Truth

Our Plans…His Plan

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The faith journey can feel like a repetitive cycle.  We read God’s Word, we go to worship, we listen and learn.  We believe we understand and will now go and live according to what we have learned…then as humans tend to do, we try to take control and go off our own way and end up frustatred and wonder what happened?  Then it’s back to God’s Word and going to worship, etc.  How can this cycle be broken?  When we get to a point where we are about to take some form of action, something that we normally would do,  we need to pause, step aside and pray.  Ask God what do you want me to do here?  Ask Him to give us wisdom according to His plan and then wait and listen.  It could be we are spending a siginificant amount of our time on something God never intended for us to be doing.  The only way to find out is between you and Him.  Seek the will of the Lord for your life and live.  Amen.

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“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord.  As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

Isaiah 55:8-9

(This photo was taken in August of 2016 near Arches National Park in Utah)

Endurance

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Keep going…keep believing…keep praying…listen…observe…endure.  God’s Word tells us we will have trouble in this world.  Be persistent, seek to do good things, learn from what you have experienced.  The next attempt might be the one that breaks through to something greater than you can imagine.  There is a new song by an artist named Danny Gokey entitled “Haven’t Seen It Yet” and it provides a perspective about God’s will that many of us need to be reminded of.  Don’t give up…God is with you.  Amen.

“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

(This photo was taken in March of 2018 in White Sands National Monument in New Mexico)

God’s Purpose For You

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What is it?  When was the last time you asked Him, directly?  What would it look like to get a direct answer?  Or has this question been answered, several times, several ways and we just are not sure or we don’t like what is being said?  We were all made for a purpose and it is not always the purpose we think it should be…it actually is something better then what we come up with on our own.  To help us understand more about our purpose we should reflect and think about the things that come easy to us that we can do that another person may not be able to do for themselves.  Look around your life right where you are…if you are willing, God can use you there too.  Seek the will of the Lord for your life because He is with you every step of the way.  Amen.

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“Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.”

1 Peter 4:10

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

Contentment

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Satisfaction…fulfillment…comfort…well-being…peace…serenity…tranquility.  This is not a popular word when it comes to many areas of society.  The messages are usually about more, more and more.  The perspective of faith encourages us to find contentment with worldly things and use our zeal in life to serve the Lord.  To be content does not mean to retract from engaging in or to stop pursuing something rather it is about priorities.  God can and does meet our needs, our job is knowing when we have enough and when we receive beyond that it is for us to share with others.  May the grace and peace of God be with you.  Amen.

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“But godliness with contentment is great gain.”

1 Timothy 6:6

(This photo was taken in September of 2016 on a lake in central Minnesota)

What Is The Cost?

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The decision we make to follow Christ is ours to make…for free.  We have free will, a gift from God.  Now what?  We need to spend time learning about Jesus, His life and His message and how we can contribute.  We need to spend time reading God’s Word, we need to spend time in worship listening and we need to pray.  All of these things we help us grow stronger on the inside…on the inside, where selfishness and a desire to serve ourselves first has set-up base camp.  Here is where the battle gets difficult…in order to follow Christ we must be willing to make deciesions to deny the desires of self.  We must reject the negative thoughts and judgements in our minds, put to rest the anger and the selfish beliefs.  This is not an easy thing to do and don’t let anyone tell you it is, this is a battle and a struggle every day.  If you don’t believe it, look around the world…what do you see?  The decision to follow Jesus Christ is just the beginning…the cost to see it through is the rejection of sin and the sinful nature that the world promotes.  May God grant us wisdom, courage and strength to go with us each day.  Amen.

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“Then he said to them all:  “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” 

Luke 9:23

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

Faith Makes You Stronger

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We will have troubles in this world and the troubles will feel relentless.  Hold on to your faith and pray.  I am sharing lyrics and musical talents of Mandisa this morning, as she is an artist who has had battles just like everyone else and it has led to her sharing her musical talent with the world to remind us that God has us and with Him nothing is impossible.  May strength and courage flow through our hearts and minds today.  Amen.

Stronger by Mandisa

Overcomer by Mandisa

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“Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.  Do everything in love.”

1 Corinthians 16:13-14

(This photo was taken in June of 2015 while traveling through South Dakota)

Serve One Another

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We are comforted by the presence of the Lord in our lives.  A life of faith can lead to peace and joy that transcends worldly understanding.  As we are fulfilled, we are equipped to help others who are in need.  Our growth in our spiritual lives will shape us as a new creation, with new values, a new attitude and a new perspective.  God does provide all that we need and it is up to us to use the blessings we receive to care for ourselves, our families and others.  We are blessed to be a blessing.  Amen.

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“You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free.  But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.  The entire law is summed up in a single command:  “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

Galatians 5:13-14

(This photo was taken in June of 2013 near Pike’s Peak in Colorado)

Troubles Can Be Overwhelming

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Our thoughts are often the driver of our hearts and our actions.  The more we think about and focus on something, the more likely it will lead us to doing something.  The problem is the amount of inputs and sensory overload we are getting from darkness and evil tend to keep us dwelling on our sins and the sinful nature within us.  It truly is a struggle and can be all consuming.  The only source of Light is Jesus Christ.  The only way to get help in removing the blinders to goodness and good things is God’s Word.  Faith will not make the evil and darkness disappear, rather it provides the tools and the resources we need to promote the Fruit of the Spirit.  Faith helps us shine the Light of Christ for us and others to see in this dark world.  Thanks be to God for Jesus Christ our Light of the World.  Amen.

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“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

Romans 12:21

(This photo was taken in July of 2018 on Lake Superior near the Apostle Islands)

Nothing Can Separate Us

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No matter what we do or where we go, we are still loved by God.  We tend to think, not me, God deosn’t really love me…look at the things I have done and left undone.  Look at what I said, look at my life and the things that have happened because of me.  To this I say look at the examples of people in the Bible.  Peter, rejected being associated with Jesus three times after Jesus was arrested.  Rahab in the Book of Joshua, she was a prostitute who acted with faith and courage to help God’s people capture the Promised Land.  Saul who became Paul…he hunted down and killed many of the followers of Jesus and yet the Lord still loved him and made him one of the greatest teachers of the faith in the New Testament.  There are many more like these.  We are not perfect nor will we ever be, we will make mistakes and do the wrong things…inspite of it all God still loves us and wants to help us grow and mature in our faith.  Trust in the Lord.  Amen.

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“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Romans 8:38-39

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

Hope

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Sometimes it is all we have…often times we have a hard time seeing it.  We get consumed by our circumstances and our emotions.  Our hope is because of Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord.  All that is good is from God and all that is darkness and evil is from sin and the sinful nature.  We can trust in God to lift us up, to give us strength and to guide us to peace and joy.  It is up to us to seek Him and His will for us.  May the grace and mercy of God’s love be with us all.  Amen.

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“Be strong and courageous.  Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave your nor forsake you.”

Deuteronomy 31:6

(This photo was taken in July of 2016 while traveling through North Dakota)