Relationship

Don’t Give Up

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Our lives are filled with moments and memories…some are good times and some are difficult.  We all tend to embellish a bit in our memories, the memory of good times seem to be really good and the memory of bad times seem to be really bad.  For many there seems to be more bad memories that start to take a person down a road where even the present moments are seen through their eyes with a negative perspective.  This is a quick spiral downward and we can get stuck in the swirl of negativity.  We have to have the courage to choose a new perspective, a more balanced view things and we are fed that perspective when we read the Word of God.  When times are hard and it feels like you are making no progress on anything…don’t give up, keep pressing on, keep believing…that is your faith at work.  Goodness will come to those who believe in the hope that God provides through Jesus Christ.  May God’s peace be with you.

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“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”

Colossians 3:12

(This photo was taken in June of 2013 in Badlands National Park in South Dakota)

The Presence Of God

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Our faith becomes most real when we go through something that is difficult to explain with words…when a need is met in an unexplained way, when courage came at an unexpected time, when peace overwhelms us during a difficult time, when we are able to do something that we normally would not consider attempting if we had time to think about it and analyze it…when we get out of the way mentally and God is guiding us, only later do we realize that God came near to us.  These are not once in a lifetime experiences as God is with us in life every step of the way every day…we just need to be in communication with Him and trust in Him.  May God’s peace be with you.

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“The Lore replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give your rest.”

Exodus 33:14

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

Self-less

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One of the most tragic afflictions of our time is selfishness or being self-focused.  The look at me, make sure I have more than others, constantly assessing my place compared to others and then determining my own value based on what others think or tell me they think about me mentality.  This perspective pushes God to the side and puts me first as the top priority.  This has always been an affliction on human society and it seems to have grown exponentially since the explosion of social media.  One of the world’s greatest needs right now is more humility and less selfies.  Imagine the impact on human relationships when people are looking to lift others up as often as they care for themselves.  I am not suggesting we ignore ourselves rather we strive for a better balance in the way we live.  I pray that we all take time to be humble and serve as much as we look to be served.  As usual with faith it’s simple but not easy.  May God’s peace be with you.

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“Do nothing out of selfish ambition of vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.  Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.”

Philippians 2:3-4

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

Prayer

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Growing up prayer was about being able to memorize the lines of the Lord’s prayer, however, there wasn’t much talk about or at least I don’t remember hearing about the meaning of what we were saying and I don’t believe I was told that you can say other things or that you should take time to listen to God as well.  I was taught more about a one way street, me speaking to God, and most television shows or movies at that time would indicate that a relationship with God meant keeping Him in a box with a glass door that read “In Case of an Emergency Break Glass.”  Only in my adult life have I learned about a deeper prayer relationship and sitting in nature or in the quiet and listening.  The ability to communicate daily and to grow in your time with God is a blessing…in means slowing down and not taking your cues from the frenetic rush of society or social media.  It is about being present and aware of your surroundings and living each day.  Prayer is the place to start connecting or re-connecting with God.  May God’s peace be with you.

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

Psalm 103:8

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

True Joy

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When people are asked to define what joy is or what joy looks like it is often described in terms of being happy or upbeat or feeling good.  I am learning that definition sounds more like feelings and a definition of happy then a definition of joy.  To me joy is more consistent then our feelings…feelings come and go, up or down quickly.  One only has to be a fan of any sport to understand how quickly feelings come and go and change.  When the outcome of victory or defeat changes so do the feelings of the fans.  Joy is more then a feeling…it is more of a sense of confidence and belief that even when things are really not going well we can still be assured that things will improve or we will find a way to go forward.  This true joy can’t be achieved on our own it is only grasped as a part of faith in God, relationship with Jesus and an understanding that no matter where you are or what is going on, God is with you every step of the way.  Ask the Lord to help you find this Joy.  May God’s peace be with you.

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“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you.  Now remain in my love.  If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love.  I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.”

