Truth

Hope

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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.

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“For nothing will be impossible with God.”

Luke 1:37

(This photo was taken in May of 2014 at a lake in central Minnesota)

Walking With God

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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

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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

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

You Choose

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God created us with free will…the ability to choose our actions and behaviors.  The reason is because a love worth having is love that is chosen, however, the risk is people will choose to reject God.  We were created out of love and as we live we can choose whom we will follow.  How do you choose to live this day?  Amen.

“…But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”

Joshua 24:15

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“You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh[a]; rather, serve one another humbly in love. 14 For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”[b] 15 If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.”

Galatians 5:13.15

(This photo was taken in July of 2016 along Beartooth Pass in Montana)

Faithfulness

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Loyalty…dedication…devotion…commitment…dependability…truth.  God is faithful in all He has promised.  The struggles and the difficulties have been brought on by our chasing after sin and sinful desires.  Even though we wander off…God the Father, our Creator and Jesus Christ His Son our Savior, with the Holy Spirit are faithful to loving us and saving us…if we are willing to confess our sins and trust in God.  Amen.

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

1 John 1:9

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“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,
    for his compassions never fail.
23 They are new every morning;
    great is your faithfulness.
24 I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion;
    therefore I will wait for him.”

25 The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him,
    to the one who seeks him;
26 it is good to wait quietly
    for the salvation of the Lord.”

Lamentations 3:22-26

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

Unfailing Love

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God’s love is everything for us…there is nothing like it and there is nothing on earth that can separate us from it.  Take time to worship and praise Him for His unfailing love.

“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 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. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.”

1 John 4:7-12

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“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

(This photo was taken in October of 2014 at the Nakalele Blow Hole on the island of Maui, Hawaii)

Trust His Word

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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.

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“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)

The Way Home

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We all have choices and decisions to make in life and each one leads us either closer to or further away from God.  God provides all that we need, an instruction manual for life…the Bible…He has provided the One who can lead us…Jesus Christ.  Meet with Jesus regarding the path you are on and follow Him…He is the only Way home.  Amen.

Home by Chris Tomlin

“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

John 14:6

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“He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’[a] or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

Revelation 21:4

(This photo was taken in April of 2020 at a lake near Plymouth, Minnesota)

Who Is It?

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Who is knocking on the door of your heart and mind?  If it is Jesus, go to the door and open it and invite Him in…do not be afraid.  If it is something else…if it is the sinful nature and the way of darkness, do not open that door…seek your relationship with Jesus Christ and He will go to that door for you…because that is what He did when He died on the Cross to save you.  Who is knocking at the door of your heart and mind?  Amen.

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“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.”

Revelation 3:20

(This photo was taken in October of 2018 while standing on one of the covered bridges near Winterset, Iowa)

The Price Of Salvation

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Today is the third day since Resurrection Sunday and we must caution against taking our salvation for granted.  For most people by now they are focused solely on the tasks of work or daily tasks at home and the glory of Christ sacrifice for us is in the rear-view mirror.  The faith journey and spiritual growth is about so much more than checking in on Sunday and checking out the rest of the week.  Seek your relationship with Jesus Christ every day, spend time with Him and in God’s Word.  May the peace of the Lord be with you.  Amen.

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

Romans 5:8

(This photo was taken in April of 2020 at a lake near Plymouth, Minnesota)

The Lord Is Near

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He is closer than you think…He knows what is on your mind.  Take your thoughts, your gratitude and your worries and your burdens to God in prayer.  Be patient and persistent…pay attention to His responses in the many ways He speaks to us.  Trust in the Lord.  Amen.

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“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 4:4-7

(This photo was taken in April of 2020 at a lake near Plymouth, Minnesota)