Strength

Strength

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All that we need is provided by God.  It is easy to give up and believe that something is never going to change or get better and frankly the majority of people do exactly that…the strength to keep working for good comes from God.  Reading God’s Word and spending time with Him in prayer renews your spirit and your mind.  When we believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and we see what He has done, we know that God is working for our good in all things…do not give up…whatever it is, whoever it is…don’t give up…bring it to the Cross of Christ.  Amen.

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“I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”

Philippians 4:13

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

He Knows…

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All that has happened in our lives and in history.  The greatest blessings can come from the greatest tragedies.  This has been true throughout history…going back to the resurrection after the crucifixion.  God knows all these things and He will guide us through everything and anything we encounter in life…it is up to us to seek Him and His Word.  Amen.

He Knows by Jeremy Camp

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“You have searched me, Lord and you know me.”

Psalm 139:1

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

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 Pace Of Life

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We are made to be able to meet the challenge of stress and tension when it is necessary and then to step away to rest and recovery.  The problem is we choose to stay in the stress and tension continuously and leave little time for the rest and recovery.  Rest is about more than physical rest, it is about clearing our mind of the clutter, the plans, the worries and the should haves and could haves…focus on the Lord, wait for Him, trust in Him…this will help to put burdens in perspective and give us strength each day.  May the peace of the Lord be with you.  Amen.

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“This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says:  “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it.”

Isaiah 30:15

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

Renew Their Strength

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Turn towards God.  Open your heart and mind in prayer and speak earnestly about your worries, your fears, your burdens.  Open up God’s Word and read the writings He has left for you.  If you believe that your circumstances are hopeless, read the Book of Job in the Old Testament…this person lost everything and He pleaded with God to tell him what was going on…Job wanted answers like many of us.  I have been reminded this morning, that God does not reveal His plan…He reveals Himself with His presence.  He gives us comfort, courage, warmth, perseverance, love, joy and peace.  We can renew our strength because He gives us hope through His Son, Jesus Christ.  Amen.

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“He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.  Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

Isaiah 40:29-31

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

Safe Pasture

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What does it take to feel safe?  To have shelter, food and water?  These are the physical essentials for life.  When traveling on mission trips, I have met some people who struggle for these things every day and yet they seem to have unique peace about them…for others they have all these things and much more and they are worried, scattered, scared.  This isn’t true in all cases for either group of people, however, there was a noticeable difference sometimes.  The one thing that stood out whenever I met a person who exuded a sense of peace, whether they had little or plenty of worldly things?  It was their faith.  Take inventory of people in your life…who constantly seems to have a sense of hope and who always seems eager to complain and worry?  Now take time to reflect on yourself…how do you typically present yourself?  To say we believe in God and know that He is with us is one thing…to live it out in our everyday life is the next step in spiritual growth.  Trust in the Lord and you will find safe pasture.  Amen.

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“Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.  Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”

Psalm 37:3-4

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

Strength For The Weary

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One of the amazing things about faith is its power to give us the courage, the endurance, the patience and the perseverance to keep trying, to keep learning and to keep believing in hope.  Out of the most tragic circumstances that happen because of sin…God can bring about the greatest good.  Do you believe it?  No matter where you are, no matter what the struggle is in your life, right now…turn towards Jesus in prayer, seek Him and believe in the Him.  Do it every day and you will find courage, you will find patience, you will persevere and you will find peace.  May we all be strengthened by our relationship with Jesus Christ.  Amen.

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“Do you not know?  Have you not heard?  The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.  He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.  He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.”

Isaiah 40:28-29

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

Love And Faithfulness

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When we are able to surrender ourselves to God and His plan and we follow Jesus as our Savior and Lord, we will grow and mature spiritually.  We may believe we know a great deal about love and faithfulness and yet there is so much more God wants to show us.  It will not be easy and we should take nothing for granted.  Living in this world where sin and selfishness run wild, where temptations are lurking…we will never be perfect, so that is not a realistic goal and we are not to be the judge of others.  In the Gospel of John 13:34-35, Jesus gives us a new command of love, He is speaking about it at a time when one of His close disciples in going off to betray Him.  Love and faithfulness these are characteristics of the new creation God is making us to be.  Seek the Lord and the life He has planned for you.  Amen.

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“Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.  Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.”

Proverbs 3:3-4

(This photo was taken in October of 2014 at sunrise on the island of Maui, Hawaii)