Teaching

Learn To Listen

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The skill of listening is becoming less and less frequent in today’s world.  It seems people are so intent on speaking and spend more time preparing a response then seeking to understand others.  It is a form of selfishness.  All of us are cursed with some form of selfishness…it does not go away or become less present over time unless we are actively working on reducing its presence in our lives.  In order to strengthen our abilities to see things from the perspective of another person we can start by listening and seeking to understand them.  Listening does not mean you automatically agree with them rather it means you are willing to consider more than your own opinion.  We do not have all the answers, nobody on earth does…nobody.  The only one who knows is God…and if we can’t listen to Him we will struggle more than is necessary.  May God’s love and peace be with you.

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“Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise.”

Proverbs 19:20

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

Friendship

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We need good friends as a part of our journey.  True friends, not the ‘how you doing’ people we pass and never take time to sit and listen to how they really are doing.  Friendship is a commitment to the other person that you will be there for them and they will be there for you.  It is a give and take and both parties have a responsibility to honor that commitment to the other.  These are the people that will go through your greatest highs and your deepest lows with you.  Think about who that is for you…give thanks to God for that person and take time to let them know you appreciate them.  May God’s love and joy be with you.

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“My command is this:  Love each other as I have loved you.”

John 15:12

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

Giving

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Be generous when you can, to whomever you can, wherever you are in your life.  Look not only to your own needs.  Look around you, there are others in need and you have the ability to help.  Giving is not always a financial based event, the world tends to portray it that way.  Giving can be in things more valuable than money, like giving your time, your attention, sitting and listening to someone, preparing a meal, etc.  Don’t limit your gifts to what the world wants to tell you can offer, trust in God and your relationship with Him to fully understand what you are created to give.  God loves you and knows the most about what you have to offer to others.  May God’s love and peace be with you.

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“Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

2 Corinthians 9:7

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

Grace And Mercy

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God provides us both His grace and His mercy, even though we do not earn them.  His love for us is so strong that even though we were still sinners He sent His one and only Son to save us.  When we reflect on our daily lives there is so much we should be thankful for that gets taken for granted.  We would be wise to take time to praise God and give thanks for all He has done for us.  It is so easy to get distracted by a variety of things in the world and yet God is right here with us, waiting for us to turn to Him in faith.  We are most encouraged when we spend time in relationship with the Lord.  May God’s peace and joy be with you.

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“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

Ephesians 2:10

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

The Fruit Of The Spirit

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We all have something we believe in, we all have something to share with others.  The way we choose to share that message will have a significant impact on whether we are heard or cast aside.  How we communicate is probably more important then the message itself because the best message that goes unheard is nothing.  God provided the guide on how to interact with others and if more people spent time interacting with each other in this way there would be so much less anger, hatred and disrespectful choices being made among us.  The way to communicate a message of injustice or to help draw attention to a need is with the fruit of the Spirit…with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and with self-control.  If you choose to communicate with dishonor, anger, yelling and disrespect for others then the value of your message is lost as the focus will only be on your poor behavior.  The message everyone has is important and just as important is how everyone chooses to communicate their message.  May God’s love and peace be with you.

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“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  Against such things there is no law.”

Galatians 5:22-23

(This photo was taken in June of 2013 near Garden of the Gods park in Colorado)

Choose How You Will Respond

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With every situation in life we are given free will by God which means we choose how to respond to what other people do or say.  This freedom also means we are accountable and responsible for our response even if the response is to do nothing.  If we are focused on self more than anything else we will often choose a poor response as self is only responding to the impact on me without regard for others.  God created us out of His love and we were made to choose the fruits of the Spirit in how we live our daily lives.  Be aware not only of ‘what’ you do and say, but also ‘how’ you do and say things when you respond to others.  Free will is a gift from God, how we respond with this gift makes all the difference in how we feel in our life.  May God’s joy and peace be with you.

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“A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”

Proverbs 15:1

(This photo was taken in September of 2016 at a lake in central Minnesota)

Be Strong And Courageous

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Don’t give up, don’t stop trying…whatever it is the next attempt can be the one that gets the results you are hoping to see.  Be persistent and be creative.  When you have exhausted your approach to an issue or situation, be open and willing to change how you think about it and try again.  Pray about it as well, lift your worries and concerns up to Jesus in prayer.  Surrender your plans only to God and see what He has in store for you.  No matter what the circumstances God is with you and He can guide you.  May God’s peace and joy be with you.

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“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous.  Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Joshua 1:9

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

Trust In The Lord

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In our interactions with others it may become difficult to trust other people.  We are all broken and we all have committed sin.  We all have difficulty denying thy self, and we end up doing things that hurt another person.  We have all been there…we have all been the one who hurts another and we have all been the one hurt by others.  Depending on how bad you have been hurt or betrayed it becomes difficult to trust others.  The place we can always trust is at the Cross.  This doesn’t mean God will always do what we plan or want, it means we can trust that He is always working for the good in our lives according to His plan.  Come to the Cross and learn to live trusting in the Lord first and He will guide us in our relationships with others.  May God’s peace be with you.

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

Psalm 37:3-4

(This photo was taken in June of 2013 at Falls Park in Sioux Falls, 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)

Patience

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When we believe and we trust in God we will be required to develop patience in this world.  Circumstances will often look hopeless and many people will despair and be engulfed in sadness and fear, that is the way of evil.  We must never give up hope, we must trust in God to continue working for the good for us and for everyone.  God does not make bad things happen, He is not tempting you with things that are not good…that is sin in the world and we humans invited that sin into this world.  God is at work in all the bad we have created to bring out goodness, kindness and love.  Believe in Him who created us, believe in His one and only Son, Jesus Christ and see the good things that can happen in your life in this world.  May God’s peace and joy 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 the living.  Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.”

Psalm 27:13-14

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