Restore

Be Still

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“He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;”

Psalm 46:10

“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

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“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 4:6-7

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

Reconciliation

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“So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:[a] The old has gone, the new is here! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.”

2 Corinthians 5:16-20

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“God made him who had no sin to be sin[b] for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

2 Corinthians 5:21

(This photo was taken in June of 2013 in Rocky Mountain National Park)

Make Time For Rest

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The pace of life always seems to be increasing and so we must make a conscious effort to live a balanced and healthy life. This includes more than eating right and physical exercise…we must also spend time nurturing our mind and our spirit. If we are always running at peak energy and activity we will eventually crash and the constant high high’s and low low’s is taxing on every part of who we are. Strive for balance…make time to go to a quiet place and rest. Jesus knows this is important for us and spoke about it in the Gospels. Follow His example…make time for rest. Amen.

“Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.””

Mark 6:31

““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

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

Rest…Restoration

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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

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“Do you not know?
    Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
    the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
    and his understanding no one can fathom.
29 He gives strength to the weary
    and increases the power of the weak.
30 Even youths grow tired and weary,
    and young men stumble and fall;
31 but those who hope in the Lord
    will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
    they will run and not grow weary,
    they will walk and not be faint.”

Isaiah 40:28-31

(This photo was taken in July of 2018 on the shore of Lake Superior near Ashland, Wisconsin)

Faith, Trust…Hope

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God has shown us how much He loves us by sending His One and Only Son to the Cross to die for us, even though we were still sinners.  We didn’t earn it; it is a gift from God.  No matter where you have been, no matter what you have done…Jesus Christ died to save you.  Put your faith in God, trust in Him and you will find hope.  Amen.

“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

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“Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.”

James 1:12

(This photo was taken in June of 2013 in Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado)

My Soul Finds Rest

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“Truly my soul finds rest in God;
    my salvation comes from him.
2 Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
    he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.”

Psalm 62:1-2

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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

(This photo was taken in July of 2018 on Lake Superior near the Apostle Islands)

Rest With Him

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What can we do…where can we go…to get a moment of rest?  True rest and refreshment of your mind, body and spirit is found when we take time to rest with God.  It can be in prayer, reading God’s Word or even just sitting quietly in a peaceful environment.  There are these and many more ways to spend time in your relationship with God…how you do this is between you and Him…if you do this, well that is all up to you.  Take time to rest with Him.  Amen.

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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

(This photo was taken in June of 2013 while visiting Rocky Mountain National Park)

Rest In Him

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Jesus invites us to come to Him…to bring all our worries and our burdens and lay them down at the foot of the Cross and trust in Him.  In this world that is filled with sinful thoughts, words and actions we all end up with a large load of burdens…some we are meant to carry…others are not meant for us to carry yet we take them upon ourselves anyways.  Then we think we can carry these burdens around all by ourselves and everything will be alright.  One of the most prominent messages in the bible is that of surrender…to know and to believe that God can do more good things with troubles and burdens than we ever thought possible.  It starts with our ability to surrender and trust in the Lord.  May the peace of the Lord be with you.  Amen.

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

Matthew 11:28-30

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

 

Seek Him

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Jesus Christ…He sacrificed Himself to save you.  No matter what has happened in your life, no matter what you have done or left undone…He is waiting for you with open arms, to pick you up, to forgive you and restore you.  He is ready to do that for you and for others in your life because He loves you and He loves them too.  Jesus Christ is the way…He is the only way to fellowship with God.  Amen.

The Way by Housefires

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“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

John 14:6

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

The New Has Come

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God renews us…God restores us…He takes away the sin and darkness and makes us new again.  All that we have done wrong and messed up, only He can make new again.  Our hope is found in Christ…if you are staring at a new beginning or change of direction begin by humbling yourself and surrendering your plans for God’s plan.  He truly does make all things new.  Amen.

All Things New by Steven Curtis Chapman

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“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:  The old has gone, the new is here!”

2 Corinthians 5:7

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