Stand firm in faith. Trust God and His plan for you. We will not always see the way or understand His plan, yet we know that all good things come from God. Amen.
“Commit your way to the Lord;
trust in him, and he will act.”
Psalm 37:5
“…But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
Joshua 24:15
(This photo was taken in July of 2019 at a lake near Plymouth, Minnesota)
God has shown us how much He loves us by sending His One and Only Son to the Cross to die for us, even though we were still sinners. We didn’t earn it; it is a gift from God. No matter where you have been, no matter what you have done…Jesus Christ died to save you. Put your faith in God, trust in Him and you will find hope. Amen.
“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”
2 Corinthians 12:9
“Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.”
James 1:12
(This photo was taken in June of 2013 in Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado)
When you become tired and weary…frustrated and exasperated…looking for answers and your mind is swirling with questions…turn towards the Lord. Focus on Him, bring Him your worries and your burdens…He will help to quiet your mind and bring peace to your spirit. The Lord is a refuge for those who seek Him and nothing in this world can take His place. Amen.
“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.
29 He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
30 Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
31 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 40:28-31
(This photo was taken in August of 2016 in Glacier National Park in Montana)
Each day we live means God is still working on us. He knows the number of our days and He is with us for each and every one of them. It is up to us to seek Him…to acknowledge Him and His Presence…we have the task of learning, growing and sharing as we go…it doesn’t have to be perfect and it never will be. God tells us we are His work in progress and if we live our lives trusting and believing and spending time with Him good things will come. Amen.
God’s Not Done With You by Tauren Wells
“In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 1:4-6
“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 at Sapphire Point near Dillon, Colorado)
In the book of Genesis, the story of Joseph aligns closely with how God interacts with humans today. He suffers many hardships at the hands of others and yet keeps his faith in God. He trusts God and lives his life with a God trusting attitude and perspective. This attitude focuses more on what God is up to for our good and less on what others are doing to us. We have a much better chance of learning about what God is up to if we are looking for the good. Amen.
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who[a] have been called according to his purpose.”
Romans 8:28
(This photo was taken in June of 2016 at a lake near Plymouth, Minnesota)
What drives it? Why do we have it? It comes from belief…it comes from trusting. Even when no one believes there is any hope…hope persists. Think about the day Jesus was crucified…nobody, not even the disciples had hope. Jesus, their teacher, the one who performed miracles had died…yet with God anything is possible. Jesus is risen! He is risen indeed, Alleluia! The stories of hope with God in the bible go on and on…Sarah who was barren has a son…Moses and the Red Sea…Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego survive the fiery furnace…Daniel in the lion’s den…Mary the virgin gives birth to Jesus and on and on it goes. Don’t give up hope…trust in God. Amen.
“For nothing will be impossible with God.”
Luke 1:37
(This photo was taken in May of 2014 at a lake in central Minnesota)
A faith journey. It begins with prayer. It grows as we read the Scriptures, spend time in devotions, engage in our communities, 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…pray about everything, every day. Amen.
“Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
“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
(This photo was taken in July of 2016 in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming)
God is with you. It is said over and over again in the Bible. The message is clear, we can rely on God…this does not mean your life will be free of trouble and suffering. It tells us that when those things come, we can count on God to guide us, strengthen us and give us hope through those times. Pick up a Bible and see for yourself in Deuteronomy 31, Joshua 1, Isaiah 41 or Hebrews 13 and other places…God is with you, trust Him and His word. Amen.
“Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said,
“Never will I leave you;
never will I forsake you.”[a]“
Hebrews 13:5
(This photo was taken in July of 2018 on the shore of Lake Superior near Ashland, Wisconsin)
Just when we think all is lost and we are struggling to know what to do…imagine how His disciples felt the day after He was crucified and before the resurrection…we must remember that with God all things are possible and if we wait and trust in Him, He will do good things, things we never thought were possible in our lives. Amen.
End of the Beginning by David Phelps
“Now there was a man named Joseph, a member of the Council, a good and upright man, 51 who had not consented to their decision and action. He came from the Judean town of Arimathea, and he himself was waiting for the kingdom of God. 52 Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body. 53 Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen cloth and placed it in a tomb cut in the rock, one in which no one had yet been laid. 54 It was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was about to begin.”
Luke 23:50-54
(This photo was taken in August of 2016 in Arches National Park in Utah)
This is Holy Week…a time to reflect clearly on what Jesus truly did for you, to save you. He entered the city of Jerusalem to cheers and the waving of palms…and days later He left the city, beaten, bloody and dragging the very cross He would die upon…in order to reconcile us with God. It is all written down for us in God’s Word. I am a sinner, thankful for the Lord Jesus Christ…for His sacrifice, for His mercy and for His love. Thanks be to God. Amen.
“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’
13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’
14 “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.””
Luke 9:10-14
(This photo was taken in August of 2016 near Dillon, Colorado)
