tired of doing good. At the right time we will gather a crop if we don’t give up. 10 So when we can do good to everyone, let us do it. Let’s try even harder to do good to the family of believers.”

Galatians 6:9-10 NIRV

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“We are God’s creation. He created us to belong to Christ Jesus. Now we can do good works. Long ago God prepared these works for us to do.”

Ephesians 2:10 NIRV

(This photo was taken in July of 2021 at the Fish Sunflower Field in Buffalo, Minnesota)

Wisdom And Understanding

If you want to become wise, you must begin by respecting the Lord.
    To know the Holy One is to gain understanding.”

Proverbs 9:10 NIRV

It is much better to get wisdom than gold.
    It is much better to choose understanding than silver.”

Proverbs 16:16 NIRV

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If you really want to become wise,
    you must begin by having respect for the Lord.
All those who follow his rules have good understanding.
    People should praise him forever.”

Psalm 111:10 NIRV

(This photo was taken in July of 2018 on the shore on Lake Superior near Ashland, Wisconsin)

Holy Spirit

“But the Father will send the Friend in my name to help you. The Friend is the Holy Spirit. He will teach you all things. He will remind you of everything I have said to you.”

John 14:26 NIRV

“If you love me, obey my commands. 16 I will ask the Father. And he will give you another friend to help you and to be with you forever. 17 That friend is the Spirit of truth. The world can’t accept him. That’s because the world does not see him or know him. But you know him. He lives with you, and he will be in you.”

John 14:15-17 NIRV

Holy Spirit by Francesca Battistelli

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“May the God who gives hope fill you with great joy. May you have perfect peace as you trust in him. May the power of the Holy Spirit fill you with hope.”

Romans 15:13 NIRV

(This photo was taken in May of 2014 at a lake in central Minnesota)

Light Of The World

“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

“For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,”[a] made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.”

2 Corinthians 4:6 NIV

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In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome[a] it.”

John 1:1-5 NIV

(This photo was taken in July of 2016 in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming)

Trust His Way

“In the morning let me hear about your faithful love,
    because I’ve put my trust in you.
Show me the way I should live,
    because I trust you with my life.”

Psalm 143:8 NIRV

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The Lord is gracious, kind and tender.
    He is slow to get angry and full of love.
The Lord is good to all.
    He shows deep concern for everything he has made.”

Psalm 145:8-9 NIRV

(This photo was taken in July of 2018 at a park near Bayfield, Wisconsin)