Restore

Rest And Restoration

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With all that goes on in the world and in our lives we all need to find rest and to be restored.  It is how we are all made.  Balance is a key element in life.  Eating a balanced diet is best…balance in our speaking and listening time makes us better in relationships…balance in our fun and wild times with our quiet times.  The best recipes have a little bit of this and a little bit of that or a pinch of this and a pinch of that…excess will lead to destruction and definitely a poor tasting meal.  In order to be at our best we need balance in all aspects of our lives…physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually.  Seek the Lord and you will find rest and be restored. Amen.

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“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

Matthew 11:28

(This photo was taken in September of 2019 at a lake in central Minnesota)

Easter Sunday…Christ Is Risen!

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He is risen, indeed!  Alleluia!  Hope has been restored and renewed, Jesus Christ has defeated death.  Life is a gift, an experience to live and to share with one another, and with God in control all things are possible.  Put the risen Lord first in your life and you will find the Fruits of the Spirit.  Christ Is Risen!  He is risen indeed!  Alleluia!

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“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!  In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead…”

 1 Peter 1:3

(This photo was taken in March of 2013 at the Conservatory and Botanical Gardens in the Bellagio in Las Vegas, Nevada)

Holy Saturday…Preparation Day

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It is finished…Jesus, the Messiah, had been crucified and died.  We all know the coming glory of tomorrow…however, when these events were happening, it is hard to comprehend the level of sorrow and sadness that had to exist.  Unfortunately, there are people in today’s world who suffer at a deep level of sorrow because of sin and evil.  Our saving grace and our truth is we know that from the most devastating of tragedy, God will renew and restore us and He has shown us an example by what we will celebrate tomorrow.  Trust in the Lord for He is good and His love endures forever.  Amen.

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“Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body.  Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen cloth and placed it in the tomb cut in the rock, one in which no one had yet been laid.  It was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was about to begin.”

Luke 23:52-54

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

Take Time to Rest

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There is always more we could be doing.  More on the checklist of things to do…how many items on our checklist make room for living a balanced life?  We seem to prioritize the activities of “getting things done” pretty easily, when do we rest?  To be clear sitting still scrolling through social media is not rest.  Resting and restoring yourself is about calming your mind, body and spirit…when and how do we rest our minds and emotions?  The first step is figuring out what place or environment best provides you the opportunity to calm your mind, your body and your spirit?  What time of day or night?  The next step is to make it a priority and designate time in your schedule.  As always, be sure to include God’s Word and prayer in your time as the only true source of peace in life is Jesus Christ.  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.”

Matthew 11:28-29

(This photo was taken in June of 2016 sitting by the lake in northwestern Wisconsin)

Find Rest For Your Soul

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The pace of life in society tends to be frenetic and hurried.  Rushing to get here and there taking little time to stop…and live in the present moment.  There is time to rest, to be more balanced and to set down our technology devices and have an in person conversation with a friend or family member.  To talk and to listen…all we have to do is make the decision to do it.  The world and other people are not going to do it for you…there is one person I know who actually invites us to come to Him and find rest.  He is even willing to take on our burdens and to give us peace and comfort.  Take your worries, your fears and all those things weighing down on you and bring them to the Cross of Christ and you will find rest for your soul.  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.”

Matthew 11:28-29

(This photo was taken in September of 2016 on a lake in central Minnesota)

Be Transformed

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Changed…renewed…remade…to make new again.  How we live, the decisions we make, our purpose and perspective are continually influenced by our life in this world.  If we fail to spend time feeding our minds and spiritual being with the Word of God and if we don’t spend time in prayer in relationship and communication with God, we will become like the world.  Only God can make us new again, with forgiveness, wisdom, courage, knowledge, trust and faith.  There are people in the world striving for the Fruits of the Spirit in their life…you may have to look for them with new eyes and a new perspective and those are available to all of us because of Jesus.  I pray we feed our faith and strive towards God and His will and away from the sinful nature.  Amen.

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“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind…”

Romans 12:2

(This photo was taken in October of 2018 at City Park in Winterset, Iowa)

Music Fills My Soul

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Ever since my Dad passed away about 3 weeks ago, I have sensed there has been this constant bit of darkness hovering around me.  No matter where I went or what I did, nothing could change the fact that life is different now everyday going forward.  The thing is…different doesn’t have to be bad, do I miss my Dad, absolutely…but more importantly I am thankful for every day of my life that I had with him and I will see him again someday.  The darkness was trying to tell me something different and send me into a downward spiral.  Last night, my wife and I attended a Christian concert with tickets given to us as a gift back in July.  The music and worship that these talented people provided last night was so uplifting, so encouraging and so refreshing for my soul.  There is something very unique about music and christian music is a gift that soothes my soul unlike anything else.  I offer my things to Danny Gokey, Tauren Wells and Riley Clemmons for wonderful evening of restoring music and praise.  May you feel the joy of the Lord in your life on this day of worship.

Here is one from Danny Gokey:  Give Me Jesus

Here is one from Tauren Wells: When We Pray

Here is one from Riley Clemmons: Broken Prayers

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“I have told you these things, so that in my you may have peace.  In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart!  I have overcome the world.”

John 16:33

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

A Quiet Place

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Peaceful…Prayer…Meditation…Rest…Renew…Restore…Recharge.  Where and when are you spending time in a quiet place?  If you live a busy existence keeping schedules and deadlines for either the family calendar or a job you usually have to wait until late at night or early in the morning while others are sleeping.  I have had co-workers who prefer to get the office really early before others because it is quiet.  We need to have a balance of going and doing and being productive some of the time and being at peace and resting at other times.  If we don’t have both we will either become completely worn out from running around all the time with no rest or become isolated from community because we are always off on our own.  This isn’t a choice of which one should I be but more of a mindfulness of what does my mind and body need right now?  Go and do and then rest and recharge…(rinse repeat)  May you find peace and rest in the Lord.

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“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

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

Take Some Rest

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We can’t keep running at top speed in our minds or in our daily lives.  We must plan down time.  To fill every moment with activity and planning and scheduling will lead to exhaustion.  Mental exhaustion, physical exhaustion and spiritual exhaustion.  We all need time to recharge, to be restored and renewed.  When Jesus was here on earth He often would go off alone to pray.  Before feeding the five thousand He told the disciples…“Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”  (Mark 6:31)  In order to be at our best we need to plan time to rest and that means resting our minds as well as our bodies.  If you are someone who always has to be busy, plan some quiet time in small increments to get started.  We all should pray about it as that time in prayer can be restful too.  May the love, joy and peace of the Lord be with you.

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“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

Matthew 11:28

(This photo was taken in August of 2016 near Arches National Park in Utah)

He Will Restore You

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Keep going…be steadfast and determined to find a way…don’t quit…don’t give up on them.  With so much of the world focused on convenience and saving time there seems to be less and less stories about the long journey of success.  The truth about most accomplishments is that they occur over a significant period of time.  In athletics people will tell stories of an “overnight success”  a player just emerged from out of nowhere.  When the truth is that individual worked their tail off for the last 5, 10 or 15 years to get to that moment and the world just noticed them now.  Hard work is expected to achieve anything.  Dedication, commitment and a willingness to fail and try again, these are the things that lead to success.  Especially in relationships and faith.  If you or someone you care for is struggling, start or keep on praying, don’t give up on the situation.  The world and society throw people away all the time…be different, believe in hope and God will restore the situation one way or another.  May God bless you with courage and strength.

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“And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.”

1 Peter 5:10

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