prayer

Light Of Life

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When the power goes out or we enter a place or a room that is dark…what do our instincts tell us to do?  Search for a light, why?  So we can see our surroundings and the way to move forward.  This is exactly the reaction we should have when our life feels like we are in the dark or surrounded by darkness.  Search for the Light, the Light of Christ to help us to see and to guide us forward.  So many of us stay in the darkness and spend days, weeks, months or even years trying to find our way around in the dark and we wonder why life is so hard?  Follow the instincts that God has placed inside you…seek the Light of Life so that you can see.  Amen.

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“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

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

Savior…Sacrifice…Salvation

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The world tells us to pursue money, comfort and the easy life.  To look out for ourselves and satisfy ourselves first and most often, this is the sinful nature and it has taken hold in many people.  There is a way to be different and to live with purpose and it is based on your personal relationship with Jesus Christ.  He loves you, He gave His life to save you and His way is the only way to God the Father.  Spend time reading God’s Word and learn about the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.  May the peace of the Lord be with you.  Amen.

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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

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

Prayer…Taste And See

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We are searching for answers to so many questions.  We are easily frustrated and begin to think negative thoughts.  We think that the only way to pray is with certain words or a certain way…God just wants hear from us no matter how or when we pray.  He desires a real relationship with us, not for us to perform the way we think He wants us to.  Pray with your words and your feelings, be willing to be honest with God and seek His will for your life.  Here are the lyrics and a song by Riley Clemmons to share her thoughts about prayers…

Broken Prayers by Riley Clemmons

I’ve been taught how to talk to you
Hold it together, make the bad look better
Say all the words that I’m supposed to
Bow my head, say, “amen”
Yeah, that’ll do
Making every dead end look like heaven
Like being okay is the way to reach you
But you’re not afraid of all the things I feel
So why am I afraid of being real?
You want my tears, every messy word
Every scar and every fear
You want all I have
With no holding back
When I’m hurt, at my worst
You meet me there
‘Cause you see the beauty
In my broken prayers
In my broken prayers
You don’t care if it ain’t poetry
‘Cause all of my edges
They’re a little rough
But that’s all I got to bring
‘Cause you’re not afraid of all the things I feel
Don’t have to hide the scars that still aren’t healed
You want my tears, every messy word (yeah)
Every scar and every fear
You want all I have
With no holding back
When I’m hurt, at my worst
You meet me there
‘Cause You see the beauty
In my broken prayers
In my broken prayers
Mascara running down my face
Desperate cry in a dark place
You take me that way
All of me
You want my tears, every messy word
Every scar and every fear
You want all I have
With no holding back
When I’m hurt, at my worst
You meet me there
‘Cause you see the beauty
In my broken prayers
In my broken prayers
In my broken prayers
In my broken prayers
My broken prayers
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“Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.”
Psalms 34:8
(This photo was taken in April of 2016 on a lake in central Minnesota)

Give Thanks and Praise

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It is crazy how quickly the attetntion of so many people is distracted.  Today’s world is filled with so much information and so much more incorrect information that it is easy to get derailed or side tracked.  We need to be able to be centered on something or someone to keep us level headed and not chasing every feeling and emotion as if we are the center of the universe.  God knows everything about us.  I did a brief exercise this morning that I read about in one of my devotionals today…think about your last 24 hours…God knows about every single thing and every single thought you have experienced…yes even that one…now think about the fact that this is true about every single thing and thought in your life…and after all that realize that right now, knowing all those things, God forgives you and God loves you the same today as He did the day you were born.  To show you how much He loves and cares for you He sent His Son to take the punishment that we all deserve so that we can still have a relationship with Him.  Give thanks and praise to God our Father and Jesus Christ, His Son, our Savior and Lord.  Amen.

