relationships

Persistence And Patience

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“pray without ceasing…”

1 Thessalonians 5:17 NIV

Don’t give up…don’t give in…be encouraged, trust in the Lord’s way.  Continue to pray for that person or situation.  God is with you and He will lead and guide you.  We you grow tired rest in Him…find peace in God’s Word.  The one who persists and is patient is the one who will see God’s plan and God’s timing.

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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 May of 2020 along the North Shore of Lake Superior)

The Peacemakers

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“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

John 14:27 NIV

Our faith journey is a process without an end point on earth.  As we learn about Jesus and we read God’s Word the process begins by helping us transform on the inside…we open our hearts and minds to Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit becomes our guide.  This is not the end of the process…as we continue to learn and grow the intention is for us to have this Spirit of peace and goodness flow through us to our neighbors and others.  We are not saved just to be saved alone…we are to become a channel of God’s peace every day.  The Light of Christ should shine through us so that others can see God in who we are and what we do.  Think about it…in what other person in your life have you seen God shining through?  May we be comforted by God’s peace.  Amen.

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“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”

Matthew 5:9 NIV

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

Don’t Quit

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“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

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 seems to be really good and the memory of bad times seem to be really bad.  Sometimes our bad memories 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.  Amen.

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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 NIV

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

The Lord Is My Rock

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“The Lord is my light and my salvation—
    whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life—
    of whom shall I be afraid?”

Psalm 27:1 NIV

We have been saved…we have a fortress of salvation…we have been delivered by Jesus Christ to eternal life.  Trust in the Lord, there is no greater strength than the love of God.  When we fall down He will pick us up, He renews us and restores us.  His Word is a shelter from evil.  When it feels like the world is crashing down around you look to the Lord for He is our Rock.  Amen.

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“The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge.  He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.”

Psalm 18:2 NIV

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

Trust

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“Lord, those who know you will trust in you.
    You have never deserted those who look to you.”

Psalm 9:10 NIRV

Firm belief…confidence…faith…count on…believe in…truth…certainty…love.  The darkness and evil of the world are constantly working to turn us away from God and God is constantly speaking to us.  Seek Him, seek His will, believe He has good things planned for you and be patient.  Amen.

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“Trust in the Lord with all your heart
    and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways submit to him,
    and he will make your paths straight.”

Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV

(This photo was taken in July of 2022 on a lake in northwestern Wisconsin)

He Knows My Name

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“But now, this is what the Lord says—
    he who created you, Jacob,
    he who formed you, Israel:
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
    I have summoned you by name; you are mine.”

Isaiah 43:1 NIV

God knows you.  He created you and He wants to have a close relationship with you.  Don’t let the world define your value.  You are God’s child…He sent His only Son down from heaven to save you from sin and evil.  He is waiting to hear from you.  Turn towards Jesus Christ in prayer today…He is with you, He loves you and He knows what you are facing each day.

He Knows My Name by Francesca Battistelli

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“I tell you the truth, anyone who sneaks over the wall of a sheepfold, rather than going through the gate, must surely be a thief and a robber! 2 But the one who enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep recognize his voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.”

John 10:1-2 NLT

(This photo was taken this morning at sunrise Satruday, July 16th 2022 at a lake place in northwestern Wisconsin)

God’s Consistent Character

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“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”

James 1:17 NIV

“I the Lord do not change. So you, the descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed.”

Malachi 3:6 NIV

God is faithful and trustworthy.  He keeps His promises…He is consistent in character for all generations.  All good things come from the Lord.

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“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”

Hebrews 13:8 NIV

(This photo was taken in October of 2018 at a lake near Plymouth, Minnesota)

He Is My Strength

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“The Lord gives me strength. He is like a shield that keeps me safe.
    My heart trusts in him, and he helps me.
My heart jumps for joy.
    With my song I praise him.”

Psalm 28:7 NIRV

A close relationship with the Lord is uplifting, encouraging and provides strength to us.  God has told us we will get knocked down in this world and yet He is always there to help us up…to guide us and keep us going.  All things are possible with Him, even when…especially when we can’t see which way to go.

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“He lifted me out of the slimy pit,
    out of the mud and mire;
he set my feet on a rock
    and gave me a firm place to stand.”

Psalm 40:2 NIV

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

Listen And Be Patient

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“My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.”

James 1:19-20 NIV

What is the Lord trying to teach you?  When we experience success, we give thanks and when we experience difficulty and failure we should turn to Lord and ask Him what do we need to learn from this situation?  The thing about asking God about anything…you have to be ready to listen and maybe wait patiently for His reply.  Trust in the Lord and He will guide you…you just need to remember to listen and be patient.

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“Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. 8 You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near. 9 Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged.”

James 5:7-9 NIV

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

The Word Of God

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“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God[a] may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

2 Timothy 3:16-17 NIV

Keep God’s Word close to your heart…read it, memorize it, use it to pray and let it lead and guide you in your daily life.  It is more than something to consider once a week on Sunday morning and put away for everything else.  God is the God of everything, every aspect of life…trust in the Lord no matter what and keep the Word of God in your heart and mind.

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“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”

Hebrews 4:12 NIV

(This photo was taken in May of 2022 along the North Shore of Lake Superior)