prayer

What Path Are You On?

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“Give careful thought to the[c] paths for your feet
    and be steadfast in all your ways.
27 Do not turn to the right or the left;
    keep your foot from evil.“

Proverbs 4:26-27 NIV

The original navigtion tool in this world is God’s Word.  Which way should I go? What should I do next?  How should I handle this situation?  How do I respond to that person?  And so many more questions can be answered by spending time in God’s Word.

Pick it up and read it, listen to Him and put into action the things He teaches us.  God’s Word is the ultimate guide for your path.  Take time to reflect of where you have been and where you are going in life…what path are you on?

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“Your word is a lamp for my feet,
    a light on my path.”

Psalm 119:105 NIV

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

Good To All

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“The Lord is gracious and compassionate,
    slow to anger and rich in love.

9 The Lord is good to all;
    he has compassion on all he has made.”

Psalm 145:8-9 NIV

God is patient and persevering with everyone…yes even with that person that came to mind for you and me when we see those words.  The depth of His love is incomprehensible for our minds.  Jesus suffered and died and was resurrected so that everyone has the opportunity to choose to follow Him.

No matter what happens in our lives…look at the people written about in the Bible?  They showed their humanity and made sinful choices just like any of us do.  This does not stop God from pursuing us and calling to us to come near to Him.  God is relentless…He loves us and wants us to choose to believe in Him, love Him and trust Him with our lives.  This is why I have chosen to love Him so much!

Reckless Love by Cory Asbury

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“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who[a] have been called according to his purpose.”

Romans 8:28 NIV

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

Trust In The Lord…Praise Him

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“Trust in the Lord and do good;
    dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
4 Take delight in the Lord,
    and he will give you the desires of your heart.”

Psalm 37:3-4 NIV

Only God can do the things we wish we could control…only He can transform the way people think and change their hearts.  Faith is about trusting His way and His timing…be still and wait patiently for Him.  Keep doing good things according to God’s Word.

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“I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart;
    I will glorify your name forever.”

Psalm 86:12 NIV

(This photo was taken in April 2020 at a lake near Plymouth, Minnesota)

Come, Just As You Are

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

Matthew 11:28 NIV

No matter where you are…no matter what your circumstances…no matter what you have done or left undone…you can “Come” to the Lord Jesus Christ, just as you are…Come, now is the time to worship.  Amen.

Come Now Is The Time To Worship by Brian Doerksen

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“The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.”

Revelation 22:17 NIV

(This photo was taken in June of 2013 at Mount Rushmore National Memorial in South Dakota)

Guard Your Heart

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“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”

Jeremiah 29:13 NIV

We all face trials and struggles.  The one thing we can control during these times and situations is how we choose to respond.  Many of us quickly try to gain control and take charge, determined not to let the situation get the best of us…others do an about face and get away from the situation as quickly as they can.

All of us can do better if we start with bringing the situation, the difficult time or difficult relationship to God first.  We need to stop waiting and trying to do things our own way…going into battle against darkness and evil without God is like a soldier heading into a battle without any weapon.  If we turn towards God first, the more likely we will find peace and be able to overcome the troubles of life.

“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

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“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by 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 4:6-7 NIV

(This photo was taken in October of 2013 in a neighborhood near Plymouth, Minnesota)

Worry And Anxiety

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“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life[e]?

28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

Matthew 6:25-34 NIV

The first time I highlighted some verses in my bible many years ago it was Matthew 6:25-34…they stood out to me.  They told me something nobody else has ever told me about worries, fears and anxiety…those verses told me why I don’t need to worry all the time about everything.

God is in control, He knows what we need and He knows what is best for us…now when we get off track and try to live our lives separate from God we end up getting ourselves in some pretty dicey situations…that is not God doing that to us, that it is us and our free will choosing to seperate from God.

So, if we want to see change in our lives and our situations it is up to us to put God first in our lives and to seek His will.  Life will still have trouble but we know with God all things are possible.  Amen.

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“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”

1 Peter 5:7 NIV

(This photo was taken in July of 2019 at a lake near Plymouth, Minnesota)

Give Thanks

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“Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV

What are you thankful for today?  How often are we able to see something to be thankful for during difficult times?  It is not easy…yet it is a choice.  An attitude of gratitude may not come naturally to us but we should strive for it…gratitude can make such a big difference in our lives and the lives of others.  So as you reflect on your life what are you thankful for?

Give thanks for little things and big things…start by thanking God for Jesus Christ and what He did for you on the Cross and see where God leads you.  Amen.

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“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

Colossians 3:15-17 NIV

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

Wait For The Lord

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“The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him,
    to the one who seeks him;
26 it is good to wait quietly
    for the salvation of the Lord.”

Lamentations 3:25-26 NIV

Hurry and impatience are causing more bad things to happen to us than we are willing to admit.  Why are we rushing around?  This is not how God created us to be.  Look at how Jesus lived on earth.  He took time sit quietly alone with God and to pray.  Filling our life with busyness is a sickness and will cause damage to our bodies and our relationships with others over time.  If you are often tired and weary take a moment to slow down…pick up God’s Word and pray to the Lord.  Remember God’s promises and wait for Him to guide you and lead you.

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“Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you;
    therefore he will rise up to show you compassion.
For the Lord is a God of justice.
    Blessed are all who wait for him!”

Isaiah 30:18 NIV

(This photo was taken in May of 2023 alomg the North Shore of Lake Superior)

The Truth Will Set You Free

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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

Faith in God means believing the truth.  The truth that God sent His only Son to save us from our sins.  If we allow temptation and sin to rule our lives…it will keep us away from God and we will be inviting trouble into everything we do.

If we follow the truth and put Jesus in the center of our lives, we will know peace.  Peace that surpasses all understanding.

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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 in September of 2022 at Big Sky Resort in Big Sky, Montana)

The Goodness Of God

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“Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;
    his greatness no one can fathom.
4 One generation commends your works to another;
    they tell of your mighty acts.
5 They speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty—
    and I will meditate on your wonderful works.[b]
6 They tell of the power of your awesome works—
    and I will proclaim your great deeds.
7 They celebrate your abundant goodness
    and joyfully sing of your righteousness.

8 The Lord is gracious and compassionate,
    slow to anger and rich in love.

9 The Lord is good to all;
    he has compassion on all he has made.”

Psalm 145:3-9 NIV

God is good.  The reason sin and evil are in the world is because of us.  We have pain and suffering and we ask God why…yet we are the ones who have drifted away from Him.  No matter what, God is patient with us and is always ready for us to turn towards Him and come near to Him.  He knows us, He knows everything about us and yet He still sent He Son to die on the Cross to save us.

God is good and He is with you and He is for you, every day, all the time.  Thanks be to God for His Goodness!

Goodness Of God by Jenn Johnson

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

Psalm 27:13-14 NIV

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