Sacrifice

This Is Love…

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Jesus came down from heaven…He came in human form as a baby…He taught the people how to live…He showed people kindness and compassion…He showed everybody love…He was treated terribly by others…He was beaten…He was tortured…He was crucified and died…and He did all of it for you and for me.  God loves us so much that He sent His Son to save us.  Thank you, Jesus…Amen.

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“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 4:10

(This photo was taken in May of 2014 at a lake place in central Minnesota)

Forgiveness

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What we need in the world more than anything right now is forgiveness…the longer people hold on to the pain and bitterness of past events that can’t be changed the more people will suffer…if people want to truly see change in this world…look in the mirror and decide who do I need to forgive?  Pray about it and seek the courage to share that forgiveness so that healing can begin.  This is true for all people on all sides of every issue.  Seek to forgive and you will be set free.  Amen.

Forgiveness by Matthew West

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“For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.  But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”

Matthew 6:14-15

(This photo was taken in July of 2016 in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming)

Trust Him

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God has fulfilled every promise He made to us, except one, and you can be sure that one will be fulfilled when Christ returns.  We so easily give trust to some that don’t deserve it and hold back our trust when we have more than enough evidence know that we can trust.  We will continue to struggle and be frustrated if we believe that other people and the things of this world are all we need.  We need God and when we read God’s Word we can learn about His past relationship with humanity and that when God makes a promise, He will fulfill it on His timeline, not ours.  Trust God believe in Jesus Christ His only Son our Lord and connect with the Holy Spirit within your heart.  Amen.

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“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Jeremiah 29:11

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

Peace

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Peace comes from hope, trust and love.  Peace is available to all of us.  It is a quiet confidence in God and His Son.  It comes to us when we are willing to bring our worries, our fears and our burdens and lay them down at the foot of the Cross.  If we constantly assess our lives based on the world’s view or what others think, say and do…we will not find peace.  Peace is about gratitude and sharing the gifts and blessings God has given us with one another.  May the peace of the Lord be with you!  Amen.

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“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

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

Through Him…

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All things are possible.  When we can’t find the way forward or we don’t know what to do…we will find our way through Him.  There is absolutely nothing in this world greater or more powerful than God’s love.  Believe it…trust it.  Our hope is not found in what we can see…life in this world can be dark and seem hopeless…our hope is found in Christ and through Him we are saved.  Amen.

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“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.”

Romans 8:37

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

 

The Promise Fulfilled

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The birth of Jesus Christ fulfills the promises made in the Old Testament.  In Genesis 3 and Isaiah 7 as well as Isaiah 53 and in other verses the Lord makes known the coming of the Savoir…a new covenant…One who will be a Light for Israel as well as the Gentiles.  Jesus came down from heaven to reconcile us with God…He sacrificed everything He had and His life as a man for you and me.  God fulfills His promises…trust in Him for every area of your life.  Amen.

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“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

John 1:14

(This photo was taken in July of 2016 in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming)

In Christ Alone

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The answer to all our worries, all our fears and all our burdens is found only in Christ alone.  There is no love greater than Christ’s love…there is no sacrifice that anyone can do for us that surpasses His sacrifice.  All of our hope and strength can be found in Christ alone.  Amen.

In Christ Alone by Brian Littrell

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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

(This photo was taken in August of 2016 in Mount Rainier National Park in Washington)

The Past…Redeemed

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What has happened in the past is done and can’t be changed…we can learn from it…we can change today.  Don’t let what has happened be chains around you that are dragged with you everywhere you go…Jesus Christ has paid the price for our sins and He is our Redeemer…bring your past, your shame and your guilt to the Lord and He will set you free.  Amen.

Redeemed by Big Daddy Weave

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“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.“

John 3:16

(This photo was taken in October of 2018 at a park near Winterset, Iowa)

With Prayer…

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Bring your worries, your concerns, your questions and your thankfulness to the Lord with prayer.  As with any relationship your personal relationship with Jesus will grow and become stronger the more you spend time with Him.  Think about the people in your life, your closest relationships…most of the time, these are the people you are interacting with the most in your daily life or you have spent a significant amount of time with them in the past.  The best investment of your time is to learn more about Jesus and you can do it at any time…He is waiting to hear from you.  Amen.

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“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!  Let your gentleness be evident to all.  The Lord is near.  Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 4:4-7

(Thsi photo was taken in May of 2014 at a lake place in central Minnesota)

Turbulence

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We are quick to conform to the world view of life and the world perspective.  Many of us believe it is bad when something unexpected happens and the world tells us this a bad thing.  This perspective has largely chosen to ignore God and His Word.  The foundation of our faith is Jesus Christ and His life, death and resurrection.  This is from God…the human race cannot conceive and complete what God’s plan is without God.  When we encounter turbulence in life and things are getting bumpy…that is the time to focus on God and pray.  Seek Him, seek wisdom and most importantly trust in Him to get you through all the moments of trouble you will encounter in your daily living.  Amen.

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“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 12:2

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