Sacrifice

He Knows You

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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

Do you know Him?  Or do you just know about Him?

Don’t let the world define who you are

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 am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.

John 10:14-16 NIV

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

The Light Of The World

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“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome[a] it.

6 There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. 8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.

9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.”

John 1:1-9 NIV

When we are discouraged and defeated it may be because we are clinging to the things of this world

Thus, we are living in darkness

Comparing ourselves to others, believing our worth and our value comes from something or someone other than God

Darkness…

If we are struggling to see, we need to remember the Light of the World…

Jesus Christ…our Savior and Lord

Let Him lead you and guide you…

Read God’s Word about His birth, His life, His death and His resurrection

Everything He did was done for you and for me

He is The Light of the World

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“When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

John 8:12 NIV

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

Nothing Can Separate Us

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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.“

1 John 4:7-9 NIV

There is nothing on earth in your life that is more powerful than the love of God…nothing

There is no situation, life circumstances, no relationship or struggle that can separate us from God’s love

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“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[b] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Romans 8:37-39 NIV

(This photo was taken at a lake near Plymouth, Minnesota)

Freedom Isn’t Free

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“You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh[a]; rather, serve one another humbly in love. 14 For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”[b] 15 If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.”

Galatians 5:13-15 NIV

Freedom requires humility, sacrifice and a willingness to put the needs of many before one

Freedom is the result of human beings working together for a common cause…not by shouting and trying to tear others down

  Freedom is earned through courage and a belief in something greater than self

Jesus Christ is the one who provided the example of sacrifice and the willingness to forgive…

We all would do well to read about Him and His example of love

Jesus paid the price for our sin so we could be free to love one another

Time to put down the flaming arrows of hate and to serve one another in love

Thank you God, for Jesus sacrifice and for all the people who serve and have served in the military services of this country…

Thank you for their willingness to put themselves in the line of fire so others can prosper

I give thanks for them and their families that have sacrificed so much in the name of freedom for all of us

In Jesus name, Amen

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“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.  Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.”

Philippians 2:3-4 NIV

(This photo was taken at Mount Rushmore National Memorial)

Think About Him…

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“A huge cloud of witnesses is all around us. So let us throw off everything that stands in our way. Let us throw off any sin that holds on to us so tightly. And let us keep on running the race marked out for us. 2 Let us keep looking to Jesus. He is the one who started this journey of faith. And he is the one who completes the journey of faith. He paid no attention to the shame of the cross. He suffered there because of the joy he was looking forward to. Then he sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 He made it through these attacks by sinners. So think about him. Then you won’t get tired. You won’t lose hope.“

Hebrews 12:1-3 NIRV

When you are tired and run down or discouraged and defeated, think about Him…

When you are frustrated or angry with others, think about Him…

When you feel like there is no hope, think about Him…

Think about Him who endured death on a cross between two thieves…

Think about Him who was spit on and had a crown of thorns pushed onto His head…

Think about Him who had His beard plucked out and gave His back to the whip…

And think about Him who gave His blood and His life

He did it all for us

  He did it because He loves us and He wants good things for us

Rather than focus on the things of this world

Turn your attention towards Him and give Him thanks for who He is and what He has done

And you will find peace

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“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 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 4:4-7 NIV

(This photo was taken near Colorado Springs, 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)

Joy In God’s Promises

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“Therefore the Lord himself will give you[c] a sign: The virgin[d] will conceive and give birth to a son, and[e] will call him Immanuel.”[f] 

Isaiah 7:14 NIV

“For to us a child is born,
    to us a son is given,
    and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
    Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the greatness of his government and peace
    there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
    and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
    with justice and righteousness
    from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty
    will accomplish this.”

Isaiah 9:6-7 NIV

Father God, we are holding tightly to our hope in You

We trust that You are faithful, and we believe that You will always fulfill Your promises

Thank You for promising to bring justice to unjust situations

Thank You for promising to fulfill Your plans for us

Thank You for sending Your Son and for promising to return to Your people

You are faithful, Lord-and we will trust in You

In Jesus name, Amen

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“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.”

Luke 2:8-11 NIV

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

Memorial Day

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9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.

Romans 12:9-10 NIV

Today, we honor those who have served and sacrificed themselves for the greater good

These individuals knew that there are things much more important than self

They believed in serving to help others and fighting for those who could not fight for themselves

It takes courage and humility to do what they did and so we honor them with gratitude and respect for their sacrifice

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“Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”

Philippians 2:1-4 NIV

(This photo was taken at Mount Rushmore National Memorial in South Dakota)

You Choose Each Day

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“But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”

Joshua 24:15 NIV

God created us with free will

The ability to choose our actions and behaviors

The reason He did this is because a love worth having is love that is chosen

The risk is people can and will choose to reject God

We were created out of love with free will

We can choose how we will live and who we will follow

How do you choose to live this day?

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“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,
    for his compassions never fail.
23 They are new every morning;
    great is your faithfulness.
24 I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion;
    therefore I will wait for him.”

Lamentations 3:22-24 NIV

(This photo was taken along Beartooth Pass in Montana)

God Is Love

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“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”

Matthew 7:12 NIV

Love is about more than words or a feeling

Love is about how we treat each other with our actions and our behaviors

In this fallen and broken world we all will make mistakes and need to be forgiven

Thankfully, God is love and put His love into the action by sending His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins

We have been forgiven

Now it is our turn to put love into action

In what relationship or situation in your life is there a lack of love?

Who in your life needs to experience love in action?

Pray about it and ask God to guide you in love

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“Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.  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.  This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.”

1 John 4:8-10 NIV

(This photo was taken near the border between South Dakota and Minnesota)