To Know Him vs To Know About Him

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“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God.  Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.  Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.

This is how God showed his love among us:  He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.”

1 John 4:7-9

(This photo was taken in March of 2013 at the Botanical Gardens in the Bellagio in Las Vegas, Nevada)

The Way

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The words of Jesus in the Gospel according to John…

“I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.  He will come in and go out, and find pasture.”

John 10:9

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

Have A Little Faith

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The words of Jesus in response to his disciples who had asked why they were unable to drive out a demon in the Gospel according to Matthew…

“He replied, “Because you have so little faith.  I tell you the truth, 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.” “

Matthew 17:20-21

(This photo was taken in August of 2016 in Mount Rainier National Park in Washington)

A Different Approach

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The words of Jesus speaking to his disciples in the Gospel according to Mark…

“Not so with you.  Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all.  For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Mark 10:43-45

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

Listen to God

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“My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding, and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.

For the Lord gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.”

Proverbs 2:1-6

(This photo was taken in August of 2015 on a lake in central Minnesota)

Growing In Faith

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Our faith can grow and get stronger only if we feed it and exercise it just like our bodies…if we don’t eat food or exercise our muscles our bodies become frail and weak.  The same is true for our spiritual lives and our faith muscles, we need to feed on the Word of God and exercise our faith by how we interact with others in order for our faith to grow.

“Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.  But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.

He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither.  Whatever he does prospers.”

Psalm 1:1-3

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

Our Daily Prescription…

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The words of Jesus in the Gospel according to Matthew…

“Jesus replied:  ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’  This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it:  ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Matthew 22:37-40

(This photo was taken in August of 2016 while driving in Mount Rainier National Park in Washington)

If

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This is one of the most powerful two letter words in the English language.  It summarizes cause and effect, it is clear, simple and straight to the point.

The words of Jesus in the Gospel according to Matthew…

“If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”

Matthew 21:22

(This photo was taken in October of 2014 while traveling on the north shore of Maui)

Treasure

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The words of Jesus in the Gospel according to Matthew…

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.

But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Matthew 6:19-21

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

The Boomerang

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The words of Jesus in the Gospel according to Luke…

“Do not judge, and you will not be judged.  Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned.  Forgive, and you will be forgiven.  Give, and it will be given to you.

A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap.  For with the measure you use it, it will be measured to you.”

Luke 6:37-38

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