“God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.”
Psalm 46:1 NIV
He will never leave you. He is with you, He is for you. No matter what happens, give thanks to God and strive to focus on choosing an attitude of gratitude.
“Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV
(This photo was taken in August of 2016 in Mount Rainier National Park in Washington)
“The law of the Lord is perfect,
refreshing the soul.
The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy,
making wise the simple.
8 The precepts of the Lord are right,
giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the Lord are radiant,
giving light to the eyes.
9 The fear of the Lord is pure,
enduring forever.
The decrees of the Lord are firm,
and all of them are righteous.
10 They are more precious than gold,
than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,
than honey from the honeycomb.
11 By them your servant is warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.”
Psalm 19:7-11 NIV
Consistent, daily study of God’s Word is essential for spiritual growth. Any relationship needs time spent together to grow…spend time with God and with God’s Word. Amen.
“Blessed is the one
who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
or sit in the company of mockers,
2 but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,
and who meditates on his law day and night.
3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
whatever they do prospers.“
Psalm 1:1-3 NIV
(This photo was taken in May of 2014 at a lake in central Minnesota)
“My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.”
James 1:19-20 NIV
Seeking help…it is hard to do for many of us. First step, admit we need help. Second step, seek assistance…first from God and then from others that God puts in our lives. Last step, listen…the first two are hard enough for many of us, if we get to the last step we often lose focus…we need to listen. We often spend our listening time preparing our response instead of truly listening. We can miss God’s will for us if we fail to listen. May we all be better listeners in our daily walk. Amen.
“Listen to advice and accept discipline, and at the end you will be counted among the wise. Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.”
Proverbs 19:20-21 NIV
(This photo was taken in August of 2016 at Sapphire Point near Dillon, Colorado)
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.”
Matthew 7:7-8 NIV
Prayer and communication with God on a daily basis are key elements on your faith journey. Prayer includes confessing our sins, expressing gratitude, listening and asking. Keeping in mind that God is not a wishing well…rather He is your friend, your guide, your confidant. He knows about every aspect of your life and He still loves you…so much that He sacrificed His one and only Son in order to reconcile you with Him. God loves you…He is with you…He is wating to hear from you.
“Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.”
John 16:24 NIV
(This photo was taken in July of 2019 at a lake near Plymouth, Minnesota)
“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
How do we get better at staying the course? This New Year’s resolution business is almost always a path to failure. Some of the most common mistakes is over-committing to too many things or setting unrealistic goals and achievements. Not to mention our lack of patience for change in this fast paced, immediately gratification world. The biggest mistake we make is either not asking God to guide us or not listening and looking for His will for our lives. We are easily distracted and believe we have to maintain everything on our own. The best change we can make is turning towards God first and a make a commitment to follow Him in all aspects of our lives. Amen.
“Commit to the Lord whatever you do,
and he will establish your plans.”
Proverbs 16:3 NIV
(This photo was taken in August of 2016 in Glacier National Park in Montana)
“Show me your ways, Lord,
teach me your paths.
5 Guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my Savior,
and my hope is in you all day long.”
Psalm 25:4-5 NIV
God invites us into a relationship with Him through Jesus Christ. It is up to us to respond to that invitation. If we ignore God’s call and go our own way we will bring about more pain and suffering without God’s presence and guidance. We need to be willing to open ourselves up to God’s way and His plan that happens on His timing. It is a willingness and an ability to surrender our self-centered ways to Him…God is faithful and will guide you and lead you if you are willing to put your faith and trust in Him.
“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
(This photo was taken in May of 2020 along the North Shore of Lake Superior in northern Minnesota)
“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
“Let your eyes look straight ahead;
fix your gaze directly before you.
26 Give careful thought to the[c] 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 4:25-27 NIV
Keep going…learn from what has happened…know that God is working for good things in all situations…He is with you…it is His plan that is best…there will be plenty of opportunities to go your own way…stay on the path…walk with God. Amen.
“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.”
Psalm 145:8-9 NIV
(This photo was taken in July of 2016 in Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota)
“For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
2 Peter 1:5-8 NIV
Stay committed, stay focused, stay patient and trust God’s way. Spiritual growth is not about immediate gratification…it is a process of daily meeting with Jesus Christ in prayer and reading God’s Word. Learning, asking questions of trusted advisors or mentors and spending time with God in whatever way works best for your spiritual growth. Not sure how to begin? Start by praying to God to help you focus on your spiritual growth.
“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we[a] have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we[b] boast in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we[c] also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.”
Romans 5:1-5 NIV
(This photo was taken in June of 2015 while driving through South Dakota)
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform 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 12:1-2 NIV
Jesus Christ is born…the promised Savior has come! Now what? What difference is He making in your life? Are you aware of God’s presence in your daily life? Believe…seek Him…pray…read God’s Word…pay attention to how God is at work in your life. Choose to live different…allow Jesus Christ to impact every area of your life.
“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.”
Ezekiel 36:26-27 NIV
(This photo was take in September of 2022 in Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming)
“One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”
Mark 12:28 NIV
Of all the things we can learn from God’s Word…this is the place to start, Love God. Seek a relationship with Him through Jesus Christ. Christmas is a great time to reset and remember Jesus came to earth as a baby to do for us what we are unable to do for ourselves and He did it out of love. Receive Him, receive God’s love and show love to God with everything and everyone.
“The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.[e] 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’[f]
Mark 12:29-30 NIV
(This photo was taken in July of 2018 on the shore of Lake Superior near Ashland, Wisconsin)