John 15:9-11

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

Gratitude

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The messages that come to us through television, the internet, social media, and many other ways usually have a sense of negativity and complaining within them.  The world is full of despair and suffering.  We humans are inviting sin and darkness into our lives when we sit and consume hours of screen time and look only to serve ourselves…this is not a judgement it is a fact and it happens to me far too often as well.  It is so easy to get sucked in to misery and despair…while it is important to recognize a time for sadness, and mourning, depending upon the battle you are fighting, it is not a state of mind or place to stay and live constantly.  There should always be a time for hope and gratitude to coincide with sadness and despair…with everything in life there should be a healthy balance.  The one place I can trust in hope is in the Word of God…the bible is not a fairy tale it is history and recorded observations.  Jesus Christ came into the world to save us from our sins and He sacrificed himself to death to reconcile us with God…for that I am eternally grateful.  May God’s peace be with you.  (If you are wondering we got the computer working again)

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“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.”

Psalm 118:1

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

Living For God – A Prayer by St. Francis of Assisi

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Make me a channel of Your peace.
Where there is hatred let me bring Your love,
Where there is injury Your pardon Lord,
And where there’s doubt, true faith in You.

Make me a channel of Your peace.
Where there’s despair in life let me bring hope,
Where there is darkness, only light,
And where there’s sadness, ever joy.

Oh, Master, grant that I may never seek,
So much to be consoled, as to console.
To be understood, as to understand,
To be loved, as to love with all my soul.

Make me a channel of Your peace.
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
In giving to all men that we receive,
And in dying that we’re born to eternal life.

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“Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.  If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God.  If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.  To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever.  Amen.”

1 Peter 4:10-11

(This photo was taken in June of 2016 on a lake in northwestern Wisconsin)

Give Thanks To The Lord

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I grew up in house where Sunday was all about going to worship, then food which was usually a full spread brunch at home or out to eat and then football.  These Sundays are some of my best memories from childhood.  There is something about following sports that is hard to explain in words and it doesn’t matter what sport you follow…football, basketball, baseball, hockey, Nascar or even Olympic sports.  For everybody it can be a different sport but when this thing about it gets into you…your juices really seem to get flowing you are either excited because things are going well or you disappointed and disgusted because things do not go well.

Either way, win or lose, the one thing that I have thought about lately is sports and sporting events seem to bring people together in community in a way that few things in this world can and that may be the best part they play in our lives.  May God’s peace be with you.

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“For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.”

Psalm 100:5

(This photo was taken by my friend Matt in July of 2014 at a lake place in central Minnesota)

Commitment

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Do what you say you would do…stay true to your word…demonstrate a willingness to be responsible…show integrity.   When you read these phrases and think about them none of them say this is going to be all about ‘fun’ or ‘personally convenient’ or ‘this is all about being happy all the time.’  Commitment is hard and it takes dedication, it takes time and it doesn’t always serve personal desires.

That is the point about commitment…it is not about you!  That is exactly why we need to build our personal relationship with Jesus, he knows what it means to be committed to something that is hard, not fun and not about him…yet he spoke openly with his father to help him keep moving forward and complete the task given to him…and he did it for you and me.  May God’s peace be with you.

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“Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.”

Proverbs 16:3

(This photo was taken in April of 2016 at sunrise on a lake in central Minnesota)

Once For All

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Never give up hope.  Out of the most tragic circumstances can come the greatest peace and the greatest joy.  Look at the people alive when Jesus was here on earth.  They believed in him as the one person who was going to save them from corrupt government and tyranny.  Then the most tragic set of events occurred…he died…he was crucified even though he was with out sin.  For three days they mourned and were very frightened for there own lives.  Then the most amazing and unexpected thing happened next…he was raised from the dead.  Can you imagine the unbelievable joy they sensed when they were speaking with him?  Incredible…yet without his death and the death of our sins there could be no resurrection.  May God’s peace be with you.

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“For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him.  The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.  In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.”

Romans 6:9-11

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