Trust…Commit…Be Still

Trust in the Lord and do good;
    dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
Take delight in the Lord,
    and he will give you the desires of your heart.”

Psalm 37:3-4 NIV

Commit your way to the Lord;
    trust in him and he will do this:
He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn,
    your vindication like the noonday sun.”

Psalm 37:5-6 NIV

No matter what the situation or circumstances you are facing

Good, bad, unknown

Put your trust in the One who knows you, loves you and is walking with you through every moment

Commit it all to Him and He will guide you on your path

Be still and wait for Him

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Be still before the Lord
    and wait patiently for him;
do not fret when people succeed in their ways,
    when they carry out their wicked schemes.

Psalm 37:7 NIV

(This photo was taken at a lake near Plymouth, Minnesota)

Listen…May God’s Word Be Your Guide

Above all else, guard your heart,
    for everything you do flows from it.
24 Keep your mouth free of perversity;
    keep corrupt talk far from your lips.
25 Let your eyes look straight ahead;
    fix your gaze directly before you.
26 Give careful thought to the[a] paths for your feet
    and be steadfast in all your ways.
27 Do not turn to the right or the left;
    keep your foot from evil.”

Proverbs 4:23-27 NIV

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
    I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.”

Psalm 32:8 NIV

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

Psalm 119:105 NIV

(This photo was taken in Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota)

I Surrender All

Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it.”

Luke 9:23-24 NIV

Father God, I surrender my life to You.  You can have it all.  All my doubts, all my fears, all my worries…every insecurity, every selfish desire and past mistake…I give it all to You.  Every area of my life that does not honor You…take it.  Take it all and use me, change me, transform me, love me and love others through me.  Take all that I am, and use it for Your glory.  In Jesus name, Amen.

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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 NIV

(This photo was taken at a lake near Plymouth, Minnesota)

Our Purpose

Love God

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.”

Deuteronomy 6:5 NIV

Love Others

“He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’[a]; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[b]””

Luke 10:27 NIV

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Share The Good News

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Matthew 28:19-20 NIV

Love God…Love Other People…Share the Gospel

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

Where Is Your Treasure?

““Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust[a] destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Matthew 6:19-21 NIV

Father God, You know everything about us.  You know all of our thoughts, desires and intentions.  Help us turn our focus to treasures in heaven.  Please remove any ideas or behaviors that will keep us from becoming the people You created us to be.  In Jesus name, Amen.

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Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”

Philippians 4:8-9 NIV

(This photo was taken at Sapphire Point near Dillon, Colorado)

Beware The Enemy

“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”

1 Peter 5:8 NIV

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

John 10:10 NIV

Father God, clothe me today so I am dressed to withstand whatever spiritual and emotional battles come my way.  Thank you for Jesus: the way, the truth, and the life.  Thank you for Your protection and for allowing us to have peace with You and others because of our Savior, Jesus. In His name, Amen.

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If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,”
    and you make the Most High your dwelling,
10 no harm will overtake you,
    no disaster will come near your tent.
11 For he will command his angels concerning you
    to guard you in all your ways;
12 they will lift you up in their hands,
    so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread on the lion and the cobra;
    you will trample the great lion and the serpent.”

Psalm 91:9-13 NIV

(This photo was taken in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming)

God Is With You

“The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

Deuteronomy 31:8 NIV

You are never alone

Nothing in your life is too big for God to handle

He knows your circumstances and He knows the way through them

God will be with you and He will never leave you

Trust in the Lord and put your faith in Him

You are never alone

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“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 NIV

(This photo was taken on the shore of Lake Superior at Temperance State Park in northern Minnesota)

God’s Faithfulness

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.”

Lamentations 3:22-24 NIV

Father God, even in the midst of many troubles, You are faithful.  When we are tired, overwhelmed, burnt out or grieving, Your love still covers us.  Thank You for showing us kindness and mercy every day.  Your steadfast love endures forever.  Great is Your faithfulness!  In Jesus name, Amen.

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“Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments.”

Deuteronomy 7:9 NIV

(This photo was taken in Bighorn National Forest in Wyoming)

Wisdom And Understanding

For the Lord gives wisdom;
    from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.”

Proverbs 2:6 NIV

Blessed are those who find wisdom,
    those who gain understanding,
14 for she is more profitable than silver
    and yields better returns than gold.

Proverbs 3:13-14 NIV

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Get wisdom, get understanding;
    do not forget my words or turn away from them.”

Proverbs 4:7 NIV

(This photo was taken on the shore on Lake Superior near Ashland, Wisconsin)

Walk In The Light

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 NIV

Father God, when we are overwhelmed by the brokeness we see, help us to remember that You see us.  You are in control.  We cannot stop all the pain and injustice we witness, yet help us overcome evil by doing good.  Help us to walk in the Light with You.  Give us the courage and humility to love people well today.  In Jesus name, Amen.

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This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all[a] sin.”

1 John 1:5-7 NIV

(This photo was taken in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming)