Give Your Best

“Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 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. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”

2 Corinthians 9:6-8 NIV

Trusting in God means trusting in Him for the outcome of circumstances and events

If we can offer the best of what we can give, whether it is our time, our ideas, our attention or our money and we trust in God, He can take what we offer and do so much more than we can do on our own

In Matthew 14:13-21, the disciples gave Him all they had, five loaves of bread and two fish and with that over five thousand people were fed with plenty of leftovers

When we give our best and trust God for the outcome, amazing things can happen

May the peace of the Lord be in you and work through you

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Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?  When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?  When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’  “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’”

Matthew 25:37-40 NIV

(This photo was taken at Garden of the Gods park near Colorado Springs, Colorado)

Walking With God

Your word is a lamp for my feet,
    a light on my path.”

Psalm 119:105 NIV

Faith is a journey

It begins with belief, confession and prayer

It grows as we read the Scriptures, as we spend time in devotions, as we engage in our communities and serve others

It transforms us with a new attitude centered on God and His will for us

Trust in God, spend time on your relationship with Jesus Christ and pray about everything, every day

God is with you, He is for you

It is up to you to seek Him and choose to walk with God

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He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
    And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
    and to walk humbly[a] with your God.”

Micah 6:8 NIV

(This photo was taken in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming)

Anything Is Possible

“Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.”

Mark 10:27 NIV

God can help us with anything…everything!

If we are worried about money, He can help with that

If we are worried about physical health, He can help with that

If we are concerned about our emotions or how we are feeling about issues He can help with that

If we are struggling with family and friends or social relationships, He can help with that

The important thing to remember about God and His help…

He will and does help with everything on His terms and according to His plans, not ours

Not on our timeline and not with our outcome as His top priority

That is how we tend to put God in a box

He has a far greater plan and outcome in store for us if we will just trust in Him

Here is what I have learned from my relationship with God

Be patient and persistent and pay attention for resolutions to situations that you never even considered

Be humble, willing to speak honestly and learn how to listen

Spend time with Him everyday and grow your relationship

Forgive others, do not be quick to judge and do not stay angry

God is with you, He is holding you in the palm of His hand, be thankful and be willing to tell others of His great love for us

Anything is possible when we learn to trust in Him

May God’s peace, joy and love surround you

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“Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Matthew 19:26 NIV

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

Angels

The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him,
    and he delivers them.”

Psalm 34:7 NIV

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If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,”
    and you make the Most High your dwelling,
10 no harm will overtake you,
    no disaster will come near your tent.
11 For he will command his angels concerning you
    to guard you in all your ways;
12 they will lift you up in their hands,
    so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.”

Psalm 91:9-12 NIV

(This photo was taken at Palisade Head along the North Shore of Lake Superior)

Remember What God Can Do…Anything Is Possible

The Lord is righteous in all his ways
    and faithful in all he does.
18 The Lord is near to all who call on him,
    to all who call on him in truth.
19 He fulfills the desires of those who fear him;
    he hears their cry and saves them.”

Psalm 145:17-19 NIV

Don’t give up…keep going

God is with you

We may not understand everything right now…yet we must continue on in faith

Remember in the past how God has showed up?

Even when you thought the situation was hopeless or impossible?  Keep praying and be courageous even when you are unsure of the outcome.  He is with you, He is within you, every day, all the time!

May God’s comfort and peace be with you

Haven’t Seen It Yet by Danny Gokey

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“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”

Romans 12:12 NIV

(This photo was taken while traveling along Beartooth Pass)

Perfect Peace

You will keep in perfect peace
    those whose minds are steadfast,
    because they trust in you.
Trust in the Lord forever,
    for the Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal.

Isaiah 26:3-4 NIV

There is one way to peace

It will not be found in worldly values, events or possessions

Our guide for perfect peace is Jesus Christ

When things are spinning out of control or chaos seems to be ruling the day

Slip away to a quiet place and focus your thoughts on Jesus

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“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we[a] have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ…”

Romans 5:1 NIV

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

Trust God

Trust in the Lord with all your heart
    and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him,
    and he will make your paths straight.”[a]

Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV

Good and Gracious God, You are my source of strength and hope

You are the foundation of my life

With You, all things are possible

I will place my hope in You

Even when everything around me seems to be crumbling, I will put my trust in You

I will not be afraid because You make my life secure

Thank You

In Jesus name, 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 NIV

(This photo was taken at sunset while traveling in South Dakota)

Anything Is Possible With God

“The Lord is gracious and compassionate,
    slow to anger and rich in love.

The Lord is good to all;
    he has compassion on all he has made.”

Psalm 145:8-9 NIV

No matter what, anything is possible with God

If you are discouraged or defeated and thinking this is never going to change or get better…turn towards God, put your trust in Him

If you are frustrated and at your wits end with your circumstances or another person don’t give up…pray to God and draw near to Him

In the Bible look at the story of Saul who became Paul…Saul was filled with anger and hate and he was leading the charge to kill believers in Jesus and yet this was the person God chose to change so he could help lead the charge to spread the Good News about Jesus…you can read more about him in the Book of Acts

If God can change Saul to Paul, He can change you or someone you are praying for as well

Anything is possible with God!

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“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord,
    whose confidence is in him.
They will be like a tree planted by the water
    that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes;
    its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought
    and never fails to bear fruit.”

Jeremiah 17:7-8 NIV

(This photo was taken at a lake near Plymouth, Minnesota)

Put Your Trust In God

Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you.  Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life.”

Psalm 143:8 NIV

What do you put your trust in?

Who do you believe is trustworthy?

Take a moment and think about it

The dictionary states trust is – firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of someone or something

So, who or what in your life do you trust?

The world is filled with deception, selfishness, lying, cheating, etc… these things were brought into the world by the human race

There is still hope…there is One who is worthy of trust

There is One who is reliable, who is the truth, who has the ability and the strength and He is the One who sacrificed himself to save us…Jesus Christ

He is a Light in the darkness, turn to Jesus and put your trust in God

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Trust in the Lord with all your heart
    and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him,
    and he will make your paths straight.[a]

Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV

(This photo was taken while traveling through North Dakota)

Trust In The Lord

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

Psalm 27:13-14 NIV

When you are facing trouble in this world…and it seems like everything you try to do is failing

Pray and wait for the Lord

When you don’t know what to do next

Pray and trust in the Lord

Do something good and wait patiently for God and His will

Trust is hard, especially when we have put our trust in things that have let us down in the past

We can trust in the Lord

He keeps His promises…He always has and He always will

He is with you and He will never leave you

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 NIV

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