Grace

It is hard to believe but truly anyone can be saved.  Yes, even that person in your life.  God’s grace is so much greater than our sins.  The bible is filled with examples of people who had so many and such hurtful sin in their lives that God forgives.  Read Jonah to see how much God will relent so that all people can be saved.  Find it in your heart to forgive and pray for that person in your life…let them see the light of Christ in you.  Amen.

DSC_0031 publish

But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.”

Ephesians 2:4-5

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

Be Humble

Treat others with respect…be willing and able to ask for help…be grateful…be patient.  When you are using your gifts to help and benefit others, they may say kind things to you and about you…give glory to God not yourself.  He created you and blessed you…give Him thanks for your blessings and be thankful for the courage to use your gifts.  The more we learn to be humble the greater we can be used by God.  May God’s peace be with you.  Amen.

DSC_1549 publish

 For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

Luke 14:11

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

His Love Endures Forever

Trouble will come…we will experience suffering and loss in this world…yet we do not need to have fear and we do not need to be afraid.  We are loved by God with a love that is greater than anything we face.  Pursue a personal relationship with Jesus Christ our Savior and our Lord, meet with Him every day…He sacrificed everything to save you because He loves you and His love will endure forever.  Amen.

Forever by Michael W Smith

DSC09023 publish

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever.”

Psalms 136:1

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

Be Strong And Courageous

Meet with God daily.  Pick a time and quiet place for you to be with God.  He is our Creator…His Son is our Savior and He gives us the Holy Spirit as a guide for the darkness of this world.  God is with you and He loves you and wants good things for you and your life…be strong and courageous…turn towards God, trust Him and live.  Amen.

325 publish

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

Joshua 1:9

(This photo was taken in October of 2013 in a neighborhood near Plymouth, Minnesota)

Holy Living

As we learn about Jesus and we read God’s Word, we find that the life God wants for us is not all about money…that message comes from sin and the world, that message is about selfishness.  To live a holy life doesn’t cost money, it is about who you are and how you treat others.  If you spend all your time comparing yourself to others and worried about what you don’t have you are setting yourself up to be miserable.  Trust God, listen to the words of Jesus and live as God’s Word has taught us to live.  May the peace of the Lord be with you.  Amen.

IMG_20181007_080404 publish

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

Colossians 3:12-14

(This photo was taken in October of 2018 while on a walk in northwestern Wisconsin)

What Matters Most

Belief.  In the Apostles’ Creed there are three statements that begin with ‘I believe…’  Those statements refer to God the Father, Jesus Christ His only Son and the Holy Spirit.  Faith is a journey and one of the first and most important steps on this journey is to face the question…What do you believe?  Your beliefs guide your values and your perspective and those will drive your words and your actions.  Every day is a new opportunity to feed your mind information about what you believe…no matter what your past has been…start or continue today to read the Word of God and what Jesus Christ said about life, love, faith and hope.  What matters most is what you believe.  May the peace of the Lord be with you.  Amen.

We Believe by The Newsboys

DSC_0021 publish

“If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Romans 10:9

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

Rich In Love

No matter how far we wander off…God will invite us to come back to Him.  His grace…His mercy…His compassion is all encompassing.  Whatever your circumstances are…turn towards Jesus Christ…He died to save you and He is ready to walk with you.  Amen.

DSC_1355 publish

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.”

Psalms 145:8-9

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

Believe It!

The Creator of all things knows you.  He loves you and wants to have a personal relationship with you.  He is greater than anyone and anything you will encounter in this world.  When we walk with Him, we can conquer anything in this life.  You are loved…you are forgiven…you have been saved.  May the peace of the Lord be with you.  Amen.

DSC_0135 (2) publish

“What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?”

Romans 8:31

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

Trust Requires Patience

God is working for good things in our life…we must be willing to wait for Him.  If we believe and know Jesus Christ is the Son of God and we confess our sins, and we know the sacrifice that Jesus made to save us…then we know how much God loves us and how far He will go to care for us.  As it says in Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”  Trust in the Lord, wait for Him and good things will come.  Amen.

DSC_0153 publish

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

Psalms 27:13-14

(This photo was taken in June of 2016 at a lake near Plymouth, Minnesota)

The New Has Come

God renews us…God restores us…He takes away the sin and darkness and makes us new again.  All that we have done wrong and messed up, only He can make new again.  Our hope is found in Christ…if you are staring at a new beginning or change of direction begin by humbling yourself and surrendering your plans for God’s plan.  He truly does make all things new.  Amen.

All Things New by Steven Curtis Chapman

DSC01210 publish

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:  The old has gone, the new is here!”

2 Corinthians 5:7

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