Waiting

Let The Light Of Christ Shine

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When we open ourselves up and invite Jesus into our heart and lives we will receive the gift of Holy Spirit to guide us and our thoughts.  Leading us to a life that is filled with the fruits of the Spirit.  In order to get there we must surrender the desire to serve ourselves be willing to serve the purpose that God has planned for us.  This is not easy and it is not a one moment event, it is a daily journey to learn to die to self and live to God, changing from the sinful nature of this fallen world to an eternal nature of the Spirit.  The world is dark but Jesus is the Light in the darkness.  Shine on.  May God’s peace be with you.

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“For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.”

2 Corinthians 4:6

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

He Renews Our Strength

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One important aspect of a relationship with God the Father, Jesus His Son and the Holy Spirit is the power to renew us and restore us when we get off course or off track.  When you spend time growing your relationship with the Lord you learn to become aware of His presence…there are few words that can describe the peace that comes from knowing that God is with you every moment of every minute of every hour of every day of your life.  Ask Jesus to come into your heart and restore you…trust in Him…he is the one person that gave up everything he had to save you.  May God’s peace be with you.

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“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.

He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.  Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; 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 August of 2016 in Glacier National Park in Montana)

Always With You

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One of greatest mindset shifts that needs to occur on the faith journey is knowing no matter where you go or what you do God will always be with you.  It is up to you to recognize Him and to be aware of his presence through the Holy Spirit.  We all get off course and make mistakes or poor decisions as we live in a broken and fallen world.  God knows this and wants to have a relationship with you to help you through life.  Whatever is on your heart today…give it to Him…leave it at the foot of the cross and see what happens.  May God’s peace be with you.

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

Joshua 1:9

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

Commitment

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Do what you say you would do…stay true to your word…demonstrate a willingness to be responsible…show integrity.   When you read these phrases and think about them none of them say this is going to be all about ‘fun’ or ‘personally convenient’ or ‘this is all about being happy all the time.’  Commitment is hard and it takes dedication, it takes time and it doesn’t always serve personal desires.

That is the point about commitment…it is not about you!  That is exactly why we need to build our personal relationship with Jesus, he knows what it means to be committed to something that is hard, not fun and not about him…yet he spoke openly with his father to help him keep moving forward and complete the task given to him…and he did it for you and me.  May God’s peace be with you.

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“Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.”

Proverbs 16:3

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

Choose Holy Living

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With each day the gift of free will means we can choose our attitude toward everything…we can choose our attitude towards what other people think, say or do.  We can choose to be kind and compassionate or we can respond with vicious words and wrath…nobody can make you do this, it is up to you how you respond even if you don’t take the time to think about your response you are still accountable for your behavior every day.  Choose patience…choose kindness and compassion…be forgiving and most of all no matter what choose to respond with love…after all that is what Jesus did for us.  May God’s peace be with you.

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“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 whatever grievances you may have against one another.  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 June of 2016 at a lake near Minneapolis, Minnesota)

Once For All

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Never give up hope.  Out of the most tragic circumstances can come the greatest peace and the greatest joy.  Look at the people alive when Jesus was here on earth.  They believed in him as the one person who was going to save them from corrupt government and tyranny.  Then the most tragic set of events occurred…he died…he was crucified even though he was with out sin.  For three days they mourned and were very frightened for there own lives.  Then the most amazing and unexpected thing happened next…he was raised from the dead.  Can you imagine the unbelievable joy they sensed when they were speaking with him?  Incredible…yet without his death and the death of our sins there could be no resurrection.  May God’s peace be with you.

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“For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him.  The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.  In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.”

Romans 6:9-11

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

Living By The Spirit

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We receive messages all day long about “how we are to live”…”what we are to want”…as if we are missing out on something from this world if we don’t do or want the same things everyone else desires.  The Christian life is not better than others but rather different.  Dare to be different and trust God to guide your way.

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“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

Romans 12:2

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

Happy New Year…Ask, Seek, Knock

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It is a new day, a new time and a new year.  As you look around your life…think about when in your daily routine can you commit to spending a few minutes with God every day.  What is a comfortable place for you to sit or kneel?  What time of day is it?  Do you have a devotional book to guide you?

Make a plan to start a new daily habit.  For me it started as coffee with God each morning, because if I could spend that much effort to have coffee for myself I sure as heck better be able to spend a few minutes in the quiet of the morning with my Creator…and it has grown into a time in the morning I look forward to every day.

The best part is you can start without the plan…just find a quiet moment and ask God to help you find a way to meet with Him each day and then pay attention for the opportunities…May the peace of God be with you!

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“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.”

Matthew 7:7-8

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

A New Way To Look At Our Sufferings

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“…And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.  Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.

And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.”

Romans 5:2-5

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