relationships

Renew Our Hearts And Minds

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“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.”

Ezekiel 36:26-27 NIV

“Blessed are the pure in heart,
    for they will see God.”

Matthew 5:8 NIV

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“In the Lord’s hand the king’s heart is a stream of water
    that he channels toward all who please him.

2 A person may think their own ways are right,
    but the Lord weighs the heart.

3 To do what is right and just
    is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.”

Proverbs 21:1-3 NIV

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

Perspective

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“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.“

Colossians 3:1-2 NIV

Outlook…viewpoint…position…approach…frame of mind…attitude

What feeds your perspective?

What experience or experiences are framing your view?

If we choose to allow our point of view to be shaped by what goes on around us in this world filled with self-centered attitudes we will become like the world

It would be better to build your perspective on a foundation of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.  We can’t stop the world from trying to influence us, yet Jesus said:

“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

Align your heart, your mind and your perspective with the will of God

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

Romans 8:28 NIV

(This photo was taken at a lake place in northwestern Wisconson)

But God…

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“You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.”

Genesis 50:20 NIV

“David stayed in the wilderness strongholds and in the hills of the Desert of Ziph. Day after day Saul searched for him, but God did not give David into his hands.”

1 Samuel 23:14 NIV

“My flesh and my heart may fail,
    but God is the strength of my heart
    and my portion forever.”

Psalm 73:26 NIV

“Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Matthew 19:26 NIV

These are just a few of the verses that remind us no matter what we are facing

No matter what we think is not possible or changable

God can do anything

The world will tear us down…Satan will lie to us…even our flesh wants to do the things we do not want to do

Just remember, we are powerless on our own and yet the next moment of our life might be a “But God” moment

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“Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.“

Romans 5:7-8 NIV

(This photo was taken at Jenny Lake in Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming)

Seek The Light In The Darkness

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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

When we wander off course or make poor decisions

And when we go our own way instead of drawing near to God

Life becomes more difficult, more complicated

We struggle more and get discouraged and defeated

When we turn towards God first with every decision, every day

The light of Christ will shine bright for us and illuminate our path

When we choose to put God first and we will see a light in the darkness

Thanks be to God for the Light of life

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“For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,”[a] made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.”

2 Corinthians 4:6 NIV

(This photo was taken at sunrise over a lake in northwestern Wisconsin)

Guided By The Holy Spirit

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“When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.”

John 16:13 NIV

“For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.”

Romans 8:14 NIV

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“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Acts 1:8 NIV

(This photo was taken at Temperance State Park on the shore of Lake Superior)

Trust In The Lord

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“I will praise the Lord, who counsels me;
    even at night my heart instructs me.
8 I keep my eyes always on the Lord.
    With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.

9 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
    my body also will rest secure,
10 because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead,
    nor will you let your faithful[a] one see decay.
11 You make known to me the path of life;
    you will fill me with joy in your presence,
    with eternal pleasures at your right hand.”

Psalm 16:7-11 NIV

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

Psalm 18:2 NIV

(This photo was taken while traveling in southern New Mexico)

With Jesus We Find Rest…Hope…Joy…Peace

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“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 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. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Matthew 11:28-30 NIV

The Heart Of Worship by Michael W Smith

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“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

Romans 15:13 NIV

(This photo was taken while visiting Rocky Mountain National Park)

God’s Love Changes Lives

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“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.”

1 John 4:7-11 NIV

God’s love is the most powerful thing in the world

Nothing can compare to it

No matter where you are, no matter what has happened or is happening in your life

God’s love can change what you believe is impossible

Trust Him, seek His Word, believe, confess your sins and surrender you ways for His way

Nothing is impossible with God

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“No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.”

1 John 4:12 NIV

(This photo was taken in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming)

Transformed From The Inside Out

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“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

Romans 12:1-2 NIV

Faith works from the inside out

We begin with the events and circumstances of life leading us to questions

The answers to our questions are in the Bible and it leads us to Jesus

If we choose to seek answers in worldly people and things we will be lost

If we seek answers in the Word of God we will become transformed on the inside

While many people stop here…this is not the end of the journey

As we are transformed on the inside we will be led to go out and do good works in the world

We will seek opportunities to help and serve others

This will provide them a chance to see what God has done in us

  It is journey throughout life on earth

We are made to live transformed inside out

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“For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,”[a] made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.”

2 Corinthians 4:5-6 NIV

(This photo was taken at a park near Bayfield, Wisconsin)

Teach Me Your Way

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“Teach me your way, Lord,
    that I may rely on your faithfulness;
give me an undivided heart,
    that I may fear your name.
12 I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart;
    I will glorify your name forever.
13 For great is your love toward me;
    you have delivered me from the depths,
    from the realm of the dead.“

Psalm 86:11-13 NIV

Father God, please guide me and teach me as I seek to live a life that honors You

Lead me into my calling, and lovingly correct my mistakes

Thank You for being the One I can confide in, and for loving me just as I am

You are good, and I am grateful for You

In Jesus name, Amen

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“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
    I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.“

Psalm 32:8 NIV

(This photo was taken along the North Shore of Lake Superior in northern Minnesota)