Walking with God

Light In The World

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When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

John 8:12 NIV

Father God, thank You for sending Your Son, Jesus, to rescue us from a life separated from You.  Today and during this season, please give us the courage to draw close to You, and to seek You with all our heart.  Your Son is our Light in this dark world.  Your Light is our salvaltion and guide.  Please use us as a light in the world to show Your love, grace and mercy.  In Jesus name, Amen.

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“In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome[a] it.”

John 1:4-5 NIV

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

God’s Presence

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“You make known to me the path of life;
    you will fill me with joy in your presence,
    with eternal pleasures at your right hand.”

Psalm 16:11 NIV

Father God, You are the foundation upon which I build my life.  You are my source of protection and strength.  I know that you fight for me, You protect me, and You are leading me through difficult times.  Because of Your presence, I am never alone or abandoned.  Thank you Lord!  Thank you for watching over me and for being my source of strength.  Thank you for guiding me closer to You and never leaving me.  Amen.

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“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”

Jeremiah 29:11-13 NIV

(This photo was taken in May of 2020 along the North Shore of Lake Superior in Minnesota)

A Prayer Of Declaration

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“So do not fear, for I am with you;
    do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
    I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Isaiah 41:10 NIV

Lord Jesus, I believe You are alive.  I believe You are ever-present and working in the world.  I believe no matter what circumstances I face, You are good.

I believe You weep, mourn, and rejoice with us.  I believe You are my God and my Redeemer.  I believe You are making all things new and You are making me a new creation.

So come what may, Jesus, I place my faith, my hope and my trust in You.  Amen.

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“Trust in the Lord with all your heart
    and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways submit to him,
    and he will make your paths straight.”[a]

Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV

(This photo was taken in July of 2018 on the shore of Lake Superior near Ashland, Wisconsin)

Wait For The Lord

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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.”

Lamentations 3:22-24 NIV

Our lives are usually so busy moving from one thing to the next, so much so that planning and preparing become dominant activities…the problem is if we are always planning and preparing for what’s next when are we living in the present moment?

A difficult part of surrender for all of us is letting go and not always trying to control what’s next.  A life of faith doesn’t mean we always go and do what we want…Jesus said in Luke 9:23 “…If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”  We all have a cross to bear in life, it is different for everyone…and bearing a cross is doing what needs to be done.  It is sacrifice.  It means being obedient to God and we do things because we love God and others.

Be in prayer and talk with the Lord about what He needs you to do then wait and listen.  May each of us be surrounded by the love of God each day.

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“I remain confident of this:
    I will see the goodness of the Lord
    in the land of the living.
14 Wait for the Lord;
    be strong and take heart
    and wait for the Lord.“

Psalm 27:13-14 NIV

(This photo was taken in July of 2021 at Bear Lake in Rocky Mountian National Park)

Advent – Love

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“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NIV

Jesus stated the most important commandments are to love God and love one another (Matthew 22:37-40).  So, what is love?  According to God’s Word Love is action…it is not what the world defines as a feeling…the apostle Paul describes it for us in 1 Corinthians 13 above.

It is about our character and what we do when it comes to relationships.  So, when Jesus states it is the most important commandment…we should think about how do we love God?  How do we love one another?  Love is God’s to define and to give and He makes it available to all of us by how He has acted towards us.  It is up to us to accept His love and to share it with others.

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“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 NIV

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

Living Hope Perspective

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“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead…”

1 Peter 1:3 NIV

Hope in this world mostly gets aligned with wishful thinking in general conversations.  This hope is not sure, not firm and is not based on belief.  The hope talked about in the Bible is hope that believes and knows God’s promises for good things.  That hope is supported by actions and behaviors.

The hope we receive from Christ is a hope that knows and believes that Christ lives and that God is for us and working for our good, even when, especially when the visible evidence is against it. The hope from God’s Word tells us to not give up or surrender to sin and doubt, rather know that God is with you and you can trust in Him…not for the things you believe you should have but for the things God knows that you need.  May the God of all hope be present in your daily life.

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“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

Romans 15:13 NIV

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

Hope With Humility

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“As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”

Ephesians 4:1-6 NIV

Character and attitude…how we treat each other in our daily lives.

These are the things that show that we believe.  Love is action.  Learn from the example that Jesus provided in His life, death and resurrection.  Live out your faith with your attitude and how you treat others in daily life.

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“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”

Colossians 3:12-14 NIV

(This photo was taken in June of 2013 while traveling in northern Colorado)

Trust In The Lord

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“Trust in the Lord with all your heart
    and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways submit to him,
    and he will make your paths straight.”[a]

Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV

Instead of trying to control things beyond your reach…put your trust in the Lord.

Trust His way…trust His timing and trust the outcome to Him who has done more for you than any person in your life.  He is with you, He is for you.  Trust in the Lord.

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“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Jeremiah 29:11 NIV

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

Holy Spirit

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“But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”

John 14:26 NIV

Holy Spirit by Francesca Battistelli

Our Guide…our Advocate…our Counselor…the very presence of God.  Amen.

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“For God did not give us a spirit of timidity but one of power, love, and self-discipline.[a]”

2 Timothy 1:7 NIV

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

Walking With God

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

Psalm 119:105 NIV

A faith journey.  It begins with belief, confession and prayer.  It grows as we read the Scriptures, as we spend time in devotions, as we engage in our communities and 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 about everything, every day.  He is with you, He is for you.  It is up to you to seek Him.  Amen.

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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 NIV

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