relationships

Overcome Evil With Good

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“You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.”

1 John 4:4 NIV

The Bible tells us that we will have trouble in this world…and it states clearly that we can persevere through trials and temptations

The Bible also gives us examples of others who lived and suffered and how they interacted with God and lived their lives with faith

At times it wasn’t pretty, they didn’t live lives that were sweet and easy all the time

Read about Abraham and Sarah, read about Joseph in Genesis

Look through the pages of David’s life in 1 Samuel

Take time to read about the life of Jesus in the New Testament

Yes, there are struggles, trials and there is suffering…remember living a life of faith and in God’s love doesn’t mean these will disappear

What it does mean is you will receive the courage and the hope as God is with you to help you and guide you to get through the difficult times

Do not be overcome by darkness and evil, look to God…pray and you can find the way to overcome evil with good

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“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

Romans 12:21 NIV

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

Our Help Comes From The Lord

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“God is our refuge and strength,
    an ever-present help in trouble.”

Psalm 46:1 NIV

When things go side-ways or take an unexpected turn…what do we typically do first?

Ask questions, try to figure out what happened, look for ways to get control of what is going on…

All of these are natural human reactions…however, the first thing we should do is turn to the Lord and pray for help, pray for wisdom, pray for guidance

This is where our help really comes from and we typically wait to call on God as a very last resort

As you go through this day or this week try turning to God first for anything and everything

He loves you, He knows you and He wants to give you good things

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“I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
    where does my help come from?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
    the Maker of heaven and earth.”

Psalm 121:1-2 NIV

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

Reflect with Gratitude, Go Forward with Hope

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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

“being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 1:6 NIV

Father God, thank You for being faithful

Thank You for making a way for us in this life

When we reflect on past events give us an eye for gratitude in all circumstances

Please show us how You are at work in our lives

We want to choose to patiently wait on You, becasue we know that You will finish the work You have started in us

In Jesus name, Amen

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“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”

John 15:5 NIV

(This photo was taken at sunset by a lake in Plymouth, Minnesota)

Be An Overcomer

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“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

Romans 12:21 NIV

Do not give up…do not quit

Yes, you have been knocked down and it hurts

Get back up

Stand on the rock of faith

Fix your eyes on Jesus as your guide

Choose to be an Overcomer

Overcomer by Mandisa

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“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.

21 To the one who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne.”

Revelation 3:20-21 NIV

(This photo was taken near Dillon, Colorado)

By His Wounds We Are Healed

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“He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.”

1 Peter 2:24 NIV

Our sins leave a mark on us

Some sins mark our hearts and our minds

Some sins leave a mark on our bodies and some sins leave long lasting wounds that we try to bury deep within us

These wounds occur because we chase after sinful desires that hurt us and may hurt others

The Good News is the healing power of Jesus

Jesus took the punishment for our sins…He sacrificed Himself for us because He loves us and He knows we are not capable of saving ourselves

Jesus Christ suffered, was crucified and died for us and it is by His wounds we are healed

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“But he was pierced for our transgressions,
    he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
    and by his wounds we are healed.”

Isaiah 53:5 NIV

(This photo was taken at a lake in central Minnesota)

The Gift Of Grace

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“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.”

Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV

“But he was pierced for our transgressions,
    he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
    and by his wounds we are healed.”

Isaiah 53:5 NIV

It is because of God’s grace that the battle has already been won…we are forgiven…we are healed…we are saved by Grace

Nothing can separate us from Him who loves us

Praise Him for Amazing Grace

Amazing Grace by Chris Tomlin

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“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”

2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV

(This photo was taken in Rocky Mountian National Park)

Goodness

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“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.“

Galatians 6:9-10 NIV

“Do all the good you can,
By all the means you can,
In all the ways you can,
In all the places you can,
At all the times you can,
To all the people you can,
As long as ever you can.”

John Wesley

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“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.”

Matthew 5:6 NIV

(This photo was taken in Glacier National Park in Montana)

The Lord Of My Everything?

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“In their hearts humans plan their course,
    but the Lord establishes their steps.”

Proverbs 16:9 NIV

Sometimes I struggle with my faith when it comes to opening up to the Lord for all things

Not only the parts of my life and my heart I think He wants to be involved in…that would be God on my terms

I have come to learn…it does not work like that

God is the God of everything and Jesus Christ is Lord of all

All of creation, all people in all nations since the beginning of time and His love is for everything and everyone

His grace and His mercy will endure forever

It can be so difficult for my finite mind to comprehend the totality of God and His love

He is more than the God of Sunday morning or Wednesday evening…He is more than the God of when I really need help or a crisis is happening…He is more than a beautiful sunrise or sunset when we do feel more of His presence

He is also the Lord of housework, the Lord of daily errands, the Lord of trips to Grandma and Grandpa’s house, He is the Lord of where you work and He is the Lord what you do…He is the Lord of everything

The best part of all? This means He is right there waiting to hear from you about all of it…everything

If He is your Lord and Savior that doesn’t mean everything will be easy and good…yet He is with you through all of it

May we know God’s presence, His love, His joy and His forgiveness in everything in our lives…everyday

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“Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of the life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

Psalm 23:6 NIV

(This photo was taken at Sapphire Point near Dillon, Colorado)

Stand Firm In The Faith

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“Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. 14 Do everything in love.”

1 Corinthians 16:13-14 NIV

There many elements of life working against those desiring to follow Jesus

The world, the flesh and Satan all are like a rushing river of water trying to keep us away from God and His Word

We must learn to stand firm in the faith

To speak the truth with respect, kindness and compassion

Remember God is with you, no matter what

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“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.”

1 Peter 5:8-9 NIV

(This photo was taken in Tettegouche State Park in northern Minnesota)

His Angels

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“Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. 2 Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.”

Hebrews 13:1-2 NIV

They are nearer than you think

Angels are fighting for us against the forces of darkness

They keep us safe and help guide us

They aren’t looking for us to honor them, they do their work so that we will honor God

When our time is up, they will usher us up to heaven

Give thanks to God for the angels in your life

 “And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.”

2 Kings 6:17 NIV

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“For he will command his angels concerning you
    to guard you in all your ways;
12 they will lift you up in their hands,
    so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.”

Psalm 91:11-12 NIV

(This photo was taken while on a walk in a park in central Minnesota)