Savior

My Rock, My Fortress And My Deliverer

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The Book of Psalms is filled with songs and prayers of David that express a wide range of emotions.  As you may know I believe in the power of music and its ability to stir us up in the deepest places of our hearts.  I am thankful to those who have been blessed to create and produce music and do so out the love and passion they have to share their gifts.  Today the words to one of David’s songs strikes me as comforting.  I encourage you to read the entire Psalm 18…I will share the verse that grabbed my attention this morning below.  Peace be with you on your journey.  Amen.

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“The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge.  He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.”

Psalm 18:2

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

Our Hearts And Minds

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What are the thoughts and things that stir up your heart and your mind?  Sometimes, we make it too easy for evil to ensnare us.  We get so easily distracted and consumed by the things of this world and forget what we have learned from God.  Daily time with God’s Word and in prayer is the only resource I know of, for helping us to reset and refocus our hearts and our minds.  The self and the sinful nature will not give up on tearing you down and breaking you apart.  Find wisdom, strength and courage in Jesus Christ.  He knows more than anyone the battles we are facing as He too lived on earth and was tempted by the devil.  Seek Him and God’s Word and your heart and mind will be restored.  Amen.

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“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.  Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”

Colossians 3:1-2

(This photo was taken in March of 2018 while traveling through southern New Mexico)

God’s Love

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It is uncomprehendable for our finite minds…in the Book of Ephesians chapter 3 Paul writes a prayer for the Ephesians…“…And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ…” (Ephesians 3:17-18)  God stands by us, when we turn our backs on Him, He doesn’t give up on us.  When we get consumed by the sinful nature, He forgives us.  When He saw that all His efforts in the Old Testament to save His people were temporary fixes…He did the unthinkable, He became like us and He sacrificed His one and only Son to ensure we would be saved.  God loves you…more than you will ever be able to understand during your life on earth.  Seek Him and His everlasting love.  Here is a song of praise about God’s love.  Peace be with you.

How He Loves Us – David Crowder Band

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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 enternal life.”

John 3:16

(This photo was taken in June of 2018 while walking the dog near Plymouth, Minnesota)

To Know Him

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As it has been said, faith is a journey not a destination.  So what does that mean?  For me it is about making progress, every day.  We learn, we pray, we live, we give thanks, we cry for help, we forgive others and we learn some more.  We are human, we live in a broken and fallen world.  Nobody is perfect, even if their social media profiles try to project it.  We are not made to do this life alone.  We need to know Him, Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord.  He gave His life to save us and to reconcile us to God.  Give faith a chance, spend time learning about Jesus Christ and His birth, His life, His teachings, His death and His resurrection.  Pickup God’s Word and seek Him daily, you have nothing to lose and everything to gain.  Amen.

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“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”

Proverbs 9:10

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

Savior

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His mercy…His grace…His forgiveness…His sacrifice…His death…His resurrection and His love. All of this and more means Jesus Christ has fought the battle and won. He has saved us and we can be reconciled with God. Seek Him and the message of Good News in God’s Word. He gave His all to save you because He loves you just the way you are. May the love of Christ comfort you and encourage you this day. 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, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

John 1:14

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

The Grace Of God

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We have been saved…the battle has been won.  Jesus Christ gave of Himself to save us and to reconcile us back to God.  We are not made to do life alone, God our Creator made us out of His love and His Son sacrificed His life because of His love for us and the Holy Spirit is guiding us through our days with God’s love.  We haven’t earned it, we don’t deserve it.  It has occured because of the mercy and grace of God our Father.  He is not a distant figure in the sky looking for ways to punish us for every mistake, He is doing everything for our good, not according to our plans rather according to His.  We would do well to turn towards God and thank Him and seek to grow our relationship with Jesus Christ.  Amen.

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“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this:  While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Romans 5:8

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

Battles Along The Way

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We read in the Bible about what this life will be like, it even has it in red letters for us to indicate that these are the words of Jesus…“In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart!  I have overcome the world.” – John 16:33  Yet all of us attempt to get through things alone, at least the first time or several times for us slow learners.  We are not alone on this journey…no matter who or what or how much trouble we are facing in this world nothing is to too big for God our Father, His Son Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.  Maybe in order for more humans to take note, life should come with a warning label…WARNING: Life will be difficult do not try this alone.  Take time to seek Jesus, read about His life on earth, His teachings, His sacrifice, His victory.  It is all available for you to read in God’s Word and God made sure you would have the opportunity to see it and to know Him.  Peace to you on your journey.  Amen.

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“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”

1 Peter 5:7

(This photo was taken in June of 2013 near Colorado Springs, Colorado)

Devotion

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Loyalty…faithfulness…commitment…dedication.  As we learn and grow in our spiritual lives we begin to see more clearly the differences between worldly goals and spiritual goals.  Eventually we all get caught in the middle of these differences for different reasons.  This is a battle that rages on for everyone.  The only answer I have experienced is trust in God.  We will not always be able to see the what or the why and that is incredibly frustrating…don’t let that hold you down.  Continue in faithfulness and not in worry, do your best in your situation and pray.  Talk with the Lord, not in memorized lines from childhood but with sincerity and true feeling because He is with you and He has shown His level of devotion to you by the sacrifice of His Son.  Amen.

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“And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.”

 2 Corinthians 5:15

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

The Gift

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We have been given the greatest gift ever…the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Nothing compares to it.  He sacrificed His life in heaven to come down to earth and to be like one of us, He was beaten, tortured, spit on and crucified…then God did what only God can do…out of the worst of tragedies He brought about the most incredible joy.  Jesus Christ is alive and He lives today.  Don’t put off your relationship with Jesus, spend time with Him everyday, the Gift of Him is one that keeps on giving to you forever.  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, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

John 1:14

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

His Sacrifice = Grace

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We can have a personal relationship with our Creator.  We are redeemed.  We have been saved from wrath.  The punishment we all deserve has been delivered onto Jesus Christ.  We are forgiven.  All of this has been completed because of the grace of God and His love for us.  Jesus gave up everything and suffered the worst things this world can deliver…to save us.  Let us give thanks to Jesus for His incredible sacrifice and let us live our lives in pursuit of the Fruits of the Spirit in our thoughts, our words and our actions.  Amen.

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“For is is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is a gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.”

Ephesians 2:8-9

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