prayer

He Knows…

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“For you created my inmost being;
    you knit me together in my mother’s womb.”

Psalm 139:13 NIV

“Where can I go from your Spirit?
    Where can I flee from your presence?
8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
    if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
    if I settle on the far side of the sea,
10 even there your hand will guide me,
    your right hand will hold me fast.”

Psalm 139:7-10 NIV

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“Search me, God, and know my heart;
    test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24 See if there is any offensive way in me,
    and lead me in the way everlasting.”

Psalm 139:23-24 NIV

(This photo was taken in August of 2016 near Arches National Park in Utah)

There Is Power In God’s Word

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We have been told by Jesus that we will have trouble in this world.  So, because of free will, it is up to us to choose how we will respond when struggles and challenges rise up.  It is important to read and spend time in God’s Word and it is vitally important to choose a verse or some verses and memorize them…store them up deep in your heart and mind, so that you can recall them no matter where you are and whenever you need them.  When Jesus was tempted by Satan He responded with Scripture…we should be prepared to do the same…when we are tempted we need to recall the verse or verses we have in memory to turn our minds towards God.  There is power in His Word.  Amen.

“God has breathed life into all Scripture. It is useful for teaching us what is true. It is useful for correcting our mistakes. It is useful for making our lives whole again. It is useful for training us to do what is right. 17 By using Scripture, the servant of God can be completely prepared to do every good thing.”

2 Timothy 3:16-17 NIRV

“Your word is like a lamp that shows me the way.
    It is like a light that guides me.”

Psalm 119:105 NIRV

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“The word of God is alive and active. It is sharper than any sword that has two edges. It cuts deep enough to separate soul from spirit. It can separate bones from joints. It judges the thoughts and purposes of the heart.”

Hebrews 4:12 NIRV

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

We Are Forgiven

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“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Romans 5:8 NIV

“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”

Ephesians 4:32 NIV

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“Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”[a] And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.”

Luke 23:34 NIV

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

He Is With You Wherever You Go

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“The Lord himself will go ahead of you. He will be with you. He will never leave you. He’ll never desert you. So don’t be afraid. Don’t lose hope.”

Deuteronomy 31:8 NIRV

“Here is what I am commanding you to do. Be strong and brave. Do not be afraid. Do not lose hope. I am the Lord your God. I will be with you everywhere you go.”

Joshua 1:9 NIRV

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“So do not be afraid. I am with you.
    Do not be terrified. I am your God.
I will make you strong and help you.
    I will hold you safe in my hands.
    I always do what is right.

11 “All those who are angry with you will be put to shame.
    And they will be dishonored.
Those who oppose you will be destroyed.
    And they will vanish.
12 You might search for your enemies.
    But you will not find them.
Those who go to war against you
    will completely disappear.
13 I am the Lord your God.
    I take hold of your right hand.
I say to you, ‘Do not be afraid.”

Isaiah 41:10-13 NIRV

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

Share God’s Word

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“God has breathed life into all Scripture. It is useful for teaching us what is true. It is useful for correcting our mistakes. It is useful for making our lives whole again. It is useful for training us to do what is right.”

2 Timothy 3:16 NIRV

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“So you must go and make disciples of all nations. Baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach them to obey everything I have commanded you. And you can be sure that I am always with you, to the very end.”

Matthew 28:19-20 NIRV

(This photo was taken in July of 2106 along Beartooth Pass in Montana)

Praise The Lord

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“Praise the Lord.

Praise God in his holy temple.
    Praise him in his mighty heavens.
2 Praise him for his powerful acts.
    Praise him because he is greater than anything else.
3 Praise him by blowing trumpets.
    Praise him with harps and lyres.
4 Praise him with tambourines and dancing.
    Praise him with stringed instruments and flutes.
5 Praise him with clashing cymbals.
    Praise him with clanging cymbals.

6 Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.

Praise the Lord.”

Psalm 150 NIRV

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“Praise the Lord.

Give thanks to the Lord, because he is good.
    His faithful love continues forever.”

Psalm 106:1 NIRV

(This photo was taken in July of 2016 while traveling through North Dakota)

Give Thanks

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“Shout for joy to the Lord, everyone on earth.
2     Worship the Lord with gladness.
    Come to him with songs of joy.
3 Know that the Lord is God.
    He made us, and we belong to him.
We are his people.
    We are the sheep belonging to his flock.”

Psalm 100:1-3 NIRV

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“Give thanks as you enter the gates of his temple.
    Give praise as you enter its courtyards.
    Give thanks to him and praise his name.
5 The Lord is good. His faithful love continues forever.
    It will last for all time to come.”

Psalm 100:4-5

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

Trust The Lord

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“I will say about the Lord,
    “He is my place of safety.
He is like a fort to me.
    He is my God. I trust in him.”

Psalm 91:2 NIRV

“Suppose you say, “The Lord is the one who keeps me safe.”
    Suppose you let the Most High God be like a home to you.
10 Then no harm will come to you.
    No terrible plague will come near your tent.
11 The Lord will command his angels
    to take good care of you.
12 They will lift you up in their hands.
    Then you won’t trip over a stone.”

Psalm 91:9-12 NIRV

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“I look up to the mountains.
    Where does my help come from?
2 My help comes from the Lord.
    He is the Maker of heaven and earth.”

Psalm 121:1-2 NIRV

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

Transformation

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 “I will give you new hearts. I will give you a new spirit that is faithful to me. I will remove your stubborn hearts from you. I will give you hearts that obey me.”

Ezekiel 36:26 NIRV

“The thoughts of a person ruled by sin bring death. But the mind ruled by the Spirit brings life and peace. 7 The mind ruled by the power of sin is at war with God. It does not obey God’s law. It can’t. 8 Those who are under the power of sin can’t please God.

9 But you are not ruled by the power of sin. Instead, the Holy Spirit rules over you. This is true if the Spirit of God lives in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to Christ. 10 If Christ lives in you, you will live. Though your body will die because of sin, the Spirit gives you life. The Spirit does this because you have been made right with God. 11 The Spirit of the God who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you. So the God who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your bodies. He will do this because of his Spirit who lives in you.”

Romans 8:6-11 NIRV

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“So from now on we don’t look at anyone the way the world does. At one time we looked at Christ in that way. But we don’t anymore. 17 When anyone lives in Christ, the new creation has come. The old is gone! The new is here! 18 All this is from God. He brought us back to himself through Christ’s death on the cross. And he has given us the task of bringing others back to him through Christ.”

2 Corinthians 5:16-18 NIRV

(This photo was taken in April of 2021 at a lake near Plymouth, Minnesota)

God Is Love

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It has been said that in order for people to receive and understand a message they must see/hear it a minimum of three times…here are 3 verses in the same letter about today’s message.  May God’s peace be with you.  Amen.

“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.”

1 John 4:8 NIV

“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 4:11 NIV

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“God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. 17 This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. 18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

19 We love because he first loved us. 20 Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. 21 And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.”

1 John 4:16-21 NIV

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