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“Rejoice in the Lord always.  I will say it again: Rejoice!  Let your gentleness be evident to all.  The Lord is near.  Do not be anxious about anything, but in prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 4:4-7

(This photo was taken in  August of 2016 in Mount Rainier National Park in Washington)

Persevere

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Purposeful…dedicated…courageous…committed…determined…resolute.  It takes strength to run the race of faith.  The evil in this world will serve us many forms of darkness and struggle, it will work hard, very hard to keep us away from God.  We have to be willing to fight just as hard to stay close to God and trust in the hope that faith gives us…even when…especially when we can’t see it.  Don’t stop believing…(and now the song by Journey is playing in my mind)…keep the faith, when you get knocked back or pushed down trust in God and keep running the race of faith.  Amen.

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“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”

Hebrews 12:1

(This photo was taken in July of 2016 on Beartooth Pass in Montana)

Our Faith And Our Actions

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These two things are linked and interwoven together.  If we focus on only one without the other we are not complete.  A faith journey can begin on the inside, molding and shaping our thoughts and our attitude, as we grow, we begin to show what we have learned in our actions and our behaviors towards others.  We have had the best example possible set for us in the life of Christ.  He not only spoke the Words of faith and taught others, he went out and lived it…He befriended the hurting, the sick, the lonely and the mistreated and came to bring healing to our broken world.  When we are able to join our faith and our actions they feed us, help us to grow and bring joy and peace.  Amen.

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“I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.  My command is this:  Love each other as I have loved you.”

John 15:11-12

(This photo was taken in August of 2016 near Glacier National Park in Montana)

 

He Knows

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No matter how you are feeling or what thoughts are racing through your mind, remember that God knows what is going on in your life and in your mind and He is waiting for you to turn to Him and trust Him to be your guide and to care for you.  All that is good comes from God, all that is sin and suffering was brought into this world by us.  Believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God and come to Him for whatever you need.  The music of the world has been impacting more than usual over the last few weeks…I can’t help but think it is God speaking through others as some of the songs I have heard many times over and yet they seem to sound different lately or more like message.  Today I share a song by Jeremy Camp that He released 4 years ago.  May the God of mercy a grace be with you.  Amen.

“He Knows” by Jeremy Camp

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“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  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.”

Matthew 11:28-29

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

 

Wait For The Lord

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If you are frustrated or worried, if you are anxious or tired, if you are angry or defeated…pray and wait for the Lord.  If you are weighing thoughts on a choice or  decision…ask Jesus to guide you and wait for Him.  If your heart says this way and your head says that way…seek God’s will and wait for His plan.  God has good things in store for you and your life, be patient and know that He loves you.  If you feel like darkness and evil are all around you, that is not God’s doing that is sin and the sinful world, seek His Light and you will see a way out.  The Lord is with you, He will never leave you and He will never abandon you.  Amen.

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“I am still confident of this:  I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.  Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.”

Psalms 27:13-14

(This photo was taken in August of 2016 in Glacier National Park in Montana)

Facing Trials

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We are not made to do this on our own…so many people try to go it alone.  We need faith and a belief in Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord.  We need a community of believers to pray with us and for us.  Every trial can provide growth in our relationship with Jesus.  The trials will keep coming, that is just part of what we are facing in this fallen world.  There is hope, there is joy and there can be peace if you believe in God and trust Him with your life.  He has shown His love for us through the sacrifice of His One and Only Son.  Whatever are you are facing today…take it to the Lord in prayer.  Amen.

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“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, becasue you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.”

James 1:2-3

(This photo was taken in July of 2018 while on a hike near Bayfield, Wisconsin)

Our Plans…His Plan

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The faith journey can feel like a repetitive cycle.  We read God’s Word, we go to worship, we listen and learn.  We believe we understand and will now go and live according to what we have learned…then as humans tend to do, we try to take control and go off our own way and end up frustatred and wonder what happened?  Then it’s back to God’s Word and going to worship, etc.  How can this cycle be broken?  When we get to a point where we are about to take some form of action, something that we normally would do,  we need to pause, step aside and pray.  Ask God what do you want me to do here?  Ask Him to give us wisdom according to His plan and then wait and listen.  It could be we are spending a siginificant amount of our time on something God never intended for us to be doing.  The only way to find out is between you and Him.  Seek the will of the Lord for your life and live.  Amen.

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“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord.  As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

Isaiah 55:8-9

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