serving others

Sow The Seeds Of Faith

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Whatever we choose to be, how we choose to behave, the attitude that we choose as our approach to things…this is what will come back to us in our lives.  If we choose to be angry, full of fear, jealousy, envy and go around constantly judging others…that is exactly what we will get back.  Yet if we choose to live differently, if we choose to follow the Fruits of the Spirit as written in Galatians 5:22-23…we will receive those fruits back to us.  So the question is what do you want to sow today?  I pray we seek goodness and to live by the Fruits of the Spirit in our daily walk.  Amen.

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“The one who sows to please the sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.”

Galatians 6:8

(This photo was taken in July of 2016 while traveling through North Dakota)

Truth

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On our faith journey there is so much conflict with what the world is telling us and what our readings and spiritual life teach us about how to to live.  This is the result of the spiritual battle going on all around us.  We are created by God and He loves us and longs to have a relationship with us.  And the forces of darkness and evil are doing everything they can to keep our attention on other things, any other thing than God.  There is peace, and it can be found in a daily connection with Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord.  The simplicity of doing good things and helping others where you can is the path towards hope.  Take refuge in God and you will have your peace.  May God’s joy be with you.

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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

(This photo was taken in July of 2016 on Beartooth Pass in Montana)

Stewardship

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Guardianship…upkeep…safekeeping…managing…cherishing…protecting…preserving.  We are asked to be good stewards in our lives.  We come into the world with nothing and when we leave we can take nothing with us.  All that we receive is from God.  God owns everything and we receive so that we can be cared for and share with others.  The sinful nature would have us go after gaining more to keep and store up this turns us away from faith.  The world has been filled with more than enough resources to feed and clothe everyone, yet the human race has not distributed things properly so there is poverty everywhere.  Do what you can wherever you are to help those who need it most.  May God’s joy and peace be with you.

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“Remember this:  Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.  Each one should give what they have decided in their heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

2 Corinthians 9:6-7

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

Humility

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To say there seems to be less and less of this in the world is an understatement…more then ever we are hearing about people shouting about their individual rights or their me and my group first mentality, which just drives the motivation of others to put themselves first, which does nothing more that create division and violence.  Imagine if more people were working for fairness for all people…instead trying to push and pull others down to get a step up.  My guess is that this is because of a lack of trust in society.  People can’t trust that other people will be honest and work for the best intentions of all.  Selfishness.  Think about what it felt like when someone did something kind and generous for you that had no benefit for them.  That is where God is.  The only one who can overcome the rule of self in the human race is God.  He can be trusted, He has kept every promise He has ever made and He has one promise left.  Turn to God and pray, trust in Him and He will bring you peace.

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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

(This photo was taken in July of 2018 on the shore of Lake Superior in Ashland, Wisconsin)

Call To Serve

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If you find yourself frustrated, anxious or worried more often than usual you may be spending too much time focused on things that are self-serving.  Typically I have found on my journey that contentment and joy come from serving the needs of another.  Providing help where it is needed most.  This does not have to be a major undertaking or monumental tasks…it can be what is most needed, when it is most needed.  Maybe someone needs a ride to get to work…holding a door open for someone who has their hands full with someone or something…preparing a meal…or just sitting and listening.  We all have gifts and abilities to share and we are called by God to serve one another.  May God bless you with wisdom and understanding.

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“You, my brothers, were called to be free.  But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.”

Galatians 5:13

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

Use Your Gifts

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All of us have something that comes naturally for us to do.  Things we do well that can help others and serve a useful purpose.  Our gifts or strengths that God has blessed us with could help support the basics in life…food, shelter or clothing.  They also could be gifts that help spread the Good News of the Lord.  Whatever they are and whatever they help you to do…get to know them, understand how to use them best and if you are not sure about this…start by asking God in prayer to help you to see the goodness He has planted in you and where and when to use it.  All that is good comes from God and He created you, don’t take your cues about your worth from the world.  Learn from the Creator about your goodness and use your gifts from Him to help others.  May God’s love and joy surround you each day.

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“Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.”

1 Peter 4:10

(This photo was taken in June of 2016 at a lake place in northwestern Wisconsin)

Walking In The Light

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Getting out of the cycle of pray-commit sin-repent-repeat means changing our behavior and our attitude.  It says in many places in the bible the path to peace is to humble your self before God (James 4:10, 1 Peter 5:6) and admit you are a sinner who is unable to improve yourself alone.  This is true humility.  It is very far cry from what the self-serving world is telling us we should be doing.  We must learn to walk in the light of Christ…to me this means not judging others, not holding on to anger, offering to help those in need and spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ and His redeeming grace.  To walk in the light is to trust and know that no matter what you encounter, God is good, He loves you and He will guide you if you are willing to follow Him.  May the grace and peace of God be with you.

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“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.”

1 John 1:7

(This photo was taken in June of 2012 at sunset in northwestern Wisconsin)

The Needs Of Others

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We all have been given gifts and talents to use in the world.  While we are all unique the gifts we have are to be used to not only support ourselves, they are also the way we can help others in need.  It is important to learn and accept the gifts and talents God has given us and to seek out ways to use them to honor God.  Selfishness is running rampant all over the world and therefore the needs of people are many.  Can we help everyone?  No.  Does that mean we should only worry about ourselves? No.  We should strive to do whatever we can, for whomever we can, whenever we can, wherever we are…even if it only helps one person in that moment in time, it is helping someone in need.  May God’s grace and peace be with you.

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“Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.”

Philippians 2:4

(This photo was taken in June of 2013 at a rest area in South Dakota)

Do Good Things

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It is easy to look around and think, what difference does it make if I do this or I don’t?  This type thinking can lead to a downward spiral of negative thoughts and low self-worth.  This is the way of evil and darkness.  When we act and do good things it will make a difference, to someone someday.  Even if we never get to see the difference in our life or in person it is important to continue to do good things.  We are made out of the love of God and we have the hope of eternal life with Him.  This world is not our home but while we are here we should do whatever we can, wherever we are to help those in need.  May God’s peace 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 July of 2016 along Beartooth Pass in Montana)

Free Will

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One of the most sacred aspects regarding the creation of humans is free will.  We are given the gift of free will by God to decide and to choose our behavior and attitude each day.  How we choose to live is our responsibility and no one else’s.  We choose to do good or to do wrong or we choose to do nothing.  Everybody in the world is fighting a battle of some kind, real life is not what people are posting on social media, that is merely the book cover that people want to present to the world.  We should not take our free will for granted, use the power to choose how you will live to do good for others, just as Christ did to save you.  May God’s peace be with you.

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“You, my brothers, were called to be free.  But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.  The entire law is  summed up in a single command:  “Love your neighbor as yourself.”  If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.”

Galatians 5:13-15

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