“Commit your way to the Lord;
trust in him, and he will act.”
Psalm 37:5 NIV
Stand firm in faith. Trust God and His plan for you. We will not always see the way or understand His plan, yet we know that all good things come from God. Amen.
“…But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
Joshua 24:15 NIV
(This photo was taken in July of 2019 at a lake near Plymouth, Minnesota)
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who[i] have been called according to his purpose.”
Romans 8:28 NIV
Why should we have hope? Because the God of the universe, our Creator, loves us and He wants good things for us. How do we know? Because He sent His Son as a sacrifice to do for us that which we cannot do on our own…save us from our sinful ways. From the greatest tragedy, Jesus Christ death on the Cross, God brought about the greatest triumph, the resurrection of our Savior. No matter what has happened, no matter where you are…whatever you have done or left undone…there is hope because of God’s love for you and because He wants good things for you. Turn towards the Lord and bring everything to him. Amen.
“Let us hold firmly to the hope we claim to have. The God who promised is faithful. 24 Let us consider how we can stir up one another to love. Let us help one another to do good works. 25 And let us not give up meeting together. Some are in the habit of doing this. Instead, let us encourage one another with words of hope. Let us do this even more as you see Christ’s return approaching.”
Hebrews 10:23-25 NIRV
(This photo was taken in June of 2018 at a lake near Plymouth, Minnesota)
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life[a]?”
Matthew 6:25-27 NIV
It can consume us if we allow it to…worry. What does it do for us? Nothing.
We have a choice; we can sit and worry and stew about things or we can make use of the time we have by meeting with God about our worries and concerns. We can trust in Him to guide us and lead us. Do not worry, spend time with the Lord and you will find peace. Amen.
“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
Matthew 6:33-34 NIV
(This photo was taken in April of 2020 in a neighborhood near Plymouth, Minnesota)
“When they came to the crowd, a man approached Jesus and knelt before him. 15 “Lord, have mercy on my son,” he said. “He has seizures and is suffering greatly. He often falls into the fire or into the water. 16 I brought him to your disciples, but they could not heal him.”
17 “You unbelieving and perverse generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me.” 18 Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed at that moment.
19 Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”
20 He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” [21] [a]
Matthew 17:14-21 NIV
We Believe by Eagle Brook Music
“Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
John 20:29 NIV
(This photo was taken in August of 2016 at Arches National Park in Utah)
“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.”
John 15:12-15 NIV
Jesus tells us in the Gospel of John that we are His friends. Friends take care of each other, they are loyal, respectful, trustworthy and they support each other through difficult times. Friendship is a two-way street…sometimes you are giving in your friendship and sometimes you are receiving. I have been blessed with some truly amazing friends and am grateful for each one of them. Take time to reflect upon your friendships, including your relationship with Jesus Christ. Amen.
“Two are better than one,
because they have a good return for their labor:
10 If either of them falls down,
one can help the other up.
But pity anyone who falls
and has no one to help them up.“
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 NIV
(This photo was taken yesterday in Temperance State Park on the north shore of Lake Superior)
“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’
13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’
14 “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
Luke 18:10-14 NIV
What we need in the world more than ever is less “look at me” thinking and more of a “how can I help” way of living. Think about your daily life and what you do…how much is to serve just yourself and how much includes serving a community or group of people. The best way to work on making this change in your life is to have time every day with God and His Word…reading, prayer and listening time with the One who is with you, loves you and wants to be a part of your daily life. Turn towards the Lord, seek to learn about Him and He can lead you to humility and patience. Amen.
“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”
2 Peter 3:9 NIV
(This photo was taken in May of 2020 along the North Shore of Lake Superior)
“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 and therefore, we are living in darkness. Comparing ourselves to others, believing our worth and our value comes from something or someone other than God. 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 and remember He did it all for you. Amen.
“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 in April of 2016 at a lake in central Minnesota)
“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
John 14:6 NIV
If you are wondering about having peace from God in your life there is only one Way to receive it…Jesus Christ. He sacrificed Himself to death on the Cross to reconcile us with God. This was God’s plan to save us from our sin and from separation from Him. If you are looking for peace from God, be still, believe in Jesus, seek Him and you will find peace.
“You will keep in perfect peace
those whose minds are steadfast,
because they trust in you.
4 Trust in the Lord forever,
for the Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal.”
Isaiah 26:3-4 NIV
(This photo was taken in April of 2016 at a lake in central Minnesota)
“Trust in the Lord and do good;
dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
4 Take delight in the Lord,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.”
Psalms 37:3-4 NIV
No matter what the situation or circumstances you are facing…good, bad, unknown…put your trust in the One who knows you, loves you and is walking with you through every moment. Commit it all to Him and He will guide you on your path.
“Commit to the Lord whatever you do,
and he will establish your plans.”
Proverbs 16:3 NIV
(This photo was taken in April of 2020 at a lake near Plymouth, Minnesota)
“The name of the Lord is a fortified tower;
the righteous run to it and are safe.“
Proverbs 18:10 NIV
“Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor
and gave him the name above all other names,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.”
Philippians 2:9-11 NLT
The answers we seek for everything and anything will come…if and when we turn towards Jesus Christ.
Heart Of Worship by Michael W. Smith
“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 in August of 2016 while driving in Mount Rainier National Park in Washington)
Take Your Faith With You 