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Be On Your Guard

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When we go out to live a life of faith, based on the foundation of our relationship with God we need to be prepared to be opposed.  The dark forces of evil in the world do not want us living with the light of Christ shining for all to see.  We will be tempted to do differently and we will be given distractions to take our attention away from a life of faith.  If you can, pick a verse or two that are most reassuring to you and memorize them, place them deep in your heart and mind and reaffirm your faith repeating these verses whenever you want and use the Word of God to keep you focused.  May God’s peace be with you on your journey.

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“Be self-controlled and be alert.  Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”

1 Peter 5:8

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

Living Faith

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We have been redeemed.  Christ lives, He is in us and we are saved.  Jesus did His part to save us and now it is up to us to live as a people saved by Christ.  We are blessed with free will.  We need to do our part to uphold our faith.  Choose goodness, choose kindness, choose to help those in need, choose joy, choose to be encouraging and uplifting…we have already received more than we could have ever hoped for from Jesus Christ, now we are reconciled with God, let’s go out into the darkness of the world and share the light of Christ.  May God’s peace be with you.

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“Do to others as you would have them do to you.”

Luke 6:31

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

The Love Of Christ

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It is so overwhelming to me to think about all that Jesus suffered to save us.  He was different than everybody else and because of that people let fear drive them to the point of His death.  When any of us look at the current circumstances in our lives and we put on the perspective of what Jesus faced on earth, it is clear to me that nothing I face in this life will ever match the love that Jesus Christ has for me…nothing.  There are terrible pains, suffering and events of deep sadness that exist because of darkness and sin.  The love of Christ is more powerful than any of it…not when you are trying to see it without first inviting Jesus into your heart.  Invite Him into your life and read the Word of God and you will see His love every day.  May God’s love and peace be with you.

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“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?  Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?…No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.”

Romans 8:35,37

(This photo was taken in June of 2016 in a neighborhood near Plymouth, Minnesota)

Share Goodness

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Whenever you can, share the goodness of life.  Make eye contact and smile at other people, hold a door open, help someone carry things, be patient with others, listen instead of talking and support those in need without expectation of something in return.  When we choose to live in community with one another we can see the goodness of the Lord in life.  It is striving to get back to the basics of interacting with each other in a simple and kind manner.  It is a choice, we are not victims of our environment or our surroundings unless we choose to be.  If you don’t know how or where to start, I would recommend getting out into nature and be present in God’s creation.  Nothing soothes my soul better than being outdoors in the amazing world God created.  May God’s peace and the wonder of creation be with you.

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“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

Galatians 6:9

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

Trials Of Life

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Everyone has knowledge and experience in trials and pain and suffering.  No matter what type of front they display on a social media feed there is trial and pain in their life too.  The problem with comparing ourselves is that many people are very skilled at hiding their pain, trying to ignore the suffering.  Worse yet is the news media and the sad way they choose to display their view of the world.  There is a phrase I have heard used more when I was younger and not as much now…“you get what you give” or “what you will get out of this is determined by what you put into it”  To me this provides one of the things missing in society today…accountability.  Easy street is not a real place or a way to live.  That doesn’t mean that we never will feel happy or joy but it depends on where you are looking for it, it depends on your perspective.  The one place that helps with every day life and builds a strong foundation to live on is the Cross.  Come to the Cross and live.  May God’s peace be with you.

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“Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.”

Psalm 139:23

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

Perspective

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We all have opportunity every day to choose how we see the world and people in it.  Our perspective has many influences, personal experience, things we read, things others tell us, our own emotions and the things we see happening.  If we allow our perspective to be formed with out consulting with our Creator are we really putting all we can into our beliefs?  Information provided by the human race always seems to have a selfish agenda of the those who distribute the data.  The only source of truth I have found is God and His Son Jesus Christ.  If you haven’t done so, I invite you to allow the Word of God to be an influence on your perspective…I recommend starting with the Gospel of John.  Believe in God the Father, Jesus Christ His one and only Son and the Holy Spirit and you will find the peace and joy of the Lord.  May God’s peace be with you.

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“For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life.”

1 Thessalonians 4:7

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

Consistent

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We all experience times and events that are good times and bad times.  Times when we can relax and be at peace and times when chaos reigns, it all occurs depending upon what is going on in our lives and who we are spending our time with.  The environment we choose to spend time in will always impact our highs and lows.  Who are we surrounding ourselves with, are we able to be ourselves or are we always performing for others consciously or subconsciously?  Throughout history there is only one thing that has created a firm foundation to stand on…the bible.  The Word of God and the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  The values and principles of a life following Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior are documented, solid and unchanging.  If you are looking for a place to build your life on start with the greatest foundation available.  May God’s peace be with you.

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“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”

Hebrews 13:8

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

Spiritual Food

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When we read the bible we are feeding our spiritual life so that it can grow.  If we only take time to listen to the word of God once a week in worship our spiritual growth is very limited.  Just as the body needs food and water daily to stay healthy.  We also need to exercise in order to be strong to stand up to evil.  For the spiritual food we receive is the verses of the bible, this is the living water that Jesus speaks about in the Gospel of John.  We can be nourished by spending time digesting the Word of God.  The exercise of our spiritual life is the action we take that shows we are a disciple of Jesus.  The actions that bear fruit to the world.  Choose to feed your spiritual life, pick up the bible and feed your spiritual body.  May God’s peace be with you.

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“I am the vine; you are the branches.  Whoever remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”

John 15:5

(This photo was taken in August of 2016 at Sapphire Point near Dillon, Colorado)

Light of Life

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Everyone goes through storms in life.  Some storms are dark clouds with some hail, rain and thunder and lighting while others storms can be tornadoes or hurricanes.  When we watch the news coverage of weather events like these if it is often the next day and people are out helping each other clean up and the left over debris and trash is put into a pile to be removed, it is usually a bright and sunny day as the storm has passed by and new day has dawned.  This is exactly how we should try to process the storms of our lives…even the most horrific storms have a next day when the sun will shine and we can pick up the pieces and begin again.  The best way to seek this light of life is with Jesus Christ your Lord and Savior and the Holy Spirit and know you are not alone.  Besides when major weather event moves through an area we are not the only ones whose house gets hit…we are all much more alike in the events of life then many of us are willing to believe.  May God’s peace be with you.

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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

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

Confidence

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The bible is filled with promises by God and He fulfills those promises, not according to our standard rather, according to His.  We are always trying to fit God into our view of how things should be instead of surrendering ourselves to His view.  Every promise God has made has been completed, except for one.  He promises that Jesus will come back again to take us home and based on the history of promises kept a believer should have every confidence that Jesus will return.  It is written, He will come down from heaven, check…He will heal the sick and help the poor, check…He will be crucified and die, check…He will be risen and ascend to the Father, check…He will come again, still pending…this promise will be fulfilled according to God’s standard not ours.  May God’s peace be with you.

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“I am still confident of this:  I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of living.  Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.”

Psalms 27:13-14

(This photo was taken in June of 2012 while traveling through northwestern Wisconsin)