Truth

A Psalm And A Song For Giving Thanks

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“Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.
2     Worship the Lord with gladness;
    come before him with joyful songs.
3 Know that the Lord is God.
    It is he who made us, and we are his[a];
    we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.”

Psalm 100:1-3

Forever by Chris Tomlin

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“Enter his gates with thanksgiving
    and his courts with praise;
    give thanks to him and praise his name.
5 For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;
    his faithfulness continues through all generations.”

Psalm 100:4-5

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

Spread An Attitude Of Gratitude

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One act of kindness, compassion and thankfulness can set off a chain reaction…

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.”

Colossians 3:12-15

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“For we are God’s handiwork, 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 February of 2013 in a neighborhood near Plymouth, Minnesota)

Roots

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“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord,
    whose confidence is in him.
8 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

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“So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, 7 rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.”

Colossians 2:6-7

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

Surrender

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“What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? 2 You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. 3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.”

James 4:1-3

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“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.”

James 4:7-10

(This photo was taken in July of 2019 at a lake in northwestern Wisconsin)

The Goodness Of God

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Goodness Of God by Jenn Johnson

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

Psalm 145:9

“The Lord is good,
    a refuge in times of trouble.
He cares for those who trust in him,”

Nahum 1:7

“Taste and see that the Lord is good;
    blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.”

Psalm 34:8

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“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
    his love endures forever.”

Psalm 107:1

(This photo was taken in May of 2020 at sunrise along the North Shore of Lake Superior)

Renew Your Perspective

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“The Lord is my light and my salvation—
    whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life—
    of whom shall I be afraid?”

Psalm 27:1

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“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

(This photo was taken in September of 2020 at sunrise by a lake in northwestern Wisconsin)

Be Thankful…Be Content

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  “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

Colossians 3:15-17

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“But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.”

1 Timothy 6:6-8

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

The Grace Of God

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“For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.”

John 1:17

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Romans 5:8

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“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

Galatians 2:20

(This photo was taken in June of 2020 at sunset by a lake in northwestern Wisconsin)

A Season Of Giving

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Remember that giving is about much more than money.  Too much time spent focused on self only leads to sorrow and trouble.  What has God blessed you with that you can give?  Who does God want you to give to?  Think about these things and act in faith.  Amen.

“Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 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. 8 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

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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. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.”

Galatians 6:9-10

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

The Word Of The Lord

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

Psalm 119:105

“You are my refuge and my shield;
    I have put my hope in your word.”

Psalm 119:114

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“For,

“All people are like grass,
    and all their glory is like the flowers of the field;
the grass withers and the flowers fall,
25     but the word of the Lord endures forever.”[a]

And this is the word that was preached to you.”

1 Peter 1:24-25

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